As the beginning of the 2025 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature draws near and the debate over school choice heats up, it is critical that educators and other Mississippians under - stand the potential consequences of choice. While our Winter 2023 MPE Journal discussed school choice vouchers, this article will discuss open enrollment which would allow students to transfer from one public school district to another district of their choosing, regardless of their residency. While supporters have touted the issue as giving parents more choice for their children’s education which may seem appealing, choice could easily create a myriad of challenges for communities and schools Mississippi Recognized for Educational Gains While school choice proponents may question the strength of our state’s public schools, our schools have been recognized nationally for their educational progress. At least 29 other states have visited or contacted the Mississippi Depart - ment of Education to learn more about the work and strategies that have led to our state’s educa - tional gains. Public school accountability grades for the 2023-24 school year reflect 85.7% of schools and 93.9% of districts earned a grade of C or higher. The largest ever share of Mississippi districts are now rated A, B, or C. In addition, the overall percentage of students scoring pro - ficient and advanced reached an all-time high in mathematics, English Language Arts, and science. Our districts have also witnessed higher national rankings and historical graduation rates. While there is more work to do, recent progress must be acknowledged and validated. Issues to be Considered in the School Choice Conversation
Some organizations that support choice in Mis - sissippi have criticized our state accountability model as failing to accurately portray public school performance because schools or districts with high letter ratings may have low proficiency rates. While our model includes proficiency, it is overall a growth model. The Mississippi Legisla - ture codified the accountability model into state law, and our public schools and districts have made tremendous progress in recent years under this model. Choice Destabilizes the Sense of Community It is difficult to think about a community with - out thinking about its schools. Schools provide a social infrastructure which sociologists have described “as veritable glue that connects us and binds us together in our communities.” Commu - nities educate local students because they recog - nize the benefits to the community as a whole. Schools provide a sense of local pride and tradi - tion, both of which are at risk of being lost with open enrollment. While school choice proponents may perceive our country’s schools as failing, a 2023 Gallup survey found that 76% of parents were satisfied with their child’s education. This underscores the importance of local schools, as parents with chil - dren in those local schools are pleased with their actual experience rather than the overall public who may form opinions based on what they hear rather than what they actually experience. School safety must also be considered when discussing school choice. Relationships between educators and their students are key to effective school safety. An influx of students from other communities could pose a significant challenge to administrators, teachers, and school resource of - ficers, particularly as it relates to those students’ mental health or behavioral needs and discipline histories.
PAGE 12 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
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