Bill would require state spend minimum amount per student
Rep. Charles Sargent, R-Franklin, will file a bill that would require the state to spend a minimum amount per student.
No baseline is currently in place, Sargent said at a Williamson County School Board meeting Saturday.
But creating a baseline would help school districts who receive less than the state average of funding per student, said Sargent, who heads the state House Finance Committee.
School districts receive state funding based on a formula called the Basic Education Program, commonly known as the BEP.
The bill will propose a yearly 3 percent increase in BEP funding until districts receive $3,600 per student in state funds.
On average, the BEP formula currently allocates about $4,500 per student, Sargent said.
Some school districts, including those within Knox, Hamilton, Davidson, Williamson and Sevier counties, receive less than that, he said.
Williamson County Schools, for example, receives $3,300 in state funding per student, he said.
“It will not hurt any school district,” Sargent said.
He said no school district will lose state funding if the bill passes.
Sargent said he hopes the effort will appease school districts who’ve claimed inadequate state education funding.
Metro Nashville Public Schools, Shelby County and seven Hamilton Countyarea districts have issued lawsuits seeking more BEP funding.
Williamson County Director of Schools Mike Looney has expressed concern about the BEP formula, especially given the county’s rapid growth.
The proposed fiscal note for the first year is $17 million to $18 million.
Sargent said he think can secure 38 votes but needs 50 votes total to pass the bill.
Reach Melanie Balakit at 615-9261638 and on Twitter @MelanieBalakit.