Auditor urges shift of Mississippi education admin funds to teacher pay

State Auditor Shad White says his office found Mississippi teachers are the lowest paid in the nation and that teachers today are paid less than they were in 2008 once adjusted for inflation.

White called for redirecting what he described as out-of-control administrative spending in the state education budget and reinvesting those dollars into teacher salaries. He framed the proposal as a straightforward way to boost pay without increasing overall education spending.

White is Mississippi’s state auditor, an elected official who oversees government accountability and audits state and local spending. His office’s findings add to longstanding debates in the state and nationally over how to fund public schools and how compensation affects teacher recruitment and retention.

Shifting funds within an education budget would likely require cooperation from local school districts and action by the Legislature, and could prompt discussions about priorities, oversight and the scope of administrative roles.

This report provides a summary of the auditor’s position based on his office’s findings. We will provide more information as it becomes available.