Archive for March 2017

Today the House and Senate approved a gutted conference report on House Bill 1046, the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship expansion. The bill now heads to the Governor. Under the new law, the scholarships will be expanded to students through 12th grade. The program is currently only available through 6th grade. This will serve students who…

The Dyslexia Scholarship is an example of a government program that is meeting the needs of the audience it is designed to serve. The only problem is the demand is much larger than the supply provided by the current program. Seeing the need for special services for students with dyslexia, the legislature adopted the Dyslexia Therapy…

Over the past six years, education funding and enrollment in Mississippi’s public schools have been moving in different directions. Education funding has steadily increased from $2.2 billion in 2012 to $2.5 billion last year. This represents an increase of about $300 million during that time period. (Total education funding declined slightly in fiscal year 2017,…

Last summer the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a lawsuit attempting to shut down Mississippi’s public charter schools. Thankfully, a number of talented attorneys- including Mike Hurst with the Mississippi Justice Institute– stepped forward to defend the families, the charter schools, and the law against this frivolous challenge. The case has been proceeding quietly for several…

Last week the Senate adopted an expansion to the Dyslexia Scholarship program. HB 1046, as passed the Senate, makes a number of important changes to the Dyslexia Scholarship program. This includes: The scholarships will be expanded to students through 12th grade. The program is currently only available through 6th grade. This will serve students who…

Last night the Senate adopted an expansion to the Dyslexia Scholarship in a 30-19 vote. House Bill 1046 makes a number of important changes to the current Dyslexia Scholarship program. This includes: The scholarships will be expanded to students through 12th grade. The program is currently only available through 6th grade. This will serve students…

Today the Senate adopted legislation to expand the Dyslexia Scholarship program in a 30-19 vote. House Bill 1046, which makes a number of improvements to the current Dyslexia Scholarship program, is now headed to the House of Representatives. A reverse repealer has been placed in the legislation meaning it will return for further consideration. “Today the…

Empower Mississippi is seeking a full-time Director of Development to work with the President to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan to grow Empower revenue through the solicitation of individual major gifts, foundation support, high dollar direct mail, and special projects. This position will oversee all development activities, including meeting with current and potential…

During his first address to a joint chamber of Congress, President Donald Trump called education “the civil rights issue of our time” and again pushed for Congress to pass school choice legislation. “I am calling upon members of both parties to pass an education bill that funds school choice for disadvantaged youth, including millions of…