Gov. Bill Haslam says a lawsuit filed by seven Southeast Tennessee school districts on Tuesday effectively shuts the door on future talks over the state’s funding of education.
Fast facts
* In 2012, Tennessee spent less than $10,000 per student, while states like Illinois and Pennsylvania spent up to $14,000 per pupil. * Also in 2012, Tennessee spent less on education when compared against personal income than any other state in the South. Source: 2012 U.S. Census analysis
The Hamilton County Board of Education — along with school systems in Bradley, McMinn, Marion, Grundy, Coffee and Polk counties — filed suit Tuesday in Davidson County, claiming the state is not meeting its constitutional obligation to fund public schools. Rather than providing state-funded free public education as required by law, the lawsuit alleges, Tennessee has shifted the financial burden of operating schools to local boards of education, teachers and students, “resulting in substantially unequal education opportunities across the state.”
Such lawsuits have become common across the nation, as school districts in 45 states have taken on their state governments in hopes of increasing education funding. And, generally speaking, the suits are successful in forcing states’ hands to increase education spending.
The lawsuit, filed by Hamilton County school board attorney Scott Bennett, came a day after the leaders of the state’s four largest school systems met with Haslam to talk about their funding issues.