Our Legislature has some explaining to do. If Mississippi has money to give away, why are public schools horribly underfunded, and why don’t the proposed teacher pay raises get teacher salaries to the Southeastern average? Late last week, the Senate announced its own revenue reduction proposal, which would strip an estimated $317-million from state coffers. […]
Our Legislature has some explaining to do Read More »
The deadline for committees to pass bills that originated in their own chambers has passed, and the House and Senate will take up the surviving bills for floor votes over the next 10 days. We are asking legislators to VOTE NO on these bills: HB 31 – Allows the Charter School Authorizer Board to develop
See Which Bills We Support, Oppose Read More »
If you value teachers, public schools, and other vital state services, ask your senator to VOTE NO on House Bill 531. HB 531 would eliminate an estimated $1.5-billion in state funding, a quarter of the General Fund (even after increasing sales taxes), a blow to the state budget that would almost certainly necessitate deep cuts
Income Tax Elimination Threatens Teacher Pay, School Budgets Read More »
SB 2444, the Senate’s teacher pay raise bill, has passed the full Senate on a unanimous vote. Each chamber has now passed its own version of the pay raise, and each is substantive. Kudos to the Mississippi House and Senate for moving forward with two impressive teacher pay proposals! We look forward to working with them
Teacher Pay Raise Passes Full Senate Read More »
Today, SB 2444, the Senate’s teacher pay raise bill, passed both the Senate Education and Appropriations committees, another step toward more competitive pay for Mississippi teachers. The bill differs slightly from the proposal as first announced, increasing the 25-year bump for all teachers to $2,500. The Senate plan, which would be phased in over two years,
Senate Teacher Pay Raise Bill Passes Committees Read More »
Today, the Mississippi House passed HB 530, the House version of the teacher pay plan, another step toward a historic salary increase for teachers. House Education Chairman Richard Bennett gave a passionate speech in support of the pay raise, extolling the excellent work of Mississippi teachers and urging his colleagues to recognize their efforts with a
House Passes Teacher Pay Raise Bill Read More »
Today, House Education Chairman Richard Bennett introduced HB 530, the House version of the teacher pay plan, or START Act. The bill, which increases substantially starting teacher pay and teacher pay overall, was taken up and passed in the Appropriations Committee. Chairman Bennett lauded the progress that Mississippi teachers have made in improving student achievement
House Teacher Pay Plan Brings More Good News Read More »
Today, Senate Education Chairman Dennis DeBar announced the Senate’s teacher pay raise plan. Making the announcement at the Stennis Capitol Press Forum, the chairman explained that the proposal reflects the concerns and priorities that teachers expressed in listening sessions he held around the state, as well as feedback provided to the Education Committee in its
Senate Announces Teacher Pay Raise Plan Read More »
Yesterday, the Mississippi Legislature convened the 2022 Legislative Session, one of the most important for public education in recent history. The leadership in both chambers has said that a teacher pay raise will be forthcoming. The size of that pay raise is critical. Do lawmakers have the political will to do whatever it takes to pass
2022 Legislative Session Has Begun Read More »
Mississippi teacher salaries are the lowest in the nation, causing teachers to work two or more jobs to pay their bills and contributing to a teacher shortage crisis. What do teachers themselves say about their low pay and its ripple effects on education in our state? Click here to see quotes from teachers across Mississippi.
What Do Teachers Themselves Say About Their Low Salaries? Read More »
