State auditor says Mississippi education agency fails to ensure teachers get funds before school year

The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor said the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) cannot ensure teachers receive funds to equip classrooms before the school year begins, the office said.

The auditor’s office said it expects teachers to have fully equipped classrooms before students arrive, but that MDE cannot ensure teachers have the necessary funds in advance, according to a statement from the office.

The office also criticized MDE policies that limit where teachers may purchase classroom supplies and said the department does not reimburse teacher expenditures efficiently or in a timely manner, the statement said.

The auditor’s office said it will continue examining the program and plans to release a follow-up report to the one it issued last year. The office said it hopes MDE implements recommended reforms so teachers have an easier time with the program next year.

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