June 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM - Regular Board Meeting

I. Call to Order

II. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Invocation

III. Approval of minutes of May 15, 2025 Board Meeting, minutes of Work Session Board Meeting on May 15, 2025, and minutes of Special-Called Board Meeting on May 27, 2025
 

IV. Approval of Agenda

V. Recognition Ceremony

V.1. Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year 
Dr. Lindsay Colyer 
Mississippi School of the Arts 
 

V.2. Community Engagement Council of Distinction Award
Clarksdale Municipal School District
 

V.3. Literacy Coach Academy of Mississippi Graduates – Cohort 2
Amanda Allen
Quitman County School District

Lequanda Isom
Marshall County School District

Savanna MacInnis
Ocean Springs School District

Jessica Malone
Desoto County School District

Tina Moore
South Panola School District

Leah Peacock
Desoto County School District

Vanessa Person
Water Valley School District

Kimberly Pierce
Tate County School District

Joelle Raynes
Stone County School District

Shannon Robinson
Jackson Public School District

Lana Stephens
Simpson County School District
 

VI. Report of State Superintendent of Education

VII. Report of Chair

VIII. Report of Student Representative

IX. Discussion and/or Approval of Board Items (All action items require vote)

IX.1. Action:  Approval to eliminate the administration of, and graduation requirement for, the U.S. History end-of-course assessment beginning with the 2025-2026 school year  

A.  State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.4 – Assessments Required for Graduation
 

B.  State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.5 – Additional Assessment Options for Meeting End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment Requirements  

C.  Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024 specifically, Appendices A-5 – A-9 and F, and the Glossary [Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 – MBE Strategic Plan]
(Has cleared the Administrative Procedures Act process with public comments) (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.2. Action: Revise English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) score requirements for English learners (EL) to exit EL status [Goals 1, 2, 3, and 4 – MBE Strategic Plan] (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.3. Action:  Approval to revise Miss. Admin. Code 7-24: Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024 specifically the business rules of the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System, Section 4, Participation Rates, Section 6, Growth, Section 9, Acceleration, Section 10, Banking Scores: End-of-course, subject area assessments taken before 10th grade, Section 16, Students with Disabilities, Section 18, Invalid Test Scores, Section 22, Schools without Tested Subjects or Grades, Section 23, State and Other Special Schools, Section 25, College and Career- Readiness Indicator, Section 26, Senior Snapshot, and Section 27, Other [Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 – MBE Strategic Plan]
(Has cleared the Administrative Procedures Act process with public comments)(Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.4. Information: Report on Oral Proceeding regarding Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 100.1, State Board Policy, Chapter 100, Rule 100.1, “Compliance with State Law Regarding Diversity Equity and Inclusion Prohibitions, Complaint Process, and Investigations" (Erin Meyer and Mike Kent)

 

IX.5. Action: Approval to establish Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 100.1, State Board Policy, Chapter 100, Rule 100.1, “Compliance with State Law Regarding Diversity Equity and Inclusion Prohibitions, Complaint Process, and Investigations" [Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 – MBE Strategic Plan]
(Has cleared the Administrative Procedures Act process with public comments) (Erin Meyer) 
 

IX.6. Action:  Approval of the MDE Contracts [Goals 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 – MBE Strategic Plan] (Kym Wiggins)         

IX.6.A. Action:  Contract with Powerful Cleaning, LLC to provide services for the Administration Building located at the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (MSDB) [Goal 3 – MBE Strategic Plan] (Wendy Clemons)
                                 
                     

IX.6.B. Action:  Modify contract with EMS LINQ, LLC to capture data for non-congregate meal service options in the Child Nutrition Management System Software (MARS) [Goal 5 – MBE Strategic Plan] (Paula Vanderford)
                                
 

IX.6.C. Action: Modify contract with Business Computer of Memphis to continue providing services and products for School Based Administrative Claiming (SBAC) and school nurse database [Goal 1 - MBE Strategic Plan] (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.6.D. Action:  Contract with Michael D. Kent to perform the administrative duties for the Office of School and District Transformation, work with school districts to consolidate, work with districts in Districts of Transformation, serve as a hearing officer for MDE, and special assignments [Goals 4 and 6 – MBE Strategic Plan] (John Ferrell)
 

IX.6.E. Action:  Modify the contract with Applied Enterprise Management Corporation to provide CEDS Generate Consulting Services [Goal 5 – MBE Strategic Plan] (John Kraman)
 

IX.7. Action:  Approval of the MDE Grant Awards [Goals 1, 2, and 4 – MBE Strategic Plan] (Kym Wiggins)
 

IX.7.A. Action: Award competitive grants for the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program [Goals 1 and 2 – MBE Strategic Plan] (Wendy Clemons)
 

IX.7.B. Action:  Modify to extend grant for Holmes County Consolidated School District for one additional year for State Systemic Improvement Plan (K-3) Literacy Coach Educator-in-Residence [Goals 1 and 4 – MBE Strategic Plan] (Wendy Clemons)
 

IX.7.C. Action:  Award competitive grants for the Mississippi Community Oriented Policing Services in Schools (MCOPS) Grant FY26 (2025-2026)) [Goal 2 – MBE Strategic Plan] (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.7.D. Action:  Modify to extend grant for Ocean Springs School District for one additional year for Special Education Teacher Mentor Program Coordinator Educator-in-Residence [Goals 1 and 4 – MBE Strategic Plan] (Wendy Clemons)
 

IX.8. Consent Agenda (All consent items are action items which require vote, unless otherwise noted.) 

IX.8.A. Approval of monthly expenditures for the Mississippi School of the Arts (Wendy Clemons)

 

IX.8.B. Approval of monthly expenditures for the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (Wendy Clemons)
 

IX.8.C. Approval of certified personnel for the Mississippi School of the Arts, Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (Wendy Clemons)

 

IX.8.D. Approval of contract with American Sentry Services to provide security services for the Mississippi School of the Arts (Wendy Clemons)
 

IX.8.E. Approval of the 2025-2026 Mississippi School of the Arts and Brookhaven School District Memorandum of Agreement
(Wendy Clemons)
 

IX.8.F. Approval of contract with American Sentry Security System to provide unarmed security services on the campus of the Mississippi  Schools for the Deaf and the Blind for the 2025-2026 fiscal school year (Wendy Clemons) 
 

IX.8.G. Approval of the 2025-2026 Student Handbooks for the State Schools (Wendy Clemons)

1.       Mississippi School of the Arts
2.       Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
3.       Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science

 

IX.8.H. Approval of the 2025-2026 Employee Handbooks for the Mississippi School of the Arts and the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (Wendy Clemons)

 

IX.8.I. Approval to create State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.7 – Early Graduation Policy
(Has cleared the Administrative Procedures Act process with public comments) (Wendy Clemons)
 

IX.8.J. Approval to establish a qualifying score for the revised version of Praxis Subject Assessments: Technology and Engineering Education (5053) and Middle School Social Studies (5589) as recommended by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development (Paula Vanderford)


 

IX.8.K. Approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act process: To revise Title 7 of the Miss. Admin. Code: Part 142: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Licensure Guidelines K-12: To revise the “Special Notes” section to include a sixth (6th) “Special Note” that would establish  criteria for obtaining certain Career and Technical Education (CTE) License types after an Initial Standard Renewable CTE License has been Granted: These Criteria will be referenced as applicable throughout the Official CTE Guidelines Document and shall Only Apply to certain CTE Licensure Pathways (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.L. Approval of the appointments to the Commission on School Accreditation (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.M. Approval to establish Miss. Admin. Code Title 7: Part 247: Mississippi Driver Education and Training Program Curriculum. (Has cleared the Administrative Procedures Act process with/without public comments) (Paula Vanderford)

 

IX.8.N. Approval to revise student teacher ratio requirements beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and begin the Administrative Procedures Act process for the following: 

A.  To revise State Board Policy Chapter 19, Rule 19.1 – Class Size                                  

B.  To revise the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards 2024 specifically, Process Standards 2, 28.1, 28.2, 28.3, and 28.4, and the Glossary

C.  To revise the Mississippi Nonpublic School Accountability Standards, 2024 specifically, Process Standards 2, 24, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, and 24.4, and the Glossary

D.  To establish Process Standards 28.6 and 28.7 of the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024

E.  To establish Process Standards 24.7 and 24.8 of the Mississippi Nonpublic School Accountability Standards, 2024 (Paula Vanderford)

 

IX.8.O. Approval of Blue Mountain Christian University’s request to delete four (4) approved supplemental endorsements in the areas of Physics 7-12 (189) Mild/Moderate Disability K-12 (221), Mild/Moderate Disability K-8 (223), and Mild/Moderate Disability 7-12 (224) (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.P. Approval of Belhaven University’s request to modify course prefixes and equivalent coursework within its existing English as Second Language (K-12) approved supplemental endorsement program (Paula Vanderford)

IX.8.Q. Approval of Belhaven University’s request to modify course prefixes within its licensure-track Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL) (English as a Second Language) Supplemental Licensure Endorsement (K-12) program (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.R. Approval of Delta State University’s request to delete three (3) approved traditional teacher educator preparation licensure-track Bachelor of Science programs in Chemistry 7-12 (185), Speech Associate K-12 (216), and Family & Consumer Science 7-12 (321); three (3) approved licensure-track Master of Education programs in English 7-12 (119), Physical Education K-12 (144), and Social Studies 7-12 (192); two (2) approved licensure-track Specialist in Education programs in Elementary Education K-6 (120) and School Counseling K-12 (436); and one (1) approved supplemental endorsement in Severe Disability K-12 (222) (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.S. Approval of Mississippi College’s request to modify coursework credit hours for two (2) courses within its licensure-track Specialist in Education degree program in the area of Administration (K-12) (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.T. Approval of Mississippi State University’s request to modify course titles, required courses, and equivalent coursework within its Mild/Moderate (7-12) supplemental endorsement (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.U. Approval of Mississippi State University’s request to modify course titles, required courses, and equivalent coursework within its approved Mild/Moderate (K-8) supplemental endorsement (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.V. Approval of Mississippi State University’s request to modify required courses within its approved Severe Disability (K-12) supplemental endorsement (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.W. Approval of Mississippi State University’s request to modify its approved licensure-track Bachelor of Science in Mild/Moderate Disability (K-12) (Paula Vanderford)


 

IX.8.X. Approval of Mississippi University for Women’s request to establish a traditional teacher education preparation licensure-track Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood (PreK-K) program (Paula Vanderford)


 

IX.8.Y. Approval of Mississippi University for Women’s request to establish a  licensure-track Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Elementary Education (K-6) program (Paula Vanderford)


 

IX.8.Z. Approval of The University of Southern Mississippi’s request to establish a traditional teacher education preparation licensure-track Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (BSSE) (7-12) program leading to a license with the major emphasis area in Biology 7-12 (181), Chemistry 7-12 (185), English 7-12 (119), Mathematics 7-12 (154), Physics 7-12 (189), or Social Studies 7-12 (192) and additional content to include a full year of teaching Residency (Paula Vanderford)

 

IX.8.AA. Approval of William Carey University’s request to remove one (1) approved traditional teacher educator preparation licensure-track Bachelor of Science program in Physical Education K-12 (144) and one (1) approved licensure-track Master of Science program in School Psychometry K-12 (213) (Paula Vanderford)


 

IX.8.AB. Approval of William Carey University’s request to modify a course title within its approved Child Development (PreK-K) supplemental endorsement (Paula Vanderford)

 

IX.8.AC. Approval of William Carey University’s request to modify the required courses courses within its approved Emotional Disability (K-12) supplemental endorsement (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.AD. Approval of William Carey University’s request to modify course numbers within its approved Science, Technology, Engineering, and  Mathematics (STEM) (K-12) supplemental endorsement (Paula Vanderford)

                            
 

IX.8.AE. Approval of the corrected industry certifications list that will calculate in the Acceleration component of Accountability Model for the 2025-2026 school year (John Ferrell)
 

IX.8.AF. Approval of Mississippi College’s request to modify course titles and the approved course list for its licensure-track Media Arts (K-12) supplemental endorsement (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.AG. Approval of Engagement Letters between the Mississippi School of the Arts and the Lowery, Payn, and Leggett Accounting Firm for audit services (Wendy Clemons)

 

IX.8.AH. Approval of contract with Apple to secure three-year Education Term Pricing Contract for the Mississippi School of the Arts (Wendy Clemons)

         

 

IX.8.AI. Approval of a temporary rule and to begin the Administrative Procedures Act process: To revise Miss. Admin. Code 7 – 4: Part 4: Licensure Guidelines K-12 to remove references to and associated requirements related to the Highly Qualified Teacher Status as formerly defined and required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Paula Vanderford)
 

IX.8.AJ. Approval of the 2025-2026 Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science and the Mississippi University for Women Memorandum of Agreement (Wendy Clemons)

 

X. Consideration of Executive Session

XI. State Board of Education

XI.1. Report on meetings attended

XI.2. Approval of attendance at meetings

XII. Other Business

XIII. Adjournment