Mississippi House approves over $5 billion for K-12 education funding

The Mississippi House has approved two appropriations bills totaling just over $5 billion for K-12 education. The funding includes a $5,000 teacher pay raise and nearly $500 increase in the base student cost, according to House members.

Funding for general education programs and the Mississippi Student Funding Formula (MSFF) is set at $2.1 billion and nearly $3.2 billion, respectively. House Speaker Jason White said the funding increases reflect a commitment to prioritize students over systems. The bills incorporate federal and special funds, with specific allocations for teacher pay, school psychologists, attendance officers, and district improvement programs.

One bill, HB 1126, proposes a $5,000 pay raise for teachers across the board, with an additional $3,000 for special education teachers. The Senate has proposed a smaller $2,000 increase, but Senate Education Committee Chairman Dennis DeBar said he supports raising it closer to $5,000, citing feedback from education groups.

Other provisions include $648,000 for occupational therapist and psychologist supplements, $21.9 million for special education teacher salaries, and $124 million for technical and vocational education, including $14.7 million for teacher pay increases in Career and Technical Education programs. The base student amount for the upcoming fiscal year would rise to $7,447.37, an increase of $485.92 from the previous year, according to House member Karl Oliver.

Additionally, the House passed HB 1940, which allocates an extra $12.6 million for literacy and math initiatives. This includes funding for the Mississippi Math Act, a literacy expansion for grades 4-8, and financial literacy curriculum for students in grades 6-12. White emphasized the importance of ongoing education reforms, stating the House aims to continue building on recent progress and prioritize student success as the bills move to the Senate for debate.

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