Mississippi’s public schools are under attack—again.
Not by accident. Not quietly. But through legislation that would drain public dollars out of classrooms and send them to private interests with little oversight and even less accountability.
Let’s be clear: the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents is not confused about where we stand. We oppose any plan—vouchers, education savings accounts, or tax credits—that pulls taxpayer money out of public schools. These schemes don’t “expand opportunity.” They shrink it by starving the one system required to serve every child who walks through the door.
What makes this moment especially troubling is how these proposals are being sold. Some lawmakers are attempting to hitch school choice to teacher pay raises, as if educators must accept the dismantling of public education in exchange for fair compensation. That’s a false bargain, and Mississippi’s teachers deserve better. Paying educators what they’re worth should never be used as cover to weaken the schools they work in.
Supporters of school choice love a simple talking point: parents know best. Of course they do. Parents are essential partners in education. But knowing your child doesn’t mean public dollars should flow into programs with fewer rules, fewer protections and no obligation to serve all students. Public money demands public accountability. Anything less is a gamble—with our children’s futures on the table.
And we don’t have to guess how this ends. States that rushed down the voucher and ESA road are already paying the price: ballooning costs, shaky academic results, and public schools stretched thinner than ever. The promises sounded great. The outcomes didn’t deliver. Mississippi should learn from that—not repeat it.
This debate isn’t theoretical. These decisions will determine whether local school districts can keep class sizes manageable, buses running, teachers employed, and services in place for students who need them most. Lawmakers need to hear that reality—directly and loudly—from the people living it every day.
That’s why we’re calling on superintendents, school board leaders, and community voices across Mississippi: pick up the phone. Call your legislators before the session begins January 6. Tell them what these policies would mean for your district, your teachers, and your students.
Public money belongs in public schools. Not siphoned off. Not dressed up as “choice.” Not traded away in backroom deals. MASS will keep fighting, watching every move this session, and standing shoulder to shoulder with Mississippi’s public school leaders—because once public education is weakened, there is no easy way back.
Phillip G Burchfield
Executive Director