Mississippi Collective

11/09/2021

Check out this story on the Senate Ed Chairman's listening tour. Next session happening this week:

• Wednesday, November 10, 5:30 p.m. - Tupelo (1st Congressional District)
In person: Tupelo Public School District, 445 N. Church Street, Tupelo

• Thursday, November 18, 5:30 p.m. - Greenville (2nd Congressional District)
In person: Greenville Higher Education Center, 2900A Highway 1 South, Greenville

• Thursday, December 9, 5:30 p.m. - Madison (3rd Congressional District)
In person: Madison Central High School Auditorium, 1417 Highland Colony Parkway, Madison

Educators can attend in person or virtually (email [email protected] for details on virtual attendance).

Mississippi teachers finally feel like they're being heard by lawmakers.

10/19/2021

Heads up, first-year teachers…Mississippi will repay up to $15,000 of your student loans!

What: Winter-Reed Loan Repayment Program

Who: First-year teachers with a valid 5-year license & under contract in a MS public school; 150 to be awarded this year

How much: Up to $15,000 over 3 years in geographical critical shortage districts; up to $7,500 over 3 years in non-geographical critical shortage districts

Deadline: Initial application by Dec. 15, 2021; supporting docs submitted by Jan 15, 2022

Details & app:

© 2021 Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid, an office of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS.

08/25/2021

Happening today, 8/25! Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y3JALaUpYo

Keep our "5 reasons to be concerned" cheat sheet handy today and tomorrow as the Joint Tax Study Committee meets. Watch online (livestream in real time beginning at 9 a.m. or via recording later): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaLmAgbQMuI7kLvDNV6LluA or attend in person: Room 216 in State Capitol.

08/02/2021

Ok, friends, this has to change. It's time to stand up for our public school teachers!

This map tells a story that demands attention. Mississippi leaders are indicating a strong interest in improving teacher pay but they need encouragement from parents, teachers, community and business leaders, faith leaders, and all public school supporters on this issue. Let leaders know that teacher pay is a priority for our children's sake and for the sake of Mississippi's future!

05/04/2021

Teacher friends, you ROCK! We appreciate you & wish you all the best as you wrap up this school year.

04/19/2021

Without high-quality pre-k, children are more likely to fall behind in school.
Investing in pre-k means:
· More children reading on-grade-level
· Better attendance
· Fewer behavior problems

04/13/2021

The 2021 Legislative Session showed your legislators listen when you speak! Remember, they need to hear from you.

04/01/2021

2021 Legislative Session a WIN for MS public schools!
$102M increase overall for :
● $1,000 pay raise for teachers & assistants
● $8M increase in teacher supply $
● School loan repayment for new teachers
● $5M for math coaches
● Double the pre-k $
More details here: https://bit.ly/3sEOJHB
Thanks, !

Legislative Analysis 2021 House & Senate Bills to Watch See status of key education bills under consideration in House and Senate chambers in the 2021 Legislative Session. Past House Bills Past Senate Bills 2021 House & Senate Bills to Watch SB 2001 – Teacher Pay Raise – DEAD Senate Bill 2001 .....

03/29/2021

RED ALERT: Vouchers in form of tax credit scholarships sneaked into giant bond bill SB 2971. Conference report filed but not yet adopted by House or Senate. Call legislators, ask to REMOVE VOUCHERS FROM THE BOND BILL OR RECOMMIT IT.

Capitol switchboard: 601.359.3770

03/23/2021

Mississippi’s Statewide Accountability System claims to measure how well school districts prepare non-college prep students for careers – but it’s using a college-readiness test (ACT) as the measure. That’s unfair.

The State Board of Education has a chance to correct that injustice, but the change they are considering penalizes districts with lots of students on a career track and lower-wealth districts that can’t afford their own Career Tech programs. Read more about inequities in the current proposal here: https://bit.ly/3shhdqz

The State Board asks the public to weigh in on this issue by emailing [email protected]. The deadline to send comments is 5 p.m. March 26.