Jackson Public Schools reviews grants and partnerships: dual enrollment pass rate, SEL pilot, juvenile-justice education and more

Jackson Public Schools administrators briefed the board on a slate of partnership agreements and program renewals at the June meeting, saying the items aim to expand student opportunities and support services across the district.

Dual enrollment: Deputy Superintendent Michael Cormack recommended approving a memorandum of understanding with Hinds Community College to continue dual-credit and dual-enrollment opportunities. Cormack said all six JPS high schools participate and 389 scholars were enrolled in dual-enrollment courses; "99 percent of scholars participating in dual enrollment" earned a C or better and received college credit, he reported. Board members asked for school-level comparisons and additional data on AP and other accelerated offerings; Cormack said the district will provide the detailed school-by-school analysis and noted plans to expand partnerships with Tougaloo College and Jackson State University.

SEL pilot and data sharing: The board reviewed a memorandum of understanding and data-sharing agreement with Empirical Education for a pilot of Sankofa Chronicles, a social-emotional learning curriculum that uses videos featuring near-peers from Jackson State and Tougaloo. Administration described an experimental pilot design that would compare Sankofa Chronicles to the districts existing SEL program (Rethink) using pre/post surveys and other measures. The district said Institutional Review Board (IRB) review and data-privacy safeguards will govern any student surveys; board members asked staff to verify signatory names in the executed data-sharing documents.

Juvenile-justice education: The board heard a recommendation to renew the agreement for educational services with the Hinds County Board of Supervisors for the Henley Young Patton Juvenile Justice Center. Administration said staffing challenges that previously disrupted instruction at the center have largely been resolved and that attendance and access to class have improved. Board members and staff credited local partners and school-site leaders for stabilizing operations.

Grants and other vendors: The administration recommended renewal or approval of several additional items: a Save the Music Foundation grant to expand elementary music offerings (adding Key Elementary), an agreement for site security and event security services with Austin Security and Crime Prevention, and a student ID/badge system with BadgePass to scan student entry (integration planned with PowerSchool). A memorandum of agreement with nonprofit Improve Your Tomorrow to provide mentoring services for 100 scholars at Blackburn and Powell middle schools was also presented.

Administration presented the items for board review; many were later bundled into consent or finance agendas and advanced by unanimous voice vote without separate extended debate.