State board approves start of rulemaking to revise school accountability business rules after audit

The Mississippi State Board of Education on April 18 voted to begin the Administrative Procedure Act process to revise the state’s public school accountability business rules following an audit that identified provisions out of compliance with federal requirements.

Alan, the board’s chief accountability officer, told members the proposed edits respond to findings in an OIG audit and to requirements in the state’s consolidated plan approved by the U.S. Department of Education. He said the changes will take effect immediately and be applied to calculations for the current school year and the accountability results announced this fall.

Key changes described by Alan include: clarifying that the ACT is included in participation-rate calculations for high schools and for grades 3–8 students with any April enrollment; removing language that previously allowed component scores to exceed maximum allocated points so that growth cannot exceed either 100 points or 95 points depending on whether a school has an English‑learner progress measure; and setting a 50‑point maximum for acceleration bonus points. Section 9.9 was also returned to pre‑2019 weighting so AP exams and dual‑credit courses are treated equally, reflecting Senate Bill 2487 from the 2023 legislative session, Alan said.

Board members asked clarifying questions about how scores will be “banked” and how the back‑mapping of assessment data will work for schools without tested grades, including charter schools in phased openings. Alan explained that end‑of‑course assessments taken before 10th grade may be banked but must meet a full academic‑year (FAY) enrollment requirement to count, and that scores for students who attend a K–2 charter then a 3rd‑grade public school in the same served area will be applied back to the earlier K–2 school for grading purposes.

Board members acknowledged the need to communicate changes to districts. The motion to approve initiating the APA process was moved by Dr. Barrett and seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

What happens next: board staff will proceed with the formal rulemaking notices, circulate the proposed rule text to districts and stakeholders, and return to the board with final rule language and any comments received during the APA process.