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Getting to Know Representative Phillip Gunn
Introduction to the Presumptive Speaker-Elect
According to recent news reports, Rep. Phillip Gunn (R-Clinton) is the GOP choice to become the first Republican Speaker of the House since Reconstruction. If he does become the next speaker, he will have tremendous influence on whether the Mississippi House addresses our policy goals.
In order to get a sense of where he stands on pre-K, charter schools, sex education, and other education policy issues, I took a look at bills he sponsored, co-sponsored, and/or voted on during the 2011 legislative session. Here’s what I found...
Pre-Kindergarten
The two Pre-K bills introduced in the house this past session - one to create a task force to study pre-K and another to create an internet-based pre-K program - both died in committee, meaning that there were no bills for Gunn to vote on. In the coming session, MSF hopes to determine his position on a collaborative delivery model for pre-K.
Charter Schools
Very little has happened on charter schools since the 2010 passage of the conversion charter school law, which Rep. Gunn voted for. During the 2011 session, Gunn sponsored HB 1102, which would have allowed conversion and new-start charter schools. The bill died in committee. A more expansive charter school law appears to be a top legislative priority for the new House majority, so expect to see a bill make it to the House floor during the upcoming session.
Sex Education
HB 999 is the sex education bill that went into effect July 1, 2011. After the original version of the bill passed the House, the Senate added several new restrictions regarding how sex ed could be taught. The House ultimately accepted the Senate’s changes and sent the bill to the governor. During this process, Rep. Gunn voted against the original bill and also voted against the Senate version.
Other Education Bills Sponsored by Gunn
HB 1103 - Prohibits the State Board of Education from revising social studies curricula for political/philosophical reasons. (Response to controversial curriculum changes made in Texas)
[died in committee]
HB 1104 - Requires public school districts to adopt a policy that prohibits students from being promoted to the next grade if they’re reading below grade level (with some exceptions)
[died in committee]
HB 1281 - Requires MDE to annually determine the percentage of MAEP funds (explanation of MAEP from The Parents’ Campaign) that must be allocated for “direct classroom instruction.”
[died in committee]
While we can’t determine where he stands on pre-K, his votes indicate strong support for charter schools and opposition to sex education. The bills that he sponsored also reveal an interest in the allocation of ed funds, student achievement, and a concern over the politicization of state education policies. As we look forward to the session, we await news of Representative Gunn’s selections for committee memberships, particularly the Education Committee.
In order to get a sense of where he stands on pre-K, charter schools, sex education, and other education policy issues, I took a look at bills he sponsored, co-sponsored, and/or voted on during the 2011 legislative session. Here’s what I found...
Pre-Kindergarten
The two Pre-K bills introduced in the house this past session - one to create a task force to study pre-K and another to create an internet-based pre-K program - both died in committee, meaning that there were no bills for Gunn to vote on. In the coming session, MSF hopes to determine his position on a collaborative delivery model for pre-K.
Charter Schools
Very little has happened on charter schools since the 2010 passage of the conversion charter school law, which Rep. Gunn voted for. During the 2011 session, Gunn sponsored HB 1102, which would have allowed conversion and new-start charter schools. The bill died in committee. A more expansive charter school law appears to be a top legislative priority for the new House majority, so expect to see a bill make it to the House floor during the upcoming session.
Sex Education
HB 999 is the sex education bill that went into effect July 1, 2011. After the original version of the bill passed the House, the Senate added several new restrictions regarding how sex ed could be taught. The House ultimately accepted the Senate’s changes and sent the bill to the governor. During this process, Rep. Gunn voted against the original bill and also voted against the Senate version.
Other Education Bills Sponsored by Gunn
HB 1103 - Prohibits the State Board of Education from revising social studies curricula for political/philosophical reasons. (Response to controversial curriculum changes made in Texas)
[died in committee]
HB 1104 - Requires public school districts to adopt a policy that prohibits students from being promoted to the next grade if they’re reading below grade level (with some exceptions)
[died in committee]
HB 1281 - Requires MDE to annually determine the percentage of MAEP funds (explanation of MAEP from The Parents’ Campaign) that must be allocated for “direct classroom instruction.”
[died in committee]
While we can’t determine where he stands on pre-K, his votes indicate strong support for charter schools and opposition to sex education. The bills that he sponsored also reveal an interest in the allocation of ed funds, student achievement, and a concern over the politicization of state education policies. As we look forward to the session, we await news of Representative Gunn’s selections for committee memberships, particularly the Education Committee.
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CHART Advocacy: Several School Board Presentations Set
Number of CHART Districts to Increase before Christmas
In recent weeks, every school district in our Priority 1 counties have been contacted. Administrators have received copies of the CHART Abstinence-Plus policy, along with copies of county teen health data and fact sheets (both can be found here). Through this advocacy work, presentations have been scheduled for school boards in the following school districts:
Western Line School District (Washington - P1) - December 8th
Hollandale School District (Washington - P1) - December 12th
Leland School District (Washington - P1) - December 12th
Durant School District (Holmes - P1) - December 13th
More presentations may be scheduled between now and the Christmas break. We will also re-connect with school districts that have recently elected new superintendents. Districts currently experiencing leadership transitions have been reluctant to adopt new policies before the new leaders take over in January.
Western Line School District (Washington - P1) - December 8th
Hollandale School District (Washington - P1) - December 12th
Leland School District (Washington - P1) - December 12th
Durant School District (Holmes - P1) - December 13th
More presentations may be scheduled between now and the Christmas break. We will also re-connect with school districts that have recently elected new superintendents. Districts currently experiencing leadership transitions have been reluctant to adopt new policies before the new leaders take over in January.
Stay tuned for more updates!
For Ed Wonks: Two New Studies Released
Studies Focus on Professional Development and Teacher Evaluations
The Center for American Progress has released two new studies on teachers. I think both are interesting and thought you might be interested, too.
The first study about teacher professional development highlights what many of us in the field already know--that the ubiquitous teacher PD "workshop" is basically useless and that advanced degrees don't, on average, add value to a teacher's knowledge and skills. This study goes one step further to recommend an approach that does work with incorporates coaching, individualized feedback, and modeling of great teaching through the use of video clips. I am particularly intrigued by the online aspects of this approach and the video clips, since I think many teachers don't have the opportunity to see great instruction, even when it does occur in their own school.
The second study about teacher evaluation is interesting primarily because it looks at the question of evaluation at a particular level: high school. As you know, Mississippi is in the process of designing our state's first-ever statewide teacher evaluation, and several of the ideas noted in this study may very well end up in the state system, as we have recommended some of them (value-added, student learning objectives) to MDE.
Coming soon: Mississippi’s NAEP data and how to use the NAEP data tools to analyze our scores
The first study about teacher professional development highlights what many of us in the field already know--that the ubiquitous teacher PD "workshop" is basically useless and that advanced degrees don't, on average, add value to a teacher's knowledge and skills. This study goes one step further to recommend an approach that does work with incorporates coaching, individualized feedback, and modeling of great teaching through the use of video clips. I am particularly intrigued by the online aspects of this approach and the video clips, since I think many teachers don't have the opportunity to see great instruction, even when it does occur in their own school.
The second study about teacher evaluation is interesting primarily because it looks at the question of evaluation at a particular level: high school. As you know, Mississippi is in the process of designing our state's first-ever statewide teacher evaluation, and several of the ideas noted in this study may very well end up in the state system, as we have recommended some of them (value-added, student learning objectives) to MDE.
Coming soon: Mississippi’s NAEP data and how to use the NAEP data tools to analyze our scores
For Ed Wonks: Town Hall Meetings to Discuss NCLB Waivers
MDE Will Share Plan for Waiver Application
MDE is currently holding town hall meetings to inform parents and other community members about the U.S. Department of Education’s waiver process for No Child Left Behind (NCLB). This process gives states flexibility regarding NCLB requirements in exchange for “rigorous and comprehensive State-developed plans designed to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction.” MDE officials will share the department’s plan for applying for the waiver during these meetings.
The next meeting will be held in Oxford on Monday, December 5th at the Conference Center on 102 Ed Perry Blvd. There will be a 3 PM meeting for educators, followed by a 6 PM for parents and community members. To register, go to http://www.nmec.net/ and click on "2011-2012 workshops" on the right hand side. Then when you see the ugly color-coded boxes, click on the one that says "Mississippi Department of Education."
Town hall meetings will also be held in the following cities
The next meeting will be held in Oxford on Monday, December 5th at the Conference Center on 102 Ed Perry Blvd. There will be a 3 PM meeting for educators, followed by a 6 PM for parents and community members. To register, go to http://www.nmec.net/ and click on "2011-2012 workshops" on the right hand side. Then when you see the ugly color-coded boxes, click on the one that says "Mississippi Department of Education."
Town hall meetings will also be held in the following cities
- Tuesday, December 6th in Cleveland - Delta State University Jobe Hall, 201 5th Avenue
- Tuesday, December 13th in Pearl - Hinds Community College Muse Center, 515 Country Place Parkway
What ends up in Mississippi's waiver is VERY important, but it is highly unlikely that many people outside of MDE will have any clue that it is even being drafted, let alone open for public comment. Please go to this meeting and show that there is interest.
PreK: MSF Issue Brief Coming Soon!
Brief Will Examine a Collaborative Pre-K Delivery Model
In the coming weeks, MSF will release the long-awaited Mississippi First pre-K issue brief, Leaving Last in Line: Making Pre-K a Reality in Mississippi. The brief will address the pressing need for state-funded pre-Kindergarten in Mississippi, and will explain how a collaborative-delivery model would be a cost-effective way to address that need. Collaborative models allow states and communities to provide high-quality pre-K through partnerships between school districts, private childcare centers, and Head Start. Included in the brief will be descriptions of the unique collaborative models used in Oklahoma, Georgia, and West Virginia.
The brief will be added to the website immediately after it is released to the public. For questions about the collaborative pre-K model, please e-mail MSF Executive Director Rachel Canter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
The brief will be added to the website immediately after it is released to the public. For questions about the collaborative pre-K model, please e-mail MSF Executive Director Rachel Canter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
In the coming weeks, MSF will release the long-awaited Mississippi First pre-K issue brief, Leaving Last in Line: Making Pre-K a Reality in Mississippi. The brief will address the pressing need for state-funded pre-Kindergarten in Mississippi, and will explain how a collaborative-delivery model would be a cost-effective way to address that need. Collaborative models allow states and communities to provide high-quality pre-K through partnerships between school districts, private childcare centers, and Head Start. Included in the brief will be descriptions of the unique collaborative models used in Oklahoma, Georgia, and West Virginia.
The brief will be added to the website immediately after it is released to the public. For questions about the collaborative pre-K model, please e-mail MSF Executive Director Rachel Canter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
The brief will be added to the website immediately after it is released to the public. For questions about the collaborative pre-K model, please e-mail MSF Executive Director Rachel Canter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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