James Mosteller is a Legislative Director for ExcelinEd in Action.
Leaders in the Magnolia State set a bold education policy agenda for 2024.
In Gov. Reeves’ State of the State Address, he prioritized preparing students for the future with student-centered policies. Upon becoming Speaker of the House, Speaker Jason White made empowering parents and education funding reform his top priorities. When he started his second term, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann urged the legislature to increase postsecondary attainment, strengthening college and career pathways to the future workforce.
Mississippi lawmakers delivered on these priorities and more. Read on to learn more about Mississippi’s important new teacher pipeline policy and school choice expansion, as well as progress you might expect to see during next year’s legislative session.
Magnolia State lawmakers answered Gov. Reeves’ call by delivering a complete rewrite of Mississippi’s funding formula for K-12 schools. HB 4130, the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, will invest $2.95 billion in K-12 education—including an extra $250 million for Mississippi’s public schools. The new funding formula replaces the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and includes additional funding for students with special needs, students from rural populations, low-income students and students enrolled in career and technical education courses.
This “weighted” funding will help ensure students are getting the resources they need to learn and thrive.
Mississippi strengthened its teacher pipeline by taking steps to join more than 10 states in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. This multi-state agreement allows teachers to transfer their professional license to and from other states within the compact, removing barriers for qualified teachers to enter the classroom. Lawmakers will seek minor adjustments to this statute next session before the state officially joins the compact.
Gov. Reeves signed HB 1450 into law, which includes key goals to:
The law is a meaningful step toward ensuring that quality teachers are getting into the classroom, not waiting for paperwork to be approved. It will also help the state fill teacher vacancies more quickly and prevent frustrated transfer teachers from leaving the profession.
Gov. Reeves signed Rep. Rob Roberson’s HB 1229 into law, extending the state’s current Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Education Savings Account program until 2028. The program currently serves about 380 students, and the new law would allow up to 500 to enroll.
The passage of this measure ensures that Mississippi families will continue to have the flexibility and purchasing power to access the learning environments that best meet their children’s unique needs.
Public and Private School Choice Gained Ground but Faced Challenges
Several public and private education choice measures made it close to the finish line in 2024. Though the following measures did not make it to Gov. Reeves’ desk, families can count on the strong leadership of Mississippi policymakers to continue to advocate for students who need more educational options and flexibility.
Leaders in Mississippi are poised to make 2025 a transformative year for education. Lt. Gov. Hosemann has his sights set on a Last Dollar scholarship program for community college students, a bold initiative to strengthen pathways to college and career. Speaker White is also poised to lead a renewed effort to expand opportunities for families.
Mississippi’s 2024 legislative session marked significant progress in improving the state’s education landscape. From a bold new funding formula to a stronger teacher pipeline and the extension of scholarship accounts for students with special needs, lawmakers laid the groundwork for a brighter future for students.
While promising initiatives like expanding education choice didn’t cross the finish line, state leaders’ have signaled their support for educational opportunity and education-to-workforce initiatives. With continued focus on these reforms and state leaders’ bold vision, Mississippi is well-positioned to advance strong education policies in the years ahead.
