MS dept. of education announces meetings on strategies to improve reading for K-3 students

(The following is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education.)

(JACKSON, MS) – The Mississippi Department of Education announces a series of regional meetings across the state for families of students in kindergarten through grade 3. At the meetings, families will receive an overview of the state law concerning literacy and assessment, as well as strategies that can be used at home to help students improve their reading skills. The state law, known as the Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA), focuses on prevention and intervention to help children develop the reading skills required for 4th grade. The law requires 3rd grade students to meet reading standards by the end of the school year to be promoted to 4th grade.

The Literacy-Based Promotion Act has made reading instruction a major focus of kindergarten through 3rd grade. Throughout the school year, teachers provide intensive reading instruction to students reading below grade level. Family engagement is also a critical component of students’ reading success.

To qualify for promotion to 4th grade, 3rd grade students must score at level 3 or higher on the reading portion of the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) English Language Arts test. Students will take the 3rd grade reading test in spring 2020.

Resources for families are available (in English and Spanish) at: strongreadersms.com/resources

Session times are the same at all locations: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. No registration is required

Date City Location

Tuesday, October 8, 2019 Jackson (South) Bates Elementary

3180 W. McDowell Rd. Ext.

Jackson, MS 39209

Tuesday, October 8, 2019 Jackson (North) McWillie Elementary

4979 McWillie Cir.

Jackson, MS 39206

Thursday, October 10, 2019 Natchez Natchez High School

319 Sergeant Prentiss Dr.

Natchez, MS 39120

Thursday, October 10, 2019 Tupelo Hancock Leadership Center

1920 Briar Ridge Rd.

Tupelo, MS 38804

Thursday, October 17, 2019 Cleveland DSU-Henry J. Jacob Conference Center

Highway 8 West

Cleveland, MS 38733

Thursday, October 17, 2019 Laurel Nora Davis Magnet School

1305 Dr. Martin Luther King Ave.

Laurel, MS 39440

Monday, October 21, 2019 Starkville Greensboro Center

401 Greensboro St.

Starkville, MS 39759

Wednesday, October 23, 2019 Moss Point Moss Point Family Education Center

3524 Prentiss Ave.

Moss Point, MS 39563