Communications and Government Relations

NEWS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release: August 14, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is raising concerns about the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) report on career and technical education (CTE) because it contains inaccurate information and it holds MDE responsible for work conducted by the National Strategic Planning and Research Center (nSPARC) at Mississippi State University. 

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: August 10, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. – Two Mississippi science teachers are among the nation’s best as awardees of the 2020 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The PAEMST Program is the nation’s highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science (including computer science).

NEWS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release: August 7, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. — Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, will deliver the concluding lecture at 9:45 a.m. today for the Chautauqua Institution's week on “Rebuilding Public Education.”

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: August 6, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. – School district reopening plans for the 2020-21 school year are now available on the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) school reopening guidance webpage. Most school districts submitted plans to the MDE by a July 31 deadline, prior to Gov. Tate Reeves’ Executive Order on Tuesday delaying the start of school in several counties.

NEWS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release: August 6, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is working with school districts statewide to implement two new laws designed to equip students with the technology to learn at school or at home.

The Equity in Distance Learning Act (SB 3044) provides $150 million to school districts to pay for computer devices for students and teachers, software to deliver instruction, enhanced internet connectivity and professional development for digital teaching and learning.

NEWS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release: July 24, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. — All Mississippi school districts will finalize plans for the start of the new school year by July 31.

State law requires Mississippi schools to operate 180 days each school year, with the school year ending by June 30. By law, school districts are in charge of setting their school calendars, including the first and last day of school.

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 23, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. –  The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the Office of Teaching and Leading today announced that Debra Houghton, principal of Mannsdale Upper Elementary in the Madison County School District, has been selected as the 2020 Mississippi Administrator of the Year (MAOY), and Benjamin Austin, 9^th and 10^th grade Social Studies teacher at Petal High School, has been selected as the 2020 Mississippi Teacher of the Year (MTOY).

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 6, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the Office of Teaching and Leading set the first virtual ceremony for Mississippi Teacher of the Year and Mississippi Administrator of the Year to recognize top educators. The program, originally scheduled for the spring, was postponed as a result of closures because of COVID-19.

NEWS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release: June 30, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is the winner of the Southern Regional Education Board’s (SREB) 2020 State Leadership Award for its efforts to increase literacy and math achievement and build networked communities focused on school improvement in the middle grades. The state will be presented with the award on July 6, 2021, at SREB’s Making Schools Work Conference in Nashville.