MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Senator(s) Tollison, Burton, Butler (36th), Horhn, Jackson (11th), Jones, Jordan
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-177-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A READING INTERVENTION PILOT PROGRAM IN ONE OR MORE "C" LEVEL SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO ESTABLISH A KINDERGARTEN READINESS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-177-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-177-7. The State Department of Education shall:
(a) Select schools
most in need for the leading intervention program and create criteria for
selection for participation based on number and percentages of students scoring
in the lowest two (2) achievement levels on state-adopted yearly reading
assessments, screening results, and other relevant data; * * *
(b) Assign a
supervisory position within each school to be responsible for the faithful
implementation of the Reading Intervention Program * * *; and
(c) The Mississippi Department of Education is hereby authorized to conduct one or more pilot programs with willing "C" level performing districts and schools in a geographically concise region. The pilot shall focus on the use of data coaches to improve reading and literacy, to determine the effectiveness of intense data-focused professional development, provide expert support in literacy and early reading instruction but it shall not necessarily be limited to literacy. Data coaches should be experts in both pedagogy and data analysis who facilitate professional learning community meetings, and provide observation and feedback, to help teachers and district leaders build skills in using data to inform instruction. The department is authorized to contract with private sector providers to implement such a pilot and/or to work in partnership with one or more four-year institution of higher learning to develop and implement such a pilot; and the department shall work in consultation with the Reading Panel regarding development and implementation of any such pilot program.
SECTION 2. (1) There is herby established the "Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Program," authorizing the Mississippi Department of Education to establish a common statewide Kindergarten readiness assessment, the purpose of which is to provide teachers, administrators and parents baseline data on students at the beginning of their Kindergarten year. It is the intent of the Legislature, in establishing this program, to ensure that the Mississippi Department of Education shall:
(a) Select a readiness assessment that provides data on each Kindergarten student's performance to inform deployment of resources and instructional supports;
(b) Establish a policy to ensure each student's parent or guardian is informed of the student's performance on the assessment;
(c) Establish a policy to ensure that districts report results to the State Superintendent of Education; and
(d) Require this assessment be given to all students enrolled in a public Kindergarten in Mississippi.
(2) The Kindergarten readiness assessment may be given prior to the beginning of Kindergarten or during the first thirty (30) days of the Kindergarten year.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.