BESE task force aligns 2025–26 MFP recommendation with governor’s executive budget

The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) task force discussed aligning its 2025–26 funding recommendation with the governor’s executive budget, a move that would formally include about $49.5 million in supplemental appropriations for differentiated compensation, apprenticeships and tutoring, Department staff said.

Department staff member Dr. Brumley told the task force, “we've simply aligned the recommendation to the governor's executive budget.” That alignment would lock into the MFP three major supplemental items the governor already included in his executive budget: $17.5 million for differentiated compensation block grants to local education agencies (LEAs); $2 million for workforce development (apprenticeships and internships); and $30 million for K–5 tutoring block grants.

Why it matters: placing those appropriations in the MFP would make them part of the formal funding resolution that guides state distributions to school systems. Task force members noted the legislature and BESE will still need to act on final language and that the committee could not take a formal vote at this meeting because it lacked a quorum.

Details of the three items

Differentiated compensation: Dr. Brumley described the $17.5 million as a block grant to LEAs targeted to “critical shortage areas as identified by Bessie.” She said, “Presently, those are K–12 special education, high school math, high school science. The other area is for economically disadvantaged schools, meaning that they serve a community, I think, that's 90% or greater economically disadvantaged. The third area is for teacher leadership … and then the fourth component of differentiated pay is performance pay or merit pay for teachers with highly effective evaluations.” The task force discussion noted LEAs would have discretion to allocate the block grant within those boxes.

Workforce development: The proposal includes $2 million for apprenticeships and internships. Dr. Brumley said the funding includes a higher weight for apprenticeships and internships in rural communities “because we recognize the need around transportation in rural communities.” Members discussed using the funding to expand employer and postsecondary partnerships.

Tutoring: The package would again include $30 million for tutoring block grants created by last year’s legislation from Senator McMath. Dr. Brumley said that law called for students in grades K–5 who are not proficient to receive tutoring and that “we were able to secure $30,000,000 … and, in this year's executive budget, the governor provided for $30,000,000 again.” She described the funds as block grants to LEAs, with guidance that LEAs may use a mix of delivery models.

Process and next steps

A motion was made to consider discussion of the 2025–26 MFP recommendation; Miss Shafak moved the motion and Mister Harris seconded it, but the task force did not vote because it did not have a quorum. Department staff said they would provide the recommendation to BESE and noted timing constraints tied to the legislature’s budget process; members referenced a March 15 legislative deadline for materials to be available to legislators.

Members sought clarification on program details — for example, whether tutoring must be in-person or could be online — and staff said guidance allows either model and that local practices vary. Staff and members also discussed the use of retired teachers as potential tutors and said that idea is under legislative review.

Ending

Because the group lacked a quorum, the task force did not adopt the recommendation formally. Staff indicated they would forward the aligned recommendation to BESE for consideration and that final funding will depend on BESE and legislative action.