The Parents' Campaign's 2013 Legislative & Policy Priorities
A School Reform Agenda
An excellent early education experience for every child (A Blueprint Mississippi 2011 recommendation)
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$5-million for Mississippi Building Blocks
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Based on a per-student cost of $2,000, this will allow MBB in 2013-2014 to reach approximately 2,500 children in child care centers located primarily in low-income areas of Mississippi
An excellent teacher in every classroom (A Blueprint Mississippi 2011 recommendation)
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$12-million appropriation for Teach for America (TFA)
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Reform universities' teacher education programs to require more focus on content areas (the subjects teachers teach) as well as instruction in Common Core State Standards and in diagnostic/formative assessments and data analysis will not require legislation
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Raise the standards for admission into universities’ schools of education will not require legislation
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Include in the teacher compensation package a merit-based approach that provides significantly increased compensation for teachers who demonstrate excellence in moving students forward; teachers should be evaluated on student growth measured over the course of the school year versus basing performance on a single end-of-year test such as MCT2
An excellent leader in every school and district (A Blueprint Mississippi 2011 recommendation)
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Transition to all appointed superintendents by 2015; elected superintendents would be eligible for appointment by their boards
An excellent public school for every Mississippi child - authorize charter schools in zones of chronically underperforming schools (A Blueprint Mississippi 2011 recommendation)
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Permit charters only in school zones where the local schools have been underperforming for the two (or more) most recent years
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Grant charters only to entities that have a track record of success in working with low-performing schools
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Prohibit virtual charter schools; charter schools students should have access to online courses through the existing Mississippi Virtual Public School program
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Charter schools and their management organizations should be non-profit
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The charter should be subject to the same assessments and accountability as all other publicly-funded schools
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All eligible children living within the attendance zone in which the charter school is located should be included in the lottery
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There should be a single, non-politicized authorizer of charter schools
Resources that are adequate for success – halfway to full funding
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$150-million increase in Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) funding in the 2013 Legislative Session
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Fully fund the MAEP by the end of the 2014 Legislative Session