As the Director of Federal Programs (Title I, II, IV, V, ELL and Homeless) and Student Assessment, I have the privilege of helping the staff in several ways. I direct federal programs, compile data on needs for curriculum, instruction, assessment, and all federal programs.

All of the district’s federal programs have two main purposes: to ensure that all students are meeting the challenging state standards and to improve or enhance teacher performance. These programs operate to supplement or support what is going on in the classrooms of our district. Each school in the district directly receives funding for staff, instructional materials, professional development activities, and/or technology purchases. Federal programs available in the district include the following:

Title I funds are allocated on a per pupil basis, based on recommendations from the planning teams in each building. These teams are composed of teachers, administrators, and parents. The district team then prioritizes the recommendations and funds projects accordingly. Lafayette Lower Elementary and Lafayette Upper Elementary have school wide Title I programs. Presently funds are used to fund two interventionist teachers, two computer lab assistants, two full-time nurses and a tutor for the ELL (English Language Learners)at the elementary schools. A portion of a Communicare counselor’s salary is paid at LUES. A pre-school assistant’s salary is paid out of Title I funds at LE. Extended school year and extended school day tutors are funded as well as student transportation costs for these programs. Instructional materials and professional development activities that are tied directly to student achievement are also funded through Title I.

Title II funds combine the former Eisenhower Professional Development Program and the former Class-Size Reduction Initiative into one funding program. These funds are used to fund one kindergarten teacher and one first grade teacher in an effort to reduce the teacher-pupil ratio in these grades. These funds are also used for registration fees, supplies, consultant fees, and other costs associated with professional development training for teachers and administrators.  All schools in the district receive money from Title II funds for professional development activities.

Title IV funds are designated to enhance all our programs that focus on a safe and drug-free environment. Prevention programs and materials for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as violence prevention materials are funded through Title IV. Communicare counseling services are provided with these funds at Lafayette Middle School.

Title V funds are designated for innovative assistance programs. These funds provide instructional and educational materials that improve student achievement. Additionally funds are used for activities to promote best practices, programs to improve academic achievement, and professional development activities. Title V funds provide after school tutors and summer school teachers for Lafayette Middle School and Lafayette High School.

Homeless Grant-The Lafayette County School District  provides educational and supportive services to all homeless children and youth, in compliance with the guidelines of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendment Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-645), Section VI. Homeless grant funds provides after school tutors and summer school teachers for all schools in the district. Transportation costs and instructional supplies are provided for the programs with this grant.

Student Assessment

The MCT2 consists of customized criterion-referenced reading/language arts and mathematics assessments that are fully aligned with the 2006 Mississippi Language Arts Framework Revised and the 2007 Mississippi Mathematics Framework Revised. These assessments allow Mississippi to be in compliance with the requirements of the federal legislation No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The assessments are administered to students in grades 3 through 8, including special education students whose Individual Education Plan (IEP) specify instructional goals that are aligned with the 2006 Mississippi Language Arts Framework Revised and the 2007 Mississippi Mathematics Framework Revised for the aforementioned grades. The results of these assessments will be used in the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System, specifically the Achievement, Growth, and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Models. The results will also provide information that will be used for the purpose of improving instruction and accelerating student achievement.

The Elementary and Middle Grades Science Assessments will be criterion-referenced assessments in grades 5 and 8 that allow Mississippi to be in full compliance with the requirements of the federal legislation No Child Left Behind. These assessments are fully customized criterion-referenced tests, and a committee of Mississippi teachers who have been selected by the MDE approved the items that appear on these tests.  The tests will be aligned with the portions of the Mississippi Curriculum Science Framework 2001 specified by the teacher committee and will meet the requirements of NCLB. The results of these assessments will provide information that will be used for the purpose of improving student achievement; the results may also be used in Mississippi’s school accountability system.

The Subject Area Testing Program (SATP) consists of four academic, end-of-course tests.  Since the 2001-2002 school year, students have been required to pass the subject area test(s) as a requirement for graduation.

Students are assessed on the content at the completion of the course in Algebra I, Biology I, English II, and U.S. History from 1877.  As part of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Title I requirements, all students who are enrolled in Algebra I and English II (multiple-choice only) for the first time must be tested.  The scores of all these first-time test takers must be included in the annual report cards and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) calculations to comply with the federal law.

The Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System, Second Edition (MS-CPAS2) is the state vocational testing program. The purpose of the MS-CPAS2 is to assess local program performance in producing students with workplace readiness skills and to create a meaningful measure of accountability of the level of instruction and resulting student performance in occupational program areas.

English Language Learners (ELL) students are also assessed every February using the Stanford English Language Proficiency Tests (ELPT).  The statewide assessment processes establish assistance in planning instruction that meets the educational needs of children.

For more information on the statewide testing programs go to http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/ACAD/osa/.

Betty Duke