Mississippi First Inc

MISSISSIPPI FIRST CHAMPIONS TRANSFORMATIVE POLICY SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY MISSISSIPPI CHILD.

PRE-K:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PROMOTED PRE-K WITH A YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF THE EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE ACT. THIS CELEBRATION INCLUDED: - PUBLICATION OF A CASE STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF THE ACT - SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN FEATURING ALL CURRENT COLLABORATIVES - PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION OF 26,000 BUTTERFLIES ON THE CAPITOL GREEN - CELEBRATION EVENT HONORING PRE-K CHAMPIONS - PUBLICATION OF A FOUR-PAGE SPREAD IN PARENTS AND KIDS MAGAZINE TO BUILD PARENTAL AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONTINUED TO PROVIDE RESOURCES ON THE 1:1 STATE TAX CREDIT INCLUDED IN THE BILL TO INCENTIVIZE BUSINESS/COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF PRE-K COLLABORATIVES.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR PERMANENTLY RAISING THE PER-PUPIL FUNDING RATE FOR THE STATE FUNDED PRE-K PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE CHANGE.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PARTNERED WITH MDE TO SUPPORT QUALITY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRE-K LAW.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST WORKED WITH PARTNERS TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM FOR CHILDCARE IN MISSISSIPPI.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST FINALIZED A BIRTH-TO-FIVE POLICY AGENDA FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S FUTURE WORK.CHARTER SCHOOLS:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST SECURED A $19.3M FEDERAL GRANT TO SUPPORT NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS. THE FIRST SUBGRANTEE WAS APPROVED IN APRIL 2023.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF PILOT PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATOR PIPELINE IN CHARTER SCHOOLS AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THESE INCLUDED PARTNERSHIPS WITH STUDY.COM, TEACH FOR AMERICA, AND A SECOND YEAR OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL SUMMER FELLOWSHIP HOSTED AT LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOLS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST SUPPORTED THE SUCCESSFUL SEARCH FOR A NEW LEADER OF THE MISSISSIPPI CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE STATE'S NEWEST CHARTER SCHOOL AS WELL AS OPERATING SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT BEST PRACTICES AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CELEBRATED THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MISSISSIPPI CHARTER SCHOOL LAW IN ORDER TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SUPPORT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS BY: - FACILITATING A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN FEATURING PROFILES OF ALL OPERATING CHARTER SCHOOLS - PARTICIPATING IN AN ANNIVERSARY EVENT HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS - PUBLISHING A REFRESHED REPORTER'S GUIDE TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI TO CREATE A START-UP GRANT FUND FOR NEW OR EXPANDING CHARTER SCHOOLS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PARTNERED WITH HOPE CREDIT UNION TO ESTABLISH A CASH COLLATERAL FUND TO SUPPORT CHARTER SCHOOLS SEEKING LINES OF CREDIT; FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT LOANS, AND FACILITIES LOANS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST ADVOCATED FOR CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZATION PROCESS AS WELL AS OTHER POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO AUTHORIZING.TEACHERS AND LEADERS:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PUBLISHED ANOTHER SEMINAL REPORT, EYEING THE EXIT, EXAMINING TEACHER RETENTION RISK FACTORS. THIS REPORT WAS BASED ON THE LARGEST TEACHER SURVEY IN 15 YEARS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST ADVOCATED FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM EYEING THE EXIT WITH THE LEGISLATURE.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONDUCTED A FOLLOW-UP SURVEY OF TEACHER SENTIMENT FOLLOWING THE 2022 PAY RAISE.FUTURE OF SCHOOLS:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONTINUED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING ADVICE AND EXPERTISE TO POLICYMAKERS.