In less than three weeks the Mississippi Legislature will convene the 2026 Legislative Session, one that promises to be extremely consequential for every Mississippi child and community. We need your help to ensure that this session is a win for our children, our public schools, and our communities.
The remarkable work being done in Mississippi’s public schools has positioned our state to move to true greatness – but only if the right strategies are adopted. A continued investment in the public schools that have catapulted Mississippi to the top of the “good list” would take our state to the next level, while the harmful “choice” policies pushed by the voucher lobby would yield the same academic declines and budget shortfalls experienced by school choice states. See our brief videos exposing the ugly truth about “school choice.”
We know what kids need to thrive academically. Here’s how we get there:
- High-quality pre-k available to every 4-year-old to ensure that children are kindergarten-ready
- Fully funded public schools, including CTE in grades 7 and 8
- Significant pay raise for certified teachers ($5,000 minimum)
- Pay raise for assistant teachers to bolster individualized learning and the alternate route teacher pipeline
- Improved salary incentives for retired teachers to return to the classroom to mitigate the teacher shortage
- Facilities repair and renovation in districts with a low ad valorem tax base; research shows that facility improvements reduce chronic absenteeism
- Expansion of literacy resources to grades 4 – 8 to continue Mississippi’s remarkable academic progress
Your engagement in the coming legislative session will be critical from the get-go. All indications are that the leadership of the Mississippi House will push its dangerous school choice bill out in the early days, so now is the time to secure your legislators’ commitment to protect your public schools, your community, and Mississippi’s remarkable academic progress with a resounding NO vote on the school choice scam!
Please also make it clear to your legislators that our teachers deserve a stand-alone pay raise bill. Holding teacher pay hostage to vouchers by lumping them together in one bill is offensive and unacceptable. A package bill that combines school choice with a teacher pay raise is a no-go; legislators should demand a separate pay raise bill.
These days, it’s easy to imagine a thriving Mississippi. Our public schools have shown us the way. The smart money is on the team that delivers, and in Mississippi, that’s team PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
We have lots to celebrate in this festive season: great promise for a bright future for every Mississippi child. Your calls to your legislators can help make that dream come true.
We at The Parents’ Campaign wish you a joy-filled holiday and a prosperous 2026!
