MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Tollison, Jackson (11th)
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 PROGRAM AT "C" LEVEL OR LOW-PERFORMING DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS AND TO PRESCRIBE STANDARDS FOR THE PROGRAM; 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 reading 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 shall conduct a * * * program with willing "C" level
or low-performing districts and/or schools * * *. The * * * program 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 a private sector provider to implement the * * * program and work in partnership
with * * *
four-year institutions of higher learning * * * to
develop and implement the * * * pilot. The department shall also work in consultation with the Reading
Panel regarding the development and implementation of the pilot program.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.