NEWS RELEASE

Release Date: December 15, 2009

Contact: Pete Smith, Director of Communications 601.359.1336

Children First Act of 2009 Dashboard report now available

Jackson, Miss - Citizens in every community can now view, at a glance, a report that provides important information about their school district. The Children First Act of 2009 (CFA), Dashboard Report produced by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) will provide information to communities in three categories: District Profile, Academic Achievement Information and Financial Data. Each of the three categories will include specific data information.

“People across the State of Mississippi often ask for information about their school district and most of the information can be difficult to obtain,” Interim State Superintendent Dr. John W. Jordan said. “Now with the new Dashboard Report, anyone can view in-depth detailed information regarding their school district in one document and in one location.”

According to the CFA, districts are required to post a link of their Dashboard Report to the district’s Web site; Print out and provide copies of the report, free of charge, at the central office and each of the schools; Purchase advertising space and to publish a copy of the report in the their local newspaper, no later than Thursday, December 31, 2009. The advertisement can appear in either a daily or weekly newspaper and must be at least three columns wide. The Dashboard Report is only required to be published once per year.

In addition to district requirements, the MDE Office of Research and Statistics will publish more information on a centralized Web site that districts will be required to post a link to on their home page. To view the Dashboard Report of your school district, please go to www.msreportcard.com.