JACKSON — The 133rd session of Mississippi Legislator heats up. Lt. Governor. Tate Reeves spoke out for the first time in the year. He shared his optimistic outlook about the future of Mississippi and emphasized that Mississippi is making great progress in its state-run education program. Reeves asserts that Mississippi is now in a better place than ever in terms of state-run educational spending, despite what public education advocates call massive budget cuts in education spending in the past few years. Many Mississippi Democrats have protested state funding for education. However, Reeves said that school performance or output is more important than money being invested in the school system. Reeves stated that the conversation has changed to not be about input but about outcomes. Reeves said, “What are the success rate, what are their results?” He pointed out that high school graduation rates have increased from 70% in 2010 to 82% in 2017. Reeves stated that schools are performing at a higher standard. Reeves cited higher graduation rates and also argued that there has been an increase in the number of school options for families. He argued that this is because children are more likely to have better chances if they have more choices. This move has its critics. Nonpartisan Mississippi Parent’s Campaign argues that if families have the option of moving their children to other schools, then the state’s poorest schools will become poorer. Reeves cited wasteful spending in many schools districts, including Jackson, as an argument for education cuts.