[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6269627,"mediaKeyId","3041532-21177790b3f7bf03c81d4ee1a7685812","parentId",3041532,"title","State board starts public comment on consolidated plan, shifts accountability points and removes US history end‑of‑course from graduation testing","audioSeconds",1795,"startMs",3579000,"endMs",5374000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3041532-21177790b3f7bf03c81d4ee1a7685812&start=3579&end=5374","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3041532-21177790b3f7bf03c81d4ee1a7685812/thumbnail_3579000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269627/Mississippi/State-board-starts-public-comment-on-consolidated-plan-shifts-accountability-points-and-removes-US-history-endofcourse-from-graduation-testing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269627-dc7cc97dbc672196c3dd66615109e5a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770593634&Signature=GrDLz4NJWzsPCabWkf~Bj6gf01TeUM2fsp5bUOVvQ-EcOQ6dq1V2W6u9jY49MmMzbUyO9-IVeB2F8fq9hidkT0wU3mmUPpVZZ5JwUbmkjuOplMouq3CgoXB2LYlSzoZ~DK1fcRLz~zRlW7w0RQjfUeCZRRf8Btn2KoD6ONqyBp2e9FqjpIhXoGPQ3oXGJ0sR2WjMTL1Q2uTj6O~t0DhFpvO0Zj4sREMcr1VmFgyzfcgM~rFmnVNu2x~cIciyjjrVTQc0aKrwPuns5rcrVNdI2MCHIg9gXW9awuOUtyaq2XaDv3VopsJKjHhLJJ7i3AgMFK9kdsGGQnUOLoEF8D9L1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MS Board of Education","date","2025-04-17T19:10:14.957Z","article","At its April 17 meeting the Mississippi State Board of Education approved three related items that change how school accountability and high school graduation requirements are measured.

The board voted to approve edits to the Mississippi Public Schools Accountability Standards and related nonpublic standards after public comment (Item 1), to release consolidated state plan amendments for Administrative Procedures Act (APA) public comment (Item 2), and to remove the U.S. history end‑of‑course test as a graduation requirement (Item 3). Together, the actions shift the assessment points previously allocated to the U.S. history exam into a newly expanded Mississippi readiness component of the accountability model.

Wendy Clemons of the Office of Secondary Education presented the proposed standards and described clarifications made after public comment, including corrections and operational details for a new “Bridge to Career” portfolio exhibit. Clemons noted the portfolio would begin in the 2025–26 school year, be limited to second‑semester seniors, require an 83% attendance threshold across junior and senior years, and use a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for eligibility. She told the board the attendance threshold equates to about 61.2 days of allowable absence across junior and senior years.

Dr. Vanderford, who led the consolidated plan presentation, said the most substantial change is the expansion of the Mississippi readiness index to include employment, enrollment and enlistment measures — an effort to give more weight to college- and career-readiness outcomes. “The biggest change, is around the new Mississippi readiness component,” he told the board.

Staff and the accountability task force recommended transferring the 50 points previously in the model for U.S. history proficiency into the readiness index so the model better reflects college and career acceleration. Paula Columbus explained the board would maintain the U.S. history course and Carnegie unit requirement but would no longer require the state U.S. history end‑of‑course assessment as a graduation gate. “The proposal…is to not require the continued administration of the US History test as a high school end of course graduation requirement,” she said.

Board members asked about academic rigor and whether course grades and district finals would continue to demonstrate content mastery. Presenters said districts would still teach and grade U.S. history and that remediation opportunities remain for students who are deficient on required assessments. Staff emphasized the decision removes one state‑level test requirement but does not eliminate the course or local district assessment practices.

Procedurally, the board approved releasing the consolidated plan for the required 25‑day APA public‑comment period and retained final approval authority for later rule adoption. Board members were told the plan must be finalized in time for August implementation and that the department will run side‑by‑side analyses to show districts the impact of the new business rules before standards are formally reset.

Votes at a glance: Item 1 (Accountability Standards 2024) — motion presented by Wendy Clemons; motion carried. Item 2 (consolidated plan APA for business rules, including expansion of Mississippi readiness index) — motion moved by Matt Miller; motion carried. Item 3 (remove U.S. history end‑of‑course test as a graduation requirement) — motion moved by Matt Miller; motion carried.

Ending: Board members directed staff to publish the APA notice, complete required analyses for standards-setting later this year, and return to the board for final rule adoption following public comment and federal review where applicable.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mississippi Board of Education - April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Mississippi State Board approved opening an Administrative Procedures Act comment period on revisions to the consolidated state plan and business rules for accountability, expanded a new Mississippi readiness index, and voted to stop requiring the U.S. history end‑of‑course test for high school graduation while keeping the course itself.","taxTitle","Department of Education, Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Mississippi","taxId",55201,"location","Mississippi","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269633,"State superintendent warns sudden federal change threatens $137 million in pandemic school funds",837,2228000,3065000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3041532-21177790b3f7bf03c81d4ee1a7685812&start=2228&end=3065","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3041532-21177790b3f7bf03c81d4ee1a7685812/thumbnail_2228000.jpg","/articles/6269633/Mississippi/State-superintendent-warns-sudden-federal-change-threatens-137-million-in-pandemic-school-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269633-a0602f5d87b20eb843ee6d9d526145de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770593633&Signature=QvK8Y0RuFlL53r232qhrm46UGqRE5KtGULd-JR0KXTchmau~OO3V9XF-rU5AwwI3EW36ugnHHz2cjuyXkLcfJEG0rj~bT0oxw8wJWFMamkNHRDxNa0fG1icMMuf-JpC96UEtTZRzyBNWOMqTeTrpkSAcTTjfY4-r9-~va4MzVegPinakXiOl1DgOMYQstbOOAy1ZCa~KSV0MVf5~rsOPSKf5P1LtUqDEjUvv37bRHggwb9P2BtgzXXramYxbZzQ-QyRqpBG~RICNt9ybGooglwHB2ffXu1WO7L9WMxjJgqeDDXXtJOTzv25BQ8w-W~ZJMhdoBu59MNm3CKS4B7V-9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mississippi State Superintendent Dr. Michael Evans told the State Board of Education on April 17 that the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) had curtailed a previously granted extension for late liquidation of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds, putting roughly $137 million of state and district spending at risk.

The superintendent said the department immediately began contacting districts and other officials after an April notification and is working to request reinstatement of the late-liquidation period. “We originally thought it was in the number of a 80,000,000, but it's a hundred and $37,000,211,” Dr. Evans said during the board meeting, adding that about $33 million represents funds the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has already distributed and $89,400,000 is on local districts’ books.

Board Chair Mr. East and other members asked whether the department has coordinated with the state’s congressional delegation and federal partners. Dr. Evans said the agency has sought letters of support and been in touch with the governor’s office, attorneys general, congressional offices and national organizations, and that further decisions from USDE were expected within days. “We've reached out to get letters of support for our submission of the request for extending the extended liquidation period,” he said.

Dr. Evans told the board that roughly 68 districts are affected and that the at-risk funds are split among categories: approximately $40 million of the funds are tied up in finalizing construction projects and the remainder supports activities such as learning-loss interventions and counseling. He noted $15 million is associated with the governor’s office for other work. The superintendent said MDE and districts had previously been granted permission to carry ongoing projects through 2026 and that the sudden change arrived without implementation guidance, prompting the department to pause contracting terminations as a precaution.

Board members and staff discussed operational consequences, including contract termination risks for construction work and the practical problem that many federal programs operate on a reimbursement basis: districts spend locally, request reimbursement from MDE, and MDE requests reimbursement from USDE. Dr. Evans described the threat to construction projects as particularly acute because those contracts are difficult to unwind without significant cost.

The superintendent also told the board the agency received a separate USDE compliance letter relating to anti-discrimination obligations (Title VI), and that MDE had created a process for districts to submit certifications to the state so MDE can forward a consolidated package to USDE. He emphasized the department’s view that state districts “did absolutely nothing wrong” and that MDE had followed prior guidance when implementing ESSER-funded projects.

The board did not take formal action on the ESSER matter during the meeting; members asked for continued outreach and for regular updates to be provided to districts and the board while MDE pursues federal clarification.

Ending: Board members were told the department expects additional federal guidance soon and asked staff to keep districts informed. The superintendent said the department is prioritizing support for finalizing construction projects should funds not be fully restored.

","Mississippi Department of Education officials told the State Board of Education that a U.S. Department of Education change to ESSER late-liquidation authority could leave districts with about $137 million in at-risk spending, including roughly $33 million already paid by the state and about $89.4 million on district books.","actionData","errors"]

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State board starts public comment on consolidated plan, shifts accountability points and removes US history end‑of‑course from graduation testing

State superintendent warns sudden federal change threatens $137 million in pandemic school funds