Archive for January 2017

The United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions voted today to confirm Betsy DeVos’ nomination for Secretary of Education. Her nomination now goes to the full Senate. For nearly 30 years, Ms. DeVos has been fighting to ensure that every child in America, regardless of their zip code, has the opportunity to…

Empower Mississippi joined more than 70 state leaders and organizations in showing our support for Betsy DeVos to be the next United States Secretary of Education. Betsy DeVos is an undisputed champion of families and students. For nearly 30 years she has devoted time and resources to improving education options for our nation’s children. Yet…

President Donald Trump issued a proclamation in honor of National School Choice Week yesterday. The text of the proclamation is below: NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK, 2017 – – – – – – – BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION The foundation of a good life begins with a great education. …

Yesterday, students and families from across the state met at the State Capitol in Jackson to celebrate National School Choice Week. Here is what they are saying about the event: WLBT: Hundreds gather for school choice rally at the State Capitol It was shoulder to shoulder in the Capitol Rotunda Tuesday morning. Those in attendance…

This morning nearly 1,000 students, teachers, and families from around the state descended on the State Capitol to take part in the 2nd Annual Mississippi School Choice Rally. Some students travel hours, from as far as DeSoto County, Tupelo, and Hattiesburg; others had only a few blocks to drive from their school. But all came,…

The Mississippi Department of Education announced today that they will be holding a new lottery for families wishing to enroll in the Special Needs Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program. There are 134 new slots opening in the program and over 200 families are on the waiting list. Families who are awarded a scholarship in the…

Across the country, from the nation’s capitol to state capitols, school choice policies are on the move. And for good reason: parents want more high quality choices for the education of their children. Today, 43 states and the District of Columbia permit charter schools and more than 60 private school choice programs are in place.…

National School Choice Week begins today in Mississippi and across the country. There are 133 events planned in the Magnolia State to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 21,392 events nationwide. The events in Mississippi, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies,…

This week we are celebrating School Choice Week in the state of Mississippi. But what is school choice? School choice is about empowering parents with the freedom to use their tax dollars to choose the best educational setting for their child. This week, we are not just promoting or advocating for one specific piece of…

Donald J. Trump is being sworn in as the 45th President of the United States today as he takes the oath of office at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. As a candidate, and following his election, President Trump outlined an impressive vision for school choice in America. Trump pledged to allow families to…

More than one thousand students, parents, teachers, and community leaders will celebrate school choice in the Magnolia State during National School Choice Week. The event will be held Tuesday, January 24, 2017 in the second floor rotunda of the State Capitol at 9:30 a.m. Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves will speak at…

Gov. Phil Bryant has officially proclaimed January 22-28, 2017 as “School Choice Week” in the state of Mississippi. He joins 14 other governors and more than 500 mayors and county leaders nationwide in issuing proclamations. A total of 21,329 events have been independently organized across the country for National School Choice Week, including more than…