Pre-Kindergarten

Collaborative models white paper—MSF hopes to publish a 5-10 page white paper describing the current state of research about collaborations between public schools and private childcare as a means of providing state-funded pre-K services to 3- and 4-year-old children. We are pleased to have an Honors Thesis student from the University of Mississippi doing the research on this topic that will drive the white paper.

Turning Around Low-Performing Schools

Success for All Students—In conjunction with the Program of Evaluation and Research for Public Schools at Mississippi State, Mississippi First will identify and profile our state’s highest-performing, highest-poverty schools in the first-ever report of its kind in Mississippi. The report will feature the best practices of Mississippi’s most successful public schools serving high-needs children. We believe this report will help dispel the myth that “some kids just can’t learn.” We also hope that it can be used as a resource by schools and districts across Mississippi who are struggling to serve their high-poverty students. This report will be available online and in print.

School Improvement Grant Round 2—Mississippi First was actively involved in writing Mississippi’s application for the FY2009 1003(g) School Improvement Grant.  We are now reviewing the FY2009 process and engaged in revising Mississippi’s application for FY2010, in conjunction with the Office of School Recovery (OSR) at the Mississippi Department of Education.  Mississippi First hopes to continue its collaboration with the Office of School Recovery as OSR supports districts in their implementation of the School Improvement Grant program.

Recovery School District/New Start Schools recommendations—The Children First Act of 2009 established the Recovery School District as a structure for the Mississippi Department of Education to take over failing districts. The policies and procedures for the RSD have not yet been crafted though 3 districts not yet in conservatorship now qualify for its provisions. Furthermore, in the 2010 session, the Legislature passed the New Start and Conversion Charter School Act. The New Start Schools provisions grant the MDE the ability to take over failing schools not in failing districts after three consecutive years of failing status. Because New Start provisions were left vague in the legislation, the MDE will need to develop policies and procedures governing the process of turning failing schools into New Start Schools. For both the RSD and New Start Schools, we hope to help the MDE craft the best policies and procedures possible. This process of advocacy may include white papers, comments during the Administrative Procedures Act process, op-eds, media appearances, or participation on advisory committees.

Charter Schools

Issue Education—We will continue to educate the public and policymakers about charter school research and best practices. In early 2010, this issue education took the form of a white paper on ten essential elements of high-quality charter school policy. In Spring 2011, we may publish an issue brief on charter school research (10-15 pages) as well as shorter papers (5-10 pages) for more general consumption.

Grassroots advocacy—In FY2011, we will be working with a coalition of groups to identify and support local communities who want better charter school legislation. This work will consist of activities such as town halls, media appearances, op-eds, and grassroots organizing.

Model legislation—In the 2011 legislative session, we will provide a copy of our model charter school legislation and a guide explaining it to each legislator on the House and Senate Education committees. We will then advocate the adoption of the model legislation.

Sex Education

Creating Healthy and Responsible Teens (CHART) Initiative

Model Policy Development—Mississippi First will write a model “abstinence-plus” policy for school districts to adopt so that they may access federal Personal Responsibility Education Program dollars to implement evidence-based, medically accurate, and age-appropriate comprehensive sex education curricula. Mississippi First will submit the model policy to the Mississippi Departments of Health and Education for review. We will also work with the Mississippi Department of Health to draw down federal PREP dollars and, as part of the PREP grant process, will help MDH and other stakeholders review effective programs to create a list of 6-8 recommended curricula that are most likely to best fit the circumstances of school districts in Mississippi.

School District Advocacy—With the finalized model policy and the list of recommended curricula, we will travel to districts in the highest teen birth rate counties and advocate that they adopt the model policy. We will also advocate that they select a curriculum off of the Department of Health’s recommended list. By doing so, they will not only become eligible for implementation grants through Mississippi’s PREP allocation but their health educators can also receive training on the selected curriculum from the Mississippi Department of Health. As part of our advocacy effort, we will organize local communities and college students to support for the CHART Initiative.