2014 Mississippi Code
Title 37 - EDUCATION
Chapter 177 - LITERACY-BASED PROMOTION ACT
§ 37-177-13 - Actions required of school districts for grade 3 students not promoted to grade 4

Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, each school district shall take the following actions for retained Third Grade students:

(a) Provide Third Grade students who are not promoted with intensive instructional services, progress monitoring measures, and supports to remediate the identified areas of reading deficiency, including a minimum of ninety (90) minutes during regular school hours of daily, scientifically research-based reading instruction that includes phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, and other strategies prescribed by the school district, which may include, but are not limited to:

(i) Small group instruction;

(ii) Reduced teacher-student ratios;

(iii) Tutoring in scientifically research-based reading services in addition to the regular school day;

(iv) The option of transition classes;

(v) Extended school day, week or year; and

(vi) Summer reading camps.

(b) Provide written notification to the parent or legal guardian of any Third Grade student who is retained that the student has not met the proficiency level required for promotion and the reasons the student is not eligible for a good cause exemption. The notification must include a description of proposed interventions and supports that will be provided to the child to remediate the identified areas of reading deficiency. This notification must be provided to the parent or legal guardian in writing, in a format adopted by the State Board of Education in addition to report cards given by the teacher.

(c) Provide Third Grade students who are retained with a high-performing teacher, as determined by student performance data, particularly related to student growth in reading, above-satisfactory performance appraisals, and/or specific training relevant to implementation of this chapter.

(d) Provide parents and legal guardians of Third Grade students with a "Read at Home" plan outlined in a parental contract, including participation in regular parent-guided home reading.