Mississippi residents pushing for private school vouchers might consider following Kentucky’s lead and changing the state constitution to allow public funds for private schools.
In Kentucky, courts ruled that the state constitution prevents public funding for private schools. In response, a proposal to amend the constitution was placed on the ballot, but it was overwhelmingly defeated by voters, with 65% voting against the amendment.
Mississippi, like Kentucky, has seen calls for a voucher program. Mississippi House Speaker Jason White supports vouchers but acknowledges that there may not be enough votes to pass the proposal within the state’s Republican-majority House. There’s also the legal question of whether such a proposal would align with the Mississippi Constitution, which states that public funds should not go to schools that are not “free schools.”
The Mississippi Supreme Court has yet to rule directly on the issue, though it did allow a $10 million federal COVID-19 relief fund to be allocated to private schools earlier this year. However, the court did not address whether public funds can be spent on private schools, ruling instead that the challengers lacked standing to bring the case.
To resolve the issue, supporters of vouchers in Mississippi might follow Kentucky’s example and try to amend the state constitution. However, due to a previous court ruling that ended the state’s ballot initiative process, the only way to amend the constitution is through a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, followed by a majority vote in a general election.
Voucher advocates often point to polling data showing 72% of people support policies allowing parents more control over their children’s education. However, critics note that the poll question did not specifically address the issue of spending public funds on private schools.
Despite these efforts, voucher initiatives have faced significant defeats nationwide, including in Kentucky, Nebraska, and Colorado this year. With these setbacks, some voucher supporters in Mississippi may be hoping the courts will overlook the state’s constitution rather than push for a constitutional change through the legislature.