Legislative leaders, however, point to the fact that EdBuild visited several districts across the state seeking input and a public comment session was held in Jackson in November. Public school parents and some legislators have taken issue with what they say is a rewrite taking place behind closed doors. He said at that time he would not support doing away with the 27 percent rule.Īlthough the Legislature could have passed a placeholder bill the day of the February deadline, many lawmakers told Mississippi Today at that time they would not feel comfortable voting for a dummy bill.Įducation advocates and members of the public held a rally at the Capitol last week asking for a “seat at the table” in the ongoing rewrite of the formula. Richard Bennett, R-Long Beach, presented the placeholder bill to the House Appropriations Committee early in the process. Gunn has said he has not taken an opinion on the rule. Reeves has suggested all recommendations by EdBuild, including the 27 percent rule, are on the table. Some say EdBuild’s recommendation to eliminate the 27 percent rule, effectively shifting some of the burden of funding schools from the state to local communities, is at the heart of the possible standstill. Tate Reeves have said a special session to consider a new funding formula is possible. Since then, legislative leaders have not spoken publicly about where things stand. All education funding bills died on the calendar. The Senate, in a recess to see what the House did, then adjourned soon after. However, on the deadline day for bills to pass the floor in the chamber they originated, the House adjourned early without passing any bills. The Legislature kept alive “dummy,” or placeholder, bills bringing out code sections of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program throughout the first deadlines in the session. But with only two weeks left in the session and a host of passed deadlines, all lawmakers and the public have seen is a report by New Jersey-based consulting firm EdBuild released in January. Undoubtedly the most talked about topic this legislative session was a revamp of the state’s public school funding formula. With a few days left, here’s an update on each of the issues lawmakers have focused on this session.Įducation funding Lawmakers, lobbyists and education and community activists listen as Rebecca Sibilia, CEO of EdBuild, outlines the firms suggestions for revamping the state formula for funding public education. The 2017 legislative session enters its 77th day Monday, leaving just 13 days for lawmakers to finalize several key pieces of legislation.īefore the session began, Mississippi Today pinpointed eight topics to keep an eye on this session: Tax reform, public education funding, widespread budget cuts, special fund patchwork, BP settlement spending, election reform, roads and bridges funding and the state flag issue.Īll but one of those – tax reform – became a focus for lawmakers, and immigration and women’s issues crept into the session.
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