Baby bust’s effect on public schools
Mississippi public school enrollment is set to steadily shrink. In 2007, Mississippi had 46,455 births, about 127 per day. In...
Change laws. Change lives.
Karrece spent her years as a young girl at the feet of her grandmothers watching them apply makeup. She followed...
Life changing reforms are winning the day
This week the Empower team was in Atlanta for State Policy Network’s Annual Meeting. SPN works alongside a national network of independent...
Empower reacts to charter board approving only one new charter
Today, the Mississippi Charter Authorizer Board approved one new charter application and denied four others, including denying a strong application...
Why has charter school progress been slow?
As we approach the 10-year anniversary of Mississippi approving charter schools, we remain excited for the kids who have been...
Lawsuit filed to stop student loan cancellation
A month after President Joe Biden announced plans to cancel a substantial portion of student loan debt, a lawsuit has...
Mississippi part of growing flat tax trend
Earlier this year, Mississippi lawmakers adopted legislation that will institute a 4 percent flat tax in the state. The Mississippi...
What charter school rankings really show
New school rankings show Leflore Legacy Academy Charter School in Greenwood, in only its second year of operation, was rated...
Mississippi’s regulations lead to fewer jobs, more poverty
New data shows that federal regulations have led to more people living in poverty, greater income inequality, fewer businesses, less...
Crime spike not due to prison reforms
Suggestions that the recent spike in homicides is due to recent statewide criminal justice reforms are not supported by evidence....
Are our schools doing better or worse?
We’ve seen conflicting reports on progress in Mississippi’s schools. This week, scores for all states on the National Assessment of...
From the football field to the battlefield, Lockridge overcomes drug addiction
Growing up in Tupelo, Dietrich “Big Truck” Lockridge had dreams of playing football in the NFL. On the field at Tupelo High School, Dietrich was named an All American and as a senior the...
HB 668: New pathways to teacher licensure
House Bill 668, sponsored by Rep. Charles Busby, would help with Mississippi’s teacher shortages by creating new pathways for qualified professionals who would like to teach in Mississippi’s classrooms. Under the proposed legislation, an...
How bad is crime in Mississippi?
The real answer might surprise you. Crime is an important social issue. Criminal acts can spread fear, destroy our sense of justice, lead to impoverishment, and even end lives. Policymakers have an obligation...
HB 27: Allow students with dyslexia to receive ESA
House Bill 27, sponsored by Rep. Larry Byrd, would allow students with a dyslexia diagnosis to be eligible for the education scholarship account program. The program is designed to help students with special needs...
SB 2052: Regulatory reduction pilot program
Senate Bill 2052, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Blackwell, would require five state agencies to begin a regulatory reduction program over the next three years. It would also prohibit each pilot agency from adopting a...
2022: A Year in Review
This year is almost in the books and the 2023 Legislation Session will begin next week, but before we say goodbye to 2022 it’s worth reflecting on how much was accomplished this year to...
Empower releases report on violent crime in Mississippi
Mississippi’s homicide rate is significantly higher than the national average, according to a new analysis of FBI crime data by Empower Mississippi. The overall violent crime rate, however, is lower than the national average...
Mississippi microschools are expanding education options for families
By Kerry McDonald, State Policy Network Education Policy Fellow When Stephanie Harper decided to open Harper Learning Academy in Byram, Mississippi in August, her goal was to create a small, personalized educational setting in...
Microschools take off in Mississippi
The pandemic and related school closures had a profound impact on education in America that will be the subject of debates and studies for years to come. While most schools in Mississippi were closed...
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