When you pray, move your feet. It’s an old proverb that is among my favorites. Sometimes, the answer to a heartfelt prayer comes in a call to get up and do something – to be the vessel, the hands and feet, through which important works are done. Mississippi parents are answering that call. They are moving their feet […]
Down to the Wire: Privatization Votes Coming in House and Senate Read More »
Mississippi parents make my heart sing! My phone has been ringing and my inbox is full. Droves of Mississippi parents are asking, “What else can we do to make our legislators support our public schools?” Hang in there, and don’t give up! Tell ten of your friends how your legislators voted on bills in the last round,
Some Bad News, Some Good News Read More »
We need your help again! Vouchers are still very much in play. A voucher bill that would send $6,500 per student to private schools is slated for a vote by the full House. Click here to see an analysis of the bill. Legislators whose ultimate goal is to privatize our public schools are still pushing their plan to hand debit
Voucher Bill Awaiting House Floor Vote Read More »
In an incredibly irresponsible, politically-motivated move, the House passed a bill today that, if enacted, will ensure that our children will never receive adequate school resources. You can see your legislator’s vote here. HB 1629 removes 30 percent of state general fund revenue by eliminating the entire state income tax, phased out over the course of 15 years. The
Legislators Play High Stakes Politics with Children’s Futures Read More »
Mississippi lawmakers claim to have modeled Mississippi’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act after Florida’s, but Florida did not base its retentions on one test. The Sunshine State’s statute has a provision that leaves the final say with teachers, principals and superintendents, so long as they can back up their recommendations with evidence that the student in question
Today, the House of Representatives passed the K-12 funding bill, HB 1536, on a unanimous vote with almost no debate. The bill under-funds the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) by $201-million. HB 1536 provides an increase in MAEP funding of $107-million over last year, about half of which will go to cover the second phase of the well-deserved pay
House Passes K-12 Funding Bill, MAEP Shorted $201-million Read More »
The House did not take up the funding bill today, so there is still time to make those calls! We are expecting that debate tomorrow shortly after the House convenes at 10 a.m. You can watch it here. Here are the facts you need to know: An increase of $307.8-million would be required to fully fund the Mississippi
Still Time to Contact Representatives; Ed Funding Debate Tomorrow Read More »
The House is likely to vote on the K-12 funding bill this afternoon. Here are the facts you need to know: An increase of $307.8-million would be required to fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP), not counting the pay raise for assistant teachers. The House is proposing an increase of $106.7-million in MAEP funding, $40-million
House to Vote on K-12 Funding that Shorts MAEP by $201M Read More »
You are terrific! Both the third-grade reading gate bill and the assistant teacher pay-raise bill were moved forward today. They will now go to the Senate for debate. It is likely that the final bill we were watching, the bill to move from average daily attendance to average enrollment for the MAEP calculation, will be moved
Third-Grade Reading and Assistant Teacher Pay-Raise Bills Move to Senate Read More »
Thank you, thank you for your faithful work on behalf of Mississippi children! Tomorrow is a critical day for three important education bills that are still pending: the reading gate, assistant teacher pay-raise, and average daily membership bills. HB 745 holds harmless this year’s third-graders for the first-year results of a new high-stakes reading test. Without
Three Critical Bills Need to Move Forward Read More »
