Two Mississippi Students Named 2016 Presidential Scholars
May 19, 2016
CLINTON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education announced today that two Mississippi students have been named 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholars.
Mississippi Nears Completion of First Large-Scale, Online Assessment
May 19, 2016
CLINTON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced today that more than 98 percent of Mississippi Assessment Program (MAP) testing has been completed, marking an important milestone for the state’s first large-scale, online assessment.
Administered for the first time during the 2015-16 school year, MAP is the new statewide online assessment for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics for grades 3-8 and Algebra I and English II. The testing window for MAP assessments started on April 25 and will conclude on May 20.
Mississippi State Board of Education to Discuss Title IX Federal Guidance
May 20, 2016
WHO: Mississippi State Board of Education
WHAT: A special-called teleconference meeting to address recent federal guidance regarding Title IX.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 24, 3 p.m.
WHERE: South Pointe Business Park, Multipurpose Room, 500 Clinton Center Drive, Clinton, MS
The public may attend the meeting at South Pointe Business Park. Board members who are unable to appear in person may attend the meeting via teleconference.
Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaboratives Rated Among Top Five in Nation for Quality Standards
May 24, 2016
CLINTON, Miss. – The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) recognized Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaboratives (ELC) in its 2015 State of Preschool yearbook for meeting all 10 quality standards for early childhood education, which puts Mississippi among only five states in the nation that meet all 10 benchmarks.
The NIEER report presents data on the state of pre-K programs nationally as well as breakdowns of each state’s progress in providing high-quality pre-K services.
A Statement from the Mississippi State Board of Education on Federal Guidance
May 24, 2016
CLINTON, Miss. – The Mississippi State Board of Education issued the following statement after the special-called meeting on Tuesday, May 24:
“After a briefing from the Mississippi Department of Education’s legal staff and an in-depth discussion by the Mississippi State Board of Education, the Board has decided to support the position of the state leadership regarding the recent release of the federal guidance letter.
Mississippi High School, Company Named Semifinalists for National ACT Recognition
May 31, 2016
CLINTON, Miss. – The semifinalists for the national ACT College and Career Readiness Campaign include Gulfport High School for raising expectations for students and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula for its commitment to educational and career advancement for their employees and communities.
SREB: Mississippi Provides Strong, Essential Support to Districts Implementing Higher Standards of Learning
June 1, 2016
CLINTON, Miss. – Mississippi sets strong expectations for high-quality professional learning for all educators and provides essential support for school districts through information, guidance and direct assistance to teachers who are helping students reach higher standards for college and careers, according to a report recently released by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).
Kindergarteners Achieve Greater Gains on Statewide Kindergarten Assessment
June 16, 2016
CLINTON, Miss. – For the second year in a row, the results of Mississippi’s statewide assessment of learning in kindergarten show that the majority of the state’s youngest students have made significant gains during the academic year, with the average statewide score exceeding the previous school year.
Mississippi Graduation Rates Reach Historic Heights, Drop-out Rate Dips Again
June 16, 2016
CLINTON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) released today the graduation rates for the 2015-2016 school year, showing students earning standard diplomas in the state are at an all-time high.
Districts showed a four-year graduation rate of 80.8 percent, up from 78.4 for the 2014-2015 school year. The nation's high school graduation rate hit 82 percent in 2013-14. At this rate of growth, Mississippi could surpass the national rate by next year, according to Dr. J.P. Beaudoin, director of research and development at MDE.
Editorial by the Mississippi State Board of Education: Mississippi Students Achieve Historic Gains
June 24, 2016
Great things are happening in Mississippi’s public schools, and we now have the data to prove it.
The Mississippi State Board of Education reported at its June meeting that that state’s graduation rate is on the rise, our drop-out rate is declining, and our state’s youngest learners achieved even greater gains than last year.
Upon hearing all of this good news, one Board member remarked, “It’s a good day in Mississippi.” We couldn’t agree more.