Education

EDITORIAL: Legislators, Kill the Flawed Voucher Bill

The notion of "school choice" is deeply embedded in the Capitol this session. Senate Education Chairman Gray Tollison, R-Oxford, wants to expand the state's voucher program drastically, allowing any child in public school to use a voucher next year.

Funding the ‘School Choice’ Lobby

In just one year, the Mississippi Legislature has gone from slightly tweaking its voucher program for students with dyslexia to a push to allow any public-school student to apply for a taxpayer-funded voucher to use at a private school.

Proposal Would Erase 4-Year Limit on University Contracts

A senator says Mississippi could better compete for professors if the state did not limit university contracts to four years at a time.

Vicksburg, Wingfield, Lanier High Schools Top 'Chronically Absent' List

More than 70,000 students were chronically absent in the 2016-2017 school year, chronic absentee data the Mississippi Department of Education released today show.

Fannie Lou Hamer Documentary at Tougaloo, RecycleMania and Black History Month at USM

Tougaloo College announced on Jan. 19 that the W.K. Kellogg Foundation presented the school with a $272,000 grant for a new documentary on the life and legacy of Mississippi native and civil-rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer titled "Fannie Lou Hamer's America."

'Nonpartison' School-board Election Reform on Legislative Agenda

Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, has introduced legislation to standardize all school-board elections for districts that already elect school-board members.

No More Rallies Inside Mississippi Capitol, Leaders Say

Top Mississippi lawmakers said Thursday that they take full responsibility for an event that violated a policy against rallies being held inside the state Capitol.

OPINION: Time to Work Across Aisle on Ed Funding

After lawmakers went home in April 2017, there were no public meetings, hearings or presentations to offer clues as to whether the Republican supermajority planned to use all, part, some or none of EdBuild's suggested changes to the state's education funding formula.

What’s in ‘UPS’ Ed Formula, What’s Not?

The Mississippi House Education Chairman, Rep. Richard Bennett, R-Long Beach, repeatedly told House members that the Mississippi Adequate Education Program is too complicated to understand and not reliable for school districts last week.

Breach at Testing Vendor Exposes Mississippi Students' Data

Mississippi education officials say a data breach at a testing vendor exposed information from 663 students in Tupelo and Jefferson County.

JPS Reopens Despite 27 Schools With Little to No Water Pressure

In what seems like old news, Jackson's water issues persist into this week. Except this time students have returned to schools with little to no water pressure, and the Jackson Public School District seems prepared to keep students in class by any means necessary.

Vouchers Could Extend to Any Public School Student Under New Bill

Just before Gov. Phil Bryant declared Jan. 21-27 "School Choice Week," Sen. Gray Tollison's, R-Oxford, voucher-expansion bill dropped. The legislation would vastly expand the use of vouchers—a way to use taxpayer money in public schools—beyond the limited special-education role they currently plan.

JPS Board Starts Supe Search, May Re-organize District

The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees voted this week to begin the search for a new superintendent, starting with issuing a request for proposals to hire a consultant to assist in the search.

JSU HBCU Film Screening, Tougaloo Receives Award, USM Nutrition Training

Jackson State University is partnering with Mississippi Public Broadcasting to host a free screening of the documentary "Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities" on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m. in JSU's Mississippi e-Center.

Ever-Changing Grade System for Public Schools in Flux Again

Mississippi's system for assigning A-to-F letter grades to public schools keeps changing, and it looks like the state may have to reset the scale again in 2018.

Blogs