Mississippi

Policy Strategies & Innovations Link copied!

Innovation Name Innovation Type Innovation Subtype Features at a Glance Strategy Summary
Mississippi Early Learning Collaborative Act Expansion Targeted Pre-K Policy (4-Year-Olds)

Signed into law in 2023, HB 817 will raise the funding rate for early learning collaboratives (ELCs) to $2,500 per child for full-day programs and $1,250 per child for half-day programs. Previous rates were $2,150 for full-day programs and $1,250 for half-day programs.

Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaborative Act established state pre-K programs known as “Early Learning Collaboratives” or ELCs. Collaboratives are overseen by the Mississippi Department of Education, even though individual providers may have other oversight agencies.

Learn More: Mississippi First

Sources: House Bill 817 (2023). Mississippi Legislature 2023 Regular Session

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Demographics Link copied!

State population

2,940,057 Source U.S. Census, 2022

Rural %

53.7% Source U.S. Census, 2020

Urban %

46.3% Source U.S. Census, 2020

Number of children age 0-4

176,891 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Poverty levels – children 0-8 below 200% poverty

51% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Median family income among households with children

$61,000.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Unemployment rate

4% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2022

Unemployment rate of parents

4% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force

69% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Children living in households with a high housing cost burden

28% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

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Child population by race and ethnicity Source KIDS COUNT, 2021

Race and Ethnicity

  • American Indian and Alaska Native (1%)
  • Asian (1%)
  • Black or African American (41%)
  • Hispanic or Latino (5%)
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (.49%)
  • Two or More Races (3%)
  • White, not Hispanic or Latino (49%)
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Political Landscape Link copied!

Year20232022202120202019
GovernorRRRRR
HouseRRRRR
SenateRRRRR
Source: Ballotpedia 2023

Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!

Public pre-K program name

Early Learning Collaborative (ELC) Source: NIEER 2023

Universal or targeted pre-K policy

Targeted Pre-K Policy (4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023

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Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023

Programs

  • 3-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (0%)
  • 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (24%)
  • Other/none (76%)
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Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023

Programs

  • 4-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (8%)
  • 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (23%)
  • Other/none (67%)
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Workforce Link copied!

2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020

Role

  • Child care workers
  • Preschool teachers
  • Preschool or child care center directors
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Funding Sources Link copied!

Federal and State Early Childhood Education Funding (in millions) Source First Five Years Fund, 2022

Funding source

  • Head Start and Early Head Start Funding ($212.3)
  • CCDBG & Mandatory Funds ($96.9)
  • CCDBG State Match ($3.0)
  • CCDBG COVID Relief Allocations – CARES, CRRSE, ARPA (CCDF & Stabilization) ($699.1)
  • State-Funded Pre-K ($7.7)
  • MIECHV ($3.0)
  • IDEA Part C ($6.1)
  • IDEA Part B, Sec 619 ($6.5)
  • TANF Early Learning and Care Expenditures ($1.7)
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Funding acronyms: CCDBG: Child Care and Development Block Grant; CARES Act: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; CRRSE Act: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations; ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act; CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund; MIECHV: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

The COVID Funding Cliff

All federal COVID relief allocations, including funding authorized by the CARES, CRRSE, and ARPA bills, must be fully spent by September 2024. An analysis from the Century Foundation shows this loss of funds could cause more than 3 million children to lose access to child care nationwide – including nearly 30,000 children in Mississippi.