MDE Announces Selection of JPS Special Education CAP Administrator

November 19, 2012

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) in collaboration with the Jackson Public School District (JPS) announces the selection of Dr. Joseph Fisher as administrator of the JPS Exceptional Education Services’ Corrective Action Plan (CAP). 

Fisher will be a contractual employee of the MDE and will be paid from the state’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) budget at a rate of $800 per day for his services. The IDEA budget funds MDE’s monitoring and supervisory budget for all Mississippi public school districts.

 Fisher recently retired as assistant commissioner of the Division of College and Career Readiness for the State of Tennessee Department of Education, where he was the administrator of special education.  Fisher is recognized for his expertise in leading and improving local school district special education services, implementing and administering IDEA federal regulations and serving children. Some of Dr. Fisher’s responsibilities will include:

• Oversee and direct use of federal IDEA funds for JPS,
• Coordinate the resources for the JPS to implement the corrective action plan and comply with IDEA,
• Coordinate and oversee all data management,
• Coordinate training and technical assistance for IDEA, educator in residence and fluency plus programs,
• Coordinates implementation of the CAP,
• Submit proposed revisions to the CAP,
• Monitor and evaluate JPS progress in reaching full IDEA compliance,
• Submit monthly progress reports, and
• Manage any other items as listed in the memorandum of agreement between MDE and JPS.

 “Dr. Joseph Fisher has extensive expertise in special education and we look forward to working collaboratively with him and the JPS team to implement the corrective action plan and thereby ensure compliance with IDEA requirements,” said Dr. Kim S. Benton, interim deputy state superintendent.

Dr. Cedrick Gray, JPS superintendent stated, “We are tremendously excited about this new level of collaboration with MDE to aggressively move forward with coming into compliance with the CAP and providing the best services we can for our JPS students.”