“Mississippi ranks as the #1 state for educational gains in the United States.” Fact check. Mississippi’s National Assessment of Education Progress results received a lot of praise last fall. The fourth- and eighth grade students are tested by NAEP on their math and reading skills. In 2019, Mississippi was the only state that saw improvement in all four subjects, fourth-grade reading, math, and eighth grade math. However, these gains do not reflect overall reading proficiency. All told, 32 percent of fourth-grade students were proficient at reading comprehension; 39 percent were proficient at math. 25 percent of eighth-grade students were proficient at reading, and 24% were proficient in mathematics. “We need to be able trust that corrections officers working in these prisons have all the tools they need to do their job and that they are paid fairly,” said one fact checker. People who work in Mississippi prisons are some of the lowest-paid in America. For correctional officer trainees, the starting salary at Mississippi Department of Corrections is $25,650. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mississippi’s average hourly wage for correctional officers and jailers is $14.38, which is the lowest in the nation, as per May 2018 data. Pelicia Hall, the former corrections commissioner, requested $7.1 million from lawmakers to increase starting pay to between $28,000 to $31,000. We have more money than ever before because of cost-saving measures, tax cuts and the growth that has spurred our economy. It is important to remember that we must always keep our focus on protecting taxpayers. This is how we got to this financial situation. Fact check: The recent state collection growth, such as the 4.9 percent increase in fiscal 2019, is not historical. Revenue soared by more than 10% in some years during the 1990s casino boom. Revenue increases cannot be attributed recent, historic large tax cuts. This includes the elimination of the corporate franchise tax. The state will lose $415 million annually due to the policy cuts, which won’t be fully implemented before 2028. “There’s been a false belief that the only way to attain the American dream is by obtaining a four-year degree from a university and working behind a desk…. We know in Mississippi that pride is found in the trade. There is always money to be made. We don’t have to let the east coast live in their ivory towers. Let the west coast have a new generation of gender studies majors. We will get more jobs and better pay!” The fact is that nearly three-quarters of Mississippi’s workforce do not have a four-year college diploma. For the percentage of workers with a bachelor’s degree, Mississippi is second behind Nevada. However, this hasn’t made the state a leader in high-paying blue-collar jobs. According to Georgetown University’s 2017 report, Mississippi workers who did not have a bachelor’s degree made an average annual salary in the region of $27,000. Bachelor’s degree holders earned $44,000. “Last year, we outlined a plan of investing $100 million in workforce development. We want to train Mississippians to be ready for work. Students should be taught skills from an early age. Apprenticeships, grants to community colleges and support for workers.” The fact check: Reeves’ workforce development plan invests 75 million in community college, which provide much of the state’s job-training, according to the announcement. The plan also includes $20 million to “help working families get up and ready for work” via child care and transportation. These services are also provided by the Mississippi Department of Human Services through traditional welfare funds. This plan will need to compensate for significant decreases in traditional training efforts. According to the annual reports of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the number of people who were served by the state’s job-training partners (mostly community colleges) fell by more than half, from 3,481 in 2011, to 1,297 in 2018. The $100 million investment is double that of former Gov. Phil Bryant channeled over ten years to workforce training under his Mississippi Works initiative. This was in 2016, according to Phil Bryant. “When we succeed, it will show in the wages for our workers. Every Mississippian must see an increase in income. We are just around the corner of better paying jobs, high-quality jobs. Fact check: Mississippi has not experienced wage growth. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mississippi’s private sector workers earned $744 per week in October. This is $221 less than the national median. Inflation accounted for $30 of the decline in weekly earnings over the past decade. The 2016 $150/year income tax cut will be fully effective in 2022. However, it will not be sufficient to offset current falls in real wages. According to the “Mississippi Works”, job posting database, the average salary for available jobs in the state was below $26,000 — which is less than the poverty line for a family with four children. “We can let West Coast have a generation of Gender Studies majors.” Fact Check: Both Mississippi State University (Mississippi Works) and the University of Mississippi offer programs in gender studies. A minor in gender studies is offered by the University of Southern Mississippi. “We have worked hard to make Mississippi the safest place in the country. Fact check: Mississippi, which has Reeves as its lieutenant governor, has passed some the most restrictive abortion-access laws in the United States. They have all been challenged by abortion rights advocates who claim they violate the Roe v. Wade constitutional protections. Most of these laws have been overturned by federal courts. Mississippi still has the nation’s highest infant mortality rate. Mississippi children are more likely than other states to be living in poverty. This article was contributed by Kayleigh Skinner, and Adam Ganucheau. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today. Our reporters give a human face to policy’s impact on everyday Mississippians by listening more closely and understanding their communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of all Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think.