CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Hamilton County and six Chattanooga-area school systems have filed a lawsuit against the state saying local schools are not being funded as required by law.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports the lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the Chancery Court of Davidson County. The suit alleges the state has "breached its duty under the Tennessee Constitution to provide a system of free public education for the children of this state."
The lawsuit names Gov. Bill Haslam, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, House Speaker Beth Harwell and other officials who serve on the Tennessee Board of Education.
The suit claims the state's funding formula underestimates the cost of teachers' salaries by about $532 million. It also says schools face an annual shortfall of about $134 million in classroom costs.