MDE board backs gov.’s position on transgender bathrooms
Mississippi’s Board of Education fell in line Tuesday with state Republican political leaders’ opposition to federal guidance on transgender students’ use of bathrooms and locker rooms.
MDE head backtracks on transgender school policy
Under fire from the governor and many Republican legislators, the Mississippi Department of Education now says it won’t follow new federal guidance on use of bathrooms and locker rooms by transgender students.
Hickman named to MDE Steering Committee
Columbus Municipal School District superintendent Dr. Philip Hickman has been named to a statewide board that aims to make educators more effective.
MDE seeks input on academic standards
The Mississippi Department of Education is seeking public comment on possible revisions to its English language arts and mathematics academic standards.
Lowndes Co. administrator named to MPE board
A Columbus man has been named to the Mississippi Professional Educators Board of Directors.
Our View: MDE Ratings show a school district in crisis
When the Mississippi Department of Education released its school accountability ratings for 2013-14 today, it only served to confirm what we have known for quite some time: Our city’s schools are struggling.
Little change in Golden Triangle school ratings
Status quo can mean distinctly different things to different people.
SSD, OCSD maintain district, school grades with waivers
Both Starkville School District and Oktibbeha County School District maintained their respective “C” district-level state accountability grades.
Scores show most Miss. kindergarten students lag
A first-ever look at whether Mississippi’s kindergarten students are ready to learn to read shows that two-thirds are not.
Scores released on state Curriculum Test
The Mississippi Department of Education on Tuesday released every school district’s performance percentage scores for math and reading for the 2013-2014 school year. The Mississippi Curriculum Test tests students in third through eighth grade.
KiOR stares down default on MDA loan
If KiOR does not finalize the details of a $25 million commitment from a California investor within the next nine days the company expects to default on a $75 million loan it received from the state of Mississippi.
Our view: Empower Holloway as OCSD’s conservator now, not next year
While state lawmakers in Jackson guide Starkville-Oktibbeha County school merger legislation, one very important issue is sure to re-emerge, the early appointment of Starkville School District Superintendent Lewis Holloway as Oktibbeha County School District conservator.
With city’s error, no grant for low income homeowners
For the second time in less than six months, the city of Columbus is not eligible for a state grant because of errors on its part.
The city has three low income residents who could have received state funding to rehabilitate or rebuild their homes. They won’t, though, because city officials failed to follow a publication guideline that disqualified its application for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program grant.
City disqualified for rehab grant due to error
Mississippi Development Authority public relations and media manager Jeff Rent confirmed the city of Columbus’ HOME rehabilitation/reconstruction grant application did not pass because publication guidelines prior to a public hearing were not met.
Ex-leader to leave Department of Education
Lynn House, who led the Mississippi Department of Education for more than a year as interim superintendent, is leaving the department.
Council could demand quarterly reports from school board
Other than appointing officials to the school board, Columbus councilmen are limited when it comes to what they can legally do to facilitate improvement in the school district.
Columbus schools add two armed officers
The Columbus Municipal School District plans to hire two additional armed security guards thanks to a matching grant provided by the Mississippi Department of Education.
MDE ratings: ‘D’ for Columbus, ‘B’ for Lowndes, Sale, Fairview, Columbus High improve; Caledonia Elementary earns area’s only ‘A’
For the second year in a row, the Columbus Municipal School District has been rated a “D” by the Mississippi Department of Education. The Lowndes County School District maintained its “B” rating.
School ‘report cards’ issued: Oktibbeha County, Starkville both earn ‘C’ rating
Oktibbeha County School District and Starkville School District earned ‘C’ grades from the Mississippi Department of Education based on last year’s state testing scores.