White seeks more money in the classroom

Nov 25, 2024-State Auditor Shad White has sent a letter to Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann with his recommendations on ways the state government can put more K-12 education dollars into teachers’ salaries and the classroom.

“Mississippi spends a greater percentage of our K-12 budget on administrative costs than every other state in the South with the exception of Washington, DC,” White said. Even worse, K-12 administrative spending increased from 2006 to 2021 while the amount of inside-the-classroom spending went down and the number of students in K-12 schools decreased.”

White has proposed a bill that would require 50 percent of all new education funds to go towards teacher salaries, which would result in a $13,000 pay raise for teachers.

“As the son of a 35-year public school teacher and grandson of two public school teachers, I know the importance of getting more money into teachers’ salaries,” said White. “It’s just common sense: spending money in the classroom makes the biggest difference for students.”