Mississippi Association of Educators is making its wish list ahead of 2025 legislative session

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – As your children prepare for the holiday break, educators are letting lawmakers know what’s on their wish list for next year.

If you have a child in Mississippi public schools, you’ve heard about standardized state tests. And the Mississippi Association of Educators says one item on their agenda will be to yet again push to have them eliminated.

“I had an opportunity to speak with my son’s U.S. history teacher,” explained MAE President Erica Jones. “And as you know, U.S. History is one of those subject areas that’s tested. And he mentioned to me that he would teach the students totally different if it wasn’t a tested area because there are so many requirements that go to ensuring that the students are passing that particular test.”

A Senate bill was introduced last session but didn’t make it through the full process that would’ve eliminated those state tests for algebra, biology, English, and U.S. history.

“I know there are other options out there,” noted Jones. “This is now the time for us to gather, to start talking about what we can do differently.”

But before testing to ensure students are meeting benchmarks, they have to establish a strong foundation. That’s why MAE is requesting a move towards making pre-k available to all kids.

“As a second-grade teacher, I can recall how it was having to work with students who might have been behind because they did not receive that pe-K in order to be successful,” she said. “So, really urging our legislators to do for students here in Mississippi, really looking at exploring making pre-K available to all students across Mississippi and not just a selected district.”

Other items the group says they have on their legislative agenda include continued work on retention of teachers and the creation of community schools that provide wraparound services in areas of the state most in need of additional support for their students.

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