Musgrove, Democrats take it on the chin as MSSC unanimously says there is no mandate to fully fund MAEP

State Supreme Court says there is no state mandate to fully fund K-12 education

The Mississippi Supreme Court says there is no mandatory requirement for the Legislature to fully fund K-12 education in the state.

The court Thursday let stand a Hinds County chancery judge’s ruling dismissing a lawsuit filed on behalf of 21 school districts in the state over Mississippi Adequate Education Program funding.

In the unanimous opinion, the court decision, written by Justice Leslie King, said state law doesn’t obligate the governor to sign a bill fully funding MAEP, therefore the statute cannot be construed as mandatory.

“Additionally, because the governor is not obligated to sign any bill fully funding MAEP, the districts have not shown any injury, as they cannot show that, even had the Legislature passed a bill fully funding MAEP, that bill would have become law,” the opinion said.

Clarion Ledger
10/19/17