Chickasaw Cession
The treaty with the Chickasaw Indian Nation ceding their land to the United States failed to specifically reserve Sixteenth Sections, and when the lands were later sold by the government, no provision was made for the reservation of school trust lands. Later, the United States granted the State of Mississippi lieu land as compensation for …
Initiative 42 – Constitutional Amendment
Initiative 42 was a citizen-sponsored amendment to the State Constitution, placed on the November 2015 ballot for statewide vote. The Mississippi Legislature added to the ballot its own legislative alternative, Measure 42A. Neither measure was approved by voters. See certified election results. Initiative 42 would: Bring the education section of Mississippi’s constitution in line with the education …
Budget Cuts – Governor’s Authority
Mississippi law requires that the State of Mississippi operate within a balanced budget, and it expressly prohibits the state from running a budget deficit. State statute further requires that, when revenue comes in 2% or more below projections, the governor take actions to bring the budget into balance. This law provides the governor, as the …
School District Fund Balances
Politicians and members of the public sometimes ask why schools aren’t using their reserve fund balances to cover the dramatic shortfalls in state funding they have experienced over the last few years. What are Fund Balances? School district cash flow reserve funds (to which some have referred as school district rainy day funds) differ from what …
The 60% Myth
Politicians often use the percent of the state budget that is dedicated to public schools as evidence of their support of K-12 education. You have probably heard them claim that education makes up over 60% of the total state budget. That is simply not true. While it is true that all of education – including …
Changes in District Point Totals, 2016 to 2017
The Parents’ Campaign Research and Education Fund reviewed and compared changes in school districts’ total points scored from 2016 to 2017 on the 1,000-point Accountability Rating scale. The following shows changes – increases and decreases – by rating level (A-F). Districts Rated F in 2016: 17 of 19 F-rated districts gained ground in total points (largest gain for an …
Resetting Baseline Scores: Analysis of 2018 Ratings
Districts rated F in 2018 that would be rated D if 2016 baseline scores had remained in effect:South Pike School District Hazlehurst School DistrictLaurel School District …
Resetting Baseline Scores: Analysis of 2018 Ratings Read More »
Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP)
Passed by the Mississippi Legislature in 1997 (see history below), the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) is a law that provides a formula that is designed to ensure an adequate education for every Mississippi child — whether that child lives in a “wealthy” community or a “poor” one. It is designed to provide schools the …
Greenwood Charter School Authorized
MS Delta Academies yesterday received approval by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board to open Leflore Legacy Academy, serving grades 6-8, in Greenwood. In its first year, 2020-2021, the school will serve only grade 6. The board rejected applications for charter schools in Canton and Vicksburg-Warren, as well as a second application for another Greenwood charter school. Note: …
