News & Resources

State Board of Education Updated on ESEA Waiver

01/19/2012

The State Board of Education held its monthly work session on January 19. Among other agenda items, MDE staff briefed board members on Mississippi’s ESEA Waiver Request to the U.S. Department of Education. Open the attached document to view MDE staff’s PowerPoint update to the State Board. As I’ve shared before, the waiver offers each state the opportunity to request flexibility from some of the current NCLB requirements on behalf of the state, districts, and schools. States will be granted flexibility in exchange for rigorous and comprehensive state-developed plans designed to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction. The waiver application will address implementing a new statewide evaluation system for teachers and principals, as well as implementing a statewide system of differentiated accountability. MDE plans to post the application to the department’s website and request public comments prior to submitting the waiver. I will let you know when the application is posted for your review and comments.