Schools in Mississippi remain closed to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. As MPB’s Ashley Norwood reports, key education requirements are suspended to lessen the impact of extended school closures.
Public schools around the state are closed until at least April 17 over concerns about the coronavirus. As a result, the Mississippi State Board of Education is suspending several statewide policies including end-of-the-year assessments for the 2019-2020 school year. That means students grades seven through twelve who are enrolled in either Algebra I, Biology, English II or U.S. History will not be required to take and pass the end of course assessment.
Dr. Carey Wright is the State Superintendent of Education.
“We felt that was the fairest way to do it because otherwise we would have been saying oh well we’re going to make you take it next year. Well then that student would’ve had to have remembered all of that content for a full year in order to take that assessment,” said Wright.
During a virtual conference meeting last week, the board also decided to exempt current 3rd graders from taking and passing a third grade reading test. Superintendent Wright says students exempt from exams but who meet all district and state requirements will be promoted-- including graduating seniors.
She says the biggest worry on many Mississippians’ minds is student learning loss during this time of uncertainty.
“Districts are already putting in place what they want to be offering during the summer. We are pushing out every day to districts ideas for them to employ. We've got learning at home programs for parents and teachers to implement during this time,” said Wright.
Wright says the department is working on securing funds to help districts, especially those in rural communities, implement additional student programs. More information is available on the Mississippi department of education’s website.
Ashley Norwood, MPB News.