JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – House Speaker Jason White (R-Miss.) wants to expand education savings accounts during the 2026 Legislative Session.

White said the House will be committed to changing the educational landscape to make sure each student has access to education that meets their needs.

“Our current system often falls short in delivering that full options for all students economically disadvantaged communities, specifically in Mississippi, have been left with few options for far too long,” White said.

He said students with special needs already have education savings accounts. Those are state-funded accounts that give eligible families public money to pay for educational expenses outside of the traditional public schools. White now wants to look at making education savings accounts available to other children.

“I would like to start by expanding it to some other student groups, mainly based on income and poverty, and then move forward from there. Let’s see how it works,” he stated.

White said he supports universal school choice, but he understands that some lawmakers oppose that.

“What they are most all for is starting at a place that helps our most disadvantaged first and being willing to give those folks the benefit of the doubt,” he said.

The House Speaker said the education package is a piece of legislation similar to House Bill 1, which paved the way for tax reforms in the 2025 Session.