Senate Bill 2572

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-177-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A READING INTERVENTION PILOT PROGRAM IN ONE OR MORE "C" LEVEL SCHOOL DISTRICTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-177-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-177-7. The State Department of Education shall:

(a) Select schools most in need for the leading 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; * * * ~~and~~

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

(c) The Mississippi Department of Education is hereby authorized to conduct one or more pilot programs with willing "C" level performing districts and 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 private sector providers to implement such a pilot and/or to work in partnership with one or more four-year institution of higher learning to develop and implement such a pilot; and the department shall work in consultation with the Reading Panel regarding development and implementation of any such pilot program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.