State teachers receive assessment system training

The Mississippi Writing/Thinking Institute recently received a $150,000 grant from the state Department of Education to prepare a cadre of teacher-leaders who will pass on details of the Mississippi Assessment System to their colleagues in school districts throughout the state.

The institute's offices are located at Mississippi State.

Developed last year by a task force appointed by Superintendent of Education Thomas Burnham, the MAS was presented to the State Board of Education in April. Basically, the four-part system is designed to measure not only what students know but what they understand and can do in school.

"The teachers participating in this program were selected on the basis of their knowledge and experience with performance-based assessments in their own classrooms and their demonstrated success as staff development presenters," said project director Sherry Swain.

Three initial training sessions were held at Mississippi State from Saturdays through Wednesdays to minimize time the teachers spend out of the classroom. The sessions began Sept. 11 and concluded Oct. 6. But that's not all.

"As a follow-up, each teacher-leader also will be called on to attend three half-day supplemental sessions planned for regional sites around the state," she said.

Swain praised the participants for the extra time they are devoting to the service of Mississippi education.

"As it is implemented over the next few years, the Mississippi Assessment System will become an important tool for improving education in the state," she said. "These teachers will play a critical role in making it successful and their role should never be underestimated."

The Mississippi Writing/Thinking Institute is a part of the National Writing Project, a network of university-school programs designed to improve writing and the teaching of writing in the nation's classrooms.

In addition to Mississippi State, the six other state institute members include Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi, and University of Southern Mississippi.