FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 9, 2025 JACKSON, Miss. – Angela Bass will rejoin Mississippi First as its new Executive Director, effective July 8, the organization announced today. Angela hails from Tunica, MS, and she was the Deputy Director of Policy for Mississippi First from 2014-2019, directing several research initiatives, co-authoring policy and research reports,…
Read MoreMississippi First Releases Blended Pre-K Toolkit to Expand High-Quality Early Education
JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi First today released a new Blended Pre-K Toolkit, a comprehensive guide designed to help school districts and Head Start programs expand pre-K access by strategically blending funding sources. According to Mississippi First’s 2023 poll, only 54.8% of Mississippians agree that families have access to affordable pre-K. This toolkit provides a roadmap…
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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 MoreAfter 16 Years, Mississippi First Founder, Leader Rachel Canter to Transition in 2025
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 MoreMississippi 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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Mississippi First Releases Its First Public Perception Survey of Early Childhood in Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi—Mississippi First is proud to announce the release of its newest report, 2023 Public Perception of Early Childhood Education in Mississippi, which provides valuable insights into Mississippians’ views on the importance, affordability, and accessibility of early childhood education. The survey results underscore the widespread public support for pre-K and early learning initiatives across the state….
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Mississippi First Releases Pivotal Report on Teacher Compensation and Inflation
Jackson, Mississippi—Mississippi First, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving education in the state, has released a new report titled Falling Behind: Teacher Compensation and the Race Against Inflation. The report provides a comprehensive look at the complex factors contributing to Mississippi’s teacher shortage with emphasis on how inflation has directly affected the impact of the recent…
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