A Big Win for Mississippi Children

Posted 3/1/18

WOW! Your State Senate came through for Mississippi children in a big way today! House Bill 957 is dead.

During debate, Sen. Hob Bryan made a motion to recommit the bill to committee, essentially a motion to kill the bill since the committee deadline had already passed. The motion prevailed on a vote of 27-21.

Please BE SURE TO THANK the senators who stood up for our children and our public schools by voting to kill HB 957! See how your senator voted here.

This is a great day for Mississippi children! Thank you, thank you, thank you for calling and texting and emailing and posting on social media over and over and over again! And THANK YOU, especially, to our HEROES - the 27 senators and 54 representatives who voted against HB 957.

Regarding our state's school funding law, we at The Parents' Campaign would like to be a part of any future effort to improve it, but that process needs to be open and inclusive. The resulting legislation must provide adequately and equitably for our children's public schools.

This Legislative Session is not over. There are still important bills yet to come. Please keep watching your inbox for updates, and remember to show your support for our teachers and our public schools by wearing #BlueforMSTeachers tomorrow and every Friday.

For now, give yourself a pat on the back - and remember to thank the legislators who stood with our children today. This is a time to celebrate!

Troublesome Ed Bills on Calendar for Votes

Posted 3/24/16

Worrisome education bills are scheduled for floor votes in both chambers. 

Please make sure your legislators understand that recent changes to the House and Senate charter school bills reveal a troubling focus on expanding charter schools to C-rated districts.

There is a tendency among some legislators to cast C-rated districts as under-performing. To the contrary, a recent study shows that many C-rated districts are doing some of the best work in our state. See that study. This comes at a time when 2015 ratings, based on the more difficult PARCC assessments, are yet to be released. Many speculate that a number of B districts, and possibly some A districts, will drop to a C with the new accountability model and continued changes in state assessments, fueling the agenda of those who wish to privatize public education statewide.

Find contact information for the legislators who represent your school district.

Share the same message with:
Lt. Governor Reeves Capitol: 601.359.3200
Speaker Gunn Capitol: 601.359.3300

Bills to be voted on by the House:

• SB 2161 - Allows students in districts rated C, D, or F to cross district lines to attend a charter school; local and state funding follows the student; allows charters to locate without local board approval only in districts rated D or F. VOTE NO or amend to allow only students in D or F districts to cross district lines to attend a charter school.

• SB 2158 - Provides for calculation of the MAEP formula using average daily membership (enrollment) rather than average daily attendance. VOTE YES, oppose amendments that change the MAEP formula to reduce required funding or dilute equity provisions.

Bills to be voted on by the Senate:

• HB 33 - Revises the definition of "special needs" to include those with an active IEP within the past five years. OPPOSE AMENDMENTS that expand voucher eligibility to students without an IEP.

• HB 458 - Original version of this bill opened the MAEP statute for undetermined amendments; the Senate Education Committee amended the bill by striking original language and inserting the language of SB 2158 - the average daily membership bill. VOTE YES, oppose amendments that change the MAEP formula to reduce required funding or dilute equity provisions.

• HB 1044 - Allows students in all school districts to cross district lines to attend a charter school; local and state funding follows the student; allows charters to locate in districts rated C, D, or F without local board approval. VOTE NO.

The House has passed SB 2438, which provides for the appointment, rather than the election, of all school superintendents, effective in 2019. See that vote.

Many of you have expressed dismay at the way constituents have been treated by some legislators during this session. A fundamental principle of our democracy is a representative government that is responsive to the people. This week, both the House and Senate have been in turmoil, as allegations of broken promises, improper procedures, and inappropriate political maneuvering have swirled around the Capitol. In the current environment, it is especially critical that we stay in close contact with our legislators, work with them to ensure that the interests of public school students are well served, and make others in our communities aware of legislators' votes on education bills.

If we don't stand up for our children, who will?

Bryant Chooses Corporate Tax Cuts over MS School Children

Posted 5/13/2016

This afternoon, Governor Bryant chose yet another huge tax break for big business over adequate funding for public schools, mental health, and other vital state services.

Despite legislative leaders having just announced that they passed an unbalanced budget - in violation of the state constitution - and despite being unable to pay the state's bills, requiring deep cuts to critical state services, Gov. Bryant stripped millions more from state coffers with the stroke of a pen when he signed SB 2858 late on this Friday afternoon. It is hard to imagine how anyone could consider this to be conservative, responsible governance.

If you, like thousands of citizens across our state, are fed up with government leaders who ignore the will of the people and cater instead to the donor class, start a movement in your own community! Forward this email to five friends and invite them to become informed and engaged by clicking here. We promise to be your eyes and ears at the Capitol so that you can hold your government accountable and put the people back in the driver's seat. Spread the word! After all, our kids are counting on us.

2016 Legislative Session Begins

Posted 1/8/16

Tuesday marked the start of the 2016 Legislative Session. So far, the activity has been mostly ceremonial, with legislators being sworn in and statewide officials inaugurated. Rep. Philip Gunn was elected for another term as Speaker of the House, and Rep. Greg Snowden will serve another term as Speaker Pro Tempore (the number two spot in the House). Sen. Terry Burton was elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate (second in command to Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves).

Though bills have been drafted, they have not yet been posted online for the public to see, and committee assignments have not yet been announced.

The legislative leadership has staked out its legislative agenda for this year. It includes:
• Tax cuts for corporations
• Revamping the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) (likely to reduce funding for all school districts)
• More funding for special projects instead of fully funding the MAEP
• School choice/privatization (vouchers, charter schools)
• Moving to appointed, rather than elected, superintendents

We are going to need your help to defeat legislation that jeopardizes the education of every public school child and to push for those things that are essential for a quality education: adequate resources, smaller classes, high quality teachers, and excellent school leaders.

We will continue to be your eyes and ears at the Capitol and will let you know about committee assignments and proposed education legislation just as soon as they are made public. In the meantime, please let your own legislators know your priorities and concerns about issues that affect your child. And watch your email inbox for an important announcement from The Parents' Campaign early next week.

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