EXCERPT FROM: The Republic
By Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. — Starting in June, the parents of nearly 4,000 children in Mississippi will lose their federally funded vouchers for daycare and after-school care costs.

EXCERPT FROM: WJTV News
By Tracy Armbruster
A local organization is calling on state and federal lawmakers to invest in high quality early education.  Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is asking for 260-million dollars a year to fund a pre-kindergarten program.

EXCERPT FROM: WLBT 3
By Ashley Conroy
JACKSON, MS (WLBT) -- Mississippi currently lacks state funds in early childhood education, but some have said the state could reduce the drop-out rate and generate millions of dollars long-term if this changed.

EXCERPT FROM: WLOX 13
By STAFF
Quite often we in the media report that Mississippi is at the bottom of some survey or poll. Today we want to share some good news. Mississippi is one of the best states in the nation when it comes to being prepared to protect our children during disasters.

Jan Macko and Andrea Macko Miller are dedicated to education.

Some preschools in the Pine Belt are feeling the sting of tough economic times as more parents become unemployed and pull their children from daycare to make ends meet.

As money tightens, the economy is squeezing working parents and day-care directors alike inside a vicious financial circle.

When the Mississippi Economic Council came through Meridian Thursday to talk about improving our state's economy, the bulk of their presentation was less about dollars and cents and more about providing a good education for our children.

We have more than 1,000 public schools in Mississippi. While they may vary in size, grade levels and demographics, they all shoulder the incredible responsibility of helping Mississippi's boys and girls learn, grow and develop into caring, competent and contributing adults.

The Lamar County School Board voted to consider adding a pre-kindergarten program to the district at its monthly meeting Tuesday night in Purvis.