Mississippi

Under the leadership of State Superintendent Dr. Lance Evans, the vision of the Mississippi Board of Education Strategic Plan is to create a world-class education system that gives students the knowledge and skills to be successful in college and the workforce and to flourish as parents and citizens. The state of Mississippi educates approximately 440,000 public school students and has achieved an all-time high graduation rate of 89.4%. One goal of the State Strategic Plan is proficiency and growth for all students. Mississippi has prioritized literacy development, beginning with the passage of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act in 2013, which set the goal of all students reading at or above grade level by the end of Grade 3, and by maintaining its status as one of only five states meeting all national quality standards for pre-K. The state has also prioritized providing educators with High-Quality Instructional Materials in all subjects through guidance and pre-vetted resources on a dedicated Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) website. Another goal of the State Strategic Plan is ensuring that every school has effective teachers and leaders. MDE has prioritized educator recruitment through a new state teacher residency program, alternative pathways to licensure, and through the development of the Mississippi Educator Career Continuum Archive (MECCA) to streamline licensure and recruitment.