Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 7 - Education K-12
Part 24 - Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards 2023
ACCREDITATION POLICIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
GLOSSARY

Current through March 14, 2024

ACADEMIC CORE

Required course offerings in which specific skills contained in the Mississippi College- and Career- Readiness Standards and Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks must be taught. Subjects in the academic core are English/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign languages, and arts.

ACADEMIC YEAR

The amount of time that must be scheduled in the educational calendar and that consists of a minimum of 180 teaching days. See teaching day. Two (2) of the 180 days may be 60% days provided there are 198 minutes of actual instruction, and the remainder of each day is used for professional development and/or testing.

ACCELERATED COURSES

Courses designed for those students who can master the general curriculum and engage in more in-depth study of additional skills.

ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM

The entire process that holds all stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, principals, superintendents, and school boards) accountable for student achievement (growth and achievement). The accountability system includes the statewide assessment system, individual student accountability standards (grade level benchmarks and graduation requirements), an accreditation model that includes a system of rewards and sanctions for both school districts and individual schools, and procedures for interventions in Schools At-Risk and schools that fail to improve over time.

ACCREDITATION RECORD SUMMARY

A continuous record maintained on each school district in the state reflecting the extent to which accreditation requirements are met and used as the basis for assigning annual accreditation statuses. The Accreditation Record Summary is updated as citations of noncompliance with requirements are added or deleted, and school district officials are notified in writing of such.

ACCREDITATION STANDARDS

The performance-based accreditation system for public schools that holds school districts accountable for process standards and individual schools accountable for performance standards (growth and achievement).

ACCREDITATION STATUS

The annual status for a school district assigned by the Commission on School Accreditation and approved by the State Board of Education based on compliance with process standards using verified accreditation data from the previous school year. The accreditation statuses are Accredited, Probation, and Withdrawn. (See Accreditation Policy 2.3.)

ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS (AYP)

The model or formula specified in No Child Left Behind (NCLB) for determining whether schools and school districts have met annual achievement criteria.

ADMINISTRATOR

Any staff member employed by a school board who is assigned the responsibility for coordinating, directing, supervising, or otherwise administering programs, services, and/or personnel under the auspices of the program, school, or district.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)

A program of college level courses and examinations for secondary school students administered by the College Board, 3700 Crestwood Pkwy. NW, Suite 700, Duluth, GA 30096, Telephone (866) 392-4088.

High schools providing advanced placement courses must follow guidelines published by the College Board.

ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL

A public elementary/secondary school that addresses needs of students that typically cannot be met in a regular school, provides nontraditional education, serves as an adjunct to a regular school, and falls outside of the categories of regular education, special education, or career technical education. Students who are placed in an alternative school will remain enrolled in the school they would normally attend if not placed in an alternative school program. Test results for students placed in an alternative school program will be reported at the school the student would normally attend. See Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 36, State Board Policy Chapter 36.

ALLOCATED TIME

A scheduled period of time that provides for the achievement of prescribed objectives. The schedule of allocated instructional time should be in written form showing time designated for activities during the school day, week, month, or year.

ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT

The report issued at the close of each fiscal year by a private Certified Public Accountant (CPA) under the guidelines of the Office of the State Auditor, and approved by the Office of the State Auditor, bearing the official opinion on the financial statements and internal processes of the school district.

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATION

See School Performance Classification.

ASSISTANT TEACHER

A school district employee assigned to assist a licensed teacher and who works under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher.

ATTENDANCE CENTER

A school in a school district that is located on one (1) school site and has one (1) principal administering the educational program for all the grades in the school.

BASIC SKILLS

Specific learning objectives that represent the most fundamental knowledge in the areas of reading, language arts, and mathematics.

CARNEGIE UNIT

A standard measure of high school work indicating the minimum amount of time that instruction in a subject has been provided. Awarding of one (1) Carnegie unit indicates that a minimum of 140 hours of instruction has been provided in regular and laboratory classes over a school year; awarding of one-half (1/2) Carnegie unit indicates that a minimum of 70 hours has been provided. (See Process Standard 13.2 for exceptions.)

CLASSROOM

A school room in which student instruction takes place.

COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE CHILD

A child who has attained or will attain the age of six (6) years on or before September 1 of the calendar year and who has not attained the age of seventeen (17) years on or before September 1 of the calendar year; and shall include any child who has attained or will attain the age of five (5) years on or before September 1 and has enrolled in a full-day public school kindergarten program. Provided, however, that the parent or guardian of any child enrolled in a full-day public school kindergarten program shall be allowed to disenroll the child from the program on a one-time basis, and such child shall not be deemed a compulsory-school-age child until the child attains the age of six (6) years. See Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13- 91.

CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN

A plan to correct deficiencies on record that shall be developed by the Mississippi Department of Education, in conjunction with the school district, when a school district is assigned a PROBATION accreditation status.

CREDIT RECOVERY

A course-specific, skill-based learning opportunity for students who have previously been unsuccessful in mastering content/skills required to receive course credit or earn promotion. Any LEA who provides a Credit Recovery Program shall develop and implement a Credit Recovery Program that has been adopted by the schoolboard and that includes rules, regulations, and processes.

CRITERION-REFERENCED TEST (CRT)

A test designed to reveal what a student knows, understands, or can do in relation to specific performance objectives. CRTs are used to identify student strengths and weaknesses in terms of specific knowledge or skills that are goals of the instructional program.

CURRICULUM

The course content listed in the Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks.

DEPARTMENTALIZED CLASS

A class in which an educator teaches one (1) or more core academic subjects to more than one (1) group of students.

DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE

A course designed to be taught in any grade 7-12 (or any combination of grades 7-12 served within a school) which does not appear as an approved course in the current edition of the Approved Courses for the Secondary Schools of Mississippi but has received approval to be taught in a school district during the developmental process.

DEFICIENCY

The failure of a school district to comply with an accreditation requirement.

DIRECT INSTRUCTION

Act or process in which a teacher is actually guiding (instructing) students toward achieving specific learning objectives. NOTE: As a result of COVID-19, staff time spent on activities necessary to deliver instruction via different learning modes (hybrid, remote, one-on-one virtual) may be considered direct instruction as a part of the teacher workday.

DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES

Courses utilizing telecommunications technologies including satellites, telephones, and cable-television systems to broadcast instruction from a central site to other classrooms.

DISTRICT LEVEL ACCREDITATION

The accreditation status of all public school districts based on compliance with process standards as determined annually by the Commission on School Accreditation. Annual accreditation statuses are assigned in the fall of each school year and are based on verified accreditation data from the previous school year.

DISTRICT OF TRANSFORMATION

A state of emergency in a district declared by the governor which gives the State Board of Education several options for action as described in Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6.

DROPOUT

A student who leaves a school at any time and for any reason, except death, before graduation or completion of a program of studies and without transferring to another school.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM

Kindergarten and assistant teacher programs that comply with Mississippi Kindergarten Guidelines and approved by the State Board of Education and published by the Mississippi Department of Education. (See also kindergarten and pre-kindergarten.)

EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION

Practices and behaviors designed to establish and implement conditions that promote student learning.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Primary, elementary, and intermediate division of the educational system within the school district comprising grades/levels Pre-K through 6 or Pre-K through 8 or any combination of such grades.

ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

Students who are required to be tested in the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System. A student may be eligible for testing based on the student's grade level enrollment in a specific course. All eligible students must be tested. (See Process Standard 22.)

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

An academic course with defined objectives, evaluation criteria, and mastery requirements that exposes students to material or instruction that would not otherwise be part of a student's curriculum during the normal sequence of his/her educational experiences.

EVALUATION

Formal appraisal (assessment) of educational experiences, including the performance of schools, educational programs, personnel, and students. Evaluations are conducted to determine strengths and areas which need improvement and may involve the use of various measurements designed to appraise the effects of educational experiences.

EVALUATION TEAM

A trained evaluation team assigned to a School At-Risk within fifteen (15) days after notification that the school has been designated as a School At-Risk. The evaluation team shall be independent of the school being evaluated and may include employees of the State Department of Education. The team may include retired educators who have met certain standards and have completed all necessary training.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

School district sponsored student activities that require administrative supervision and student involvement outside the allocated time for instruction. Student participation in extracurricular activities may be noted on the student's transcript, but academic credit may not be awarded.

EXTENDED YEAR PROGRAM

A program of instruction offered by the district after the close of the regular academic year that is designed for students who need extra time to complete course objectives/requirements (not ESY provided through special education programs).

FAILING SCHOOL

A school performance classification based on the Letter Grade achieved by the school.

FAILING SCHOOL DISTRICT

A district that fails to meet both the absolute student achievement standards and the rate of annual growth expectation standards as set by the State Board of Education for two (2) consecutive years. A school district that has been designated as failing as defined by the State Board of Education shall also establish a community- based prekindergarten through higher education council comprised of a broad spectrum of the community and is required to publicly report progress to the community as a whole. (See Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-5.) (See Process Standard 12.)

FINANCIAL EXCHANGE TRANSFER SYSTEM (FETS)

The system used to collect financial data from each district at the close of the fiscal year.

FRAMEWORKS

Competencies (required learning standards for all students) and objectives (learning outcomes indicating how the competencies can be fulfilled) approved by the State Board of Education.

FULL ACADEMIC YEAR

This term refers to (approximately) 70% of the instructional time from the beginning of the school year to the time students are assessed. Only students who have been enrolled in the school for a full academic year (approximately 70%) are included in the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY SKILLS

Specific learning objectives that represent the application of basic skills to everyday life situations and that are tested through the Functional Literacy Examination.

GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT (GED) OPTION

GED Option is an integral component of a high school curriculum that provides another option to obtain a high school level credential. The GED Option is targeted for a subgroup of students who have the capabilities to complete high school requirements, but for a variety of adjustment and life circumstance obstacles are behind in the credits needed to graduate with their class and are at risk of leaving school without a high school credential. The GED Option provides these students a viable second opportunity to stay in school and acquire the necessary high school level knowledge and skills to pass the GED Tests and earn a high school diploma/credential within the same time frame as their peers. (See the American Council on Education (ACE) Guidelines.)

GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS

The rules by which a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) must conduct himself while performing an audit of a company or government entity's financial statements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants establishes these guidelines.

GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY STANDARD

A performance standard that establishes the percentage of students proficient in each school based on a demonstrated range of performance in relation to content as reflected in the Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks.

GROWTH EXPECTATION

A reasonable expectation for improved student academic achievement based on annual assessment data and using a psychometrically approved formula to track progress. The formula used to calculate the growth expectation will result in a composite score each year for each school.

HALF-TIME

Any staff person who devotes 50% of the instructional schedule to the assigned duties.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED

See the Guidelines for Mississippi Educator Licensure.

HIGH SCHOOL

The secondary division within the educational system of the school district comprising grades 9-12 or any combination of such grades.

HIGHEST LEVELS OF ACCREDITATION STANDARDS

A school or district with a Letter Grade in the top two (2) ranges of the accountability rating system will be identified as meeting the highest levels of accreditation standards.

INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Programs of study approved by the Mississippi Board of Education that are designed to provide innovative approaches to teaching and learning. These programs are designed to better prepare students for postsecondary education and direct entry into the workplace.

INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF

Employees of a school district who are professionally trained and licensed to provide instruction and services to students enrolled in the schools of the district.

INVESTIGATIVE EVALUATION (COMPLAINT AGAINST DISTRICT)

An evaluation that is conducted in a school district in response to a formal written complaint. All formal complaints made against schools or districts must be submitted to the Commission in writing and bear the signature of the individual(s) filing the complaint. The written complaint shall contain specific details concerning alleged violations. When the complaint is received, the superintendent is notified in writing of the nature of the complaint and informed that the district is subject to an unannounced audit to investigate the allegations. If the complaint addresses an area over which the Commission has no authority, the individual filing the complaint is notified. (See Accreditation Policy 5.0)

KINDERGARTEN

That portion of the elementary school serving children who have reached the age of five (5) years on or before September 1.

KINDERGARTEN INSTRUCTIONAL DAY

At this level, the school day. (For specific requirements, see the current edition of the Mississippi Kindergarten Guidelines.)

LAB-BASED SCIENCE COURSE

A science course in which at least 20% of the instructional time is required to include laboratory experiences.

LABORATORY

Room or rooms basically/appropriately equipped and used by students for the supervised study of some branch of science or the application of scientific principles.

LEARNING CENTER

An area in the kindergarten classroom that contains a collection of materials and activities to introduce, teach, reinforce, and/or enrich a skill or concept.

LEARNING CENTER ACTIVITIES

Activities housed in the kindergarten learning centers that promote student participation through developmentally appropriate instructional techniques.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Statements of what a student will know, feel, or do when a course is completed.

LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER

A specially designed space in each school equipped for centrally housing an organized collection of materials and equipment representing a broad range of current learning media, including instructional technology. The facility contains areas for individualized study and for large and small group instruction. The facility is organized and administered to function as a learning laboratory where the use of all media is purposeful, planned, and integrated with the educational program and instructional processes of the school. (See Mississippi School Library Media Guide.)

LIBRARY RESOURCES

Includes all print materials, non-print materials, and other current multimedia resources and technologies that meet the curriculum goals, needs, and interests of the school community.

LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY (LEA)

A local education agency is any one (1) of the 144 public school districts in Mississippi.

LOWEST PERFORMANCE LEVEL OF ACCREDITATION STANDARDS

A school or district that is identified as failing after one (1) year or identified as at-risk of failing or low performing for two (2) consecutive years will be identified as accredited at the lowest performance levels.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

A school with any configuration of intermediate grades 4-8 whose principal may be licensed as an elementary school administrator or a secondary school administrator.

MISSION STATEMENT

A school district's statement of purpose that is used in strategic planning as the basis for educational decisions.

MISSISSIPPI STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

A program of statewide assessment designed to improve the operation and management of public schools by providing educators, parents, students, legislators, and the general public with meaningful achievement data from the school, district, and state levels. The program consists of two (2) components:

SCHOOL BOARD

As used in this document, the policy-making body of a public school district.

SCHOOL DAY

That portion of the calendar day that includes the teaching day, intermissions, and any additional time included in the employee contract. School day defines the normal working day for employees.

SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

School guidance counselors shall provide comprehensive counseling services, including the following: academic and personal/social counseling; student assessment and assessment counseling; career and educational counseling; individual and group counseling; crisis intervention and preventive counseling; referrals to community agencies; educational consultations and collaboration with teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders; educational and career placement services; follow-up counseling services; conflict resolution; and other counseling duties or other duties as assigned by the school principal. No individual shall be employed as a school guidance counselor without a minimum of a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling, or in an emergency situation, an appropriate certification as determined by the Commission on Educator Licensure. School guidance counselors shall abide by the American School Counselor Association Code of Ethics. (See Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-79.)

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

A plan that a School At-Risk is required to develop based on the findings of the evaluation team report and the results of a public meeting. The Mississippi Department of Education and evaluation team leader shall assist the school principal and other local school officials in the development of a school improvement plan. A local parents/citizens advisory council shall be established by the evaluation team at the school to provide input and guidance into the development of the school improvement plan and its evaluation. The school improvement plan shall be developed and approved by the principal of the School At-Risk, the superintendent of the local school district, the local school board, and a majority of the teachers of the school.

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATION

A classification assigned to a school based on student achievement and growth. (See Accreditation Policy 3.3.)

SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN

The foundation document a school uses to maintain a safe and secure educational environment.

SECONDARY SCHOOL

A school that contains any or all of grades 9 through 12 and may include grades 7 and 8.

SELF-CONTAINED CLASS

A classroom in which an educator teaches all core subjects to a group of students.

SHOW CAUSE HEARING

The hearing that the Commission on School Accreditation conducts to allow the officials of the affected district to present evidence or other reasons as to why the accredited status should not be withdrawn. This occurs before the Commission recommends to the State Board of Education that the accredited status of a district be withdrawn in accordance with Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6(11)(a).

SPECIAL DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE

Upon meeting all applicable requirements prescribed by the district school board, students with disabilities shall be awarded a special diploma in a form prescribed by the state board. Any such student who meets all special requirements of the district school board for his exceptionality, but is unable to meet the appropriate special state minimum requirements, shall be awarded a special certificate of completion in a form prescribed by the state board. See Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-11.

SPECIAL SCHOOL

A school that serves students with disabilities in accordance with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and applicable state statutes and regulations.

SPECIAL TEST AUDITS

Audits that include reports regarding potential testing irregularities or test security violations and audits that are regularly conducted on-site before, during, and following scheduled assessments to promote the integrity and security of the Mississippi Assessment System.

STANDARD DIPLOMA

A standard high school diploma is awarded to a student who has met all the requirements established by the local board of education and by the State Board of Education. (See Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-7.)

STANDARDS

Criteria by which school districts and schools are assessed. The two (2) types of standards used in the performance-based accreditation system are performance and process.

STATEWIDE TESTING PROGRAM

See Mississippi Statewide Assessment System.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

School district sponsored activities which require administrative supervision and student involvement during the teaching day. (See teaching day.) Student participation in extracurricular activities may be noted on the student's transcript, but academic credit may not be awarded.

STUDENT SUPPORT PERSONNEL

A professional qualified to offer student support services (e.g., psychologist, guidance counselor, social worker, psychometrist, etc.).

STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM

A program of activities designed to assist and/or complement instructional activities for all students through the following types of activities: planned counseling, consultation, student appraisal, diagnosis, remediation, and follow up.

SUBJECT AREA

A division or field of organized knowledge for which state curriculum guidelines have been prepared.

SUBJECT AREA TESTS

Assessments which measure content knowledge in the subject areas of Algebra I, English II, Biology I, and U.S. History from 1877.

SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM

A program of instruction offered by the district during the summer months after the close of the regular academic year. The program of instruction is designed for students who need extra time to complete course requirements and/or for students who wish to enroll in new courses/subjects.

SUPERINTENDENT

The school board employee who is responsible for administering the operations and activities of schools within the district and for implementing the decisions of the school board. The superintendent holds a valid Class AA license in school administration.

SUPERVISOR

An individual who provides direct assistance to instructional and support staff and who holds a valid Class AA license in supervision or administration.

SUPPORT STAFF

Persons employed by an educational organization to provide services to students and staff.

TEACHER

Any person employed by the school district who is required by law to obtain a teacher's license from the State Board of Education and who is assigned an instructional area of work as defined by the Mississippi Department of Education (e.g., employment in an official capacity for the purpose of imparting knowledge, skills, information, and ideas to students in an instructional setting). (See Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-1.)

TEACHING DAY

A day in which a minimum of 330 minutes of instruction and/or evaluation and/or district approved group testing is provided. Exceptions are days with fewer than 330 instructional minutes that are part of an instructional week of at least 27.5 hours.

TEST AUDITS

See Special Test Audits.

TEXTBOOK

Any medium or manual of instruction which contains a systematic presentation of the principles of a subject, and which constitutes a major instructional vehicle for that subject. Whenever any book under contract is displaced by a new adoption, the board may continue to require the schools to use the recently purchased books from any previous adoption; however, such period of use shall not exceed four (4) years. See Miss. Code Ann. §37-43-31(2) and refer to the current edition of the Textbook Administration Handbook Rules and Regulations.

UNQUALIFIED OPINION

An opinion is said to be unqualified when the auditor concludes that the financial statements give a true and fair view in accordance with the financial reporting framework used for the preparation and presentation of the financial statements. This type of report is issued by an auditor when the financial statements presented are free of material misstatements and are represented fairly in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

WITHDRAWN STATUS

The status of a school district when the accreditation of the school district is withdrawn due to noncompliance with its corrective action plan or as a result of action taken by the Commission on School Accreditation. The status is listed as "Withdrawn Not Accredited" and the record of that district will continue to be maintained. See Accreditation Policy 2.3.

Source: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 37-1-3, 37-17-6, 37-16-7