Mississippi Department of Education | Official Website
The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has addressed the recent report released by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor (OSA) concerning the Education Enhancement Fund (EEF) procurement card program. The MDE had previously provided information to OSA in response to inquiries about the program, and now seeks to clarify key facts that were not included in OSA's "Review of Mississippi’s Procurement Card Program for K-12 Teachers."
The MDE highlighted several points regarding the issuance and activation of EEF funds. Typically, these funds are distributed to Mississippi teachers in July after appropriation. However, fiscal years 2025 and 2026 were exceptions due to a change in vendors and new card issuance. To ensure adequate time for eligibility verification and shipping, all cards will be activated on August 1, 2025.
From fiscal year 2027 onward, as teachers will already possess their cards, activation can occur any time after July 1. The cards are designed for reuse, allowing districts to request activation as early as July 1 each year.
"MDE typically issues EEF funds to Mississippi teachers in July once funds have been appropriated," an MDE statement noted. It further emphasized its commitment: "It is always MDE’s intention to provide teachers with all available resources as expeditiously as possible."
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