Mississippi

Could school choice be a topic of the upcoming legislative session?

Published

1 year ago

December 6, 2023

Could school choice be a topic of the upcoming legislative session?

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) -A repeat of a decade-long controversy could be queued up for the next legislative session, and it centers around whether you should have more choices in where your child goes to school.

On the newly selected Speaker Jason White’s short list of education-related priorities?

“I’m willing to explore and talk about parental choice when it comes to having choices for their kids at the school that they live in. That school district is not providing for their needs, or it’s a failing school district. I want to give those parents some options.”

When you look at what’s already available in the state, open enrollment is an option where you can move to another school district other than where they live. But that’s a district-by-district decision. On the private choice side, there are also vouchers and scholarships to families whose children have specialized needs. They can use it at private schools. Empower Mississippi would like to see those choices expanded.

“A lot of regional momentum, a lot of national momentum behind this movement, we think now is absolutely the right time to move in this direction,” said Wil Ervin, Empower Mississippi Senior VP.

They’d like more open enrollment and use other states as a model of how to broaden the choices.

“I think what we would like to see is a universal ESA, similar to what you see in Arizona or Florida or more recently passed in Arkansas, where every student in the state is able to qualify,” added Ervin.

But groups like The Parents’ Campaign stand by their position that it shouldn’t be part of the educational priorities.

“The legislature’s primary job when it comes to public education or education in general, is funding,” described Nancy Loome, The Parents’ Campaign Executive Director. “They have the appropriation responsibility. And so they need to do their job and fully fund schools.”

And they argue that programs like vouchers shouldn’t be allowed.

“Our state constitution prohibits using state funding in that way,” added Loome. “It specifically says that state funding cannot go to schools that charge tuition and are not free.”

The legislative session begins January 2, and we’ll keep tabs on whether this school choice topic comes up.

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Mississippi

Four-star OT Emanuel Tucker decommits from Mississippi State football 2026 recruiting class

Published

3 hours ago

June 2, 2025

Press Room

Four-star OT Emanuel Tucker decommits from Mississippi State football 2026 recruiting class

Mississippi State football lost a commitment from its top prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.

Emanuel Tucker, an offensive tackle from New Albany, decommitted from the Bulldogs on June 2. He was the only four-star committed to MSU, according to the 247 Sports Composite Rankings.

He announced the decommitment in an X post one day after taking an official visit to Ole Miss. Tucker holds an offer from the Rebels and many other SEC schools. He was committed to MSU and second-year coach Jeff Lebby since February.

“I would like to announce that I’m no longer committed to Mississippi State University,” Tucker wrote in his post.

Emanuel Tucker’s 247 rating

Tucker is a four-star recruit, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He’s measured at 6-foot-5, 290 pounds and is listed as the No. 10 player in Mississippi, the No. 17 offensive tackle and No. 232 nationally.

Mississippi State football recruiting class 2026

Mississippi State is down to nine commitments for its 2026 recruiting class. Brodie McWhorter, a three-star quarterback from Georgia, is now the top commitment in the class.

QB Brodie McWhorter
IOL Jakobe Green
ATH Jaiden Taylor
WR Camden Capehart
RB Jaeden Hill
CB Camron Brown
S Kolby Barrett
DL Kaleb Morris
S Antavius Watts

Where Mississippi State ranks in 2026 team recruiting rankings

The Bulldogs’ 2026 recruiting class is ranked No. 40 nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. It’s 11th in the SEC.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Mississippi

Evan Siary strikes out 9 in 6 innings and Mississippi State ends Northeastern’s season 3-2

Published

20 hours ago

June 1, 2025

Press Room

Evan Siary strikes out 9 in 6 innings and Mississippi State ends Northeastern’s season 3-2

Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Evan Siary struck out nine in six innings, Mississippi State recorded the final out on a failed steal attempt, and the Bulldogs advanced to the final round of the Tallahassee Regional with a 3-2 win over Northeastern on Sunday.

With two outs and the tying run at first, pinch runner Carter Bentley was tagged out by second baseman Gatlin Sanders on a throw from catcher Joe Powell and a review confirmed the call on the field.

Mississippi State (36-22) will play No. 9 national seed Florida State on Sunday night and would have to win that game and beat the Seminoles again Monday to reach super regionals.

Northeastern (49-11) had its season come to an end after another loss to the Bulldogs, who snapped the Huskies’ 27-game win streak in the opening game.

Siary (3-1) retired the first 13 batters, with five strikeouts. Stone Simmons earned his third save of the season after 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Simmons struck out Cam Maldonado looking with the bases loaded in the seventh to get out of a jam.

Hunter Hines opened the scoring for Mississippi State with a shot off the left-field wall to score one on a double and he added a sacrifice fly in the fifth for a 3-1 lead. Gehrig Frei went 3 for 4.

Northeastern coach Mike Glavine was ejected in the bottom of the eighth when Mississippi State had runners on the corners with no outs.

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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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Mississippi

Who does Mississippi State baseball play in the NCAA tournament? Bulldogs’ opponent set

Published

2 days ago

June 1, 2025

Press Room

Who does Mississippi State baseball play in the NCAA tournament? Bulldogs’ opponent set

TALLAHASSE, Fla. — Mississippi State baseball must win to keep its season alive.

The No. 3 seed Bulldogs (35-22) were crushed 10-3 by No. 1 Florida State (40-14) in the NCAA tournament’s Tallahassee Regional on May 31. It sets up a rematch from the NCAA tournament opener with MSU against No. 2 Northeastern on June 1 (11 a.m. CT).

The winner of Mississippi State versus Northeastern will play Florida State in the regional final on June 1 (6 p.m.).

The Huskies (49-10) held off Bethune-Cookman 4-3 earlier in the day to advance. MSU flattened Northeastern 11-2 on May 30 to begin the regional.

Interim coach Justin Parker said after the Florida State loss that the plan is to start Evan Siary at pitcher against Northeastern.

The Bulldogs, who fired coach Chris Lemonis on April 28, are in their second straight NCAA tournament. They are 10-3 under interim coach Justin Parker.

MSU would be in its first super regional since 2021 if it wins the Tallahassee Regional.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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