AMY: EmpowerMS has goal of 50,000 students educated outside traditional public school by 2025

School choice in Miss.: Many fights, few students so far

Not so much. Between the state’s three charter schools and two programs that pay for children with learning disabilities to attend private schools, fewer than 1,000 students are being served this year. There are 482,000 students in traditional public schools, by contrast.

Though supporters have big dreams and opponents have big fears for what could happen in the future, thus far, charter schools and vouchers are bit players on the Mississippi education scene.

It’s not clear whether that’s going to change. Empower Mississippi, a group pushing expanded options, has set the ambitious goal of having 50,000 students, or just over 10 percent of the state’s current public school population, educated outside traditional public school settings by 2025.

Clarion Ledger
3/12/17