Communications and Government Relations

December 17, 2014

JACKSON, Miss. – For the second time in three months, the Personal Service Contract Review Board (PSCRB) has failed to approve a contract submitted by the Mississippi Department of Education that met state requirements.

The MDE was informed on Tuesday that its $995,920 multi-year contract with the University of Kansas Center for Research to deliver the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) comprehensive system of instruction and assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities would be denied.

December 16, 2014

WHO: Mississippi Board of Education

WHAT: Presentation by Dr. John R. Kelly, chair, Mississippi Board of Education (MBE). Dr. Kelly will present the MBE’s 5-year Strategic Plan for 2016-2020, which sets the roadmap for changing the trajectory of public education in Mississippi

WHEN: Thursday, December 18, at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Second floor auditorium in the Central High School Building

December 18, 2014

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Board of Education chairman Dr. John R. Kelly today unveiled the Board’s 5-year Strategic Plan for 2016-2020, which sets the roadmap for changing the trajectory of public education in Mississippi.

The plan details five goals to improve educational outcomes for every public school student in the state.

“We must commit to bold and brave policy decisions in order to lift Mississippi from the bottom nationally in education,” Kelly said. “What is in the best interests of all students guided every aspect of this plan.”

December 19, 2014

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Board of Education (Board) voted today to hire Dr. Jill Dent as the director of early childhood education and Dr. Jamilliah Longino as manager in the Office of School Improvement to work with the state’s lowest performing schools.

The new appointments are part of the Mississippi Department of Education’s ongoing plan to provide better access to high-quality early childhood education programs and to support and assist underperforming schools. Dent and Longino will begin their new roles in January.

January 8, 2015

JACKSON, Miss. –The annual Education Week Quality Counts report gave Mississippi a “D” in K-12 education based on average grades for three key performance indicators – Chance for Success (D+), School Finance (D+) and K-12 Achievement (F) – placing Mississippi last in the nation. The country’s overall average grade is “C.”

January 14, 2015

Biloxi Teacher Surprised with $25,000 Milken Award

January 16, 2015

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Board of Education today voted to withdraw from the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) consortium, which developed the English Language Arts and mathematics assessments aligned to Mississippi’s College- and Career-Ready Standards.

On February 2, the Board will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for state assessments aligned to the standards starting in the 2015-2016 school year. 

February 3, 2015

JACKSON, Miss. – To help parents strengthen their children’s early literacy skills, the Mississippi Department of Education will hold eight meetings throughout the state for parents of Kindergarten through 3rd grade students.  The meetings will provide an overview of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act and teach strategies that parents can use at home to help their children improve their reading. 

February 4, 2015

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education has launched its first Superintendents’ Academy, an advanced leadership training program to assist district leaders in their efforts to improve student outcomes.

February 9, 2015

JACKSON, Miss. – Canton resident Marcus E. Cheeks, interim director of federal programs at the Mississippi Department of Education, was named the 2015 president of the National Title I Association, which works to improve and implement the Title I program to help students reach their academic potential.