This morning, we have discovered vouchers hidden in a conference report for an unrelated bill. Worse, the changes in statute are NOT underlined, something that is required to alert legislators to changes in law that are being proposed. HB 1685, a pregnancy resources bill, includes a $2-million increase in an already large tax credit/voucher program, the true […]
Vouchers Hidden in Conference Report – Need Calls! Read More »
The Legislature missed tonight’s deadline for a final vote on appropriations bills, and they are expected to extend the session in order to get their work done. We are still waiting for a conference report on the PreK-12 school funding bill. Meanwhile, the Legislature has passed sweeping income tax cuts that will strip $524-million from the
Legislature Misses School Funding Deadline, Passes Tax Cuts Read More »
How many times have our legislators told us that they value our children, teachers, and public schools, and that they always keep our best interests top of mind when deciding state budget issues? Their actions tell a different story… While public school underfunding has escalated, school buildings have deteriorated, special education resources have fallen short, and
This Will Make You Angry – and It Should Read More »
We are almost to the finish line, but we need your help on two critical issues to protect our public schools and our big win on teacher pay: 1. VOUCHERS – Privatizers are pushing to expand a voucher provision that was sneaked into a foster care bill last year. HB 1687 would allow millions of dollars in tax
URGENT: Need Calls on Vouchers and Tax Cuts! Read More »
The House has passed the teacher pay raise!! The vote on the conference report for HB 530 was 118 to 4. See the House vote. It now awaits Gov. Reeves’ signature, the final step in this historic move to bring Mississippi teacher pay closer to the Southeastern average. The bill provides a $2,000 raise for assistant
Teacher Pay Raise Passes the House! Read More »
The House adjourned for the weekend without taking up the teacher pay raise conference report for a vote. Thank you for your calls to representatives – there are strong indications that the House plans to pass the pay raise next week and send it to Gov. Reeves for his signature. That is good news, but
Threat to School Budgets Looms Read More »
The teacher pay raise has passed the full Senate on a unanimous vote. Please join us in thanking our senators for this momentous action! Included is a $2,000 increase for assistant teachers and an average increase of $5,140 for certified teachers. See the new salary schedule passed by the Senate. The House adjourned without taking up the pay
Senate Passes Teacher Pay Raise, Still Awaiting House Vote Read More »
We have a signed conference report for the teacher pay raise bill!! House and Senate conferees have agreed on a historic and well deserved teacher pay raise that provides an average salary increase of $5,140 for Mississippi teachers. All conferees have signed the conference report for HB 530, which provides higher salaries for certified teachers at
Teacher Pay Raise Near the Finish Line Read More »
Progress! This afternoon, Senate Education Chairman Dennis DeBar announced a conference committee meeting on HB 530, the teacher pay raise bill, in Room 216 of the Capitol at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. That is good news! You can watch the livestream here. In other sort-of-good news, you came very, very close to killing HB 1687, the voucher bill
Lots of News Today Read More »
The Senate Finance Committee passed amended versions of two dangerous bills that will go to the full Senate for floor votes tomorrow. HB 531, the income tax cut bill, would slash $439-million from the state budget every year when fully phased in. HB 1687 would allow millions of dollars in tax credits for donations to
RED ALERT: Vouchers and Tax Cuts Read More »
