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Phil Bryant on Education
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Teachers deserve first pay raise since 2014
No one throughout our state's history has sacrificed more to better the lives of Mississippi children than our teachers. Our gratitude to these classroom heroes and the essential value of public education are why we passed a $100 million teacher pay
raise in 2014 and why I now call on the members of this body to join me in giving teachers their second pay raise in five years. Send me a bill to authorize a pay raise for these most critical guardians of Mississippi's future, and I will sign it.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Mississippi legislature
, Jan 15, 2019
Parents should have school choice
This session, I will ask you again to expand school choice for certain categories of children, offering special needs scholarships to even more students.
I continue to believe parents should have the freedom to use their tax dollars to send their child to the school of their choice, not one decided by the government.
Source: 2018 Mississippi State of the State address
, Jan 9, 2018
Remove barriers to charter schools
Imagine the freedom of a parent in a failing school to send an at-risk child to a superior school nearby but outside the district. Why should only the affluent enjoy the benefits of these fine schools? Your zip code or income level should not determine
your opportunity to get a good education. Let us make this bold decision. We should also remove the barriers to charter schools and extend their range across district lines so children can pass through these imaginary walls to a better, brighter future.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Mississippi legislature
, Jan 26, 2016
Loosen regulations around associate degrees
We can make progress in higher education by working with the IHL and community college boards to craft an associate's degree credential for those students who complete the necessary number of scholastic hours at a four-year university.
For example, if a student attended a university for two years and completed the required course work, but had to leave the university for a legitimate reason, they could receive an associate's degree related to their subject major.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Mississippi legislature
, Jan 26, 2016
Supports "effective" public schools but not Initiative 42
Bryant and other top Republicans are trying to defeat Initiative 42, which got on the ballot through a citizens' petition process. It would allow people to sue to seek funding for an `adequate and efficient` system of public schools. Legislators who
oppose 42 placed Alternative Measure 42-A on the ballot, which says the Legislature would establish `effective` public schools `without judicial enforcement.`
Speaking to about 150 Republicans at the ag museum on Monday, Bryant said Initiative 42 would be a gift to trial lawyers. `They won't have to chase ambulances anymore. They can chase school buses,` Bryant said to applause from the crowd.
The co-manager
of the 42 for Better Schools campaign responded in an email: `Right now, it really doesn't matter how many cute one-liners Phil Bryant comes up with. The supporters of Initiative 42 have had enough of empty promises when it comes to public education.`
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2015 Mississippi gubernatorial race
, Nov 3, 2015
Privately funded Opportunity Scholarship for failing schools
Thanks to the work of this Legislature, the Department of Education changed the complicated formula for ranking our schools to a simple one: A through F. I am asking you to pass an act that will create privately funded
Opportunity Scholarships so students who are below 250 percent of the poverty level and live in D and F schools districts can have a chance to take resources and go elsewhere. Let us give parents a choice so children can have a chance.
We should also have a workable charter school act that provides choices for parents. More than 40 other states have this option. Shouldn't we allow such opportunities for our own children?
I applaud the Senate and the House for their efforts on this important issue. When a good charter school bill reaches my desk, I intend to sign it.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Mississippi Legislature
, Jan 22, 2013
$15M for literacy; and merit pay for teachers
I call on [the Legislature] to fund $15 million to assist with literacy improvement efforts. These funds will help us train teachers on best-practices in reading instruction and will also help provide reading interventionists to help struggling
third-graders and other students. If our education system does a better job early on making sure students can read on grade level, remediation costs will decline.I have also discussed pay for performance, or merit pay, for our teachers.
I believe we should reward our most effective teachers by compensation. Let me be clear, no teacher will lose any salary.
In addition to keeping and rewarding great classroom teachers, we must raise the bar for new teachers.
The bill I submitted raises the entrance standard for education programs. Under this act, a student must have a 21 ACT score and a minimum GPA of 3.0 to become a teacher. Why would we want anything less for our students?
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Mississippi Legislature
, Jan 22, 2013
Close failing districts & implement charters
Under the Children's First Act, school districts that fail to achieve results for two straight years have their leadership dismissed and operations taken over by the state. Our children deserve results--not excuses.
Charter schools in failing school districts: I will continue supporting legislation reforming the Public Charter School law to encourage more options in public education, including charter schools in failing school districts.
Source: MS Governor campaign 2011 website philbryant.com, "Vision"
, May 3, 2011
