Kate Royals - Mississippi Today | starherald.net • The Star-Herald • Kosciusko, Mississippi

Brittney Friday is a math teacher at Wingfield High School in Jackson.

How Jackson Public Schools tackled its teacher shortage

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 818 Reads
Thu, 06/10/2021 - 12:15 PM

Jackson Public School District was facing a teacher shortage crisis several years ago, not unlike many districts across the state.

In Mississippi’s second largest school district, hundreds of teacher positions were unfilled, and many of the educators in the district were either uncertified or teaching outside of their content area.

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Krystal Williams and her children Cameron Jackson, 13, Camiya Jackson, 14, Camia Williams , 7, and Camarion Williams, 8, at their Canton home. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

These Mississippi schools never returned to in-person learning. Here’s what happened.

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 990 Reads
Wed, 06/09/2021 - 10:25 AM

Last school year, Krystal Williams’ son Ca’Marion was named a “star student” in first grade at McNeal Elementary School in Canton Public School District.

In September of 2020, he was honored as a “high flying” second-grader, which recognizes students who are active in class, complete their assignments and are top performers.

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‘Not based on the race of the kids’: West Point valedictorian dispute sparks allegations of racism

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 4,453 Reads
Thu, 06/03/2021 - 01:21 PM

A dispute over grade calculations at West Point High School has ignited intense community debate and allegations of racism after two Black students were initially named top of their class and later made to share the honors with white classmates.

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Greenville school board again delays action following bus driver strike

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 244 Reads
Thu, 05/27/2021 - 09:35 AM

Officials in Greenville Public School District again delayed taking any action following a two-day strike by bus drivers last month.

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Holmes County Consolidated School District, one of the state's most troubled districts that is under investigation by the state education department, hired a new superintendent. Credit: Mississippi Today

Holmes Co. schools, failing and under investigation, hires new superintendent

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 6,117 Reads
Thu, 05/20/2021 - 05:02 PM

The Holmes County Consolidated School District, one of the state’s most troubled districts that is under investigation by the state education department, has a new superintendent — a former principal who has never held a district-level position and has been in Holmes County less than two years.

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Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves speaks during the Stennis Capitol Press Forum at Capital Towers in Jackson Monday, January 14, 2019. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America

Reeves still silent as Board of Education vacancies again stall key votes

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 580 Reads
Wed, 05/12/2021 - 11:06 AM

Gulfport School District is awaiting approval for additional flexibility next year to be able to reduce achievement gaps, increase student learning and other goals because the board overseeing public education in the state has too many vacancies to take a vote.

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Here’s why Greenville school bus drivers went on strike

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 389 Reads
Thu, 04/29/2021 - 01:36 PM

On Monday, around 20 bus drivers in Greenville Public School District went on strike to protest reduced hours, low pay and what they say is poor treatment by the district.

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Smilow Prep Charter School must meet certain conditions in order to continue serving 5th through 8th graders in Jackson. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America

Mississippi charter school leader calls renewal process unfair, an ‘injustice’

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 7,069 Reads
Tue, 04/20/2021 - 11:59 AM

Operators of a Jackson charter school say the board overseeing charter schools in the state did not take into account the most recent data and denied them due process when considering the school’s contract renewal.

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A teacher in Leland gets her pre-K student to recite her months of the year as she points to them. Credit: Aallyah Wright, Mississippi Today

Though access remains low, Mississippi pre-K earns high quality marks

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 536 Reads
Tue, 04/20/2021 - 11:53 AM

Mississippi’s state-funded pre-kindergarten program has again received high marks in a national report that measures the quality of state-funded education for 3- and 4-year-olds nationally.

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Biology teacher Chiquita Gaylor and students practice social distancing in the classroom at Jefferson County High School in Fayette. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Controversial teacher merit pay program goes unfunded amid pandemic

By Kate Royals - Mississippi Today, 1,032 Reads
Thu, 04/15/2021 - 10:41 AM

With less than a week before Gov. Tate Reeves must approve the education budget passed by lawmakers this year, a merit pay program he supports was not funded this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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June 10, 2021