Education reform commission works toward new funding formula

Members of Gov. Nathan Deal’s Education Reform Commission are closing in on a new formula for distributing state revenue to school districts.

The current formula, in use for decades, allocates money based on characteristics of students. A new one would do the same, but with fewer categories or strings attached. Some districts would presumably get more money and others less, and all would be freer to spend as deemed necessary, without adhering to state mandates such as maximum class sizes or minimum teacher pay.

The governor's office has posted documents used in the discussions at gov.georgia.gov. A recommendation is due in July.