Mississippi educators to gain access to classroom supply funds before professional development days

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White advocates for teachers to have access to their Education Enhancement Fund (EEF) money before returning for professional development days. The Mississippi Department of Education confirmed that EEF cards will be activated on July 15 this year, an improvement over last year.

However, more than 1,200 teachers will already be in their classrooms by that date, according to the auditor’s office. The office will continue monitoring whether teachers can access their funds before the start of the school year.

Data compiled by the auditor’s office shows that several school districts have professional development days before July 15. Ambition Prep Charter School’s 34 teachers have PD on July 6. Clinton Public School District’s 337 teachers and Petal School District’s 333 teachers will have PD on July 13. McComb School District’s 151 teachers also have PD on July 13. Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District’s 352 teachers have PD on July 14.

In total, five districts and 1,207 teachers will be affected, impacting nearly 17,000 students. The auditor’s office said it will continue to track progress in making funds available to teachers before the start of the academic year. White emphasized that Mississippi’s teachers deserve timely access to their classroom supply funds.

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