/Ed groups weigh in on how Espy, Hyde-Smith can help schools

Ed groups weigh in on how Espy, Hyde-Smith can help schools

Mississippi News Nonprofit Education was a key issue for political candidates in the past. Although the federal government has a limited role in education, Congress still has oversight of the U.S. Department of Education. It also controls the purse strings for many federal programs that aid schools. Cindy Hyde Smith and Mike Espy, who will be going toe-to–toe in a runoff election on Nov. 27, have mostly avoided discussing education. For example, Espy demanded full funding for the state’s education formula while Hyde-Smith criticised Common Core standards. Mississippi Today interviewed several Mississippi groups to find out what their next U.S. Senator wants in education. Grant Callen, the executive director of Empower Mississippi, said that a lot of what happens in classrooms is determined at a state level. The Legislature decides how much funding schools will receive each year through the Mississippi Adequate Education Program. Each session also passes laws that allow for charter schools to be created and other programs that impact public schools. Callen stated that while the most important decisions regarding education are made at the state- and local level, any activity at any level that acknowledges the primary role of parents in the decision-making process deserves applause. Congress extended 529 plans last year to include K-12 tuition costs, giving tax relief to families who have chosen private schools. These are the reforms that I hope Senators and Representatives will heartily support. Nancy Loome, executive director at The Parent’s Campaign, an advocacy group for public schools, stated that protecting public schools from being privatized and profited from is the most important thing congressional representatives can do. Loome pointed out that Betsy DeVos (the U.S. Secretary for Education), visited Holmes County School District last month and has advocated for greater privatization at the federal levels since her arrival in the position. According to the Washington Post, DeVos and Trump have presented a budget proposal to the U.S. Department of Education. It would reduce the agency’s budget and divert more funds to school option initiatives such as vouchers. Loome stated that “fortunately, so far Congress has resisted attempts to fund private school with public tax dollars.” “We hope that any senator or congressperson will stand up to this effort.” Loome stated that while most education policy is made at the state level and oversight is done at the local level, Title I funds are provided by the federal government to schools districts that have high levels of students from low-income families. Loome stated that “especially in a state such as Mississippi, where schools are underfunded there is a significant effect on children when you start taking any dollars away at all.” As Loome, Joyce Helmick, President of the Mississippi Association of Educators, stated that she would like Washington, D.C. legislators to support public education policies and ensure equal access for all students, regardless of their zip code. Helmick stated that she would like to see them support public education and not privatizing schools through charters or vouchers. She said that they want them to “support programs that would strengthen education in our schools, including students with special needs and gifted and talented students, the entire spectrum.” The MAE endorsed Hyde Smith’s opponent, Democrat Mike Espy, before the general election. Helmick stated that the political action committee of the MAE sent out a long questionnaire to all candidates. If candidates answered it, Helmick interviewed them in person. Helmick stated that Hyde-Smith didn’t respond to the questionnaire, while Espy completed it. Espy stated on his campaign website that he would work with senators from rural states to increase teacher quality by offering incentives such as loan forgiveness or interest subsidy for student loans.