Leaders in Policy. Excellence in Education.
Who We AreMississippi First is the state's foremost education policy nonprofit working to improve pre-K-12 public education.
We are a leading voice for state-funded pre-K, high-quality public charter schools, strong and sensible standards and accountability policies, high-quality curriculum, and great teachers and leaders.
As experts in our field, we share our knowledge and insights with policymakers and the public through publications, presentations, and briefings.
We encourage you to follow us on social media and join our e-mail list to remain updated.
For too many years, Mississippi teachers have not been compensated for their hard work and dedication to our children. This is reflected in uncompetitive salaries and a lack of financial aid to earn the credential it takes to be an educator. Teachers are now leaving the state to teach, leaving the field of education, or deciding not to enter in the first place.
Read OnIn an effort to support school districts, families, and students we have compiled resources to help districts plan for re-opening and operating during the pandemic.
Learn MoreThis year has been like no other Mississippi First has faced. We entered 2020 excited about what the future would hold and then…the pandemic hit. Like everyone, we were left wondering what this global crisis would mean for our work, for schools, and for the health of Mississippians.
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JACKSON, Miss.— Today, Mississippi First released their newest report titled Nothing in the Pipes: Educator Crisis in Mississippi. In recent years, a new problem in a decades-old challenge has emerged: the number of new Mississippi teachers has sharply declined, exacerbating the teacher shortage and threatening the success of public education in Mississippi. This new report…
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The press release was originally published by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board. JACKSON, MS–In 2017, the Mississippi Charter School Authorization Board (MCSAB) was awarded a federal Charter Schools Program grant, which requires the MCSAB to conduct an annual parent survey. For the past two years, MCSAB has contracted with Mississippi First to complete the…
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ANNOUNCEMENT: The Governor has announced how the Governor’s Emergency Education Response (GEER) Fund program will be allocated. The Governor has chosen to divide allocated GEER Funds into two funding categories in order to quickly and efficiently target funds to the state’s most pressing emergency needs. The Governor received $34,662,872. The first category of funds –…
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