Among our state’s greatest treasures – hands down, without question, day-in and day-out: Mississippi’s public school TEACHERS! They come in early, stay late, and work countless miracles to ensure that all Mississippi children get a shot at a bright future. The result has been phenomenal. Earlier this year, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) reported these […]
Thank You to These Rock Stars Read More »
Word at the Capitol is that state funding for pre-k programs is at risk. After adjourning the 2025 Regular Legislative Session without adopting a state budget, legislators now are hammering out final appropriations details before Gov. Reeves calls them back to Jackson for a special session, a call that is rumored to be coming later
Pre-k Funding at Risk, Please Call Read More »
The Mississippi Board of Education is seeking public comment on the proposed elimination of the U.S. History end-of-course assessment as a requirement for graduation, effective with the 2025-2026 school year. All comments will be presented to the board for consideration before a final vote is taken on ending the assessment. You can find the proposed change in red text
Changes Proposed to Statewide Accountability System, Grad Requirements Read More »
Public schools could see devastating losses of federal funds, threatening to close programs that have been critical to Mississippi’s recent progress in student achievement and to cause school districts to default on financial obligations. The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) has notified the Mississippi Department of
Billions in Federal Education Dollars for Mississippi Schools at Risk Read More »
The House and Senate have adjourned sine die, ending the 2025 Legislative Session without passing a state budget. Public schools and other state agencies could shut down if no budget agreement is reached before July 1, when the new state budget year begins. To pass a budget, legislators will have to be called into a
House & Senate End Session With No State Budget Read More »
All of the state agency budget bills that were in conference have died, including the PreK – 12 appropriation bill. House conferees declined to sign conference reports over the weekend, causing legislators to miss the deadline for filing those reports. The bills could be revived were the Legislature to extend the legislative session and suspend deadlines,
Education Budget Bill Dies on Deadline Day Read More »
We’re almost there! Saturday is the deadline for conference reports on appropriations and revenue bills to be filed, including the school funding bill and those that now include Children’s Promise Act tax-credit voucher language (HB 1894, SB 3126, SB 3165, SB 3167). We are watching those closely. In the meantime, please continue to ask your legislators to
The next 10 days will be among the most critical of this legislative session, and we will need to be on high alert as close to 200 bills come out of conference. We will be watching for the PreK-12 funding bill, with expectations that the Mississippi Student Funding Formula will again be fully funded. We
We Need To Be On High Alert Read More »
Two major occurrences last week could have significant impacts on public education. Time will tell. On Thursday afternoon, President Trump issued an executive order calling for the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education. Only Congress can abolish a state agency it created, but much of the USDE staff already has been put on leave, and numerous education-related
What Does This Mean For Public Schools? Read More »
HB 1902, a Children’s Promise Act voucher bill to fund private schools, is dead. You reached out, and our senators delivered. It’s time to let them know how grateful we are. Legislators take a lot of heat, and we are quick to let them know when we disapprove of a vote. It’s just as important
