There’s an old saying that “a promise made is a debtunpaid.”

For state schoolchildren, the promise made was the MississippiAdequate Education Program. In recent budget times, though, thatdebt has not been paid off – at least not in full.

While the House-passed funding level also falls a little shortof this year’s requested funding by the state Department ofEducation, the Senate plan approved last week represents a seriousshortfall that could threaten the quality of education provided atthe local level. This would follow a year in which many schooldistricts across the state were forced to raise local taxes becausethe state did not fully fund its commitment in 2004.

The House plan would provide $2.04 billion, almost $25 millionless than requested, whereas the Senate plan, at $1.86 billion, is$180 million less than the House version. The Legislative BudgetCommittee recommendation was $1.75 billion.

Education funding questions are now headed to conference betweenthe House and Senate.

With many other states facing lawsuits over educational fundinginequity, Mississippi lawmakers passed MAEP in an effort todemonstrate their commitment to school funding and to avoidpotential legal troubles. Now, by not fully funding MAEP, somebelieve Mississippi is back in the same position facing potentiallawsuits.

Beyond the legal ramifications, though, is the matter of thestate living up to its word to provide enough money to provideadequate education for its schoolchildren.

Faced with difficult decisions, one area where lawmakers arelooking at saving money is further spreading out a teacher payraise plan.

Teachers are in line to receive 8 percent raises this year.Senate Education Chairman Mike Chaney has proposed changing that to10 percent given over a three-year period, but his plan hasreceived little support.

Chaney’s plan would not be so much the breaking of a promise,but delayed fulfillment with a 2 percent enhancement. The proposalshould be given serious consideration as a viable part of aneducation funding solution.

Another crucial part of that solution is making sure the maximumamount of money reaches the classroom, where it will do the mostgood. Administrators at both the state and local levels mustexamine any and all expenditures to ensure that they are absolutelynecessary and vital to the effort to properly educate children intheir charge.

While excellence should be the goal for which everyone strives,lawmakers have determined that educational adequacy for statestudents is the most attainable measure at this point. If so, thenthey should at least provide the funds needed to fulfill thatadequate promise.