Video: School Districts Fight State Against Under Funding

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MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) — School districts throughout the state have joined the lawsuit against Mississippi for under funding schools throughout their districts.

A lawsuit has been filled against the state by 14 school districts for under funding of more than $150 million since 2010.

Under the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, which is the formula used to set the state funding for public education, Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove, says public schools in the state have been under funded more than $1 billion in the past four years.

Now, Musgrove and other lawyers are trying to get other districts to join in on the lawsuit in hopes to require full funding of MAEP immediately.

“The best economic development tool a community can have is a good public school,” Musgrove said. “It’s important to fund them to make sure that we can offer quality work force and people who are good at jobs, and to me that’s the best way to do it is through funding.”

Musgrove says if the lawsuit is won, it will lead to full funding of all the state’s school districts.