NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: October 16, 2018
JACKSON, Miss – Nine elementary schools where the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) deployed literacy coaches to help teachers become more effective teachers of reading have achieved sustained academic improvements and no longer need coaching support.
Mississippi’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act of 2013 established the literacy coach program, which assigns coaches to schools in which 3rd grade students have the lowest literacy skills. Coaches work closely with teachers and school leaders to improve instructional strategies and to ensure a school climate that advances literacy and academic goals.
The nine schools that exited literacy support in 2018-19 include:
- Aberdeen Elementary School, Aberdeen School District
- Greenlee Attendance Center, Attala County School District
- Sandhill Elementary School, Greene County School District
- Key Elementary School, Jackson Public Schools
- Bogue Chitto School, Lincoln County School District
- Nettleton Primary School, Nettleton School District
- Gautier Elementary School, Pascagoula-Gautier School District
- A.W. James Elementary School, Sunflower County Consolidated School District
- Dexter Attendance Center, Walthall County School District
The Literacy-Based Promotion Act 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.
Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, 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 qualify for promotion to 4th grade. In previous years, students had to score at level 2 or higher to qualify for promotion.
To learn more about how literacy coaching support helps schools improve student outcomes, view the recent Mississippi School Spotlight Video featuring Key Elementary School.
Video: Literacy Coaches Build Teachers’ Skills for Student Success
The MDE’s team of literacy coaches has nearly tripled since the first year of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act. The number of schools served has nearly quadrupled.
|
School Year |
Literacy Coaches |
Schools Served |
|
2013-14 |
29 |
50 |
|
2018-19 |
80 |
182 |
For a complete list of schools currently receiving literacy support, download the 2018-19 Literacy Support Schools List.
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519