By looking back to the original intent of MAEP, we find that in 2002-03 the proposed base funding amount was $3,804. That amount is not far from the contemplated wholesale reform amount of base costs of $4,800 under HB 957. Education reform in Mississippi is going backwards. Education funding has not progressed to meet the needs of all public-school students. Funding proposed in 2018 does not advance Mississippi to a competitive level of student achievement, but instead promotes inequity; attempting to move towards school choice instead of fixing the clear disparities caused by regressive funding over the span of 2002-2018.
To combat the punitive reforms proposed, the answers may be hidden in plain sight within MAEP. (more…)
Southern Echo & The Delta Catalyst Roundtable submitted our comments and concerns to the Mississippi Department of Education on their Every Student Succeeds Act Draft Plan. We completed the MDE ESSA Online Public Comment Survey. We would like to thank all of the organizations and community people who helped to put all of our concerns and comments into a document to send to MDE. Below you can find our submission to MDE including links to supporting data and research.