Today and tomorrow, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) will hold a series of hearings that will set in motion the state budgeting process. Funding for our children’s schools through the Mississippi Adequate Education Program will almost certainly be hotly debated. The JLBC is a group of six House members and six senators appointed by the Lt. Governor and Speaker […]
Political bullying or visionary leadership? Read More »
The sample election ballot for Initiative 42, the school funding amendment, has been approved. As expected, the ballot is confusing. Not only does the ballot include a false fiscal analysis with which the leadership has admitted tampering, it also requires voters to jump through the hoops that the legislative leadership intended when it rammed through the alternative amendment last
Initiative 42 Ballot Approved Read More »
State leaders are using a divide and conquer strategy, pitting universities and community colleges against K-12 in their attempt to defeat Initiative 42. Why? So they can continue, undeterred, to cater to the lobbyists pushing for corporate tax breaks and privatization of public education. Here’s what Initiative 42 opponents hope you’ll forget: Community college funding
Anti-education Politics Threaten K-12, Community Colleges, and IHL Read More »
In the next 10 days, the state election commission must decide if the November ballot will include Initiative 42 wording that was manipulated by legislative leaders to reflect the talking points of the opposition. State law requires the Mississippi Legislative Budget Office (LBO) to produce a fiscal analysis of a citizen-sponsored ballot initiative to tell
Legislative Leaders Admit Tampering with Official Initiative 42 Analysis Read More »
The primary election was a mixed bag for Mississippi children. There were some big wins, with pro-public school candidates prevailing over privatizers. In other races, out-of-state PAC money from Washington D.C. defeated staunch public school supporters. The lesson for November is clear. If we want strong public schools in Mississippi, we are going to have to
The Good and the Bad from the Primary Election Read More »
We’ve got six more days to seal the deal on a big win for public schools in the August 4 primary election. The game plan is simple: Make sure you know who the education-friendly candidates are, tell everyone you know, and vote next Tuesday! If you have a contested primary race in your district, here’s what we
A Critical Week for Mississippi Children Read More »
When it comes to the future of public education, the stakes are high in the August 4 primary election (see more below). We need your help to win the day for our children – and it will only take a few minutes of your time… Each week between now and the primary election, we will ask you to
August 4 an Important Day for Public Schools Read More »
Wow! You folks are engaged – and that’s terrific. We asked you to send us the questions you want to ask candidates ahead of the November election, and you responded in typical “we want what’s best for our children” fashion. Rest assured that parents and teachers all across Mississippi are paying attention to the 2015
Keeping You in the Loop on Candidates, Initiative 42 Forums, and Summer Reading Read More »
Last week, Governor Bryant signed SB 2695, the voucher bill that allows taxpayer dollars to be used to pay tuition for children with special needs to attend private academies and for-profit schools. The voucher schools are not required to admit all students who apply and are not required to provide special education services to the
Vouchers, Graduation Requirements, and Common Core Read More »
The 2015 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature has ended. The Senate completed its work yesterday and the House did so this morning. I cannot thank you enough for your tireless work on behalf of Mississippi children. You have been amazing! Here is an update of some of the legislation we tracked during the session… Passed: K-12 Funding – HB
Session Ends, Status of Bills Read More »
