Dr. Phil Burchfield
By Guest Columnist Phil Burchfield, Executive Director Mississippi Association of School Superintendents
A lot is being said these days about “school choice.” At first glance, it sounds like progress—like empowerment. After all, who wouldn’t want more choices for their child?
But in Mississippi, what’s being called “school choice” comes with serious costs and unintended consequences—ones most families cannot afford.
Here’s the truth: Nearly 90% of Mississippi’s children attend public schools. These are the neighborhood schools that educate our future doctors, welders, farmers, and entrepreneurs—the schools that form the backbone of our communities.
Yet instead of investing in those schools, some lawmakers are proposing to shift public dollars into private school subsidies and voucher programs.
Let’s be clear: Mississippi’s public schools have been chronically underfunded. The Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) has been underfunded in 27 of the last 30 years—shorting schools by more than $3 billion.
Now, imagine cutting even more from that already thin budget.
What’s being presented as a new “choice” for families is a loss—especially for those who rely most on public education. Vouchers are not a lifeline. They are a siphon—draining resources from schools that serve many students while funneling tax dollars to private institutions that are not required to serve every child.
Private schools can reject students based on disability status, behavior, or family income. Most don’t provide transportation. Many charge tuition far beyond what any voucher would cover. In rural Mississippi, where private schools are few or nonexistent, there is no “choice” at all.
And what happens next? We’ve seen it in other states: increased racial and economic segregation, less transparency and little accountability. Public dollars are spent without public oversight, while local schools struggle to meet the needs of every student who walks through their doors.
This is not the path to a stronger Mississippi.
The real choice—the one every child deserves—is a high-quality public school in their own community. That means fully funding MAEP. It means investing in teachers, safe facilities and updated learning tools. It means giving every student—not just a select few—a fair shot.
Public schools don’t choose who they serve. They welcome every child. That’s not just a service. It’s a promise.
If we want to build a stronger Mississippi, we must stop chasing distractions and start investing where it counts.
Because The Real Choice Serves Every Student.
About the author:
As a former public school superintendent, Phil Burchfield has seen the tremendous benefits of helping young people find their place in the world. In his current role as executive director of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents, he is working to provide resources, advocacy, leadership, policy information, training, support, renewal, and public relations services that improve the quality of public education.