The Mississippi State Board of Education has approved a plan to incorporate new classroom policies aimed at building upon recent successes.
Mississippi’s new strategic plan for pre-kindergarten through high school education was implemented after officials gathered broad stakeholder input, including a survey and focus group interviews with approximately 100 residents last fall. Participants represented a cross-section of the education community and included students, teachers, principals, superintendents, legislative representatives, business leaders, community college and university representatives, and education stakeholder group leaders.
The updated plan includes six specific goals to equip every public school student with the knowledge and skills to succeed in college, careers, and life, per SBE. These include:
- Every child has access to a high-quality early childhood program and is prepared for kindergarten
- Every student develops strong literacy and mathematics skills in all grades
- Every student graduates prepared for success in college, career, or military service
- Every school and district demonstrates strong academic outcomes and continuous improvement
- Every school is fully staffed with qualified, effective teachers and leaders
- All students attend schools and districts with safe, engaging, and supportive environments
Additional actions in the updated plan include promoting consistent school attendance, integrating technology and career learning from pre-K through grade 12, developing school and district leaders, and providing a system of support for low-performing schools and districts.
The updated education plan will officially take effect July 1, 2026, though the state is already hitting the ground running in creating and implementing initiatives to advance the new goals.
“Mississippi students have earned national recognition for their gains over the past decade, proving that high expectations, strong instruction, and a commitment to equity improve outcomes,” State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans said. “The work ahead builds upon that momentum and demands the same focus and dedication of teachers, school leaders, families, community partners, and policymakers working together with a common purpose.”
It’s no secret that the state’s education scene has made tremendous strides in recent years. What’s been referred to as “The Mississippi Miracle” has been felt in classrooms statewide. Notable achievements have included a breakthrough in literacy rates, underscored by significant improvements in fourth and eighth-grade math and reading scores, record-breaking high school graduation rates, a downtick in dropouts, and school districts bettering their accountability grades. Officials are now looking to build on those successes to benefit future generations.