MS Dept of Education

SAVE DATE: The THRIVE 2026 conference is set for Sept. 16-17 in Jackson, MS. These dedicated days of professional learning will feature targeted sessions for instructional staff, principals, district level administrators, parents, and more. See bit.ly/4wQy1Wp. #MsEdu

Congratulations! Today, the State Board of Education recognized the third cohort of graduates of the Literacy Coach Academy of Mississippi. #MsEdu

The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) has selected Cannon Parker of Gulfport High School in the Gulfport School District to serve as the high school SBE junior representative for the 2026-27 school year. See details at bit.ly/4fPjwwM. #MsEdu

#Mississippi earned national recognition for early literacy. Now the state is building on that foundation with SB 2294, extending science-of-reading practices to grades 4-8. Host @AshleyDeMauro Mullins talks with State Superintendent Lance Evans on the latest Statehouse Spotlights. #mspol @MissDeptEd

Mississippi has maintained its 16th national education ranking, according to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today, and was recognized as being one of two states to post improvements from 2019-2024 in education. Get details at bit.ly/4vFx0A0. #MsEdu

The Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Special Education announces The Time is Right Conference is set for June 16–18, at the Mississippi State University Riley Center in Meridian, Mississippi. Register at tinyurl.com/TiR26Registrat…. #MsEdu

Today, the State Board of Education (SBE) recognized Limeul Eubanks for being named the 2026 National Art Education Association (NAEA) Southeastern Region Supervision and Administration Art Educator of the Year. #MsEdu

Today, the State Board of Education recognized Melanie Davis-Hardy, a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Yazoo County Middle School in the Yazoo County School District, for being named the 2026 Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year. #MsEdu

🎓Graduations 🎓are underway across Mississippi, and the Mississippi Department of Education congratulates all 2026 graduates for reaching this major life milestone. We wish you continued success in college, career, and life! Congratulations! 👏👏👏 #MsEdu See less

The MS Literacy Association, in partnership with MDE’s Division of Literacy and the North Mississippi Education Consortium, will host the 55th Annual Mississippi Literacy Association Conference, Turn the Page: Transforming Literacy One Page at a Time from Dec. 2-4. #MsEdu

Career superintendents in the inaugural class of the Mississippi Superintendent Institute received their certificates Friday, April 24, in Jackson for completing the eight-month professional learning program. #MsEdu

MS has been recognized again for expanding quality Pre-K. The National Institute for Early Education Research 2025 State of Preschool Yearbook report released today shows MS is now 29th for preschool enrollment of 4-year-olds, up from 31st. Go to bit.ly/4e3mvRw. #MsEdu

The 2026 MS Administrator of the Year is Dr. Matthew Fulton, principal at Sumner Hill Junior High School in the Clinton Public School District, and the 2026 MS Teacher of the Year is Lauren Zarandona of MS School for Math & Science. Visit bit.ly/41GNz1m. #MsEdu

The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) has selected 11 semifinalists for the SBE junior student representative in the 2026-27 school year. Visit bit.ly/3NSIZdg. #MsEdu

Today, MDE is reminding education stakeholders across Mississippi that new, higher standards for earning school and district letter grades will take effect with the 2025-26 school year. Visit bit.ly/4c0mHOD to learn more about this change. #MsEdu

MDE has announced the 2026 Mississippi Parent of the Year is Kristina Carter, a mother of four with three students in the Natchez-Adams School District. For details go to bit.ly/3PMWJ9M. #MsEdu

MDE has announced the finalists for the 2026 Mississippi Administrator of the Year and the 2026 Mississippi Teacher of the Year. Read more at bit.ly/4sQEO05. #MsEdu

Today, the State Board of Education honored Mississippi’s 2025 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished Schools, which are Puckett Elementary School in the Rankin County School District and Ackerman Elementary School in Choctaw County School District. #MsEdu

MDE has announced the state’s 2024-25 school-year graduation rate is 90.8%, and the dropout rate is 7%. Compared to 2023-24, the dropout rate decreased by 1.5 percentage points, and the graduation rate increased by 1.6 percentage points. See bit.ly/4cylBvm. #MsEdu

Key information and dates for the 2026 third-grade reading assessment are available. Review the Third-Grade Reading Assessment Flyer on MDE’s Literacy webpage at mdek12.org/literacy or go to bit.ly/45V7M66. #MsEdu #StrongReadersStrongLeaders