Every child in Mississippi deserves access to quality public school education— no matter where they live. Adequate funding is essential in achieving this goal. Like many other states, Mississippi’s school funding formula plays an important role in determining the levels of funding necessary. The funding formula helps influence how resources are distributed among school districts, the quality of instruction provided, and the type and amount of opportunities available to students.
In 1997, Mississippi legislators created the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP), a school funding formula aimed at determining the amount of funding needed for each public school district to meet the academic standards set by the Mississippi Department of Education. However, since its inception, some lawmakers have criticized the formula for its complexity. Notably, the formula’s reliance on average daily attendance and local contributions has raised concerns about inequities between wealthier and less wealthy districts. In addition, in the 27 years since its implementation, lawmakers have only fully funded the formula twice. This has resulted in Mississippi’s public schools being underfunded by more than $3.5 billion over time.
Over the years, multiple efforts have been made to revise MAEP. This year, however, lawmakers appear to have reached an agreement on a new plan for school funding.
During the 2024 Legislative Session, state lawmakers approved the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, slated to replace MAEP. Analysis from the Parent’s Campaign outlines key features of the new plan, including:
The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for approval. Still, several concerns remain.
No matter the plan, can we ensure the full funding of Mississippi’s public schools? MAEP contained language stating that the formula “shall” be fully funded, but state lawmakers refused to do so for all but two years since the full implementation of the program in 2003. Even more, in 2017, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that there is no mandatory requirement for the legislature to fully fund MAEP.
Consequently, there is no guarantee that lawmakers will allocate full funding to the new plan and provide school districts with the necessary resources not only to deliver an “adequate education” but also to ensure that every student thrives.
Will lawmakers address the elephant in the room? The state needs higher revenue to pay for education and other public programs and services. Despite efforts by lawmakers to boost public school funding this year and notwithstanding the fact that education expenses constitute a significant portion of the state budget, Mississippi lags behind other states in education spending. According to the Education Data Initiative, Mississippi ranks 43rd in K-12 school spending and 45th in funding. To help increase education spending, Mississippi needs more money.
However, nearly every year, the legislature keeps the state budget low through costly tax cuts, such as reducing the state income tax, eliminating the corporate income tax, and providing tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. In fact, since 2012, the state has lost more than $1.1 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy. Without higher revenue, the state is severely limiting its ability to fully fund current educational needs and is hindering its ability to make much needed investments in education.
And what about the other elephant: The growing threat of privatization in Mississippi? At the same time that state lawmakers created the new school funding formula, bills to expand school voucher programs, increase funding for charter schools, and provide tax credits to families for private school attendance were considered. We know that privatization diverts taxpayer dollars intended for public schools to private schools run by wealthy for-profit companies and agencies, leaving public schools with less resources and eventually forcing public schools to cut programs, staff, and other resources. Furthermore, in some cases, these funds are directed to schools that are performing worse than their public-school counterparts or to students already benefiting from well-resourced schools. With 90% of Mississippi students enrolled in public schools, rather than creating new programs that divert money and resources away from public education, lawmakers should focus on enhancing investments in students, programs, and resources already available within public schools.
What’s the rush? Like many other significant pieces of legislation in our state, the new school funding formula plan was hurriedly passed by lawmakers during the final week of the regular session. There was minimal debate and little to no input from community stakeholders and the general public. Additionally, there was no external analysis of the plan’s cost to the state and its potential impact on school district funding levels. Public input, engagement, and open debate are essential for a well-functioning government, promoting transparency and accountability in the political process. As efforts continue to ensure that quality public school education is accessible to all children in the state, we advocate for the inclusion of voices from all Mississippians in the process of creating state laws and policies.
To view the Senate’s projection of the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, visit: https://www.legislature.ms.gov/legislation/measure-search/
To read the entire bill, visit: https://tpcref.org/wp-content/uploads/MSStudentFundingFormula.pdf
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