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Senate approves education supplemental; lawmaker questions early-education and ARP cuts
Summary
The Mississippi Senate passed a supplemental appropriation for K–12 education after brief debate about program line items, teacher residency funding and a federal ARP ESSER liquidation that had hit local districts, while senators asked for follow-up on specific grants and programs.
The Mississippi Senate on the final day of a special session approved the supplementary education appropriation carried in House Bill 42, clearing a final Senate action for the department’s general education programs and related line items.
Senator Dennis DeBarre, chair of the appropriations discussion, told the chamber the Senate action for the general education budget is $2,114,281,503 and highlighted increases the Senate added, including $3.5 million for a teacher residency program, $2.1 million for a distance-learning partnership with MPB to place 12 rotating teachers to address critical-subject shortages, and a $2 million increase to the ESA program. “Everything that I feel good about the education budget,” DeBarre said as he outlined the supplements.
Senators who asked questions pressed for detail on specific line items. Senator Hill asked about a $1.1 million appropriation for “Algebra Nation,” which DeBarre described as an in‑person tutoring-style program that sends instructors to districts to improve math scores. Senator McClendon asked whether school-choice initiatives such as the Promise Act were reflected in the appropriation; the chair said they were not. Senator Simmons raised the larger issue of federal ARP ESSER funding being liquidated early and asked whether this bill contained money to make local districts whole. DeBarre said the department’s current estimate of the hit had changed and the committee had tried to press for assistance but could not secure agreement with the House.
The bill passed on a recorded morning roll call after the chamber completed questions and consideration.
Senators and staff said they would follow up with the Department of Education on several program clarifications, including the scope of the MPB distance‑learning pilot, the amount available for national board certification stipends and whether the ESA increase will eliminate current waiting lists.
The Senate sent the measure to the governor following final passage; senators indicated they expect additional questions and possible technical cleanup in the coming weeks.
