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JPS proposes English‑learner liaison and pilot paraprofessional roles to support early literacy
Summary
The administration presented a recommended English‑learner parent liaison specialist tied to a new ATLAS program and a five‑school pilot to add multi classroom leaders and REACH associate paraprofessionals focused on preK–2 literacy; success will be measured by MCAS kindergarten readiness and grade‑level benchmark assessments.
The Jackson Public School District administration recommended adding an English‑learner parent liaison specialist position and launching a pilot that places multi classroom leaders and REACH associate paraprofessionals in five elementary schools to strengthen early literacy.
Deputy Superintendent (presented in the record as Doctor Konik/Cormack) said the English‑learner parent liaison specialist will support families, improve home‑school communication and back the new ATLAS (Academy for Transforming Language Acquisition Skills) sheltered instructional program to serve the district’s growing population of English learners.
The administration also presented a pilot that will staff each participating school with at least one multi classroom leader and one REACH associate paraprofessional; the initial five pilot schools are Johnson Elementary, Pecan Park Elementary, Wilkins Elementary, McLeod Elementary and North Jackson Elementary. The pilot focuses on pre‑K through second‑grade literacy. The district said it will evaluate the pilot using kindergarten readiness data from the MCAS assessment and benchmark assessments for second grade.
Board member questions sought clarity on metrics and staffing distribution; the administration confirmed each pilot school will receive the designated positions and that school design teams, in partnership with the network assistant superintendent, will set grade‑level placements.
Why it matters: Early literacy interventions and targeted family engagement are closely tied to long‑term student outcomes. The district is using a pilot‑to‑scale approach with specific measurement tools to determine future expansion.
