Metro Council Backs School Board's Suit Against State

NASHVILLE, TN — A letter signed by more than 30 members of the Metro Council backs the school board in its lawsuit against the state for an increase in funding for English-language learners.

The letter, the brainchild of Bellevue-area councilmember Dave Rosenberg, praises the school board for its "courageous step" and urges them to resist the state's efforts at encouraging the withdrawal of the suit.

The school board voted in June to become the latest local district to seek more funding from the state via the courts, noting that the formula in state law requires ELL funding at a ration of one teacher per 20 students and one interpreter per 200 students. The state is funding Metro at a 1:25 and 1:250 level.

As reported by the Nashville Scene, the letter tells the school board to press the fight, because it goes beyond underfunding of ELL.

"While your current action is related to inadequate funding of English learner programs, it is important to recognize that the Tennessee General Assembly's BEP Review Committee found that the state is underfunding education by at least $484 million each year," the letter reads. "A large percentage of this — $30 million or more — would be earmarked for Nashville, amplifying investments made by the Metro Council on behalf of Davidson County taxpayers."

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