MS at the top of the (wrong) rankings once again: "State’s education cuts some of the deepest in the nation Mississippi had the 10th deepest cuts nationally in education spending since the recession hit in 2008, according to a study by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. According to the study released last week, Mississippi is spending $648 less per pupil, adjusted for inflation, for the current fiscal year than it did in 2008 before the recession hit. Or put another way, the state is spending 13.1 percent less, adjusted for inflation, per student. “Mississippi students deserve an education system that will prepare them for the future,” said Sara Miller, senior policy analyst for the Mississippi Economic Policy Center. “Without full funding for public education in Mississippi, we are denying them a chance at future success.” According to the study, Mississippi is one of at least 34 states spending less per pupil than when the recession hit in 2008. Mississippi experienced an unprecedented drop in revenue collections during the midst of the recession. But during the past two years, the state has experienced growth of more than 5 percent. Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, said while the recession was a factor, “it is clear that a reduction in education spending has been a policy decision by the people in charge… You talk about mortgaging your future by not paying to educate your children.” Bryan said a rule change passed by the Republican majority that limits the ability of a rank-and-file legislator to offer an amendment to capture unanticipated revenue for education or for any other agency makes it impossible for the full Legislature to go against the wishes of the budget leaders. “The leadership controls everything related to the budget and is not letting money get to education,” Bryan said." msbusiness/businessblog/2013/09/16/states-education-cuts-deepest-nation/
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 20:34:46 +0000