The Laurel School District’s Children First Act Annual Report is now available for citizens to view. The report, formulated by the Mississippi Department of Education, is available on the Web at www.msreportcard.com. Hard copies of the report are available at each school and central office. The report is also available for download at www.laurelschools.org, and is available in today’s edition of the Laurel Leader-Call (see page A6).

“People across the State of Mississippi often ask for information about their school district and most of the information can be difficult to obtain,” Interim State Superintendent Dr. John W. Jordan said in an MDE press release. “Now with the new Dashboard Report, anyone can view in-depth detailed information regarding their school district in one document and in one location.”

The report is broken into three categories. The “District Profile” section displays information on enrollment, racial makeup, special education and school district staff. The “Academic Achievement” section shows information on accountability levels, graduation and completion data, ACT information and expulsions and out-of-school suspensions. The “Financial Data” section shows percentage of revenue sources by state, federal and local, millage and assessed valuation, estimated per pupil expenditures and a breakdown of actual expenditures.

With the second year of a more rigorous Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (MCT2), administrators and teachers in the Laurel School District are working to develop stronger curriculum, provide increased professional development, add tutoring programs for students with academic weaknesses and develop intervention plans for students. In addition to a variety of evaluations, central office administrators, along with principals, have and will progress monitor all schools at the close of each nine-week period.

Superintendent Dr. Glenn McGee said the teachers and administrators at each school have reviewed the MCT2 testing data and are developing plans that will aid in moving a greater percentage of children to proficiency.

“Based on the new accountability labeling system, we are considered an ‘at risk of failing’ district,” McGee said. “We are very disappointed with the results. Plans for improvement are being discussed continually as we meet this challenge. We will get better.”

The Laurel School District will host a public meeting on January 19 beginning at 5 p.m. in the Gardiner Administrative Building Auditorium to discuss the new accountability system. McGee said a full explanation of the new system will be presented as well as plans for improvement. The Gardiner Administrative Building is located 303 West 8th Street, Laurel.

Also, every school in the district will be hosting community meetings throughout the month of January where school administrators will discuss the individual schools accountability results and plans for improvement.