Mississippi lawmakers have approved a $5.3 billion budget for K-12 public education, a $111 million increase over last year, according to State Senator Dennis DeBar (R). The measure includes pay raises for teachers, assistant teachers, and school attendance officers.
Teachers and teacher assistants will receive a $2,000 pay increase, while special education teachers will get an additional $2,000. School attendance officers will see a $5,000 raise, and nine new positions will be added to the attendance officer staff. Funding for these raises totals about $108 million, with special education raises costing an additional $14 million, DeBar said.
Despite increasing education funding, Mississippi’s student population has declined steadily. Over the past five school years, enrollment dropped from 442,000 to 424,534 students. A decade ago, enrollment exceeded 483,000 students, according to the Department of Education.
The budget also allocates funds for vocational and technical education, charter school programs, and other initiatives. The base student cost was increased to $7,201.77, up from about $6,845 last year.
Lawmakers debated how to fund the pay raises, with the House proposing a one-time $5,000 boost for teachers and the Senate supporting a multi-year increase. Ultimately, the conference committee agreed on a $2,000 annual raise for teachers and related personnel. DeBar noted the legislature might revisit pay scales next year, depending on revenue and expenditures.
DeBar emphasized that this is a one-time salary increase, and future raises will depend on the state’s financial situation. The funding includes $3.07 billion for the student funding formula and $2.1 billion for general education, both above legislative budget estimates.
Additional allocations include $1.4 million for the Charter School Board, $21.6 million for the Chickasaw Interest Fund, and $115.2 million for vocational programs. The budget also provides $9 million for a literacy initiative, $3.48 million for the Math Act, and other education-related expenses.
Lawmakers also approved $2,000 annual raises for professors at public universities and community colleges, included in a broader conference report. The measure now moves to the governor for approval.
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
