A voucher bill now on the House calendar would allow thousands of students to take MAEP dollars to private schools. Please ask your representative to vote no on HB 1036!
Find contact information for legislators here. You may leave a message for any legislator with the capitol switchboard at: 601.359.3770
There is no limit to the number of vouchers that can be awarded in HB 1036, and as many as a third of Mississippi students could be eligible to receive the voucher.
Any student with a dyslexia diagnosis could get a voucher for the full MAEP base student cost to pay tuition at a private school. Private schools need only have a SACS accreditation, a dyslexia therapist, and a dyslexia program to qualify for the vouchers. In DeSoto County, SACS accreditation is not required, and students would be allowed to take our tax dollars across the state line to private schools in Memphis, a provision written into the bill at the request of DeSoto County Rep. Dana Criswell.
This bill is a top priority of privatization lobbyists in our Capitol – they are pushing hard for it. Please contact your representative right away.
Other House bills that need your attention are:
• HB 1294 – Vote no. MAEP revamp “dummy” bill. Brings forward current statute for revisions without specifying changes.
• HB 267 – Vote no. Changes the way school board members are selected. (Electing all board members at the time of the general or presidential election paves the way for out-of-state privatizers to recruit and fund candidates and take over your local school board.)
• HB 293 – Vote no. Shortens school year by ten days. (Research shows that sufficient time on task is a significant indicator in student achievement.)
• HB 580 – Vote no. Brings forward current statute related to virtual schools for unidentified changes. (Could be amended to allow virtual charters.)
Senate bills that need your attention are:
• SB 2607 – Vote no. MAEP revamp “dummy” bill. Brings forward current statute for revisions without specifying changes.
• SB 2036 – Vote no. Requires school board members who are currently elected to stand for election at the time of the statewide election every four years (no staggered terms) (paves the way for out-of-state privatizers to recruit and fund candidates and take over your local school board).
Share the same messages with Lt. Governor Reeves, Capitol: 601.359.3200, and Speaker Gunn ,Capitol: 601.359.3300.
Legislators need to hear from you about these bills. Our children are counting on us!
