Have you ever driven by a school after three o'clock and wondered why such a valuable community asset sits unused for most of the time—afternoons, weekends, holidays, and breaks? We do too.
That's why we're advocating for the 2025 Legislature to support the establishment of community schools across Mississippi. House Bill 1398, introduced during the 2024 legislative session by Representative Daryl Porter, provides a strong foundation for this initiative. You can view the measure here: HB1398IN.pdf (state.ms.us). Unfortunately, the bill didn’t progress past the committee stage, but the conversation must continue.
So, what is a Community School? It’s a school that becomes more than just a place for education during regular hours—it’s a hub for the entire community, offering enrichment opportunities that are often absent in rural and urban areas. In many towns with fewer than 1,000 residents, the local public school is often the largest public facility, making it an ideal space to serve broader community needs.
The key to this vision is collaboration. Community members, educators, local officials, business and faith leaders, and families come together to lift the potential of their neighborhoods and enrich lives. These schools can host an array of activities: arts programs, community-building events, educational opportunities, and more. The possibilities are limitless, shaped by what each community values and needs.
Additionally, schools can become access points for essential services, such as mobile medical and dental care, mental health counseling, and even veterinary services.
This initiative is part of Raise Mississippi, a comprehensive effort to bolster the future of our state through strong support of public education. Community schools reimagine traditional public schools, transforming them into neighborhood hubs that foster student, family, and community collaboration. Together, we can co-create a vision for education that lifts not just students, but entire communities.
At its core, the community school model recognizes that each neighborhood is unique. When families, students, and community members have a voice in shaping their schools, they ensure the solutions fit their needs, leading to greater student success and a stronger Mississippi.
About Raise Mississippi:
Raise Mississippi sets a vision for strong public schools in each community across Mississippi. It aims to ensure the students learning in Mississippi’s public-school classrooms today become the state’s skilled workforce of tomorrow and have the freedom to remain lifelong, contributing Mississippians.
Anchored by the Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE), Raise Mississippi is made up of Mississippians from different backgrounds and viewpoints and will be the driving force to create the change we need to Raise Mississippi ahead of the November elections and the 2024 legislative session. For more information about Raise Mississippi, please visit www.maetoday.org/raisems or contact Robin M. Johnson at [email protected]/ (601) 946-3944.
