GOOD NEWS: Mississippi Looks to Reform, Establish Education Freedom

Mississippi has long lagged behind other red states in empowering families with education freedom. But that might soon change.

While other states embraced policies, enabling families to choose the learning environments that align with their values and best meet their child’s learning needs, students in Mississippi have been stuck in a one-size-fits-some system for years.

Last year, America’s education system hit a tipping point: More than half the nation’s students are now eligible to participate in a school choice program.

In Mississippi, fewer than one-fifth of students are eligible for school choice. By contrast, 17 other states make every K-12 student eligible for a publicly funded school choice program.

This year, Mississippi has the opportunity to join them.

On Jan. 8, Mississippi lawmakers introduced the Mississippi Education Freedom Act, which would significantly expand education choice, among numerous other education reforms.

The Education Freedom Act would create Magnolia Student Accounts—a form of K-12 education savings accounts for families to use to pay for private school tuition, tutoring, homeschool curricula and supplementary materials, education services for students with special needs, and more.

The Magnolia Student Accounts put parents back in the driver’s seat of their children’s education. It recognizes a simple truth: Families know their children better than bureaucrats do, and they should have the freedom to choose education options that match their kids’ unique needs.

Of course, program design matters. The Magnolia Student Accounts are generally well designed, but there is room for improvement, particularly concerning access.

Every K-12 student in Mississippi is technically eligible for an account, but only 12,500 accounts will be available in the first year, half of which are reserved for students switching out of a public school.

That means fewer than 3% of Mississippi students will be able to use a Magnolia Student Account.

Because funding is limited, access will be rationed, with students from lower-income families taking priority. But the promise of education choice is freedom, flexibility, and fairness for all families—not just the fortunate few.

By contrast, eight states offer truly universal education choice. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia all have education choice policies that make every K-12 student eligible and fund every eligible student.

Although falling short of a truly universal education choice program, Mississippi lawmakers did ensure that number of Magnolia Student Accounts will grow organically over time, providing an additional 2,500 accounts each year.

If the accounts prove to be as popular among parents as in other states, lawmakers will soon face pressure to expand the program more rapidly.

Critics will claim the accounts “takes money from public schools,” but that argument misunderstands how education funding works.

Money follows students because it is intended to benefit those students, not particular institutions. When a child leaves a school, that school no longer bears the cost of educating that child. The funding should follow accordingly.

What Magnolia Student Accounts really do is inject healthy competition into Mississippi’s education landscape.

Schools that serve families well will thrive. Those that don’t will face pressure to improve. And most importantly, children won’t be trapped in failing situations while adults argue about turf.

Mississippi has long struggled with educational outcomes. Rather than accepting the status quo, the Magnolia State should empower families with greater education opportunities for their children. The Magnolia Student Accounts program would do exactly that.

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