JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Senators have voted to put an extra $60 million in the budget to fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAPE).
The money would be moved from Medicaid’s budget. However, if the transfer is approved, it would not impact the program’s finances. By law, the state of Mississippi must pay all Medicaid costs, no matter what the Legislature does.
Just hours before the senate vote, the Mississippi Association of Educators held a briefing at the state capital and called for the full funding of MAEP. “The monies are available,” said MAE President Joyce Helmick. “It’s what we want to spend the monies on.”
Supporters say the state has $548 million unallocated dollars that it could use to fund MAEP and give teachers a raise.
