The House Education Committee has passed a bill that gives teachers a pay increase of up to $4,250 over four years. Here’s how the plan works… Teachers with fewer than 5 years of teaching experience automatically get increases as follows: $1,000 increase January 1, 2015 $500 increase July 1, 2015 $1,350 increase July 1, 2016, contingent […]
House Education Committee Passes Teacher Pay Raise Bill Read More »
Numerous bills have been filed that address school funding, open enrollment (crossing district lines), vouchers, charter schools, school standards, and how school boards are selected. Most of these bills have not yet been taken up in committee, but this is a heads-up just in case they make it out of committee and onto the calendar
Vouchers, Tax Credit Scholarships, Opportunity Scholarships, and More The following bills have been introduced in the 2014 Legislative Session; all are designed to divert taxpayer dollars from public schools to private schools. Public schools operate under the most stringent standards of government accountability and transparency; private schools are completely unaccountable to taxpayers for the public dollars
Voucher Bills Filed This Session Read More »
A student is disabled under Section 504 if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities are listed in the Americans with Disabilities Act and include learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, speaking, sleeping, bending, caring for one’s self, lifting, walking, standing, hearing, seeing, etc. Included in the
Voucher-Eligible Impairments in SB 2325 and HB 765 Read More »
If we want our legislators to cast votes that are in line with our priorities and values, it is incumbent upon us to let them know what our priorities and values are. If we expect them to vote for adequarte school funding and strong standards, or against privatization efforts, we need to be sure that
What You Can Do to Influence Your Legislators Read More »
House Speaker Philip Gunn will hold public meetings around the state to get input from Mississippians about issues they would like to see addressed. You are invited to attend a meeting near you. This is a great opportunity to let Speaker Gunn know about the issues that are important to you. The hour-long meetings will take place the week of
Speaker Gunn to Hold Second Ideas Tour Read More »
Literacy – SB 2347. This conference report misses the boat entirely. It does not require that children in K-3rd be screened for reading deficiencies; rather it makes the screening optional (line 55: “may”). Therefore, many children with reading deficiencies will never be identified before they reach third grade. Reading coaches, the most effective means of improving reading
Update on the conference reports that have been filed for several important bills Read More »
Today, the House reconsidered the motion to invite conference on HB 890 and passed it on a 61-56 vote. The bill will now go to conference. House Education Chairman John Moore assured members of that chamber that the conference report would not include charter school language. HB 890, as it passed the Senate, includes: · Charter school language that: o Allows charters in C,
House Reconsiders Motion to Invite Conference on HB 890, MAEP Funding in Jeopardy Read More »
(The following is for informational purposes only. The Parents’ Campaign has no position on these bills.) These bills are alive as of this posting:HB 590 – Sales tax revenue collected from certain business activities within a revitalization zone is distributed to the municipality if the municipality received a loan under this act.Loss to the General
Bills That Provide Tax Exemptions and Reduce State Revenue Read More »
Full Funding of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) HB 513, signed by the governor, provides full funding of the MAEP.This is the first time in MAEP’s history that it has been fully funded in consecutive years. Restoration of Diverted Funds Teacher Supply Fund The legislature did not fully restore this funding.HB 513, signed by
Summary of Legislative Action on The Quality Education Act of 2008 Initiatives Read More »
