View APA submissions in the Mississippi Administrative Bulletin on the Secretary of State’s website.
Division of Secondary Education
Office of Chief Academic Officer
On July 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval of temporary rule and to begin the Administrative Procedures Act process to approve the Bridge to Career Curriculum that provides standards and resources for the portfolio and exhibit option for meeting End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment Requirements
Background Information: On April 17, 2025, the State Board of Education approved the revision to the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024, Appendix A-5 – Additional Assessment Options for Meeting EOC Assessment Requirements. This revision approved the creation of a portfolio and exhibit option for students who do not obtain a passing score on one or more EOC assessments. This option, the Bridge to Career Course, is designed to foster real-world skills and promote personal growth and supports students in building credentials and experiences that prepare them for success in the workforce, post-secondary education, and life beyond high school. The curriculum includes four specific units including career exploration and workplace readiness, career documents and interview preparation, portfolio development and exhibit creation and presentation, along with credential programs and scoring rubrics to ensure consistency of course implementation throughout the state.
The temporary rule and final action are necessary to implement the curriculum immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State in accordance with Miss. Code Ann. § 25-43-3.113(2)(b)(ii).
The proposed curriculum is available for public comment and review via the MDE APA Notice Website and the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Administrative Bulletin. To locate the filing documents on the Secretary of State website, select “Title 7 – Department of Education” in the Agency Search dropdown menu.
Please submit written comments to Ma’Kesha Adams, Office of Curriculum and Instruction, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at secondaryeducation@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Division of Secondary Education no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 23, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on September 25, 2025.
Division of Secondary Education
Office of Chief Academic Officer
Proposed revision of State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.5 -Additional Assessment Options for Meeting End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment Requirements
On July 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval of temporary rule and to begin the Administrative Procedures Act process to revise State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.5 – Additional Assessment Options for Meeting End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment Requirements
Background Information: On April 17, 2025, the State Board of Education approved the revision to the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024, Appendix A-5 – Additional Assessment Options for Meeting EOC Assessment Requirements. This revision approved the creation of an additional exhibit portfolio option for qualifying second semester seniors or fifth year seniors from the Class of 2025 who do not obtain a passing score on one or more EOC assessments. This option, the Bridge to Career Course, will provide students with an opportunity to explore and experience career opportunities that will assist in the transition to post-secondary.
On June 3, 2025, the Commission on School Accreditation (CSA) approved the request for the State Board of Education to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.5 to include the portfolio and exhibit option in lieu of meeting the EOC Assessment requirement.
The temporary rule and final action are necessary to implement the policy revisions immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State in accordance with Miss. Code Ann. § 25-43-3.113(2)(b)(ii).
The revised policy is available for public comment and review via the MDE APA Notice Website and the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Administrative Bulletin. To locate the filing documents on the Secretary of State website, select “Title 7 – Department of Education” in the Agency Search dropdown menu.
Please submit written comments to Ma’Kesha Adams, Office of Curriculum and Instruction, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at secondaryeducation@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Division of Secondary Education no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 23, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on September 25, 2025.
Office of Early Childhood Education
Office of Chief Academic Officer
On July 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act process to adopt the Grant Funded Program Quality Assessment for Classrooms Serving Four-Year-Old Children (2025)
Background Information: Grant Funded Program Quality Assessment for Classrooms Serving Four-Year-Old Children (2025) will provide information on the minimum requirements for grant funded pre-K programs serving four-year-old children in Mississippi.
Schools providing services to pre-kindergarten aged children receive an annual evaluation to ensure the effectiveness of services on improving children’s learning and well-being. Evaluation occurs for the Early Learning Collaboratives, State Invested Pre-K, Blended Pre-K, and Grant Funded Pre-K programs.
Please submit written comments to Dr. Jill Dent, Office of Early Childhood Education, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at jdent@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Early Childhood no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 13, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on August 21, 2025.
Office of Early Childhood Education
Office of Chief Academic Officer
On July 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act process to revise the Mississippi Early Learning Guidelines for Classrooms Serving Three and Four-Year-Old Children (2025)
Background Information: Mississippi Early Learning Guidelines for Classrooms Serving Three- and Four-Year-Old Children (2025) will provide updated information on the minimum requirements and recommendations for the operation of public school three and four-year-old programs in Mississippi.
This revision deletes the Program Quality Assessment section for Grant Funded programs. There will be a new policy for Grant Funded Program Quality Assessment created as a stand alone document to make it easier to adjust with assessment changes.
The sections in the guide covers the following components:
Section I: Requirements for Voluntary Enrollment
Section II: Curriculum, Materials, and Assessment
Section III: Organizational Procedures and Staff
Section IV: Family Engagement and Transportation
Section V: Physical Settings and Outside Play
Please submit written comments to Dr. Jill Dent, Office of Early Childhood Education, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at jdent@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Early Childhood no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 13, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on August 21, 2025.
