Do You Have Questions for MDE?
Please check the MDE COVID-19 Information webpage before emailing your questions to MDE staff. The answers to most of the questions we receive are addressed on the webpage. We also regularly add guidance, answers to new questions and links to our daily update email on this webpage. Daily updates are posted in the Administrator News section of the EdUpdate.
Digital Learning District Guidance
The MDE has prepared a “Digital Learning District Guidance” document and a ”Questionnaire & Budget Form” to help districts prepare for the arrival of the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act” funds and to support district efforts to pivot towards digital learning. These two goals are linked, and districts should carefully plan out how to leverage the CARES funding to advance their digital learning programs. The documents are posted at www.mdek12.org/covid19/districtresources.
COVID‐19 Response: Feeding Mississippi Children During School Closure
Extended school closures make it difficult to meet children’s nutritional needs: students who rely on free and reduced‐price meals from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) lose their best source of daily nutrition. About 74% of Mississippi public school students qualify for free or reduced‐price meals. School closures could thus negatively impact over 344,000 school‐age children and their families. There are, however, ways for policymakers, schools, and community organizations to ensure that Mississippi children’s nutritional needs are met during this time. This fact sheet outlines opportunities to ensure the availability of adequate meals for low‐income children in Mississippi.
REL COVID-19 Evidence-Based Resources Website
In response to COVID-19, the Regional Educational Laboratories have collaborated to produce a series of evidence-based resources and guidance about teaching and learning in a remote environment, as well as other considerations brought by the pandemic. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/covid-19/
Supporting Your Child’s Reading at Home
Aligned to the practice guide for building Foundational Reading Skills in Kindergarten-3rd grade, these videos and activities provide families with information about how to support children as they practice foundational reading skills at home. The site currently has information for kindergarten and 1st grade. Additional activities for 2nd and 3rd grade will be added in the coming weeks. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/southeast/foundations/kindergarten_intro.asp
Summer Reading Camp Self-Study Guide
This self-study guide was developed to help state-, district-, and school-based leaders plan for and implement state-required summer reading camps for 3rd graders performing below grade level expectations. The information within may support decision-making to address potential learning loss. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/southeast/pdf/REL_2015070.pdf
Licensure Alert
Due to the enormous volume of email inquiries MDE is receiving related to licensure and COVID-19 changes, staff response time is currently delayed. Please visit the Educator Licensure section of mdek12.org/covid19 and mdek12.org/licensure before emailing questions. Answers to most questions we receive are addressed on those webpages.