The Mississippi Special Education Coalition (MSEC) is a statewide alliance of advocacy organizations dedicated to tackling systemic challenges in special education and school discipline across Mississippi. MSEC has launched a statewide initiative focused on safeguarding the educational rights of disabled students and their families in both public and private schools. As part of this effort, MSEC provides ongoing Special Education Continuing Legal Education (CLE) sessions and pro bono clinics to train attorneys, advocates, parents, and educators, equipping them with the skills needed to effectively advocate for children with special needs and ensure their educational rights are upheld. Additionally, MSEC is actively engaged in policy and regulatory compliance efforts at the local and state levels, producing an annual report on the state of special education in Mississippi and offering policy recommendations to strengthen enforcement of special education laws within school districts.
MSEC’s coalition includes the Southern Poverty Law Center, ACLU of Mississippi (ACLU), Disability Rights Mississippi (DRMS), Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ), Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities (MSCCD), Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Families as Allies Mississippi (FAAMS), the University of Southern Mississippi’s Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), and Jackson State University’s Special Education Program (SEP).
Our Special Education Coalition has developed this comprehensive findings report to advocate for greater federal intervention in Mississippi to address systemic issues in special education.
