Sarah Grace Meyn

Mississippi Bill for Public Funds in Private Schools Stalls
By Kaelyn Fox-Thomas
A bill that would allow some Mississippi parents to use taxpayer money for private school tuition has stalled in the state legislature. House Bill 1433, known as the “Flexible and Rightful Education Enrollment (FREE) Act,” would have enabled students from school districts rated “D” or “F” by the Mississippi Department of Education to apply for scholarships to attend private schools.
Despite the bill’s failure to progress this session, concerns linger over its potential to resurface in the future. Ally Odom, a first-year music education major at the University of Southern Mississippi, shared thoughts on how the bill could influence career decisions after graduation.
“I think I would still most likely want to work at a public school,” Odom said. “So, if there’s more funding in private schools and I can get a better job at a private school, I might have to make that decision.”
Public school educators and parents across the state have voiced their opposition, with many taking to social media to rally against the bill. Dustin Hazlett, assistant band director at Clinton High School, expressed his concerns in a post on The Parents’ Campaign Facebook page.
“Dear Mississippi Legislature, Please do NOT do this. Sincerely, A Mississippi public school teacher,” Hazlett wrote.
Dr. Zach Murphy, director and principal of Innova Prep, a private school in Hattiesburg that supports children with learning disabilities, also weighed in on the bill’s potential impact.
“There’s a potential with any bill that if it isn't structured in a way that provides clear guidance, it’s very likely that it could present some funding challenges for public schools,” Murphy said.
To qualify for the FREE Act, students must have been enrolled in a public school for at least a year, attend a school rated “D” or “F,” reside in an area with no “A” or "B" rated schools, and live within 30 miles of an accredited nonpublic school. Eligible students would need to apply for scholarship funds during the Mississippi Department of Education's annual enrollment period.
However, the bill does not include transportation provisions, placing the responsibility on parents to transport students up to 30 miles. Only parents of students attending nonpublic schools would be eligible for additional transportation reimbursement.
Students eligible for the FREE scholarship who also qualify for other state programs, such as the Education Scholarship Account for special needs students, would be required to choose only one of these programs.
The debate surrounding House Bill 1433 has sparked ongoing discussions among educators, students, and parents about public education and state funding. Only time will tell if it resurfaces and the implications it would have on education in Mississippi.