Mississippi News
MAAP scores near pre-pandemic levels
Students score near pre-pandemic levels on state tests
Students in Mississippi approached pre-pandemic levels of achievement on state tests this spring, showing significant growth from the previous year.
The results from the 2022 administration of the state tests, or Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP), show that 2-4% fewer students passed English, science, and math exams this year than in 2019.
Last year in 2021, the first time that state tests were administered following the pandemic, around 10% fewer students passed their tests than in 2019, which education officials said was evidence of the impact of COVID-19 and were reflective of national trends.
These results, presented to the State Board of Education on Thursday, are a testament to the hard work of students and educators, as well as the return to in-person learning, according to Department of Education officials.
“They provide clear and indisputable evidence of the resilience of students and educators and their ability to recover from the disruptions to learning,” said Kim Benton, interim state superintendent of education. “We don't always see that, but there's a lot that has been going on to mitigate this disruption in learning and people have pulled out all the stops to make sure that's happened.”
The number of students who scored proficient was exactly the same as or slightly above numbers from 2019, indicating that higher performing students possibly bounced back faster. Proficiency refers to the percentage of students who scored at a level 4 or 5 (proficient or advanced) on a 1 through 5 scale. A level 1 indicates a score of “minimal,” 2 is “basic” and 3 is “passing.”
Benton said these results show the need to look at the data of individual students and identify which areas they require support to advance.
“When I looked at the distribution, what it looked like to me was that we moved children up, we regained the proficiency levels pre-pandemic, but you also have children right there on the cusp (of passing)…which means we've got to push further faster,” she said.
Research from the Nation Bureau of Economic Research published in May of this year showed that, nationally, high-poverty schools were more likely to go remote and suffered larger declines in academic achievement when they did so.
Benton said the department is reviewing this new data to ensure that they are providing support appropriately, since literacy and math coaches are assigned to districts based on the number of students who did not reach proficiency.
A more detailed look at the state test results, including performance by subgroup and growth data, will be available in October when the state publishes districts' accountability results.
View English test results by district here:
View math test results by district here:
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Ridgeland man sentenced for molesting girl
SUMMARY: Ronnie Hales, a 44-year-old man from Ridgeland, pled guilty to gratification of lust by molesting his then-girlfriend's 10-year-old daughter. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison without the possibility of early release or parole and will have to register as a sex offender upon release. The abuse was reported to Ridgeland police in February 2023, leading to an investigation that included a forensic interview of the child. Evidence was found at Hales' home, and multiple state agencies collaborated to secure the conviction. District Attorney Bubba Bramlett expressed gratitude for the teamwork and hopes the child can find closure and move forward.
The post Ridgeland man sentenced for molesting girl appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Bond set for suspect charged in Rankin County homicide
SUMMARY: Two suspects charged in the shooting death of a 20-year-old man in Rankin County appeared in court. Ryan Duette was given a $500,000 bond for second degree murder. The victim, Bryson Horne, was found shot at a home in the Reservoir area, and his body was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office. Duette and Lainey Ingle turned themselves in, claiming to be involved in an altercation with the victim. Firearms were recovered from their vehicle. Horne's brother had also been shot and killed in Jackson a month earlier. The suspects are facing charges in connection with the murder.
The post Bond set for suspect charged in Rankin County homicide appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Warmer air just in time for the weekend – Home – WCBI TV
SUMMARY: Temperatures in Columbus, Mississippi will be above average in the next few days. Thursday will start sunny but with increasing cloud cover in the afternoon due to a front. Only isolated showers are possible. The front will move northward as a warm front, bringing warmer air for the weekend. Friday will be sunny with a south breeze and highs in the 80s. The weekend will also have highs in the 80s with minimal rain expected. Next week, a stronger front will bring showers and storms, with heavy rain being the main concern. Some lingering showers may continue into Tuesday/Wednesday.
The post Warmer air just in time for the weekend – Home – WCBI TV appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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