A Mississippi House bill that would require public schools to publish detailed financial, attendance and staffing data on the state education department’s website awaits consideration in the Senate. House Bill 1234 was authored by Republican Rep. Zachary Grady of D’Iberville.
The bill would require schools to post monthly revenue and sources, vendor contracts, truancy and absenteeism rates, the number of long-term substitute teachers and student-to-teacher ratios, according to the bill text. The bill says schools already regularly provide much of that information to the Mississippi Department of Education.
Supporters of the bill said increased transparency is needed after recent district takeovers and missing financial audits. Proponents told lawmakers the dashboard would strengthen oversight of public schools.
But the proposal has drawn criticism from public school advocates. Nancy Loome, leader of The Parents’ Campaign, called the bill “especially egregious” given House leaders’ opposition to accountability measures for private schools and scrutiny of administrative costs. “This will be a big administrative cost,” she said.
Under the bill, districts would have to publish the required information by Sept. 30, 2026, and could face withholding of state funds for late reporting, according to the bill. House Bill 1234 has been referred to the Senate Education Committee, the same committee that killed a similar bill last year.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
