2014 Mississippi Code
Title 37 - EDUCATION
Chapter 177 - LITERACY-BASED PROMOTION ACT
§ 37-177-7 - Selection of schools for reading intervention program; supervisory position in each school responsible for implementation of reading intervention program; use of data coaches pilot programs in certain "C" level or low performing districts or schools

The State Department of Education shall:

(a) Select schools most in need for the reading intervention program and create criteria for selection for participation based on number and percentages of students scoring in the lowest two (2) achievement levels on state-adopted yearly reading assessments, screening results, and other relevant data;

(b) Assign a supervisory position within each school to be responsible for the faithful implementation of the Reading Intervention Program; and

(c) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the Mississippi Department of Education shall conduct a pilot program with willing "C" level or low-performing districts and/or schools in a geographically concise region. The pilot shall focus on the use of data coaches to improve reading and literacy, to determine the effectiveness of intense data-focused professional development, provide expert support in literacy and early reading instruction but it shall not necessarily be limited to literacy. Data coaches should be experts in both pedagogy and data analysis who facilitate professional learning community meetings, and provide observation and feedback, to help teachers and district leaders build skills in using data to inform instruction. The department is authorized to contract with a private sector provider to implement the pilot and work in partnership with a four-year institution of higher learning that has a center for literacy instruction to develop and implement the pilot. The department shall also work in consultation with the Reading Panel regarding the development and implementation of the pilot program.