The Columbus Municipal School District will have to wait another two months before it learns if it will receive the help of one of the 24 reading coaches recently approved to help failing districts.

Last week, the office of Governor Phil Bryant announced plans to hire 24 reading coaches to help districts meet the state-wide mandate that requires all third-graders to read at a basic level by 2015. If the students cannot read at their grade level, they will not be promoted.

The Mississippi Department of Education initially asked for 75 teachers. While more than 500 people applied for the positions, only 24 were hired. Interim State Superintendent Lynn House said few of the applicants were qualified. House said state officials are hoping to hire more coaches from the ranks of retired teachers.

The program, which initially called for funding of $15 million was reduced to $9.5 million by the legislature. The Barksdale Reading Institute will also provide the state with two regional coordinators in addition to the 24 coaches.

Monday, MDE Spokesperson Patrice Guilfoyle said the placement of the instructors would not be decided until the results of state testing were released in September.

“It’s going to be targeting the lower performing school districts, based on data,” Guilfoyle said.

Districts across the state received the test scores in June but the results will not be made available to the public until September.

The Columbus Municipal School District remained on academic watch during the 2012-2013 school year, receiving a “D” classification and failing to meet growth standards for the third consecutive year. The district’s QDI dropped from 143 to 142.

Fairview Elementary Aerospace and Science Magnet School and Stokes-Beard Elementary Technology and Communication Magnet School remained the same as last year, both receiving a “D.” Fairview dropped its QDI from 148 to 140, while Stokes-Beard posted a small QDI improvement, from 147 to 152.

Only two schools in the district, Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School and Franklin Academy Medical Sciences and Wellness Magnet School, met growth status, and none of the district’s seven schools received an “A” or “B,” despite several QDI gains.

Both Cook and Franklin improved their rankings from academic watch to successful — the equivalent of a “C.”

Sale Elementary International Studies Magnet School, the only school in the district last year to meet growth standards and rank as high-performing, slipped, receiving a “C” despite raising its QDI from 179 to 188.

Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.