Colleges and universities will resume “traditional operations” in the fall
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Mississippi’s eight public colleges and universities will return to incoming classes in the fall.
Education
College financial aid applications in Mississippi trail most states as coronavirus pandemic persists
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The coronavirus pandemic has created additional barriers for students to complete financial aid forms.
Coronavirus in Mississippi
‘It’s extremely heartbreaking’: After 104 years, Delta community’s newspaper closes
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Newspapers across the state are scaling back on the frequency of publication amid the coronavirus crisis
Education
Suspension of teacher license test amid COVID-19 crisis likely to ‘open up some doors’ for potential educators
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Many educators who welcome the removal of the exam say the test can keep otherwise qualified candidates out of the classroom. But other experts fear Mississippi went too far in eliminating the test for the foreseeable future
Coronavirus in Mississippi
‘The bottom just fell out’: Small, rural businesses grapple with COVID-19 crisis
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In small towns populated with small businesses, the toll the coronavirus has taken on the economy is more personal. “The scary part is yeah, it’ll end, but it just doesn’t end. … We could get out of it in June, but when do the people start coming back? Or do they come back?”
Education
‘Just another daunting challenge’: Rural districts embrace creative solutions amid coronavirus school closures
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Rural schools, which serve 235,000 students in Mississippi, are finding creative ways to overcome equity and access hurdles that schools throughout the state are facing. “It’s going to take some private sector help … our churches, faith-based organizations …have to help with this as well”
Education
Interactive map: With school closures, where can children eat for free?
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Map of sites offering free breakfast and lunch to students 18 and under
Education
Another Delta town will lose its school as district navigates shrinking enrollment, consolidation
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‘I didn’t want the Benoit area to lose everything and with this option, they lost everything. … I know that once a school is closed in a community, that particular town goes down,’ West Bolivar Consolidated School District school board president
Education
West Tallahatchie students stay home 12 days after severe storms leave 370 kids without a school
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High winds damaged the roof of R.H. Bearden Elementary School forcing school administrators to reshuffle classroom space for elementary, high school and alternative school students. Educators make do as they prepare for state testing
Justice
Violence at Mississippi jails and prisons: Timeline, Fact check
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As of Jan. 3, at least five prisoners at three Mississippi correctional facilities were confirmed dead in disturbances at jails and prisons. These deaths come amid a series of violent disturbances reported via social media and news outlets
Government
Parchman disturbance draws heavy emergency response, report of one death as state officials remain silent
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The Mississippi Highway Patrol and sheriff’s offices in Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Bolivar and Washington counties sent more than 100 deputies to the prison on Thursday after a violent incident broke out Thursday morning and left one inmate dead
Education
Teacher shortage: State education officials, citing lack of data, don’t know true teaching vacancy numbers
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Mississippi is one of 21 states that does not publish teacher production data or hiring statistics. “In order to (address teacher shortage issues), it’s really necessary to have a solid high-quality dataset that’s regularly updated…,” one policy expert said.
Election 2019
Hood, Reeves spend Election Day eve trying to fire up their bases
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Based on absentee voting, which is often an indicator of overall turnout, Tuesday could see the highest turnout for a statewide election since 2003
Education
‘Water is literally coming into the school’: Holmes County aims to pass $18.4 million bond issue during general election
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Passage of the bond would mean new schools for the students of Holmes County, but it also would factor into a plan to give a substantial raise to teachers. In 2018, about half the teachers in the district were uncertified.
Education
Court rules against former student in Cleveland School District discrimination claim over shared valedictorian title
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Judge says in ruling that “There is no dispute rank points were improperly assigned or that these improper assignments negatively affected” the African American student, but the claims did not meet the criterion necessary under federal law.