What They Say and What They DoWhen Legislators’ Actions Speak More Loudly Than Their Words Parents have registered numerous complaints about what they perceive as a disconnect between what legistors say and what they actually do. Their points are well taken. See below the differences between what legislators say and how they vote. What they say: Legislators claim that they would like to adequately fund our schools if the money were […]
How do legislators turn recurring revenue into one-time money and avoid meeting their statutory obligation to fund public education? Here’s how it works: legislators refuse to acknowledge the revenue that is right before their eyes, leaving it on the table until after the budgeting process is over. Then they sock it away in savings, call it a surplus, and leave
Legislators Play Money Games to Avoid Funding Schools Read More »
Mississippi’s budget is funded by two types of state revenue: recurring and non-recurring. Non-recurring revenue, often referred to by legislators as one-time money, is revenue the state receives in one year that will not recur in the future, such as court settlements. Non-recurring revenue comprises a very small portion of the total state budget. Recurring revenue, on
Recurring and Non-recurring Revenue Read More »
I have great news and a little not-so-great news to report on this deadline day.Just after noon today, Sen. Hob Bryan led a successful effort to add $60-million to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) appropriation. The amendment passed the Senate on a 26 to 24 vote. See that vote here.Please join me in thanking the 26 senators who supported better
Mixed News on Deadline Day Read More »
Tomorrow is the deadline for the House and Senate to act on general bills that originated in the other chamber. (The deadline for the funding bills comes later.) Numerous members have called, emailed, and texted from your spring break vacations to check on the status of the voucher, funding, and pay-raise bills. No action has been taken on
Tomorrow is a Deadline Day for Voucher Bills Read More »
Families as Allies, an organization that advocates for families whose children have special needs, has announced strong opposition to the special needs voucher bills, SB 2325 and HB 765. The concerns presented by Families as Allies (see complete list here) include: the loss of IDEA protection by any children whose parents accept vouchers and agree to withdraw their
Special Needs Advocacy Organization Opposes SB 2325 and HB 765 Read More »
The Senate this week passed its own version of a teacher pay raise bill, differing from the previously passed House bill by providing higher increases up front and eliminating the benchmark requirements. The Senate plan also provides for a performance-based stipend available to teachers beginning in 2016. Lt. Governor Reeves and Senate Education Chair Gray Tollison
Senate Passes Teacher Pay Raise Bill Read More »
The following is a Mississippi Department of Education summary of the House version of The Children First Act – HB 1142 Section 2 : Requires students in sixth grade or above to maintain a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale to participate in sports or extracurricular activities. The State Department of Education would monitor
The Children First Act of 2009 – House Version Read More »
The following is a Mississippi Department of Education summary of the Senate version of The Children First Act – SB 2628 Section 2 : Authorizes the State Board of Education to define underperforming schools and districts, using such factors as student assessment data, graduation rate, dropout rate and completion rate. Requires a school district to publish
The Children First Act of 2009 – Senate Version Read More »
The current iteration of the education funding bill underfunds public schools by $265-million. Now legislators are pushing legislation that gives $6,000 vouchers to pay tuition at private schools or for school supplies, computers, and myriad other expenses for parents of children with special needs who agree not to enroll their children in public schools. Many of the legislators who voted against adequate
Legislators Vote Against Funding for SPED Accommodations and for Vouchers Read More »
