With his signature Wednesday, Gov. Haley Barbour appropriated billions of dollars worth of state money to Mississippi's education system. Barbour readily admits this budget couldn't fund every need including pay raises for teachers.

"We'll continue to increase teacher pay, but we'll have to do it within the means that we have, and this year the funds weren't there," said Barbour.

But there are positives. The Mississippi Adequate Education Program is fully funded for the second year in a row, more experienced teachers will see incremental pay raises, and the state superintendent's high school redesign program received $13 million.

The Mississippi Association of Educators' Kevin Young says pay raises for the state's experienced teachers will partly solve the state's teacher shortage.

"We have some great experienced teachers who are leaving at that 25th year, 30th year," Young said. "Now here's an incentive for them to stay in the classroom."

And first-time programs, like teacher mentoring and dyslexia screening, make this budget extremely beneficial for the state.

State Rep. Brian Aldridge's wife has battled dyslexia her whole life. He said he believes identifying the student early will lead to fewer dropouts later in their school careers.

"When you identify these characteristics, when you have the proper therapy implemented into their living environment, these children can do anything you or I can," said Aldridge.

Barbour said the bill has one goal in mind, to improve student achievement.
The governor said he remains optimistic the Mississippi Adequate Education Program will be funded throughout the remainder of his term. And he said he believes next year, teacher pay raises will be achieved.