State of Mississippi Archives: on Education
Tate Reeves:
Job training lifts people out of poverty, into proud work
I also believe we need to sharpen one particular tool to get our economy rolling--our state's workforce development. We don't need Mississippians to be stuck in low-paying jobs. We want them to embark on careers with good pay and freedom.
The best way to accomplish that is to give them access to training that puts them in a position to succeed. It is essential. It is how we will succeed. It is how we will lift people out of poverty and into proud work.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Tate Reeves:
Ensure parental choice to save children from bad districts
We need to keep fighting for every child to have access to the education that they deserve. We need to ensure that parents have
the choice to save their child from a district that lets them down. And we need to reward our teachers for the exceptional, life-changing work that they do.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Cindy Hyde-Smith:
Supported federal grants to rural charter schools
Q: Use public funding to send children to private schools?Cindy Hyde-Smith: Yes. Supported bill to expand federal grant funding for charter schools in rural areas.
Mike Espy: No. Does not oppose charter or private schools but says public funds should be reserved for public schools.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Mississippi Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Mike Espy:
Public dollars should go toward public schools--period
I support all schools in our state. But public dollars should go toward our public schools. Period. Too many Mississippi school districts are struggling as dollars meant for them are diverted away. For years, Mississippi's leaders have ignored laws,
allowing our public schools to be underfunded by $2.3 billion dollars since 2008. Decisions about education are best left to our educators, teachers, parents and school administrators on the ground, and I will fight to get them the funding they need.
Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com
Jun 25, 2020
Mike Espy:
Increase teacher pay; fund teacher training programs
Teachers are superhuman and they deserve to be compensated for all they do. In our state, one in three school districts is designated as a critical teacher shortage area. In 2018, our state had thousands of teacher vacancies. By increasing pay
for teachers, adequately funding our teacher training programs, streamlining the licensure process, and expanding federal loan forgiveness, we can begin to recruit first-class teachers to Mississippi's public schools.
Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com
Jun 25, 2020
Mike Espy:
Expand apprenticeship/job training programs
Mississippi's employers are facing a shortage of trained workers to fill jobs. I will work to tailor our apprenticeships and job training programs to match the needs of our employers. We'll create new programs and expand our successful
ones, such as the workforce training pilot program at our community colleges. By working with employers to expand training and retraining for jobs they need most, we can match education with our most in-demand jobs.
Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com
Jun 25, 2020
Tate Reeves:
Let's pay our teachers as much as we can possibly afford
As we begin to allocate this new revenue, I can think of no one more deserving, and no task more essential, than increasing the pay of our teachers. I know that there is broad consensus and commitment to achieve this quickly and to increase pay
substantially. I want all of you to know that my priority is simple: let's pay our teachers as much as we can possibly afford. Send me a budget that does that, and I'll stand beside each of you to sign it with joy.
We will not win this great competition without a financial investment in the people who can make it happen. Last year, I outlined a plan to put $100 million into workforce development--training Mississippians so that we are ready to work.
Teaching skills to students from the earliest possible age. Apprenticeships, community college grants, and assistance for workers. We can make noise across the nation when they see our commitment to this cause.
Source: 2020 Mississippi State of the State address
Jan 27, 2020
Tate Reeves:
$2 million for a private school vouchers
Reeves slipped $2 million for a private school voucher program in the eleventh hour of the 2019 legislative session, during his gubernatorial election year,
after giving public educators a nominal pay raise that prompted members of the largest association of public school teachers in the state to mull a strike.
Source: MississippiToday.org on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Jul 15, 2019
Bill Waller:
Pay raise for good teachers & to attract new ones
Increasing Teacher Pay to Support, Attract and Retain High Quality Teachers: Teachers are working hard, and we need to support them even more with a pay raise that keeps good teachers here and attracts new teachers. Students, parents and
teachers deserve more focus than they're getting now. Currently, Mississippi has the lowest teacher salary in America, and clearly, our teachers need a pay raise so we can get their salary up to the Southeastern average as quickly as possible.
Source: 2019 Mississippi Governor campaign website BillWallerJr.com
May 2, 2019
Jim Hood:
Increase teacher pay until state reaches regional average
"It's an area that likes public education and many of the issues that I support people down here support," Hood said. He's calling out state leaders including Lt. Governor Tate Reeves on using teacher pay as election year politics. Hood has committed to
a teacher pay increase until the Southeastern average is met. "I think we ought to do it every year until we get to the Southeastern average --is to commit to pay our teachers for all the things that they put up with ."
Source: WJTV.com on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 17, 2019
Jim Hood:
Keep students here by keeping college debt down
Some of these kids have $70,000 in debt. They can't come back to a two-lane town. They're going to Nashville, Austin and Atlanta.
The way to keep those kids is to keep college debts down."
Source: The Meridian Star on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 12, 2019
Robert Foster:
Make pay raise for teachers a priority in Jackson
State Rep. Robert Foster and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. faced off in the event hosted by the Mississippi State University's College Republicans.Foster and Waller said the Legislature's recent $1,500 pay raise for
teachers was insufficient. Teachers should get a raise every year until their salaries match the southeast average, they concurred. "It has not been a priority of our leadership down (in Jackson) at all," Foster said of teacher pay.
Source: Clarion-Ledger on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 2, 2019
Bill Waller:
Community colleges teach job skills at high schools
When asked about his vision for expanding Mississippi's economy, Waller said the workforce must be better prepared in the future. "I support bringing more community colleges into high schools to help teach job skills so students who
don't go to college can still have real opportunities to get a good-paying job to support their family and live the American dream," said Waller.In discussing education, both
Waller and Foster said they would commit to a yearly teacher pay raise to reach the southeastern average. "Teachers deserve our full support," Waller said. "Instead of just an election year teacher pay raise, we need to think bigger with a goal
of increasing teacher salaries every year to get to the Southeastern average--which means we can keep, and attract good teachers, and that results in better student outcomes."
Source: NewsMS.FM on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Mar 26, 2019
Robert Foster:
Too much emphasis on trying to send every kid to college
When asked about his vision for expanding Mississippi's economy, Waller said the workforce must be better prepared in the future. "I support bringing more community colleges into high schools to help teach job skills so students who don't go to college
can still have real opportunities to get a good-paying job to support their family and live the American dream," said Waller.In discussing education, both Waller and Foster said they would commit to a yearly teacher pay raise to reach the
southeastern average. At the same time, Foster said while Colleges and Universities do need to be funded appropriately, there needs to be a greater focus on vo-tech training. "I think the biggest issue is that we have put way too much emphasis on trying
to send every kid to college," said Foster. "The vast majority of jobs and good paying jobs always have been and always will be career skilled tech positions. We need to be focused on putting the money into vo-tech and career tech training."
Source: NewsMS.FM on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial debate
Mar 26, 2019
Robert Foster:
No free community college; focus on vo-tech
Q: Tennessee passed a law making two years of community college free for adults who graduated from its high schools, for the purpose of growing a more educated, ready workforce. What do you think of that idea?A: I don't agree with that.
What we need to be doing is putting vo-tech and career tech in high schools where we're already spending a tremendous amount of money. Kids need to have options while they're in high school--while they're fully mature enough to learn skills.
They may not know what they want to do for a living, yet, but that's when they need to be exploring options. I mean going to computer classes and learning to program, going to mechanic classes and welding, plumbing, electrical--whatever it is.
They need to be learning different trades and skills so that when they figure out what they want to do, hopefully by the time they graduate, they will have had enough course credits that they can go get a job when they graduate.
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Feb 6, 2019
Phil Bryant:
Teachers deserve first pay raise since 2014
No one throughout our state's history has sacrificed more to better the lives of Mississippi children than our teachers. Our gratitude to these classroom heroes and the essential value of public education are why we passed a $100 million teacher pay
raise in 2014 and why I now call on the members of this body to join me in giving teachers their second pay raise in five years. Send me a bill to authorize a pay raise for these most critical guardians of Mississippi's future, and I will sign it.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 15, 2019
Jim Hood:
Statewide, universal, public pre-kindergarten program
Education is the building block to success. Investing in Mississippi's public education system means investing in every Mississippian. As your governor I will: - Advocate for a statewide, universal pre-kindergarten program
-
Focus on making community colleges and universities more affordable
- Improve our public-school system
Source: 2019 Mississippi governor campaign site HoodForGovernor.com
Dec 31, 2018
Robert Foster:
School choice has its place, but we must be very careful
[We should] empower parents and communities by allowing them more autonomy in important educational decisions that should begin at the kitchen table, not one-size fits all, top-down systems.As a public school graduate and parent, I believe we need
to better support the education profession with competitive salaries, opportunities for growth, and reduce the testing burden so our teachers can do what they do best--teach.
Every child and school district is unique, and this must be taken into consideration when developing policies--one size does not fit all. The quality of education a child receives is far more important than which building they receive it in. Charter
schools and school choice have their place in certain districts and in certain situations, but we must be very careful that our policies do not unintentionally hurt the communities that have invested so much into their already successful public schools.
Source: 2019 Mississippi governor campaign website Foster4MS.com
Dec 31, 2018
Cindy Hyde-Smith:
Revise Obama big-government rules on US waters
The EPA has proposed a revised definition of the "Waters of the United States", specifically what waters the federal government can and cannot regulate. "President Trump has made an intensive effort to roll back Obama's big-government regulations, the
worst of which was the Waters of the United States rule," said Hyde-Smith. "That rule was the poster child for overreaching bureaucrats giving the federal government far-reaching powers over individual landowners."
Source: News Mississippi NewsMS.FM on 2020 Mississippi Senate race
Dec 13, 2018
Robert Foster:
Allow autonomy for school districts to experiment
There's a balance in education that can be found to help our strong public schools, but not hurt them with blanket policies coming from
Jackson and allow autonomy in other districts to have things like charter schools and things that they may want to try and experiment with.
Source: DeSoto Times Tribune on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Dec 12, 2018
Robert Foster:
Why build duplicate private schools and public schools?
Foster's views do not always align with the hard right. In 2016, Foster expressed uncertainty over "school choice," a set of policies conservatives support allowing parents to accept state-funded vouchers to pay for them to go to
private schools instead of public schools."On one hand, it is a free market principle for parents to have the choice,"
Foster wrote in a comment. "On the other, it is a duplication of infrastructure costs to build more buildings and the government always follows the money so it is not a question of if but when they will
follow with rules and regs into private schools. I'm torn over this issue and still listening to this very active debate to try and find some balance."
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2019 Mississippi governor race
Dec 10, 2018
David Baria:
Opposes vouchers for private schools with public money
Q: Education: Provide vouchers to send children to private schools with public money?David Baria (D): No. Opposed.
Roger Wicker (R): Yes. Also supported tax-free savings accounts for private school costs in Trump tax plan.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Mississippi Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
David Baria:
Make 2-year colleges tuition free
Q: Student Debt: Refinance student loans at lower rates, paid for by increasing taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren bill)?David Baria (D): Unknown on Warren bill.
But supports loan forgiveness program & making 2-year colleges tuition free.
Roger Wicker (R): No. Voted against Warren bill.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Mississippi Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Roger Wicker:
Support tax-free savings accounts for private school costs
Q: Education: Provide vouchers to send children to private schools with public money?David Baria (D): No. Opposed.
Roger Wicker (R): Yes. Also supported tax-free savings accounts for private school costs in Trump tax plan.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Mississippi Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Roger Wicker:
Opposes refinancing student loans at lower rates
Q: Student Debt: Refinance student loans at lower rates, paid for by increasing taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren bill)?David Baria (D): Unknown on Warren bill.
But supports loan forgiveness program & making 2-year colleges tuition free.
Roger Wicker (R): No. Voted against Warren bill.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Mississippi Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
David Baria:
Must invest in programs & tools needed by all students
We must prepare our children to compete in the 21st Century. This means investing in programs, tools and innovations to help all students get ahead. We have far too many children who are slipping through the cracks because their public school
is poorly funded or because their school house has slipped into such a state of disrepair as to be dangerous. We must also make sure we have adequately invested in programs that prepare employees for the jobs today's employers are looking to fill.
Source: 2018 MS Senate campaign website, BariaForMississippi.com
Jun 26, 2018
Tate Reeves:
Public charter schools in failing districts
Provided funding for education and a teacher pay raise while enacting reforms to increase education attainment levels, including:- Creating an A-F rating system so all parents can understand school performance.
- Empowering parents to make
decisions for their kids' education, including public charter schools in failing districts.
- Enacting a 3rd grade reading gate to ensure that students who can't read aren't passed on.
- Creating a pre-kindergarten collaborative program.
Source: 2019 Mississippi Governor campaign website TateReeves.com
Mar 21, 2018
Phil Bryant:
Parents should have school choice
This session, I will ask you again to expand school choice for certain categories of children, offering special needs scholarships to even more students.
I continue to believe parents should have the freedom to use their tax dollars to send their child to the school of their choice, not one decided by the government.
Source: 2018 Mississippi State of the State address
Jan 9, 2018
Jensen Bohren:
Put the focus on educating the students, not on profits
Many schools are being run like a business. Schools focused on profits over education don't adequately serve their students.
We need to focus on generating educated GRADUATES, not generating profits.
Source: Facebook posting on 2018 Mississippi Senate race
Dec 31, 2017
Phil Bryant:
Remove barriers to charter schools
Imagine the freedom of a parent in a failing school to send an at-risk child to a superior school nearby but outside the district. Why should only the affluent enjoy the benefits of these fine schools? Your zip code or income level should not determine
your opportunity to get a good education. Let us make this bold decision. We should also remove the barriers to charter schools and extend their range across district lines so children can pass through these imaginary walls to a better, brighter future.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Mississippi legislature
Jan 26, 2016
Phil Bryant:
Loosen regulations around associate degrees
We can make progress in higher education by working with the IHL and community college boards to craft an associate's degree credential for those students who complete the necessary number of scholastic hours at a four-year university.
For example, if a student attended a university for two years and completed the required course work, but had to leave the university for a legitimate reason, they could receive an associate's degree related to their subject major.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Mississippi legislature
Jan 26, 2016
Phil Bryant:
Supports "effective" public schools but not Initiative 42
Bryant and other top Republicans are trying to defeat Initiative 42, which got on the ballot through a citizens' petition process. It would allow people to sue to seek funding for an `adequate and efficient` system of public schools. Legislators who
oppose 42 placed Alternative Measure 42-A on the ballot, which says the Legislature would establish `effective` public schools `without judicial enforcement.`
Speaking to about 150 Republicans at the ag museum on Monday, Bryant said Initiative 42 would be a gift to trial lawyers. `They won't have to chase ambulances anymore. They can chase school buses,` Bryant said to applause from the crowd.
The co-manager
of the 42 for Better Schools campaign responded in an email: `Right now, it really doesn't matter how many cute one-liners Phil Bryant comes up with. The supporters of Initiative 42 have had enough of empty promises when it comes to public education.`
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2015 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2015
Robert Gray:
Supports Initiative 42 & full public school funding
Gray has slammed Bryant's policies, including the governor's resistance to supporting Initiative 42, which would require the state to fund public schools to adequate levels.
Gray views full education funding also as a form of economic development. `I think the people of Mississippi already know that it's a win-win situation in passing Initiative 42,` Gray said.
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2015 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Oct 28, 2015
Vicki Slater:
Constitutional provision to fully fund public schools
Q: What issue do you plan to focus on?A: If the education system was fully funded, we could hire thousands of assistant teachers that could help students that have problems reading--or in whatever area--ahead of time of them being tested rather than
to hire teaching assistants after the failure by the students. Thousands of textbooks could be bought with that money. There are schools systems in Mississippi where there aren't enough textbooks for the room. It's total failure in leadership.
Q:
Democrats have been very critical of the governor and Republican leadership on the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, but shouldn't there be some flexibility for, say, times of economic downturn?
A: No; they have had that flexibility since
1997, and they've only fully funded twice. There wasn't an economic downturn in every one of those years. They're not going to do it unless there is a constitutional provision that requires them to do it. I don't think it should be left to them.
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2015 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Jul 22, 2015
Chris McDaniel:
Oppose nationwide Common Core standards
Question topic: The federal government should establish nationwide standards (such as Common Core) for high-school graduation.
McDaniel: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Mississippi Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
Chris McDaniel:
Give students right to organize religious groups at school
Every Tuesday at 7:45 a.m., about 50 students gather in the choir room at Oak Grove High School to celebrate their faith. The students are members of First Priority, a student-led Christian club. Groups like First Priority would get special protection
under a bill which the Legislature is sending to the governor.SB 2633, by Sen. Chris McDaniel, gives students the right to organize religious groups and engage in religious activities at school. It also forbids a school from discriminating against a
student who expresses his religious viewpoint in class assignments.
McDaniel said his bill, which is titled "The Mississippi Student Religious Liberties Act," is designed to protect students who want to express their religious viewpoints. "Students do
not lose their rights when they walk into the schoolhouse door," he said. McDaniel said his bill also would protect students who wanted to talk about their religion at school events--even opening the door for school prayer at those events.
Source: Mississippi 2012 Senate campaign website senatormcdaniel.com
Mar 13, 2013
Phil Bryant:
Privately funded Opportunity Scholarship for failing schools
Thanks to the work of this Legislature, the Department of Education changed the complicated formula for ranking our schools to a simple one: A through F. I am asking you to pass an act that will create privately funded
Opportunity Scholarships so students who are below 250 percent of the poverty level and live in D and F schools districts can have a chance to take resources and go elsewhere. Let us give parents a choice so children can have a chance.
We should also have a workable charter school act that provides choices for parents. More than 40 other states have this option. Shouldn't we allow such opportunities for our own children?
I applaud the Senate and the House for their efforts on this important issue. When a good charter school bill reaches my desk, I intend to sign it.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Mississippi Legislature
Jan 22, 2013
Phil Bryant:
$15M for literacy; and merit pay for teachers
I call on [the Legislature] to fund $15 million to assist with literacy improvement efforts. These funds will help us train teachers on best-practices in reading instruction and will also help provide reading interventionists to help struggling
third-graders and other students. If our education system does a better job early on making sure students can read on grade level, remediation costs will decline.I have also discussed pay for performance, or merit pay, for our teachers.
I believe we should reward our most effective teachers by compensation. Let me be clear, no teacher will lose any salary.
In addition to keeping and rewarding great classroom teachers, we must raise the bar for new teachers.
The bill I submitted raises the entrance standard for education programs. Under this act, a student must have a 21 ACT score and a minimum GPA of 3.0 to become a teacher. Why would we want anything less for our students?
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Mississippi Legislature
Jan 22, 2013
Chris McDaniel:
Increase number of charter schools statewide
Chris McDaniel voted Yea on Passage of SB 2189: Expanding Charter School Authorization (Bill Passed Senate, 31-17) - Establishes an independent 7-member Mississippi Public Charter School Authorizing Board to supervise public charter schools
-
Authorizes public non-charter schools to apply to become public charter schools
- Prohibits private schools from becoming public charter schools
- Requires public charter schools' enrollment composition of "underserved students" to be proportionally
at least 80% of that in the school district in which the charter schools are located
- Exempts at most 25% of teachers in a public charter school from being state certified when the initial charter application is approved and are required to have
completed an alternative teacher certification within 3 years
- Requires paying the public charter schools an amount for each student equal to the share the department would pay the school district in which the student resides.
Source: VoteSmart summary of Mississippi 2013-2014 voting records
Jan 16, 2013
Haley Barbour:
Expand charter schools; expand dual enrollment
Eighty-nine percent of our state's kids go to public schools. To have the kind of workforce to succeed in the 21st century, we start in K-12. Our schools are getting better. Our last NAEP scores were up more than the national average, and the dropout
rate is going down. But that improvement is not enough. We need to make dual enrollment easier and more common. The students can learn more, and their parents will save money as college credits are earned while in high school.
In constrained budget times we must put more resources into the classroom and reduce what is spent on administration. We must continue to focus on improving the quality of teachers coming out of our colleges of education,
while simultaneously using technology more in teaching our kids. Finally, because competition is good in every sphere, I urge you to reform Charter School law so more children can benefit.
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011
Haley Barbour:
Opposed restoring budget cuts to Adequate Education Program
SB2688: An act to direct the state fiscal officer to transfer certain sums to the budget contingency fund for the purpose of providing funds to restore a portion of the budget cuts made to certain agencies during fiscal year 2010.Summary by
Jackson Free Press (4/21/10) SB 2688 increased funding for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program formula while Gov. Haley Barbour sought to cut the entire state budget by $79 million, including MAEP.
Veto message from Governor
Haley Barbour: "Senate Bill 2688 virtually guarantees tax increases by future legislatures. Spending now and taxing later is bad fiscal management, and unfair to taxpayers. SB2688 also fails to adequately restore funding for the Department of
Corrections [who] will be forced to release thousands of prisoners to balance its budget."
Legislative outcome:Passed House 106-14-2, 2/11/2010; Passed Senate 26-22-3, 2/18/10; Vetoed by Gov. Barbour 2/24/10.
Source: Jackson Free Press on Mississippi voting record SB2688
Feb 24, 2010
Chris McDaniel:
Opposed restoring budget cuts to Adequate Education Program
SB2688: An act to direct the state fiscal officer to transfer certain sums to the budget contingency fund for the purpose of providing funds to restore a portion of the budget cuts made to certain agencies during fiscal year 2010.Summary by
Jackson Free Press (4/21/10) SB 2688 increased funding for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program formula while Gov. Haley Barbour sought to cut the entire state budget by $79 million, including MAEP.
Veto message from Governor
Haley Barbour: "Senate Bill 2688 virtually guarantees tax increases by future legislatures. Spending now and taxing later is bad fiscal management, and unfair to taxpayers. SB2688 also fails to adequately restore funding for the Department of
Corrections [who] will be forced to release thousands of prisoners to balance its budget."
Legislative outcome:Passed House 106-14-2, 2/11/2010; Passed Senate 26-22-3, 2/18/10; Sen. Chris McDaniel voted NO; Vetoed 2/24/10.
Source: Jackson Free Press on Mississippi voting record SB2688
Feb 18, 2010
Cindy Hyde-Smith:
Opposed restoring budget cuts to Adequate Education Program
SB2688: An act to direct the state fiscal officer to transfer certain sums to the budget contingency fund for the purpose of providing funds to restore a portion of the budget cuts made to certain agencies during fiscal year 2010.Summary by
Jackson Free Press (4/21/10) SB 2688 increased funding for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program formula while Gov. Haley Barbour sought to cut the entire state budget by $79 million, including MAEP.
Veto message from Governor
Haley Barbour: "Senate Bill 2688 virtually guarantees tax increases by future legislatures. Spending now and taxing later is bad fiscal management, and unfair to taxpayers. SB2688 also fails to adequately restore funding for the Department of
Corrections [who] will be forced to release thousands of prisoners to balance its budget."
Legislative outcome:Passed House 106-14-2, 2/11/2010; Passed Senate 26-22-3, 2/18/10; Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith voted NO; Vetoed 2/24/10.
Source: Jackson Free Press on Mississippi voting record SB2688
Feb 18, 2010
Erik Fleming:
Supports charters, vouchers, and home-schooling
Fleming supports the following principles regarding education. - Support the federal government funding universal pre-K programs.
- Allow teachers and professionals to receive federal funding to establish charter or magnet schools.
-
Fleming adds, “Support a review of NCLB to allow more flexibility in classroom instruction. Support tax credits for parents who homeschool or send their children to private/religious schools.”
Source: Mississippi Congressional 2008 Political Courage Test
Jul 30, 2008
Ronnie Musgrove:
Remove the 5% cap on teacher pay
Our children won’t learn without qualified, inspired teachers in the classroom. Mississippi’s teachers continue to outshine teachers in other states. Our national board certification numbers are a resounding testament to their commitment to teaching.
Removing the 5% revenue growth condition on pay increases would be a strong testament to our commitment to Mississippi’s teachers. Nothing less than fully funding adequate education, the critical teacher shortage act, and our teacher pay plan will do.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 4, 2001
Ronnie Musgrove:
Universities: settle the Ayers Case
We are asking our community colleges and universities to take a greater role in economic development from recruiting industries, to research and development. If we are going to utilize our Universities to the fullest, then the Ayers Case must be settled.
Twenty-five years is long enough. It is time to move on.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 4, 2001
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021