Politicians often use the percent of the state budget that is dedicated to public schools as evidence of their support of K-12 education. You have probably heard them claim that education makes up over 60% of the total state budget. That is simply not true. While it is true that all of education – including […]
An excellent early education experience for every child (A Blueprint Mississippi 2011 recommendation) $5-million for Mississippi Building Blocks Based on a per-student cost of $2,000, this will allow MBB in 2013-2014 to reach approximately 2,500 children in child care centers located primarily in low-income areas of Mississippi An excellent teacher in every classroom (A Blueprint Mississippi 2011 recommendation) $12-million
The Parents’ Campaign’s 2013 Legislative & Policy Priorities A School Reform Agenda Read More »
School districts are in a terrible predicament because legislators refuse to agree on a state budget. Though leaders in both chambers have told The Parents’ Campaign they are committed to full funding, at least one appropriations chairman is sending a different signal to others. Natalie Chandler, of The Clarion Ledger, reported in her blog on June
School Districts Being Hurt by Budget Delay Read More »
February 2009 The 3.49% cuts to MAEP funds took effect the first week of February as school districts’ monthly MAEP payments were reduced to reflect the reduced budgets. The Mississippi House of Representatives has passed a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $68-million to offset the bulk of the cuts, and that bill, House Bill
FY09 School District Budget Cuts Go Into Effect Read More »
National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) have expressed concern that their hard-earned salary supplements will be reduced due to cuts made to school budgets in January. The Mississippi Department of Education has confirmed that NBCT supplements will be honored as called for in the teachers’ contracts. While Governor Barbour’s January cuts to education did include a
National Board Certified Teachers Will Continue to Receive Full Supplement Read More »
In September, The Mississippi Department of Education presented to the Legislative Budget Committee K-12 education’s budget request for the 2013-2014 school year. Fully funding the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) for FY2014 (the next fiscal year) would require an increase in funding of $300-million. The MAEP is underfunded this year by almost $260-million. Several members of the
MDE Presents Budget Request, Legislator Suggests Scrapping MAEP Read More »
The Parents’ Campaign supports the authorization of charter schools in unsuccessful school zones. Our Position The Parents’ Campaign supports the authorization of charter schools in the school attendance zones of any traditional public schools that for the two most recent years have had accountability ratings that are below C – Successful (Academic Watch, Low Performing,
Charter Schools Position Read More »
The following are seven principles that should be included in charter school legislation to ensure that resources are focused where they will improve student achievement, limit increases in administrative costs, rejuvenate struggling communities, and give Mississippi children who are trapped in underperforming schools a shot at a bright future. Permit charters only in school zones
Seven Principles for Sound Charter School Policy Read More »
Legislators in our neighboring state of Alabama also considered charter school bills in their 2012 session. They had vigorous public debate about how to ensure that charter schools help the children in their state whose schools are failing to educate them. The original charter school bills introduced in both chambers were changed significantly in response
Alabama Considers Charter School Legislation Read More »
The good news is that funding for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) will increase by $19.38-million for the 2012-2013 school year (Fiscal Year 2013). The bad news is that school districts will have to cover a $23-million increase in the employer’s share of the annual cost of the state retirement system. Therefore, schools will have about
