Here’s how the Children’s Promise Act private school tax credits work: Let’s say John owes the State of Mississippi $5,000 in taxes. If John writes a $2,500 check to his child’s private school, the state reduces his tax bill by that amount, and John pays only $2,500 to the state. The effect on the state budget […]
How Private School Tax Credits Work Read More »
Today, the Mississippi House of Representatives voted to send millions more in state tax dollars to private schools. The funding flows by way of dollar-for-dollar tax credits for donations to private schools.* This is the mechanism for funneling state funding to private schools that is preferred by Mississippi’s private school association, which fears that accountability
House Votes to Send Public Money to Private Schools Read More »
The general bills that have survived thus far have passed the chambers in which they originated and must now be approved by the opposite body. Each chamber has passed some bills that we support, and other bills remain that would be harmful to public schools. We need your help to ensure that the bad bills
Need Your Help With a Few Bills Read More »
Thank you to all the public school supporters who reached out to your legislators about the education bills they were considering – your voice matters! One of the worst bills died, and others were changed extensively due to your input. Thanks also are due the legislators who heard and responded to their constituents’ concerns! We’re
House Passes Significant Increase in School Funding Read More »
Tomorrow is primary election day in Mississippi, and your vote is important for two reasons:• a strong and viable democracy relies on voters making their voices heard• a recent change in Mississippi’s election law makes it more important than ever for you to be in the habit of voting in every election Last year, the Mississippi
This Week’s To-do List: Vote Tuesday, Call Legislators Read More »
Today, the Senate passed SB 2332, which makes minor adjustments to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program. It improves equity in the MAEP by increasing funding for low-wealth school districts and adjusts the inflation factor for use in non-recalculation years. See the vote here. Senators also passed SB 2685 to allow retired teachers to return to
Senate Passes Bill Benefiting Retired Teachers & Public Schools Read More »
This afternoon, the House passed HB 1453, the rewrite of the school funding law that omits the objective formula for determining the base student cost. See the vote here. Some excellent arguments against the bill were made on the floor, and the bill was held on a motion to reconsider by Rep. Rosebud. During questioning, Education
House Passes School Funding Law Rewrite Read More »
Our first committee deadline has passed, and the full House and Senate will now begin voting on the bills that made it onto their calendars. Please ask your legislators to VOTE NO on these bills: • HB 1453 eliminates the MAEP and replaces it with a law that allows the Legislature to decide how much funding schools
See Which Bills Survived Today’s Deadline Read More »
The education bills listed below have passed the House and Senate Education Committees, and most are awaiting floor votes. A few are double referred and must pass a second committee before going to the floor for a vote of the full chamber. Ask your legislators to VOTE NO on these bills:• HB 867 imposes an extensive
Education Bills Need Your Attention Read More »
Mississippi education associations agree: if legislators pursue a school funding formula (MAEP) rewrite, it must include the following elements. Objective formula for base cost, inflation factor, additional needs-based funding, and equity component – see details in our joint letter to the Legislature.
Ed Associations’ Letter to Legislators Regarding School Funding Formula Read More »
