Normally, at this time, the MDE would be preparing data to send to districts regarding Senior Snapshot and ACT data review for use in 2019-2020 accountability results; however, it will not be necessary to create those data files at this time due to waivers on accountability reporting for the 2019-2020 academic year. Although districts/schools will not have accountability results in September, the MDE will be working with the Accountability Task Force to facilitate any necessary adjustments for the coming academic year. Due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, the MDE will retain current Accountability Task Force members for the 2020-2021 academic year. At this time, there is no waiver for accountability measures for the 2020-2021 academic year; therefore, your district should anticipate that accountability will be calculated as normal this year.
New Staff Member
The Office of District and School Performance is pleased to announce the addition of Mr. Cody Shumaker to the team as the Director of Accountability Services (previously held by Alan Burrow). Mr. Shumaker comes to MDE from the Jackson Public School District where he served as the Principal of Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex. An Illinois native, Mr. Shumaker moved to the Mississippi Delta in 2008 with Teach for America. Mr. Shumaker began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Broad Street High School in Shelby, Mississippi. In 2012, he began his career in school administration serving as principal in both the former North Bolivar School District and the Cleveland School District. Mr. Shumaker has been a cohort member of the Mississippi Principal Impact Fellowship, the Stennis Institute’s Education Policy Fellowship, and the Principal Corps at the University of Mississippi. Mr. Shumaker may be reached at cshumaker@mdek12.org or 601-359-1060.
Data Quality
Please be sure to continue all efforts to ensure data quality; the deadline for making any changes in MSIS for the 2019-2020 academic year will be October 27th, 2020. It is very important that you check the status of your graduating Seniors in MSIS before this deadline approaches to ensure that graduation rates are calculated using accurate data.
Proposed Changes to Accountability
On June 11, 2020, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the business rules of the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System, specifically Section 9, Acceleration, regarding the collection of performance measures for dual credit courses. This rule change requires that districts report the unweighted grade assignment for dual credit courses in MSIS beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year. The grade reported in MSIS therefore must match the grade issued by the post-secondary institution. This rule change does not preclude the district/school from weighting such grades in the local student record or in the calculation of a student’s GPA. The purpose of the rule change is to ensure that the MDE has a consistent measure of performance for accountability calculations regarding accelerated coursework.
Public Comments on Business Rules of the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System
Please submit comments via mail at Alan Burrow, Office of District and School Performance, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771, or you may submit comments in writing via email at (accreditation@mdek12.org). All public comments must be received in the Office of District and School Performance no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 10, 2020. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on July 16, 2020.
Please let me know if I or Mr. Shumaker may be of assistance to you.
Sincerely,
c. Alan burrow, Executive Director
District and School Performance
601-359-3514 | mdek12.org