NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal to add an amendment to the state constitution that would give the Tennessee Legislature full discretion to determine the funding and eligibility of public schools has failed.

The joint resolution sponsored by Sen. Delores Gresham, a Somerville Republican, died Wednesday in the Senate Education Committee.

The legislation was proposed as some Tennessee school systems wage a court battle to get more education funding. Hamilton County and six surrounding school districts sued the state last year saying they are so chronically underfunded that it violates a child's right to a free and equal education.