The largely poor and rural state of Mississippi suffers from the highest rate of childhood poverty in the country, along with some of the lowest scores on standardized tests. A legacy of racism and segregation are among the roadblocks that keep the children of Mississippi from reaching their full potential. The Hechinger Report is examining why the children of Mississippi start behind — and stay behind. In the coming months, we’ll report on some of the obstacles, consequences and potential solutions to the state’s woeful education performance, beginning in the critical early years.
Racial segregation continues to impact quality of education in Mississippi—and nationwide
Debate is raging this year in Mississippi about whether state legislators should agree to start public pre-k programs for the first time. They’re also arguing about school funding and charter schools. In decades of debate on school reform in Mississippi, though, one issue is ever-present but draws little public discussion: race. The state’s public schools [...]
Some Mississippi districts have critical teacher needs
After accepting a job to teach science at Potts Camp School in rural Marshall County, Charlie Sisk began looking for housing. A science graduate of the University of Colorado, the first-year teacher was eager to begin working in the county, one the state had identified as a critical needs area lacking teachers. Joining with other [...]
Mississippi develops new teacher evaluation system
TUPELO, Miss. – On a recent morning at Lawndale Elementary School, Assistant Principal Ian Shumpert was immersed in a third-grade language lesson, taking careful notes on his iPad. He was there to conduct an observation of one of his teachers, a process Shumpert said has become much easier since the school switched to an electronic [...]
After five tries in five years, Mississippi expands charters
Lawmakers in Mississippi passed legislation on Wednesday that will expand charter schools in the state, a victory for supporters who have made five attempts in five years to change the state’s current charter school law. The bill would allow the publicly-funded, privately-run schools to open in low-performing districts, and would give school boards in high-performing [...]
Mississippi passes landmark pre-k bill, moves forward with charters
Mississippi is one step closer to passing sweeping education reforms that could, for the first time, bring state-funded pre-k to the state. On Wednesday, the House and Senate passed legislation that would provide $3 million to partially fund voluntary preschool programs for 4-year-olds beginning in the 2014-15 school year. Advocates of early education in the [...]
The literacy crisis: Searching for solutions in Mississippi
GULFPORT, Miss. — On a recent Friday morning in the gym at Gaston Point Elementary School, Tracy Jackson was growing impatient. It was the monthly awards assembly, a morning dedicated to recognizing students who were excelling in school, but several students were hesitant to get up and accept their awards. Jackson knew exactly why. “They [...]
In Mississippi, generations still fighting illiteracy
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — Rosie Corn barely remembers the few years she spent in school before her mother pulled her out. It was the mid-1940s, and she was only through the first half of fifth grade. While her father worked on the family farm and her mother served food in a local hospital’s cafeteria, Corn spent [...]
Why Mississippi preschool may overlook kids in need
JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi is the only state in the South that does not fund preschool. That may change this spring if the legislature passes one of two bills to subsidize select programs. But Mississippi is likely to remain an outlier among southern states – as the legislation (HB781 and SB2395) won’t give limited preschool seats to needy [...]
Lessons from pre-k that works: Will Mississippi’s children finally move ahead?
LAMBERT, Miss. — Four months into this school year, veteran teacher Cynthia Gordon made a pleasant discovery: Her first grade students were hungry for books. Nearly half of her students were ahead of the national curve, showing an advanced ability to sound out words. Gordon knew why. “I have kids that went to pre-k,” she [...]
In Mississippi, private money and strong principals boost struggling schools
LAMBERT, Miss. – On a recent Friday morning in this poor, rural Mississippi Delta town, a kindergarten student gleefully sought his principal. “Mr. Cormack,” Louis Gilliam, 6, said, flashing a smile and embracing Quitman County Elementary School’s leader. “I got a red shirt.” The shirt is among the methods used by the 515-student pre-K through [...]
