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
Keep those calls and texts going – your senators need your support to stand strong against a well-funded and persistent voucher lobby! As we reported yesterday, HB 1902, a Children’s Promise Act voucher bill to fund private schools, was defeated in the Senate (see that vote), but it was held on a motion to reconsider,
Progress, But Not There Yet Read More »
Today, the Mississippi Senate defeated HB 1902, the Children’s Promise Act legislation so many of you called your senators about last night and this morning. See that vote. However, the bill was held on a motion to reconsider, which means it is likely there will be another vote on it, as early as tomorrow. Please reach back
Need More Calls! Children’s Promise Act Defeated, Then Revived Read More »
This afternoon, the Senate Finance Committee advanced HB 1902, the Children’s Promise Act legislation, moving it forward for a Senate floor vote. Though the committee amended the bill to remove the increase in funding flowing to private schools, having the code sections alive leaves it vulnerable to more increases in conference. We want that bill to die. The Children’s
Need Calls to Senators: Vote NO on HB 1902 Read More »
