New Funding Mechanism for Mississippi Schools Passes House, Awaits Senate Scrutiny – Sky Bulletin

The Mississippi House of Representatives approved a new method for determining state educational spending this Wednesday. The newly introduced system aims to move away from the current, often underfunded, Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP), enacted in 1997 and fully funded in only two of those years.

House Bill 1453, which encompasses this new method, saw a sweeping victory with 95 votes in favor and 13 against it.

The legislative process is not yet complete as the bill now proceeds to the Senate. Here, the Republican majority has already presented a separate plan to amend, but not completely replace, MAEP.

Last year, the Senate’s attempts to revamp the MAEP fell through. This year, the question arises: will the House’s INSPIRE (Investing in the Needs of Students to Prioritize, Impact and Reform Education) plan gain traction?

Representative Kent McCarty of Hattiesburg explains that INSPIRE is about equity in education funding, making provisions for districts struggling with poverty, and those with high numbers of special needs or English-language learners.

Rob Roberson of Starkville, Education Committee Chairman, emphasizes that the move could lead to unmatched investment in Mississippi’s public educational system, which is significant given the state’s standing as one of the poorest in the nation.

Concerns remain, however, about how this funding under INSPIRE will compare to the potentially $3 billion required by a fully funded MAEP. Despite the uncertainties, McCarty highlights the competitive nature of the proposed INSPIRE budget as compared to existing funding frameworks.

While affluent districts like those in Madison and Rankin County might see reduced state funding under INSPIRE, the approach also means annual consideration for full funding, similar to the current MAEP process.

Nancy Loome of the Parents’ Campaign expresses caution, suggesting that the new plan dismisses an unbiased basis for calculating student costs. She urges thorough evaluation and input from those who are directly impacted by these changes—educators and parents.

A stipulation within the House proposal is the establishment of a 13-member committee, primarily educators, who will be responsible for per-student cost recommendations for INSPIRE, with inflation adjustments each year.

The legality of fully funding MAEP has been contentious, with a failed lawsuit in 2017 asserting that the state was mandated to meet the prescribed financial commitments.