HB 957 Summary

• Replaces the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) with a new "Mississippi Uniform Per Student Funding Formula Act of 2018" establishing a per-student funding model beginning fiscal year 2019.

• Sets base student funding amount at $4,800.00 per student, with weighted multipliers for high school grades (1.30x), low-income students (25%), English Language Learners (20%), special education students (60-170% depending on disability tier), gifted students (25%), and sparse school districts (10%).

• Calculates school district funding by multiplying average daily membership by applicable grade level allocations and adding supplemental amounts for weighted student categories.

• Establishes state funding contribution requirements based on local property tax revenue, capping local contribution at 27% of total funding costs, with annual allocation limitations of ±3% for fiscal years 2021-2025.

• Creates multiple study committees to review formula implementation, evaluate IEP-based special education funding models, examine early learning funding, and research earned autonomy accountability systems for high-performing school districts.