NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: September 24, 2019
(JACKSON, MS) – The Mississippi Department of Education announces a series of regional meetings across the state for families of students in kindergarten through grade 3. At the meetings, families will receive an overview of the state law concerning literacy and assessment, as well as strategies that can be used at home to help students improve their reading skills.
The state law, known as the Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA), focuses on prevention and intervention to help children develop the reading skills required for 4th grade. The law requires 3rd grade students to meet reading standards by the end of the school year to be promoted to 4th grade.
The Literacy-Based Promotion Act has made reading instruction a major focus of kindergarten through 3rd grade. Throughout the school year, teachers provide intensive reading instruction to students reading below grade level. Family engagement is also a critical component of students’ reading success.
To qualify for promotion to 4th grade, 3rd grade students must score at level 3 or higher on the reading portion of the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) English Language Arts test. Students will take the 3rd grade reading test in spring 2020.
Resources for families are available (in English and Spanish) at: strongreadersms.com/resources
Session times are the same at all locations: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
No registration is required
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Director of Public Relations
601-359-3519