Senator who helped write MAEP skeptical of planned rewrite

(AP) — A lawmaker who helped write Mississippi's current education funding formula is questioning whether a private firm hired to rewrite it can accomplish the task in a short period of time.

[...] it has been fully funded only two years and the continuous shortfalls have made lawmakers the target of sharp criticism from public education advocates.

Costs for transportation, special education, gifted programs, vocational programs and alternative schools are calculated separately from the MAEP formula, and districts receive state money for those.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn, both Republicans, announced last week that House and Senate committees had awarded a no-bid contract to a New Jersey-based firm, EdBuild, to examine MAEP and recommend changes that could be considered during the 2017 legislative session, which runs from early January to early April.

Bryan said Tuesday that he questions whether Republican leaders are trying to change the education funding formula as a way to ultimately direct public money to private schools.