Commission on School Accreditation approves 2024–25 district accreditation recommendations

The Commission on School Accreditation voted Thursday to approve staff-recommended annual accreditation statuses for the 2024–25 school year, accepting recommendations that 120 districts be classified as 'accredited' and 18 districts be placed on 'probation.' Grama Manner, chair of the Commission on School Accreditation, led the meeting by teleconference from Jackson, Miss., and said the motion to approve the statuses carried.

Doctor Malone, the presenter for the item, told commissioners: "There are 120 districts with a recommended status of accredited, and 18 districts with a recommended status of probation." Malone reviewed the process for probationed districts: each must submit a corrective action plan within 60 days of notification, the plan must be approved by the local school board and bear the signatures of the board chairperson and district superintendent, and the Office of Accreditation may require follow-up visits to verify compliance.

Commissioners moved through routine business before the vote. A motion to approve the published agenda was made and seconded by Sarah Wilborn; the commission voted in favor. The Sept. 17, 2024 minutes were approved after Scott Ryan moved and Connie Kerr seconded. For the accreditation item, the motion to approve the recommended statuses was made (name recorded in the transcript as 'Anthony Bridal') and seconded by Kelly Barfield; the chair called the vote and announced the motion carried.

The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn by Carl Evers, seconded on the record by Scott Runer. The chair offered holiday wishes and said the commission would reconvene in 2025. The commission livestreamed the meeting via the MDE YouTube channel and recorded minutes for the public record.