Senate Education Chair says he wants to see the state fully fund its obligation to public schools

The Mississippi Adequate Education Program, which serves as a formula for how the state funds public schools, has not been fulfilled in years past. According to the Mississippi Parents Campaign, MAEP has been under-funded by more than $3-billion in the past 15 years. But Dennis Debar, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, said this week that he hopes to fully fund the program this year.

"We're trying to correct and make minor changes to the formula, that everyone can agree on." he said.

The Chair's words received praise from public school activists in the state. JoAnn Mickens is the Executive Director at Parents for Public Schools. She says many of the pressing topics in the legislature right now circle back to the quality of education.

"If we look at health, education is at the basis of how healthy we are. If we look at crime, research shows us that the better educated we are, the less crime there is." she said. "And I think that fully funding public schools is absolutely fundamental to economic progress."

Mickens adds that public schools are available to everyone, and should get an increase in public funding over private institutions. She and others are calling on lawmakers to keep tax dollars out of private schools.

"Parents are always gonna make what they feel is the best choice for their Children, and I have absolutely no problem with that," she said. "but if you make a choice other than the public schools, then why should public dollars go to pay for that choice?"

The bill that would change the formula is awaiting debate on the Senate floor.