House Bill 2, dubbed the Education Freedom Act, cuts funding to public schools while creating a massive school choice program sending taxpayer dollars to private schools – which would be held to none of the standards or accountability governing public schools. The 553-page bill includes:
- Funding cuts for public schools. Reduces Mississippi Student Funding Formula funding for public school districts by revising the definition of “net enrollment.” Original estimates of public school funding used to gain support for the new funding formula included pre-k students in the enrollment count, which was not revealed at the time. HB 2 would remove pre-k students from the count and permanently reduce formula funding to public schools to a level that likely would not have been accepted when the new formula was being debated.
- Vouchers for private and homeschools. Creates Magnolia Savings Accounts that fund private school students at the same base cost as public school students, including those already attending private school. Homeschools would get $1,000 per family annually. States that private schools cannot be required to adjust admissions or academic standards, administer statewide assessments, or be subjected to the state accountability system. Phased in beginning with 12,500 vouchers in first year and growing annually. Cost for Year 1 is estimated to be $87-million.
- Public school choice. Establishes public school choice, allowing students to attend school in districts in which they do not reside or pay local taxes; requires districts to publish capacity data, application timelines, and transfer selection criteria at least twice per year. Allows public schools to pick and choose out-of-district students, just as private schools do.
- Tim Tebow Act. Allows homeschool students to participate in public school activities and athletics without being subject to the same participation criteria as public school students. Creates unfair advantage for homeschool students competing for spots on public school teams.
- Charter school expansion. Allows an unlimited number of charter schools to open in any school district statewide, regardless of the district’s accountability rating and without the consent of the local school board. (Notably, all but one of Mississippi’s existing charter schools are rated D or F.)
See additional provisions of HB 2 here. We are hearing that this bill could come up in the House Education Committee tomorrow (Wednesday). Get contact info for House Education Committee members here and call them today.
Please also call and ask representatives to:
VOTE NO on HB 2 (broad school choice/vouchers)
VOTE NO on SB 2002 (public school choice)
VOTE YES on SB 2001 (teacher pay raise) and 2003 (retired teachers bill)
Capitol Switchboard: 601.359.3770
Find contact information for all legislators who represent your school district
House Speaker White: 601.359.3300
Be aware that the voucher lobby has funded a “push poll” in Mississippi, attempting to drum up support for this terribly unpopular bill. The poll misrepresents the provisions of the “Education Freedom Act,” claiming, among other things, that it “increases some teacher pay” and “invests in public schools.” The bill does not include a pay raise for certified teachers, and it cuts funding to public schools.
HB 2 does include some positive proposals, such as an expansion of the literacy initiative, a new math program, and an assistant teacher pay raise, yet all are held hostage to the extremely harmful school choice measures that send taxpayer dollars to unaccountable private schools. This bill would weaken public schools in myriad ways, threatening economic development, property values, quality of life, and the viability of our communities in every corner of our state. Every state that is named a “Top 10 State for School Choice” has seen its student achievement decline. That’s why multiple municipal and school boards have passed resolutions opposing public and private school choice and urging their own legislative delegations, the Mississippi Legislature, and Governor Reeves to oppose any school choice – including public to public, and to instead invest in strengthening ALL public schools.
There are many things our Legislature can do to continue Mississippi’s remarkable progress in student achievement and to strengthen public schools for ALL children. See that list here .
One of the best ways to ensure strong public schools into the future is to elect legislators and statewide officials who support public schools. The deadline to qualify to run for those seats is just a little more than a year away. If you haven’t already, it’s time to start looking for candidates who will stand with their constituents and vote in support of their public schools. If your lawmakers fall into that category, please let them know that you will have their backs at election time.
Please call representatives today and urge a NO vote on HB 2 and SB 2002. Ask others you know to call, as well. Together, we’ve got this!
