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I’m thrilled to share groundbreaking news for Mississippi! With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, a federal tax credit is due to transform the school choice landscape in our state.
This new tax credit enables individual donors to fund scholarships for local Mississippi families, who will now be able to select the schools that best suit their children. Donors can redirect funds they would have paid to the IRS, receiving a dollar-for-dollar tax credit that reduces their tax liability by the amount donated, up to $1,700 per taxpayer (as outlined in the Senate version).
In other words, local money that would otherwise have been given to the government, instead stays in Mississippi, to provide scholarships for K-12 education, including private schools, charters, homeschooling, and more.
I estimate that up to $116 million could be available statewide, potentially funding approximately 18,000 scholarships each year at $6,500 each.
The impact could be profound. Imagine 18,000 students, previously limited by circumstance, gaining access to schools of their choice. Eligible households—those earning up to 300% of the area’s median income (covering most Mississippi families)—could escape underperforming schools, unlocking better opportunities for their children. This transforms opportunities for thousands of families.
Moreover, this tax credit introduces competition, compelling public, private, and charter schools to elevate standards and innovate. With 18,000 students seeking private education options, any lingering resistance from certain private providers is likely to fade. Already excellent schools, like The Redeemer’s School in Jackson, will thrive and expand, I suspect.
For years, efforts to expand school choice in Mississippi have faced obstruction from entrenched interests. MCPP has led the fight for school choice in this state for several years, and I can tell you that this federal tax credit now changes the game.
With over $100 million annually fueling school choice, the tide will turn, and Mississippi is finally aligning with neighboring states that prioritize parent power.
Anti school choice liberals in our state, many of who spent years supporting anti school choice campaigners and media groups while sending their own kids to private schools, will despair. They should.
Mississippi lawmakers are at last taking school choice seriously. We are starting to see a sustained effort to give families in our state the sort of choices families have in all of our neighboring states.
This new federal tax credit is a massive step in the right direction. It is about to mainstream the idea of school choice in our state in a big way.
Douglas Carswell
MageeNews.com is the online news source for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the state of Mississippi
So the 1% benefit and the rest suffer once again. This state being damn near the bottom in everything except death and being excited about pulling much needed money from schools that need it, isn’t surprising. It’s complete trumpery.
Anti-choice “llberals” have not been spending years sending their children to private schools. This is an over-exaggerated blanket statement. In a state where education has been a low priority for decades. This may be the final nail in the coffin for low-income struggling public schools. So just a few questions before We celebrate: Will the same students receive the recurring funds each year–all the way through 12th grade?…. or will different students receive the scholarships the second year?… which means, the previous year’s recipients will foot their own bill, after the first year? Is this sustainable? If schools like Redeemer School will likely grow and expand,, will defunded public schools likely close, leaving low income students without adequate resources? Who pays the difference semester to semester if the scholarship doesn’t meet all costs? –The student-s family? Who transports or pays the cost for transport to preferred schools? Studies show that the people who use these vouchers, are people who ALREADY send their children to private schools, to save money on tution. So, just to be clear– the bill will take public tax money to help the rich save on their kid’s private school tuition? Huh. As a 30 year veteran educator, 20 + in the MS School System, I can tell you, many promises have been made regarding the funding of education– like casino and lottery fund carrots–dangled around,– that we have yet to see. MS should have the best schools in the country, yet we’re still at the bottom. This money could do so much to help Mississippi’s Public Schools. Its a sad sad day to see it be given to top schools that already have adequate funding. A SAD day.