Mississippi

Mississippi’s third grade reading test scores are nearly to pre-pandemic levels

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2022

Mississippi’s third grade reading test scores are nearly to pre-pandemic levels

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Mississippi’s third graders are signaling that college students could also be bouncing again from the pandemic greater than some had anticipated.

The numbers inform this story. Let’s begin with 2019, earlier than COVID was a factor. 74.5 p.c of Mississippi third graders obtained a passing grade on the studying gate take a look at on their first try.

The take a look at wasn’t given in 2020, and in 2021 it was given, however the scores weren’t a figuring out think about whether or not they’d transfer on to 4th grade.

Now, to 2022.

“I believe that this time round, it actually offers us a extremely good indicator as a result of now it’s actually apples to apples,” stated Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of training. “Now, it’s a requirement as accountability is in place. And now now we have a roll measure from 19 to 22.”

State Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright proudly notes that 73.9 p.c handed on the primary try this 12 months.

“It was nearly smack dab the identical,” famous Wright. “And in order that was big, big, big for us. And I believe that that’s letting us know that our lecturers are on the market and have continued to be doing precisely what we wish them to be doing. And for us to come back in 2019 with these outcomes from 2019 to 2022.”

Mississippi Affiliation of Educators’ President Erica Jones is aware of firsthand how in-person studying impacts these expertise.

“As a second-grade instructor, nothing replaces having the ability to look, hear and study to a scholar learn,” stated Jones talking of her former time as an educator within the classroom. “You possibly can attempt it over the pc, you’ll have outcomes with that. However nothing is extra profitable than having a instructor proper by your 5 guiding you thru profitable studying patterns.”

And keep in mind what faculty has seemed like for college students and lecturers just lately.

“Many of those third graders haven’t had what we might contemplate a traditional 12 months of faculty since they had been in first grade,” added Jones. “So, simply to see these numbers actually exhibits that our educators actually pooled in and work collectively exhausting to get these outcomes.”

Not solely that, the passing grade was raised in 2019.

“So, that’s the benchmark that we’ve stored,” stated Dr. Wright. “So, we’re feeling actually, actually good to understand that we’ve gone via two years of COVID, and our little ones are popping out on the opposite finish, I imply, that’s a robust measure.”

There are two retest alternatives for these college students who didn’t hit the benchmark on the primary attempt.

To see the district- and school-level preliminary move charge report for 2021-22, go to mdek12.org/OPR/Reporting/Evaluation/2021-22.

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Mississippi

Mississippi probation officer arrested on seven counts of embezzlement

Published

2 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi probation officer arrested on seven counts of embezzlement

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A probation officer was arrested on seven counts of embezzlement.

Lacosta Lee is accused of receiving court-ordered fines and fees from those on probation and using them for her personal use.

She is a contracted probation officer for Court Programs, Inc.

Lee was served with a $7,558.50 demand letter at the time of her arrest.

She faces up to $5,000 in fines and 20 years per count if convicted.

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Mississippi

Mississippi River not cooperating, but Riverfest will still Riverfest in La Crosse

Published

10 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi River not cooperating, but Riverfest will still Riverfest in La Crosse

The river parts of Riverfest near downtown La Crosse won’t be happening this year. Well, there’s just one part, really.

The River City Water Ski Team had to cancel its part of the show, because the Mississippi River is too high and will actually crest at 15 feet Wednesday, the opening day of Riverfest.

Past events on the river haven’t happened in a few years, including flyboarding — where water jets on your feet simulate floating — and pole vaulting off a barge in the Mississippi.

“We actually have trouble finding a barge that we can rent, basically that business has taken off exponentially,” Riverfest board member Brad Pitel said. “So, when the barges are being used, we don’t have that opportunity.”

Cancelling events hasn’t happened often, and sometimes they’re not even river related. In 2018, the July 4 fireworks had to happen on July 5.

“There was a massive storm that blew through with like 60-70 mph winds right through La Crosse,” Pitel said.

Riverfest opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Riverside Park and runs through Saturday night, with multiple big musical acts.

Josh Ross, Drake Milligan and Blue Collar 40 kick things off. The finale Saturday night is Country Line Drive. Check the full schedule of events here.

The stage is coming together on July 1, 2024, two days before the start of Riverfest in downtown La Crosse at Riverside Park (PHOTO: Rick Solem)

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Mississippi

Mississippi River in La Crosse reaches moderate flood levels

Published

17 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi River in La Crosse reaches moderate flood levels

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – La Crosse, Vernon, and Houston Counties are under warnings due to flooding along the Mississippi River.

Impacted areas around La Crosse include Riverside Park and Goose Island Campground. Campground owners say about 60 percent of the campsite is uncampable and they’ve had to deny multiple reservations.

National Weather Service Forecaster Mike Kurz says the recent weather has been a huge factor in the flooding.

“We’ve had a very active severe weather pattern and heavy rain pattern over the last couple months. All that accumulation of heavy rain in the river basins across the area have been gradually draining into the Mississippi River basin,” says Kurz.

The National Weather Service says the rivers will crest at nearly 15 feet.

“That will be kind of heading right into the 4th of July holiday. It’s continuing to increase right now it’s about 14.7 feet, so it’s slowly increasing. Because of all the water in the system right now, it’s expected to be a prolonged crest. It’ll take a long time for the water to gradually recede as we get out of the crest period later this week,” says Kurz.

National Weather Service forecasters add that these water levels are unusual this time of year.

“For La Crosse, this is the latest in the calendar year that we’ve had river levels this high approaching 14.9 feet. The most recent would have been 1993 in the end of June, where it crested just above 14 feet,” says Kurz.

The National Weather Service says they do not expect water levels to rise much higher than 15 feet, which means the area record of 17.9 feet will stay.

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