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 FirstSources: House Bill 817 (2023). Mississippi Legislature 2023 Regular Session |
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
Political Landscape Link copied!
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R |
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
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%)
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%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
- Child care workers
- Preschool teachers
- Preschool or child care center directors
Funding Sources Link copied!
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.