Senate minority leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) called Gov. Bill Lee’s new school grading system “flawed” in a statement Thursday that critiqued Tennessee’s bottom 10 in the nation student funding.

Sen. Raumesh Akbari said: “These flawed letter grades will never define a school, their students and families, or their teachers and staff. What these letter grades do show is the consequences of bottom 10 in the nation student funding and a failure by the state to move resources to the students who need them most.

“Instead of weaponizing these grades, I hope lawmakers will come together around policies that nourish every child’s learning potential and strengthen the community around these students.”