Mississippi ranks sixth in the nation for its number of teachers and is in the top third for the number of national board certified teachers per capita, the state Board of Education chairman said Wednesday.
But it also is facing a statewide teacher shortage crisis and pays those teachers less than the averages for the other Southeastern states.
State Superintendent Hank Bounds and Board of Education Chairman William Jones told lawmakers the Department of Education needs an extra $183.7 million for initiatives that include a teacher pay increase and more funding for at-risk schools.
“Clearly, we have made great progress around teacher pay over the past five or six years, but arguably, now is not the time to back up,” Bounds said.
The requested increase would restore some funds the department did not receive last fiscal year.
Magnolia Tribune
