SB 2149 Passes

Dear Jeff,

We’ve taken one more step toward improved public schools and a better Mississippi! The House and Senate have adopted the conference report for Senate Bill 2149, the bill that holds superintendents accountable for the quality of education provided the children in their school districts.

Both chambers engaged in heated debate about the merits of this bill. Some legislators expressed concern that it was unfair to give superintendents only 2 years to improve failing schools. Others, led by Rep. Kelvin Buck, replied that it was more unfair to sentence children in failing districts to lives of under-education and poverty due to substandard schools. They spoke passionately about the long-lasting, sometimes irreversible, negative effects just 2 years of ineffective education can have on children, and they cited cases in which underperforming schools and districts were improved dramatically in less than 2 years.

In the end, children won the day – thanks in large part to the great support shown for this accountability legislation by parents, teachers, business leaders, and many superintendents (that’s right – superintendents!). You can see a summary of the conference reports on Senate Bill 2149 and HB 513, the education funding bill, at Conference Reports.

To see how your Senator voted on this bill, click SENATE VOTE. To see how your Representative voted, click HOUSE VOTE. To le arn which legislators represent you, click Find My Legislators. Please join me in thanking those legislators who took a courageous stand for children – and for high quality schools – by voting for this important bill.

The 2008 Legislative Session is scheduled to end on Saturday. We will send you, in the next few days, a summary of the legislative initiatives in the Quality Education Act. In the meantime, you can check our website for updates at www.msparentscampaign.org.

Many, many thanks for your tremendous work this session! You stood up for kids, and our whole state will be better for it. All our futures will be brighter as we move toward better schools!

Gratefully,

Nancy