Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus Statement on House Bill 2 (School Choice)

The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus fiercely opposes House Bill 2 because it undermines education equity, weakens public accountability, and threatens the long-term stability of Mississippi’s public education system—particularly for Black, rural, and low-income students.

Public education in Mississippi has never been accidental. It has been the result of hard-fought struggles for access, equity, and opportunity. From the era of legally segregated schools to the creation of “segregation academies” designed to evade desegregation, Mississippi has a documented history of using policy to deny Black children equal educational opportunity. Public schools—especially in Black and rural communities—became the primary vehicle through which generations gained access to literacy, economic mobility, and civic participation, even in the face of chronic underfunding and resistance.

Take Action: Participate in the MLBC Legislative Hearing on Education Policy

House Bill 2 moves the state backward by redirecting public dollars away from the very schools that have long been asked to do the most with the least. Rather than repairing historic inequities, this legislation risks recreating a two-tiered education system—one that advantages families with means and access, while leaving behind students who depend most on public schools as anchors of their communities.

The MLBC’s position on this issue is clear: prioritize equitable investment in Mississippi’s public school system. Mississippi has not yet met its constitutional or moral obligation to fully and fairly fund public education. Teacher shortages persist and teachers are severely underpaid, school facilities remain inadequate, early learning access is uneven, and students with disabilities and special needs continue to face gaps in services. HB 2 fails to address these foundational issues while offering no meaningful guarantees of transparency, accountability, or nondiscrimination for entities receiving public funds.

Any education policy that allows public resources to flow to schools that are not required to accept all students, meet uniform standards, or provide full civil rights protections cannot be justified as serving the public good. From fully funding the new student formula to expanding postsecondary pathways and workforce training, MLBC continues to focus on policies that ensure every student has the opportunity, support, and preparation needed to succeed in school, careers, and life. MLBC advocates for support of after school programs, remediation services in schools, (re)instituting civics and financial literacy curriculum, literacy coaches for grades 4-8, school building assessments, full funding of drivers’ education, addressing conflict resolution and parental accountability strategies, prohibiting hair discrimination in schools with The Crown Act, and strengthening opportunities within STEM with the utilization of AI. 

Mississippi’s future depends on a strong, equitable public education system that serves all children—not a select few. HB 2 does not meet that standard, and we urge colleagues to reject it in favor of solutions that truly advance educational justice.