The Parents’ Campaign is celebrating 15 years of advocacy for Mississippi children and public schools!

We’re thrilled at the progress that has been made since our official start on March 31, 2006. Beginning with concerned moms chatting around a kitchen table, The Parents’ Campaign grew quickly, bringing parents, grandparents, educators, and community, faith, and business leaders together as a force for change. Take a look at these highlights of our work together to ensure a brighter future for each Mississippi child…

Our very first action alert came in late 2006 after Gov. Barbour announced publicly that the MAEP would never be fully funded while he was governor. And WOW, did you ever come through for Mississippi children! Together, we made thousands of calls to legislators and Gov. Barbour’s office, leading up to a HUGE victory – a rare about-face by the governor and full funding of the MAEP in the 2007 Legislative Session. Decades of work by advocates and organizations prior to The Parents’ Campaign’s founding laid the groundwork for that success.
Our very first action alert came in late 2006 after Gov. Barbour announced publicly that the MAEP would never be fully funded while he was governor. And WOW, did you ever come through for Mississippi children! Together, we made thousands of calls to legislators and Gov. Barbour’s office, leading up to a HUGE victory – a rare about-face by the governor and full funding of the MAEP in the 2007 Legislative Session. Decades of work by advocates and organizations prior to The Parents’ Campaign’s founding laid the groundwork for that success.
Prior to 2008, teacher salary step increases stopped at 25 years of service. We partnered with other education associations to achieve this important win, extending step increases to 35 years and keeping veteran teachers in the classroom longer.
Prior to 2008, teacher salary step increases stopped at 25 years of service. We partnered with other education associations to achieve this important win, extending step increases to 35 years and keeping veteran teachers in the classroom longer.
Believe it or not, before 2009 Mississippi’s public schools were specifically prohibited by law from spending their state funds on preschool classrooms. The Parents’ Campaign and other groups advocated for – and achieved – a change in the law that allowed school districts to start offering publicly-funded preschool to the youngest children in their districts.
Believe it or not, before 2009 Mississippi’s public schools were specifically prohibited by law from spending their state funds on preschool classrooms. The Parents’ Campaign and other groups advocated for – and achieved – a change in the law that allowed school districts to start offering publicly-funded preschool to the youngest children in their districts.
We rallied at the Capitol and pushed hard in 2010 to alleviate damage from massive recession-induced budget cuts to public schools in 2008 and 2009. Parents and educators worked with legislators to ensure some help for schools through a restoration of $37-million to school district budgets.
We rallied at the Capitol and pushed hard in 2010 to alleviate damage from massive recession-induced budget cuts to public schools in 2008 and 2009. Parents and educators worked with legislators to ensure some help for schools through a restoration of $37-million to school district budgets.
We took our “Stop the Cuts” campaign statewide to engage Mississippians in the fight to protect school funding. You came through again! Senators responded to your calls with bipartisan defeat of a measure that would have stripped $81-million from the K-12 budget.
We took our “Stop the Cuts” campaign statewide to engage Mississippians in the fight to protect school funding. You came through again! Senators responded to your calls with bipartisan defeat of a measure that would have stripped $81-million from the K-12 budget.
Education advocates across Mississippi worked with legislators to pave the way for our state’s first dual enrollment courses – a move that boosted graduation rates and saved parents money on college tuition.
Education advocates across Mississippi worked with legislators to pave the way for our state’s first dual enrollment courses – a move that boosted graduation rates and saved parents money on college tuition.
A big and long-fought-for win for Mississippi’s youngest learners came in 2013: our first ever state appropriation dedicated to pre-k, which research shows earns a truly amazing return on investment of up to $17 for every $1 invested.
A big and long-fought-for win for Mississippi’s youngest learners came in 2013: our first ever state appropriation dedicated to pre-k, which research shows earns a truly amazing return on investment of up to $17 for every $1 invested.
Seven years without a pay raise – that’s where teachers stood in 2014. Legislators agreed that an across-the-board teacher pay raise was past due. A two-year plan yielded a $1,500 increase the first year and another $1,000 the second year.
Seven years without a pay raise – that’s where teachers stood in 2014. Legislators agreed that an across-the-board teacher pay raise was past due. A two-year plan yielded a $1,500 increase the first year and another $1,000 the second year.
Moving school funding in the right direction! That’s what you helped accomplish in 2015 with a significant increase in the MAEP appropriation, though still far short of full funding.
Moving school funding in the right direction! That’s what you helped accomplish in 2015 with a significant increase in the MAEP appropriation, though still far short of full funding.
All of us calling, texting, emailing, and showing up in person at the Capitol…that’s what it took in 2016 to beat back privatization/voucher lobbyists and win the day for public schools!
All of us calling, texting, emailing, and showing up in person at the Capitol…that’s what it took in 2016 to beat back privatization/voucher lobbyists and win the day for public schools!
Privatization/voucher lobbyists prowled the Capitol, pressuring lawmakers to pass bills to take over local school boards, reduce public school funding, and send public funds to private schools. Legislators sided with you, defeating all 12 privatization bills in 2017!
Privatization/voucher lobbyists prowled the Capitol, pressuring lawmakers to pass bills to take over local school boards, reduce public school funding, and send public funds to private schools. Legislators sided with you, defeating all 12 privatization bills in 2017!
YOU, the parents, educators, and public school supporters of Mississippi, made thousands of phone calls, text messages, and personal visits to legislators in 2018, sharing your opposition to a rewrite of the MAEP that would devastate school budgets. Public school children emerged the winners after legislators defeated HB 957.
YOU, the parents, educators, and public school supporters of Mississippi, made thousands of phone calls, text messages, and personal visits to legislators in 2018, sharing your opposition to a rewrite of the MAEP that would devastate school budgets. Public school children emerged the winners after legislators defeated HB 957.
Unprecedented engagement of public school supporters in the 2019 Election made all the difference. You made public education the top campaign issue and elected the most public education-friendly Legislature we’ve had in years. Thank you, #msleg, for your support of public schools!
Unprecedented engagement of public school supporters in the 2019 Election made all the difference. You made public education the top campaign issue and elected the most public education-friendly Legislature we’ve had in years. Thank you, #msleg, for your support of public schools!
The ESA private school voucher program, which operated for years with no accountability, was fraught with problems. In 2020, legislators worked with us to narrow the program and add badly-needed protections for Mississippi children and taxpayers.
The ESA private school voucher program, which operated for years with no accountability, was fraught with problems. In 2020, legislators worked with us to narrow the program and add badly-needed protections for Mississippi children and taxpayers.
Bravo! Your advocacy + a public-education friendly Legislature brought about some big wins in 2021 for public school teachers and students: ● $102-million increase in public school funding ● $1,000 teacher and assistant teacher pay raise ● Increased teacher supply funds ● School loan repayment for new teachers ● Better teacher licensure reciprocity ● Doubled pre-k investment ● Improved focus on dyslexia services and more!
Bravo! Your advocacy + a public-education friendly Legislature brought about some big wins in 2021 for public school teachers and students: ● $102-million increase in public school funding ● $1,000 teacher and assistant teacher pay raise ● Increased teacher supply funds ● School loan repayment for new teachers ● Better teacher licensure reciprocity ● Doubled pre-k investment ● Improved focus on dyslexia services and more!
Ask at least one friend to join us in building a brighter future for Mississippi children.
Ask at least one friend to join us in building a brighter future for Mississippi children.

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