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Dear Jack,
As a leading voice for School Choice in Mississippi, MCPP is thrilled to update you on the progress our state is making.
School Choice is our top focus. While we champion other critical causes like reducing red tape, as well as running a Leadership Academy and our famous Speaker Series, School Choice remains our north star. I’m delighted to report we’re seeing real momentum.
Erika Donalds gives evidence to Mississippi House Committee
The House Education Freedom Committee recently heard compelling testimony from experts Erika Donalds of Moms for Liberty and Dr. Patrick Wolf, a key architect of Arkansas’s School Choice program.
So how might School Choice work in practice? Every child in our state already has a personalized education budget of about $7,000 a year under the new school funding formula. With School Choice, families could direct these state funds to a school - public, private, or charter - that best meets their child’s needs. It would be the state funds, not local or federal that families could direct.
What about overcrowding? Might some schools be inundated with students from outside? Under our proposal, schools would get to set capacity limits and decline additional students if full. Schools could also reject students with significant disciplinary issues, maintaining safe and focused learning environments.
The evidence is clear: School Choice works. A global meta-analysis shows improved reading and math performance for students in these programs. Even better, competition from School Choice lifts achievement in traditional public schools, as confirmed by 90 studies showing positive effects on student outcomes.
Mississippi is now surrounded by states - Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee - where families control their child’s education budget. States like Arizona, Florida, and others have embraced this model, too. Without action, Mississippi students risk falling behind.
Opponents claim School Choice will “defund” public schools, but that’s misleading. Great public schools could attract more funding as families choose them. Your tax dollars exist to educate students, not prop up systems. If a family isn’t satisfied with their school options, they deserve the freedom to choose a better fit.
Critics of School Choice often mask their desire to protect bloated budgets and high bureaucrat salaries - some exceeding the Governor’s pay. Their arguments crumble when you see the success of programs in Alabama and Arkansas.
With your continued support, we’re closer than ever to making School Choice a reality in Mississippi. Together, we can ensure every child has access to an education that unlocks their potential.
Mississippi is doing well. Our economy is growing. New inward investment is pouring in. Improving our education system is vital if we are to build on this success.
Ps. Lord Daniel Hannan gave a talk this week to a packed lunch at River Hills in Jackson. If you weren’t able to attend, you might like to watch the video online here:
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