View APA submissions in the Mississippi Administrative Bulletin on the Secretary of State’s website.
Notification of Opportunity for Public Comment - ESEA Waiver Request
On behalf of the Corinth School District (Corinth), the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is submitting a waiver request to the United States Department of Education (USED) to request that Corinth be allowed to use a locally selected, nationally recognized high school assessment (LSNRHSA) in lieu of the approved state assessment, Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP). The department is specifically requesting a waiver of ESEA section 1111(b)(2)(H) and 34 CFR 200.3(b)(2)(ii) for the 2021-2022 academic year for Corinth, as the MDE works to fulfill requirements for peer review under ESEA section 1111(a)(4) for the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) assessments.
The MDE is fully complying with the requirements for the state to approve a LSNRHSA as provided for in section 1111(b)(2)(H) of ESEA, which allows a local education agency (LEA) to administer a locally selected assessment in lieu of the state test in high school if approved. In brief, that process requires the state to establish and use technical criteria to determine if the proposed assessment is aligned, sufficiently rigorous, and meets all general requirements that apply to state assessments. The MDE empaneled an independent national technical advisory committee (TAC) in 2019 to establish criteria in accordance with these provisions and is working closely with Corinth and the test developer, Cambridge, to ensure these requirements are addressed. The process was suspended during pandemic disruptions but has resumed this year and is on pace to provide its recommendations to the MDE in the spring of 2022. If the TAC’s recommendations are favorable, and MDE accepts those recommendations, the MDE will communicate these findings with supporting evidence to the USED in September 2022 following administration and reporting of the Cambridge IGCSE in the June 2022 Cambridge series in lieu of the MAAP.
The Cambridge Pathway for K-12 is an integral component of the Corinth instructional program and has been well documented within the MDE-approved District of Innovation application, Forward First, supporting updates to Section 1112 of their LEA plan. If the MDE is granted this waiver request, student performance for students participating in the LSNRHSA in Corinth will be reported in the same manner as the MAAP assessment in accordance with Section 1111(h) following the June 2022 series administration and scoring. The reporting will also include performance on the LSNRHSA for each subgroup of high school students produced by the statewide assessment at each academic achievement level, as well as reporting information for parents and students aligned to the approved state assessment system, MAAP.
As part of the waiver request, provided for in section 8401 of ESEA, the MDE must make the request available for public comment and submit those comments to the USED. Public comments regarding the aforementioned waiver request should be submitted via email to osasupport@mdek12.org no later than 5 p.m., February 1, 2022. For any questions regarding this waiver request, please contact Alan Burrow at aburrow@mdek12.org.
Administrative Procedures Act (APA) Notice
Office of Secondary Education
The State Board of Education (SBE) and Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) seeks Public Comment on the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Social Studies 2021.
On December 16, 2021, the SBE granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Social Studies 2021.
Please submit written comments to Jen Cornett, Director of Social Studies K – 12, 359 N. West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing via email to (jcornett@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Office of Secondary Education no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, February 4, 2022.
Public Hearing Notice
Office of Secondary Education
The Mississippi Department of Education will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Social Studies 2021.
Friday, January 28 | 9 am - 12 noon
Sparkman Auditorium, MS Ag & Forestry Museum
1150 Lakeland Drive
Jackson, MS
All Mississippi residents wishing to speak at the hearing are required to register a minimum of three days before the hearing. Registration will close on Tuesday, January 25, at 9:00 am. Speakers are expected to address the content of the MS College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Social Studies 2021.
The proposed changes are available through the Secretary of State website: https://www.sos.ms.gov/adminsearch/ACProposed/00026052b.pdf.
Feedback related to the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards for Social Studies 2021 may also be submitted to the MDE in writing.
Email: jcornett@mdek12.org
USPS: MS Department of Education
Attn: Jen Cornett, K - 12 Social Studies Director
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205
If you have questions related to the public hearing, please contact Jen Cornett, jcornett@mdek12.org.
Administrative Procedures Act (APA) Notice
Division of Educator Preparation
Office of Elementary Education and Reading
Proposed Changes to Miss. Admin. Code 7-107: 2021 Educator Preparation
Provider Process and Performance Guidelines
On December 16, 2021, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the following:
Miss. Admin. Code 7-107: 2021 Educator Preparation Provider Process and Performance Guidelines to modify the existing literacy coursework requirement for Mississippi State Board of Education approved Elementary Education K-6 licensure-track programs. On November 5, 2021, the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification, and Licensure and Development (Licensure Commission) granted approval to modify the existing literacy coursework requirement for Mississippi State Board of Education approved Elementary Education K-6 licensure-track programs to require the following four common courses: Early Literacy I, Early Literacy II, Integrating Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum, and Diagnosing and Assessing Reading Difficulties.
Please submit written comments to Dr. Cory Murphy, Executive Director, Division of Educator Licensure, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (licensure@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Division of Educator Licensure no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 1, 2022. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on February 17, 2022.
Administrative Procedures Act (APA) Notice
Division of Educator Preparation
Division of Educator Licensure
Proposed Changes to Miss. Admin. Code 7-4: Licensure Guidelines K-12
On December 16, 2021, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the following:
Miss. Admin. Code 7 – 4: Licensure Guidelines K-12 to modify the existing pre-teaching coursework requirement for all Mississippi State Board of Education approved Alternate Route Programs. On November 5, 2021, the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification, and Licensure and Development (Licensure Commission) granted approval to modify the existing pre-teaching coursework for all Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) approved alternate route programs to require nine hours of pre-teaching coursework by adding Introduction to Special Education as a course requirement to the current six hours of pre-teaching coursework, Classroom Management and Data, Analysis, and Evaluation. Upon successful completion of the nine hours of coursework and all other preparation program and licensure preconditions, the candidate will be considered eligible for obtaining the three-year (or one-year as appropriate based on program) alternate route internship license. Current requirements for converting the three-year (or one-year as appropriate based on program) alternate route internship license to the five-year standard license remains in effect which consist of the successful completion of an internship (six coursework credit hours) serving as teacher of record. This modification will become effective with candidates seeking admittance to a SBE approved alternate route program upon receipt of final SBE approval, and thereafter
Please submit written comments to Dr. Cory Murphy, Executive Director, Division of Educator Licensure, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (licensure@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Division of Educator Licensure no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2022. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on February 17, 2022.
Administrative Procedures Act (APA) Notice
Division of Educator Preparation
Division of Educator Licensure
Proposed Changes to Miss. Admin. Code 7-4: Licensure Guidelines K-12
On December 16, 2021, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the following:
Miss. Admin. Code 7-4: Licensure Guidelines K-12 to modify the existing Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education (4-6) Mississippi State Board of Education approved Alternate Route Program to include an Elementary Education (K-6) option
Please submit written comments to Dr. Cory Murphy, Division of Educator Licensure, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (licensure@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Division of Educator Licensure no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 28, 2022. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on February 17, 2022.
Administrative Procedures Act (APA) Notice
Division of Educator Preparation
Division of Educator Licensure
Proposed Changes to Miss. Admin. Code 7-4: Licensure Guidelines K-12
On December 16, 2021, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the following:
Miss. Admin. Code 7 – 4: Licensure Guidelines K-12 to modify the existing Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education (K-12) Mississippi State Board of Education approved Alternate Route Program
Please submit written comments to Dr. Cory Murphy, Division of Educator Licensure, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (licensure@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Division of Educator Licensure no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 28, 2022. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on February 17, 2022.
Administrative Procedures Act (APA) Notice
Office of Student Assessment
Proposed Changes to Miss. Admin. Code 7-12: Mississippi Testing Accommodations Manual
On December 16, 2021, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the following:
Rule 7 Miss. Admin. Code 7–12: Mississippi Testing Accommodations Manual (MTAM) was substantially revised to meet the current needs of all students in a digital testing environment. The revised edition of the MTAM outlines accessibility supports that are allowable and non-allowable for the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System. Universal features are available for all students; accessibility features and accommodations are available for eligible students [i.e., a current Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Plan, Language Service Plan, and documented recommendations by the Student Evaluation Team (SET)]
Please submit written comments to Dr. Jackie Sampsell, State Assessment Director, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (osasupport@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Office of Student Assessment no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2022. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on February 17, 2022.