MDE installing new accountability rules for measuring student success

The Mississippi Department of Education says new accountability rules are in effect for measuring student success this school year, under tougher standards due to Mississippi student success in the past decade.

Because the bar is being raised, those grades won’t be comparable to previous years and many schools and districts could see lower letter grades, despite equal or better student performance.

State law requires those changes once student achievement reaches certain benchmarks. Mississippi hit that mark in 2023 with more than 70 percent of schools earning an ‘A’ or ‘B.’

The updated system puts more weight on factors like test scores, graduation rates, and career readiness.

There’s also a new ‘Mississippi Readiness Index,’ tracking things like ACT and SAT performance, job certifications, and advanced coursework.

State education leaders say the changes reflect progress, but also set a higher standard for students and teachers moving forward.