MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2012 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Reynolds

House Resolution 85

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE SCHOOLS OF THE EAST TALLAHATCHIE SCHOOL DISTRICT UPON RECEIVING A "MOST IMPROVED DISTRICT" AWARD BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR EDUCATION INNOVATION.

     WHEREAS, the East Tallahatchie School District has earned the "Most Improved District" award from the Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi Center for Education Innovation for the improvements made in all of the district's schools; and

     WHEREAS, the East Tallahatchie School District is comprised of Charleston Elementary School, Charleston Middle School and Charleston High School, and these schools are wonderfully guided by their great principals and district superintendent:  Glinda Hardy, Charleston Elementary School; Sammie Armstrong, Charleston Middle School; Gwendolyn Johnson and Marshall Whittemore, Charleston High School; and William H. Tribble, Superintendent; and

     WHEREAS, in accordance with the new performance labels for schools and districts under Mississippi's accountability model in 2010, adopted by the State Department of Education, which employs the use of a more rigorous curriculum and assessments and the East Tallahatchie School District received the "Most Improved District" award; and

     WHEREAS, issued by the State Board of Education, the "Most Improved District" award is based on the:  Quality of Distribution Index (QDI), which is a representation of the distribution of student test scores in the various statewide assessments; High School Completion Index; Graduation Rate, which is a representation of the percentage of students who graduate from high school based on a cohort group of when students entered ninth grade; and Growth Status, which is representative of the measurement tool that predicts that students are not only performing well on subject area tests, but are constantly increasing their learning from one year to the next; and

     WHEREAS, the East Tallahatchie School District impressed the State Board of Education by increasing their QDIs across the board under the new accountability rating module:  Charleston Elementary School increased by 10 points; Charleston Middle School increased by 10 points; and Charleston High School increased by an impressive 12 points; and

     WHEREAS, the East Tallahatchie School District, as a whole, increased its QDI by 12 points, and schools in the district displayed improvement in the percentages of students that scored proficient and above on the Mississippi Curriculum Test for Grades 3 through 8 and Subject Area Testing Program for Grades 9 through 12; and

     WHEREAS, the percentage of fourth-graders at Charleston Elementary School scored proficient and above, and increased their test scores by 25 percent in math and by 21 percent in language arts; and

     WHEREAS, the percentage of seventh-graders at Charleston Middle School scored proficient and above in math by increasing their math test scores by 20 percent, and their test scores increased by 14 percent in language arts; and

     WHEREAS, Charleston High School scored proficient and advanced by increasing their test scores by 18 percent in English, 11 percent in United States History and 10 percent in algebra; and

     WHEREAS, although the quality of education in Mississippi is improving, it is imperative to remember that schools and districts across the country are also improving, and in this competitive global economy, the administrators, teachers and students in the East Tallahatchie School District have worked extremely hard to make the significant gains reflected by this state; and

     WHEREAS, this year's accountability results indicate that the changes in the quality of education received by Mississippi students are positive changes, and signals that the education system in Mississippi is moving in the right direction; and

     WHEREAS, overall, the East Tallahatchie School District has achieved success in various categories of academia, proving that if our state's students have caring teachers and administrators who will constantly inspire, motivate, encourage, promote high expectations for their performance, and hold Mississippi's students accountable, all of Mississippi's youth can achieve a great education through the school systems in this great state:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the East Tallahatchie School District upon receiving the "Most Improved District" award from the Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, and extend best wishes to the students, teachers, school administrators and parents on this auspicious occasion.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the East Tallahatchie School District, East Tallahatchie School District Superintendent William H. Tribble, Charleston Elementary School Principal Glinda Hardy, Charleston Middle School Principal Sammie Armstrong, Charleston High School Principals Gwendolyn Johnson and Marshall Whittemore, the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi Center for Education Innovation and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.