The Mississippi Senate has introduced legislation proposing an infusion of $206 million into the state’s education system, with $50 million earmarked for teacher salary increases. In addition to the teacher pay raises, the Senate aims to allocate $50 million to bolster pay for personnel at community colleges and universities. Under the proposed legislation, the Department of Education would be tasked with evaluating two new funding formulas, one put forth by the Senate and another by the House, and submitting a recommendation to the Legislature by October 1, 2024. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann emphasized the collaborative approach, stating, “Studying the issue together, in connection with the Department of Education and our new Superintendent, will hopefully result in a new, long-term sustainable formula both chambers can agree on which is good for students and schools.” House Bill 1823 outlines the education appropriations, nearly covering the existing funding formula of around $251 million. House Bill 765, set to be considered on the floor, includes technical changes for K-12 raises, potentially providing a $1,000 raise for each teacher in the state, with starting pay for bachelor’s degree holders set at $42,500. Raises for community college and university personnel would be integrated into pending legislation, including Senate Bill 3016 for community colleges and Senate Bills 3006-3014 for Institutions of Higher Learning.
