Let’s get ready to rumble…? HB1453, INSPIRE (The Investing in the Needs of Students to Prioritize, Impact, and Reform Education (INSPIRE) Act), which is new legislation vs. SB2332 MAEP (Mississippi Adequate Education Program), which is now being “revamped.” A few weeks ago, they were pitted in each other’s path, and then the Senate let HB1453 die when it came to their side. But the INSPIRE could still be written. It will need to be hashed out which plan they should go with or another plan that could come out of conference, or they could put the House plan into the Senate bill or scrap it altogether.  

In my opinion, the INSPIRE funding bill is a great and better solution for funding education, and with the MAEP already in existence, I wanted to write about why I believe, ultimately, that MAEP is not working for our students. While any funding is better than no funding, problems and issues exist… 

Here are my four criticisms and the challenges I see from an educator’s point of view of the MAEP, revamped or not…

The complexity of the funding formula…  

Yep, it’s complex, and it leads to confusion and difficulties with implementation – a mathematical and statistical nightmare for the best of thinkers. Find me someone who can explain how it helps students in all areas of the state fair and equitably, and I’ll listen. Anything that is complex usually has loopholes or unintended consequences that undermine the effectiveness of what it should actually be used for.

Until it is funded fully, it will stay underfunded… (duh)

Only once has it been fully funded. When? According to the Parents’ Campaign, 2007-2008 school year was the last time MAEP was fully funded. It is the most significant issue of MAEP. By nature, the formula may theoretically allocate “sufficient” funds to meet the needs of schools. Every school is different, and their needs are different. However, suppose the state legislature does not appropriate enough money to fund schools fully. In that case, many schools are still faced with a budget shortfall.

Funding education should not be politicalized…

Anytime you have legislative oversight, there is a chance of political interference. Competing interests and priorities will often, if not always, influence funding decisions. Talk about inconsistencies… This undermines the intended purpose of MAEP, which is to fully fund all schools at the same level. 

Education remains a working definition…

Education is ever-changing. Educational needs evolve over time. Why? There will always be factors such as changes in student demographics, technological advances, shifts in curriculum standards, continual testing, and overall pedagogical approaches. If a funding formula does not adapt to these changing needs, it fails to adequately be what it was designed to be. Does the formula need changing? I say yes, but change it to meet the needs of all schools and fund schools fair and equitable. 

Any formula to fund education, be it the INSPIRE or MAEP, will face challenges and criticisms. What is needed is a comprehensive approach that involves not only adjusting the funding formula but also addressing the underlying issues that bring funding to a level where students of all schools will not have to look at other schools and wonder why they are not being afforded the same opportunity.

If you are interested in knowing more about the INSPIRE Act, you can read…

Christian Barnard’s commentary: Mississippi’s INSPIRE Act would upgrade the state’s school finance system. 

Toren Ballard offers a great infographic of the regression analysis comparison of projected school funding: https://twitter.com/TorenBallard/status/1775637355434565760

John Fredericks’ opinion piece from TeachPlus Mississippi: Let’s work toward a school funding for formula for all students

TeachPlus Mississippi also provides a great infographic for INSPIRE: https://twitter.com/TeachPlusMS/status/1773109876106871091

Mississippi First offers this commentary along with a spreadsheet at the bottom of its piece to show the differences in which each school district would receive with INSPIRE and MAEP: House Bill 1453: INSPIRE Funding Formula

In the end, if we view educational funding through the lens of a Christian Worldview Perspective, we see that it should be part of our stewardship (Proverbs 1:5), it helps promote wisdom and discernment (Proverbs 4:7), and provides equity and justice (Psalm 82:3-4). 

Unfortunately, the INSPIRE Act, at the moment, is not being recognized as a good plan by the Senate for what it could do. In the end, it’s our public schools and students who suffer. We will see what happens…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…