House Education Freedom Committee to Meet 8/25/25

Following passage of the first federally funded national school choice/voucher program via the budget reconciliation bill signed into law by President Trump on July 4, Governor Tate Reeves has implied on several occasions that he might call a special session of the legislature in the coming weeks to address school choice. As shared in our June 27 post, Mississippi House Speaker Jason White created the Education Freedom Committee to study and assess the House’s commitment to “transforming the educational landscape” in our state via school choice. The committee will hold its first meeting Monday, August 25, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in Room 113 of the capitol. Click here for contact information for members of the committee.

The committee’s August 25 meeting will be followed by an Education Freedom Policy Summit hosted by the Mississippi House Republican Caucus at the Sheraton Flowood on Tuesday, August 26. Speakers include Governor Tate Reeves, Speaker Jason White and representatives of the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor.  The summit will conclude with a caucus discussion of school choice. (NOTE: Caucus meetings are not open to the public.)

It is critical that House members hear from educators and concerned citizens on this issue. In a survey of our MPE members last fall, 81% did not support legislation that would allow families to send their children to private schools at taxpayer expense via vouchers. School choice and vouchers would fundamentally change our state’s approach to public education. Choice in other states has led to increased achievement gaps between the haves and the have nots. School choice/open enrollment could lead to larger class sizes. Vouchers would allow public funds to go to private schools with little or no accountability for such funds. Private schools, not parents, determine who is admitted to the school and private schools are not required to accept students with special needs or other challenges. Learn more by reviewing our Winter 2023 MPE Journal which answered frequently asked questions regarding vouchers and our Winter 2024 MPE Journal that discussed several issues related to school choice.