Jay Hughes

Education

Every district shall have an Autism and Dyslexia specialist/therapist, with phase-in of an additional one per year, per 750 students in the district Learn more

Modify the Mississippi Adequate Education Formula to include English Language Learners (ELL), and a more accurate assessment of High-Poverty students Learn more

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Study best practices and successes in other states and begin implementing the best approach, instead of patchwork Learn more

KINDERGARTEN: Statewide, mandatory, funded Learn more

All classroom supply dollars collected by the state for classroom supplies (37-71-33(3)(iii) shall go directly to teachers for classroom supplies. This would be an immediate impact on public schools as teachers would get triple the current amount being given Learn more

Ensure all high school graduates with a 17 composite or better ACT or equivalent SAT score or a Silver on Work keys are automatically accepted and enrolled, free of charge first year, in a community college, for educational or vocational certification courses Learn more

Fully funded Teacher Mentoring Program for new teachers in their first two years. Stipend to mentor teacher of $1000 with a minimum of four meetings per year outside of the specified school day, and allowing retired teachers to immediately return to the mentoring program, without penalty Learn more

Tax Deduction for donations to public school districts, and the ability to dedicate specific use of donations, with building partnerships with local businesses Learn more

Closer Relationships between School districts and Community Colleges by unifying the community college system across the state in terms of Dual Credit Tuition and Options such as application to college Learn more

Meaningful pay-raises to ensure that we retain our educators and put the best ones in front of each classroom, instead of them driving across state lines to teach children in our neighboring states Learn more

Have a Dyslexia Therapy Forgivable Loan Program for those graduates who become certified and stay in the Mississippi public school system at least 3 years Learn more

Eliminate the A-F rating system and rate each school on a scale of 0-4 on six different performance indicators Learn more

Take advantage of the flexibility allowed under ESSA and apply for a waiver with ESSA and replace current “exit exams” with ACT and Work Keys, and in no way will there be a cut score associated for graduation as a requirement Learn more

Encourage all schools to have a Mentoring Program for higher-grade students to lower grade students Learn more

Instead of giving up on our public schools, we should be improving them, giving our teachers the same freedoms to teach that were so freely given to the Charter School teachers Learn more

Replace the MSIS with a current and proven Statewide Student Information System Learn more

Allow a high school to electronically send ACT/GPA and graduation completion information to the local community college. Legislatively find an E-script or E-script-like program for submission Learn more

Teacher Student loan forgiveness for serving in C, D, or F Mississippi districts, based upon a sliding scale Learn more

SAVINGS ON PURCHASES: Promote combined purchasing power for common items Learn more

Create a campaign to require all 11th graders to fully complete the F.A.F.S.A forms for the qualification of student loans and grants to further education or skill training Learn more

Quality Vocational Technical & Career training in all districts, for students who choose to go for skills training instead of college track, with permission of parent/guardian based on student interest, aptitude, and community job skills & opportunities. The work keys assessment could be used in place of ACT in this instance but not as a graduation requirement Learn more

M. A. E. P: Fully fund it and the subcomponent add-ons outside of MAEP, i.e. CTE, Alternative Ed, SPED, etc. as specified and required by state statute changing the language of the statue from shall to will! Learn more

Professional testing for dyslexia and autism in each school district, starting with a specified monitoring/screener system by the second semester of Kindergarten and following up with a universal approved assessment given by a psychometrist or psychologist by the second 9 weeks of their first-grade year to determine services Learn more

No school will receive a single overall grade or rating, and there will be no harsh financial penalties tied to it Learn more

Standardized testing will only mirror the minimum federal requirements in grades 3-8 and allow districts in Mississippi to submit innovative plans under ESSA legislation that will be considered under a panel of current secondary practitioners for approval (this could include district and school leaders) Learn more

Education Council for recommendations: Three urban and three rural educators and three urban and three rural parents from each of the four congressional districts, nominated and voted upon by educators. Include one administrator and one business manager from each congressional district Learn more

Mandatory Financial Responsibility Standards for all high-school students – this could include Economics, Personal Finance, and Accounting or any course approved by MDE to include financial literacy Learn more

Retired public-school educators allowed to serve in the legislature without suspending their PERS retirement. Also, a retired teacher could restart their career after retirement at a first teacher pay scale and top out at a 5-year teacher pay scale, include all staff certified or classified in this rule Learn more

ETV instruction in core classes for Mississippi teacher shortage areas. This would include virtual classroom, online courses, as well as hybrid courses in schools with teacher shortage in any classes Learn more

As is done in other states, a metric established that allows teachers and retired teachers with children under 24 can attend a state university or community college as a reduced rate Learn more

Adopt ACT Aspire with district option to test ACT as 10th-grade students instead of Aspire. Assess ACT as 11th Graders. Funding provided by MDE due to the elimination of MAAP assessments in high school or EOC tests Learn more

Required and legislatively funded Financial and Leadership Development for all School Board Members Learn more