Why Is the Governor Prioritizing School Choice Over Teacher Pay? Shocking Consequences Revealed!

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves had intended to address the pressing topic of teacher pay raises during his annual State of the State address, originally scheduled for February 4. However, the speech was postponed due to a massive ice storm that affected the Delta and north Mississippi. As of now, it remains uncertain whether the address will be rescheduled. This situation could result in a historic precedent: it would mark the first time in modern memory that a Mississippi governor has avoided delivering the State of the State.

This isn’t the first time Reeves has sidestepped the issue of a teacher pay raise. During the 2019 gubernatorial campaign, both then-Lieutenant Governor Reeves and Democratic nominee, then-Attorney General Jim Hood, proposed significant pay increases for teachers. However, when Reeves presented his first budget proposal as governor, he omitted any mention of a teacher pay raise as a legislative priority. Subsequently, when questioned by reporters, he acknowledged its importance, yet it was still absent from his budget outline.

Despite Reeves's initial neglect of teacher pay in his budget proposal for the 2020 session, the Mississippi Legislature moved forward and approved a $1,000 pay raise for teachers for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020. Reeves took to social media to tout the pay raise as he signed it into law. The following year, the state benefitted from record revenue reserves, largely driven by federal COVID-19 funding, enabling the Legislature to approve a far more substantial pay increase of approximately $5,100. While Reeves advocated for a smaller increment, he later celebrated as he signed the bill into law that the raise surpassed the $4,000 increase he had promised during his campaign.

Currently, it’s expected that any teacher pay raise likely to be passed by the Legislature this session will receive Reeves's signature, likely accompanied by fanfare, even though he has been largely silent on the topic until now. The evolving discourse surrounding teacher compensation in Mississippi reflects broader concerns about educational funding and the retention of quality educators in the state.

Teacher pay remains a critical issue not just in Mississippi, but across the United States. As states grapple with budget constraints exacerbated by the pandemic, the push for competitive salaries to attract and retain teachers is louder than ever. In Mississippi, where average teacher salaries have historically lagged behind the national average, the stakes are particularly high. Enhancements in teacher compensation not only affect the livelihoods of educators but also have long-term implications for student outcomes and overall educational quality.

As Mississippi navigates these challenges, the impact of Reeves's decisions on teacher pay will resonate throughout the state's educational landscape. With the potential for historic decisions ahead, educators, policymakers, and the public alike will be watching closely to see if the state prioritizes its teachers in a meaningful way in the months to come.

This column was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics, and culture. Bobby Harrison is the editor of Mississippi Today Ideas.