MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Canon, Bean, Blackmon, Browning, Bryan, Burton, Carlton, Carter, Cuevas, Dearing, Dickerson, Farris, Ferris, Frazier, Furniss, Gollott, Gordon, Hall, Hamilton, Harden, Harvey, Hawks, Hewes, Horhn, Huggins, Jackson, Johnson (19th), Johnson (38th), Jordan (24th), Kirby, Lee, Little, Mettetal, Minor, Moffatt, Nunnelee, Posey, Rayborn, Robertson, Ross, Scoper, Simmons, Smith, Stogner, Thames, Tollison, Turner, White (29th), White (5th), Woodfield

Senate Concurrent Resolution 628

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING CALEDONIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS THE FIRST SCHOOL IN MISSISSIPPI AND AMONG THE FIRST 50 IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE NAMED A READING RENAISSANCE MODEL SCHOOL. 

WHEREAS, on February 1, 1998, Caledonia Elementary School in Caledonia, Lowndes County, Mississippi, was named a Reading Renaissance Model School, the first school in Mississippi and among the first 50 in the United States to win this distinction; and

WHEREAS, this national recognition is awarded by the Institute for Academic Excellence for reading achievement, which specializes in staff development and educational research with an emphasis on reading; and

WHEREAS, to achieve model school status, a school must have no more than 15% of its student body scoring below 80% on the reading comprehension tests, above 75% of the total number of points that would be accumulated with 60 minutes of reading practice a day, and further, at least 30% of all reading teachers must be certified as Model Classroom Teachers; and the Caledonia students easily met the model school standards; and

WHEREAS, the Institute is a subsidiary of the company producing the number one reading software in the nation, Accelerated Reader, which combines new computer technology with in-school teacher reading practice intervention, which results upon full implementation in two years of reading growth occurring in one year; and

WHEREAS, on March 3, 1998, a special celebration ceremony was held recognizing Mississippi's First Reading Renaissance Model School, with Mississippi's First Lady Pat Fordice serving as keynote speaker, who stated that Caledonia earned 16,670 reading points in a nine-week period, which is 22,400 books read by 838 students; in addition to praise from local and state educators and government leaders, the school also received letters of congratulation from Lt. Governor Ronnie Musgrove, former First Lady Barbara Bush and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton; and

WHEREAS, Caledonia has set the pace for other Mississippi schools, and it is with great pride that we recognize these teachers and students for their outstanding accomplishment:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Caledonia Elementary School, Caledonia, Lowndes County, Mississippi, for being named the first Reading Renaissance Model School in Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to the Principal and President of the School Board of Caledonia Elementary on behalf of the students and teachers, and that copies be made available to members of the Capitol Press Corps.