Education in Mississippi - Moving Forward

FIRST-PERSON COLUMN
Dr. Tom Burnham
State Superintendent of Education
January 25, 2010

Just recently, Education Week released its Quality Counts report. This report graded education in all 50 states in several categories, including Math Progress Index; Chance for Success; Standards, Assessments and Accountability; The Teaching Profession and School Finance. It is no secret that historically Mississippi has been at or near the bottom in most of these categories. However, this year there is great news to report!

Every community must demand the highest level of expectation for our state’s quality of education to reach its fullest potential. The Quality Counts report graded Mississippi at a B-plus in its Standards, Assessments and Accountability category. This is a tremendous improvement from a D-minus, which Mississippi received in 2001. In fact, Mississippi received the same grade as North Carolina, which has an education system that is regarded as one of the top in the country.

This achievement should be celebrated by all Mississippians. There has been a great amount of work done by a number of people in order for Mississippi to receive a B-plus. The bold vision of the Mississippi Board of Education, former State Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank Bounds, the professionals who served on a special task force and the Commission on School Accreditation all contributed to the development of the new accountability model. It was also the result of the hard work of many Department staff working with teachers and other experts in developing the curriculum standards, assessments and academic standards. The Mississippi Legislature is to be commended for passing the Children First Act of 2009, which is a very important piece of legislation to hold educators accountable for student learning.

An October 2009 report by the Southeast Regional Education Board (SREB) noted that States needed to change school accountability to boost graduation rates and students’ college and career readiness. The report, “The Next Generation,” recommended 10 key principals that state school accountability systems should include. Mississippi’s accountability system met all 10 principles. Giving equal weight to graduation and achievement to determine school performance; setting ambitious goals for improving graduation rates and targeting schools with the lowest achievement levels and graduation rates for major improvement are just a few of the key principles that Mississippi’s accountability system met.

Our new accountability model along with the Children First Act of 2009 incorporates all of these principles. We are moving Mississippi forward! We are focused on two areas - greater expectations and higher academic achievement. This lays the foundation for advances in other areas of our educational system that logically follow from these gains.

With greater measures of accountability for administrators to lead and engage the community, teachers to teach and students to learn -- we cannot fail in providing the caliber of education for our boys and girls that will be demanded of them as they compete in this global economy. Mississippi’s education is moving forward and these are exciting times. As a community and as an individual, you encourage progress by ensuring local education leaders understand that you expect rigorous courses and high expectations for all students. I encourage everyone to celebrate this success in receiving national recognition and continue to support your local schools.

(Contact: Pete Smith, Director of Communications, 601-359-1336.)