Move comes after years of significant progress statewide in expanding, strengthening educational opportunities; Board search underway for successor Mississippi First founder and Executive Director Rachel Canter announced today that she will transition from the organization in 2025. The move comes after a transformational period for public education in Mississippi, with more and higher-quality educational opportunities…
Read More →Who We Are
We are a dedicated team of experts who work tirelessly to promote the mission of Mississippi First.
What We Support
We are a leading voice for high-quality early education, high-quality public charter schools, access to highly effective teachers and leaders, and creating a future for public schools.
Our Work
As experts in our field, we share our knowledge and insights with policymakers and the public through publications, presentations, and briefings.
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Falling Behind: Teacher Compensation and the Race Against Inflation
With the 2022-2023 Mississippi Teacher Survey, we confirmed that record high inflation has largely negated the impact of the largest single-year teacher pay raise in our state’s history in 2022.
Read MoreTransforming Pre-K in Mississippi
Learn the remarkable story of the early learning collaboratives and how the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 changed early education in Mississippi.
Read MoreOur Latest Updates
An announcement
Dear friends, colleagues, and supporters, I was 19 when I decided that I would devote my life to what eventually became Mississippi First. It was the summer of 2002, and No Child Left Behind was set to go into effect that fall. I had spent the summer as an intern in the Mississippi Governor’s Office…
Read More →Mississippi First Releases 2023 Public Perception of Charter Schools Survey Findings
Jackson, Mississippi—Mississippi First is pleased to announce the release of the 2023 Public Perception of Charter Schools survey report, which provides critical insights into public understanding and support of charter schools in Mississippi. This comprehensive survey was conducted by the Survey Research Lab (SRL) at Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center. The survey captured responses from a…
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