The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following press release:
Number of Literacy Coaches Surpasses State Goal
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education has surpassed the state’s goal to hire 75 literacy coaches, with 78 literacy staff recruited to support schools statewide. The Mississippi Board of Education is expected to approve contracts for the additional literacy coaches on Friday.
With additional coaches, the MDE will increase the number of elementary schools served from 87 to 125. Literacy coaches work with schools’ K-3 teachers on best practices in reading instruction. They are assigned to schools with the lowest reading scores, based on recent data from statewide 3rd grade reading assessments.
At Susie B. West Elementary School in the Natchez-Adams School District, literacy coach support helped the school increase its rating from an F to a C in one year.
“Susie B. West Elementary School is a prime example of what happens when an entire school community dedicates itself to professional development and improving student outcomes,” said Dr. Kymyona Burk, state literacy director.
Literacy coaches are part of a statewide system of support for schools and teachers that was developed after the passage of the 2013 Literacy-Based Promotion Act, which focuses on grade-level reading from Kindergarten through 3rd grade. In addition to assigning literacy coaches to schools, the MDE is in the process of providing training on the essential elements of reading instruction to more than 10,400 Kindergarten through 3rd grade teachers and elementary school principals across the state.
“Reading instruction is a major focus of Kindergarten through 3rd grade so that students are equipped to become strong readers throughout their education,” Burk said. “Literacy coaches and the emphasis on professional development for teachers and school leaders is strengthening classroom instruction statewide.”
Mississippi’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act requires 3rd grade students to demonstrate they read well enough to be promoted to 4th grade. Under the law, a student scoring at the lowest achievement level on the 3rd Grade Reading Summative Assessment will be retained in 3rd grade, unless the student meets the good cause exemptions for promotion as specified in the law.
The assessment is being administered in public schools statewide during the testing window that ends on April 23, 2015. Students who do not pass the test the first time will be given two opportunities to retest. The first retest window is May 18-22, 2015. The second retest opportunity will take place between June 29 and August 7, 2015.
View the story about how the focus on literacy transformed Susie B. West Elementary School here: http://mdestream.mde.k12.ms.
8 comments:
Nice, but rather meaningless.
I'd rather know how many more students are reading at the target level compared to previous years' assessments.
We already have Head Start (a baby-sitting service) and at least three years of teachers trying to teach a kid to read. THREE YEARS! Sadly, my wife paid $40 for a background check so she could volunteer to help with reading at a middle school. (7th-8th) It is going to take some one-on-one time to get some kids up to speed. They simply haven't had adequate (competent) instruction that stretched over years. Part of the blame is inadequate college teacher training.
Why do they need literacy teachers? Any idiot can teach someone to read. It ain't rocket science. What are teachers doing? Immigrants learn to read and write English. What the heck else is being taught in elementary school?
5:36, notwithstanding your poor grammar, which 'immigrants' are you talking about 'learn(ing) to read and write English'?
7:58. That would be you
The immigrant from Planet Anile
The headline reminds me of Hugh Freezus' first year regular-season. 6-6, Exceeding Expectations.
When mediocrity becomes the goal, excellence goes unheralded.
"which 'immigrants' are you talking about 'learn(ing) to read and write English'? "
My grandparents, for a start. Of course, they were "old school" - "We came here to become Americans".
And 7:58: "Ain't" was used for dramatic effect. It's kind of an advanced English thing used by those who intentionally break the rules for increased emphasis. It probably wasn't covered on your GED.
"Advanced English thing"? You been readin' too much Sid Salter. Or was it Tom Sawyer?
I'll bet your granddaddy wore the same shoes for forty years and hand carved the boards for his first house too. Appeal to Emotion fallacy.
Post a Comment