THE PARENTS' CAMPAIGN

IN 2023-2024, THE PARENTS' CAMPAIGN (TPC) FOCUSED ON ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, WITH THE GOAL OF MOVING FORWARD POLICIES THAT IMPROVE MISSISSIPPI'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH:TO FURTHER ITS GOAL OF IMPROVING THE STATE'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, TPC WORKED COOPERATIVELY WITH VARIOUS PARENT GROUPS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESS AND CIVIC GROUPS STATEWIDE.TPC CONTINUED TO GROW ITS MEMBERSHIP AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TPC PROVIDED REGULAR EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES TO INFORM MEMBERS OF LEGISLATION AND POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN MISSISSIPPI.FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERSHIP, TPC PUBLICLY RECOGNIZED OUTSTANDING MEMBERS FOR THEIR SERVICE.PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT & INFORMATION:TPC CONTINUED TO EXPAND AND ADD RESOURCES TO ITS WEBSITE (MSPARENTSCAMPAIGN.ORG). THE SITE ALLOWS TPC MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS ALL FEATURES AT NO COST. VISITORS TO THE SITE CAN PERFORM A RANGE OF TASKS, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING LEGISLATORS WHO REPRESENT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND VIEWING INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO THE DISTRICT, SUCH AS FUNDING STATISTICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS.TPC'S ONLINE RESOURCES INCLUDE A SEARCHABLE ARCHIVE OF COMPREHENSIVE VOTING RECORDS FOR CURRENT AND FORMER LEGISLATORS AND GRAPHICS SHOWING DETAILED CONTACT INFORMATION FOR LEGISLATORS IN EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT. LEGISLATORS' CURRENT VOTES ON IMPORTANT BILLS ARE SHARED REGULARLY VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND MEMBER EMAILS DURING EACH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.TPC ENGAGED MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH MEETINGS WITH PARENTS AND EDUCATORS, REGULAR UPDATES FOR KEY VOLUNTEERS, AND BY COMMUNICATIONS VIA NETWORK EMAILS AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS PROMOTING THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADEQUATELY, PAYING TEACHERS A PROFESSIONAL SALARY, PRESERVING STATE REVENUE, AND INVESTING IN PRE-K AND OTHER SUPPORTS AND SERVICES TO BENEFIT MISSISSIPPI CHILDREN.THERE IS NO COST FOR MEMBERSHIP OR FOR ANY SERVICE PROVIDED BY TPC.LEGISLATIVE ACTION:DURING THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, TPC TRACKED POLICY DECISIONS AND LAWMAKERS' ACTIONS BY ATTENDING WEEKLY MEETINGS OF KEY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES AND MONITORING HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR DEBATES AND VOTES. LAWMAKERS' VOTES WERE REPORTED BY TPC VIA THE TOOLS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS SECTIONS OF THIS REPORT.MEMBERS OF THE PARENTS' CAMPAIGN INFLUENCED LEGISLATIVE ACTION BY CALLING, TEXTING, AND EMAILING THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS, POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ORGANIZING MEETINGS, AND RECRUITING OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS TO JOIN THEIR EFFORTS. TPC STAFF MET REGULARLY WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO EXPRESS PUBLIC SCHOOL PRIORITIES AND COORDINATED LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY INITIATIVES WITH OTHER EDUCATION ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS.TPC'S SUCCESSES IN THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION INCLUDED: - FULL FUNDING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS - AN INCREASE OF $239 MILLION INVESTED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AND TEACHERS STATEWIDE - ADDRESSING THE TEACHER SHORTAGE BY ALLOWING RETIREES TO TEACH FULL-TIME AND DRAW A SALARY WHILE ALSO RECEIVING PERS BENEFITS AND BY EXPANDING THE WINTER-REED TEACHER LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM - INCREASED FUNDING FOR PRE-K - TIGHTENING UP THE ESA VOUCHER STATUTE TO PROVIDE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TAXPAYERS - DEFEATING EFFORTS TO DIVERT ADDITIONAL STATE REVENUE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS (WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND NO OVERSIGHT) VIA TAX CREDITS THAT DEPLETE THE STATE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS