Well, they’re at it again – sticking money for private schools in the middle of a bill intended to help vulnerable mothers and children.
You might remember the Children’s Promise Act from the end of last year’s session – the law that was supposed to encourage donations to organizations that serve children in foster care but, instead, diverted half of the funding to private schools that are not required to serve foster children. It’s back again in HB 1671 with yet another increase for private schools.
Section 4 of HB 1671 should be amended to eliminate the provision that subsidizes private schools. The bill should direct 100% of the tax credits in Section 4 to the benefit of organizations that serve children in foster care.
PLEASE ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO:
Amend Section 4 of HB 1671 to eliminate the funding stream for private schools. Those tax credits should, instead, benefit only children in foster care.
Capitol Switchboard: 601.359.3770 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Send the same message to Speaker Philip Gunn: 601.359.3300
Public schools are underfunded this year by $279-million. Thousands of Mississippi children rely on our foster system for their daily care. It is unthinkable that legislators would take millions of taxpayer dollars away from children in foster care to benefit private schools, all the while underfunding the public schools for which legislators are responsible. Please call right away. Ask your family and friends to call, too. Mississippi children are counting on us, and together, we’ve got this!
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