K-12 Education

League of Women Voters^®
of Mississippi, Inc.

WHY IS THIS A PRIORITY: In the past few years, Mississippi has inadequately funded K-12 education according to state funding guidelines.
LWV POSITION: LWV opposes any reduction of K-12 funding. We support the Board of Education's request for restoring $243 million MAEP money and the $38 million in valorem tax that was reduced for this current year.

FACT: This last year the school districts laid off 2,060 personnel statewide including 704 certified teachers, 792 teacher assistants, 163 non-certified staff such as custodians, bus drivers, and clerical personnel, and 401 non-certified staff such as custodians, bus drivers, and clerical personnel.

FACT: The number of layoffs reported does not include positions that were lost due to retirement, relocation, or other personal reasons.

FACT: Less individual attention, gifted, intervention and after school programs are available, and teachers have received very little in the classroom supply funding.

We believe, if these circumstances are not reserved, student achievement is bound to suffer, and the positive momentum teachers and students have worked so hard to achieve will be reversed.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: April 12, 2012 23:29 PDT.