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.
“Parents are their child’s first teacher, and reading with children is a proven way to promote early literacy,” said Dr. Kymyona Burk, state literacy coordinator. “Helping to make sure children are reading on grade level by 3rd grade is one of the most important things a parent can do to prepare their children for the future.”
The Literacy-Based Promotion Act focuses on prevention and intervention to help children develop the reading skills required for 4th grade. The legislation requires that 3rd grade students who do not meet reading standards by the end of the school year will not be promoted to 4th grade, unless they qualify for a “Good Cause Exemption.”
All 3rd graders will be tested on the reading assessment that will determine promotion to 4th grade during the testing window of April 10-23, 2015. This test is called the 3rd Grade Reading Summative Assessment.
The Literacy-Based Promotion Act has made reading instruction a major focus of Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Throughout the school year, teachers have been providing intensive reading instruction to students reading below grade level. Parent involvement is also critical to students’ success.
“By reading with their child for 20 minutes per day and making a few simple strategies a part of their daily routine, parents can make a positive impact on their child’s success in school,” Burk said.
Parent meeting dates and locations:
All meetings will be held at 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 18: Jackson - Cardozo Middle School
- Thursday, February 19: Jackson – Kirksey Middle School
- Monday, February 23: Meridian - Meridian High School Auditorium
- Wednesday, February 25: Oxford - Oxford Conference Center
- Tuesday, March 3: Hattiesburg - N.R. Burger Middle School Transploreum
- Tuesday, March 17: Cleveland - Jacob Center (Ewing Hall), Delta State University
- Thursday, March 19: Flowood - Northwest Rankin High School Auditorium
- Tuesday, March 24: Biloxi - Biloxi High School Lecture Hall
No registration is required. For information about the February 18 and 19 meetings in Jackson, call Sherwin Johnson at 601-960-8935. For information about all other meetings, call Tina Sellers in MDE's Office of Professional Development at 601-359-2869.
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519