NASHVILLE (AP) — House Democrats are speaking out against a decision by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's administration to withhold $3.4 million in state funding from Nashville because of a dispute over a charter school application.

The lawmakers are holding a news conference on the plaza across from the state Capitol on Tuesday afternoon.

Haslam has said he had no choice but to agree to deny the funds to Nashville schools because of the system's refusal to follow a directive from the state school board to approve the application from Arizona-based Great Hearts Academy. But the city schools say the fine will hurt students because that money would otherwise go toward areas like transportation and maintenance.

Opponents of the charter school said its proposal lacked a focus on diversity.