JACKSON Tenn (March 26, 2015)  Point5digital/WNWS has obtained a copy of the lawsuit filed by 7 Tennessee counties alleging school funding inequities.

The suit alleges that the state of Tennessee has breached its duty under the Tennessee Constitution to provide a system of free public education for the children of the state. Plaintiffs allege the state currently has instead created a system that impermissibly shifts the cost of education to local Board of Education school teachers and students resulting in substantially unequal educational opportunities across the state even within plaintiffs counties.

According to Associated Press, Gov. Bill Haslam says he’s not going to let a lawsuit several East Tennessee school systems filed against the state over funding derail the administration’s efforts to address grievances about the state’s school funding formula.

Public School Funding: Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief 

Hamilton County and six Chattanooga-area school systems filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, a day after the superintendent of Hamilton County Schools and superintendents representing Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville met with the governor to discuss their concerns.

The state’s four largest cities have argued that the funding formula, known as the Basic Education Program, is not adequately funded, and they threatened to sue.

After meeting with the governor, the superintendents told reporters they’d like to see plans the governor discussed play out before pursuing litigation. However, Hamilton County filed suit the next day.