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HB2 – Mississippi’s School Choice Bill is Here!
Last week, House Speaker Jason White unveiled HB2, the Mississippi Education Freedom Act – the most exciting and ambitious advancement for school choice in our state in years, perhaps ever!
This comprehensive bill delivers everything supporters of parental power have long hoped for, and it aligns perfectly with President Trump’s strong commitment to education freedom.
This isn’t some minor adjustment or performative law – it’s the real thing for anyone who believes in putting parents in charge of their children’s education.
Here’s what the bill does and why we at MCPP are so enthusiastic:
- Magnolia Student Accounts: Families will be able to direct around $7,000 per child (drawn from the base amount in the new Mississippi Student Funding Formula already allocated to their child) into a Magnolia Student Account (an Education Savings Account). Parents can then use those funds for private school tuition, homeschooling, therapies, or other tailored educational needs.
In the initial phase, up to 12,500 accounts will be available, with priority for low- and middle-income families, and a balanced split between current public school students and others. The program will expand each year until every family that wants one can have access. Homeschool families participating can also receive $1,000 annually to help cover costs.
- Easier Public School Transfers: Currently it’s difficult to switch schools from one public school to another. HB2 makes it easier by ensuring you will no longer need the approval of the district you are leaving, just approval from the new school you want your child to attend.
- Statewide Charter Schools: Mississippi has had charter schools for over a decade, but strict limits have made it nearly impossible to open them outside select low-performing districts. HB2 opens the door statewide, allowing charters to launch wherever there’s demand and need.
- Literacy: Mississippi has become a national leader in raising reading standards through phonics-based early education. HB2 builds on this success by extending targeted literacy support into higher grades.
- Smart District Consolidation: Consolidation of districts would always be a challenge, but the bill takes a practical, conservative approach: It consolidates specific districts (like Copiah County and Hazlehurst) as a model, providing a template for future efforts without mandating widespread closures.
HB2 is Speaker Jason White’s flagship reform for the 2026 session, fulfilling his promise that “all Mississippi families, regardless of income or zip code, have real choices and the freedom to pursue what works best for their children.” He deserves strong support for the most significant conservative education reform our state has seen in a generation.
Dozens of Mississippi business leaders, along with former Governors Haley Barbour and Phil Bryant, have already voiced strong support. Team Trump is behind it too.
In short: If you oppose this bill, it’s hard to credibly claim to be a conservative. That’s exactly why the progressive left is already fighting it tooth and nail – they fear real parent power and will twist the facts to stop these reforms.
HB2 is now moving through the legislature, with real momentum in the House. Having had a massive conservative majority in Mississippi for years, here at last is the opportunity to implement a conservative reform in our state that will change our state for the better.
Real change is happening – and Mississippi is leading the way!
Douglas Carswell is the President and CEO of the Mississippi Center for
MageeNews.com is the online news site for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.
