Jackson Free Press

The Mississippi Department of Education has released the 3rd Grade Reading Summative Assessment Results. You can view them http://reports.mde.k12.ms.us/pdf/a/2016/3RD_GRADE_SUMMATIVE_SBE_REPORT_5_12_16.pdf">here.

Of the top ten highest performing schools, three of them were located in Jackson Public Schools. 100% of http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/feb/02/casey-elementary-states-only-national-blue-ribbon-/">Casey Elementary, McWillie Elementary and Davis Magnet School third graders passed the test the first time. 79.4% of the district's third graders passed the test the first time. Madison Crossing Elementary School students of Madison County Schools made the top 10 as well.

89.4% of third graders passed the tests, administered in March of April of this year, the first time. Those students who did not pass the test the first time will have two more opportunities to take the assessment: first from May 16 through May 22, and then between June 27 and August 5 of this year.

From a May 12, 2016 MDE press release:

"Local school districts will determine which of their students who did not pass qualify for one of the http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/docs/curriculum-and-instructions-library/good-cause-exemptions-faqs-2015-04-10_20150513145804_875722.pdf?sfvrsn=2">good cause exemptions for promotion to 4th grade. The remaining students will be retested before a decision is made about their promotion or retention."

Mississippi’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act requires that a student scoring at the lowest achievement level on the 3rd Grade Reading Summative Assessment be retained in 3rd grade, unless the student meets the good cause exemptions specified in the law.

The Literacy-Based Promotion Act was amended in 2016 and will require students starting in the 2018-2019 school year to score above the lowest two achievement levels in order to be promoted to the 4th grade.

Also, starting in the 2015-2016 school year, students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan who have received either intensive remediation for more than two years or who were previously retained for one year can now qualify for a good cause exemption."

In an http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/may/11/right-leadership-jfp-interview-dr-carey-wright/">extensive interview with the Jackson Free Press, state superintendent Dr. Carey Wright said she was pleased with the increased proficiency standards in the amended Literacy-Based Promotion Act.

Sierra Mannie is an education reporting fellow for the Jackson Free Press and The Hechinger Report. Email her at [email protected].