Jackson, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Capitol is a germ and virus factory during any normal legislative session because of all the glad-handing, back-slapping and random hugging. It was clearly in line to become more perilous than usual during the coronavirus pandemic. Legislators voted last week to suspend their session until at least April 1, [...]
Tupelo, Miss. (Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal) - As the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the state, lawmakers will temporarily suspend the 2020 session of the Mississippi Legislature and will likely allow school districts and local governing authorities to give their employees paid leave during the virus outbreak. “We are asking you to just put [...]
Jackson, Miss. (Y'all Politics) - A bill revising curriculum and funding requirements for the State’s nationally-recognized pre-K program passed the Mississippi Senate yesterday with overwhelming bipartisan support. First established in 2013, Early Learning Collaboratives (ELCs) provide grants to communities to set up, expand, support, and facilitate early childhood education programs for 4-year-olds. For the 2019-2020 [...]
Jackson, Miss. (Y'all Politics) - Entities receiving more than $5 million in state economic development tax incentives would be required to report job creation numbers, average wages, and other information to the public under a bill passed with the unanimous support of the Mississippi Senate yesterday. “As conservatives, we must account for every dollar taxpayers [...]
Louisville, Miss. (Winston County Journal) - Autism impacts more than two million Americans. Each day, they face this developmental disability posing major social, communicative and behavioral challenges. National experts are addressing a March 27 conference at Mississippi College to explore autism issues. The program’s theme is “Growing and Thriving on the Spectrum.” The keynote speaker [...]
Jackson, Miss. (Y'all Politics) - Legislation in the Senate would prevent public employers from requiring applicants to disclose whether or not they have been convicted of a felony crime on an application. This effort is otherwise known as “ban the box.” “I’ve been working on this piece of legislation for years now,” said bill author Sen. [...]
Louisville, Miss. (Winston County Journal) - Outstanding students and faculty members from 34 Mississippi public and private universities and colleges were honored at the annual HEADWAE program, held earlier this week in Jackson. Higher Education Appreciation Day—Working for Academic Excellence (HEADWAE) was established by legislative resolution to honor individual academic achievement and the overall contribution [...]
Tunica, Miss. (Mississippi Today) - Mississippi students soared on kindergarten readiness exams, third-grade reading “gate” tests, graduation rates and reading and math assessments, outperforming the nation. Carey Wright, state Superintendent of Education, said at a Mississippi Delta high school last week that the state could do even more with additional dollars from the federal government. [...]
Jackson, Miss. (Mississippi Today) - A controversial program that provides scholarships for special needs students to attend private school may see substantial changes if a bill continues in the legislative process. Senate Bill 2594 passed out of the Senate Friday on a voice vote. The bill would add accountability measures to the Education Scholarship Account (ESA) [...]
Brookhaven, Miss. (Daily Leader) - Several bills either authored or amended by Sen. Sally Doty, R-Brookhaven, passed the Mississippi Senate Tuesday and will now go to the House for consideration. SB 2511, authored by Education Chairman Dennis Debar Jr., addressed the critical teacher shortage in Mississippi by revising requirements for entrance into teacher education programs. Doty [...]
