Mississippi auditor seeks law to send half of education dollars to teacher pay

State Auditor Shad White on Tuesday recommended that the Mississippi Legislature require that 50% of every dollar spent on education be directed to teacher salaries, his office said.

White’s office said the change would immediately make Mississippi public school teachers among the highest paid in the nation. The auditor’s office also said Mississippi’s average teacher salary is the third-lowest in the country when adjusted for cost of living.

According to the auditor’s office, about 43% of the state’s K-12 budget was spent on teacher salaries in the 2023-24 school year. White said his recommendation is intended to increase that share and boost pay for classroom teachers.

White urged the Legislature to consider the recommendation, saying Mississippi can lead in education only by investing in teachers, the auditor’s office said.

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