Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 7 - Education K-12 › Part 24 - Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards 2023 › ACCREDITATION POLICIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION › GLOSSARY

Current through June 25, 2024
The following definitions are established for
							 the purpose of implementing the
Mississippi Public School
							 Accountability Standards
established by the State Board of Education
							 and authorized under Miss. Code Ann. §§
														37-17-1 through 13 and
							 §§
														37-18-1 through
							 7
.
ACADEMIC CORE
Required course offerings in which specific skills contained
				  in the
Mississippi College- and Career- Readiness Standards
and
Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks
must be taught. Subjects
				  in the academic core are English/language arts, mathematics, science, social
				  studies, foreign languages, and arts.
ACADEMIC YEAR
The amount of time that must be scheduled in the educational
				  calendar and that consists of a minimum of 180 teaching days. See
teaching day
. Two (2) of the 180 days may be 60% days provided
				  there are 198 minutes of actual instruction, and the remainder of each day is
				  used for professional development and/or testing.
ACCELERATED COURSES
Courses designed for those students who can master the
				  general curriculum and engage in more in-depth study of additional
				  skills.
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
The entire process that holds all stakeholders (students,
				  parents, teachers, principals, superintendents, and school boards) accountable
				  for student achievement (growth and achievement). The accountability system
				  includes the statewide assessment system, individual student accountability
				  standards (grade level benchmarks and graduation requirements), an
				  accreditation model that includes a system of rewards and sanctions for both
				  school districts and individual schools, and procedures for interventions in
				  Schools At-Risk and schools that fail to improve over time.
ACCREDITATION RECORD
				  SUMMARY
A continuous record maintained on each school district in the
				  state reflecting the extent to which accreditation requirements are met and
				  used as the basis for assigning annual accreditation statuses. The
				  Accreditation Record Summary is updated as citations of noncompliance with
				  requirements are added or deleted, and school district officials are notified
				  in writing of such.
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
The performance-based accreditation system for public schools
				  that holds school districts accountable for process standards and individual
				  schools accountable for performance standards (growth and achievement).
ACCREDITATION STATUS
The annual status for a school district assigned by the
				  Commission on School Accreditation and approved by the State Board of Education
				  based on compliance with process standards using verified accreditation data
				  from the previous school year. The accreditation statuses are Accredited,
				  Probation, and Withdrawn. (See Accreditation Policy 2.3.)
ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS
				  (AYP)
The model or formula specified in
No Child Left
				  Behind
(NCLB) for determining whether schools and school districts
				  have met annual achievement criteria.
ADMINISTRATOR
Any staff member employed by a school board who is assigned
				  the responsibility for coordinating, directing, supervising, or otherwise
				  administering programs, services, and/or personnel under the auspices of the
				  program, school, or district.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
				  (AP®)
A program of college level courses and examinations for
				  secondary school students administered by the College Board. High schools
				  providing advanced placement courses must follow guidelines published by the
				  College Board.
ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL
A public elementary/secondary school that addresses needs of
				  students that typically cannot be met in a regular school, provides
				  nontraditional education, serves as an adjunct to a regular school, and falls
				  outside of the categories of regular education, special education, or career
				  technical education. Students who are placed in an alternative school will
				  remain enrolled in the school they would normally attend if not placed in an
				  alternative school program. Test results for students placed in an alternative
				  school program will be reported at the school the student would normally
				  attend. See Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 36, State Board Policy Chapter 36.
ALLOCATED TIME
A scheduled period of time that provides for the achievement
				  of prescribed objectives. The schedule of allocated instructional time should
				  be in written form showing time designated for activities during the school
				  day, week, month, or year.
ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT
				  REPORT
The report issued at the close of each fiscal year by
				  a private Certified Public Accountant (CPA) under the guidelines of the Office
				  of the State Auditor, and approved by the Office of the State Auditor, bearing
				  the official opinion on the financial statements and internal processes of the
				  school district.
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE
				  CLASSIFICATION
See School Performance Classification.
ASSISTANT TEACHER
A school district employee assigned to assist a licensed
				  teacher and who works under the direct supervision of a licensed
				  teacher.
ATTENDANCE CENTER
A school in a school district that is located on one (1)
				  school site and has one (1) principal administering the educational program for
				  all the grades in the school.
BASIC SKILLS
Specific learning objectives that represent the most
				  fundamental knowledge in the areas of reading, language arts, and
				  mathematics.
CARNEGIE UNIT
A standard measure of high school work indicating the minimum
				  amount of time that instruction in a subject has been provided. Awarding of one
				  (1) Carnegie unit indicates that a minimum of 140 hours of instruction has been
				  provided in regular and laboratory classes over a school year; awarding of
				  one-half (1/2) Carnegie unit indicates that a minimum of 70 hours has been
				  provided. (See Process Standard 13.2 for exceptions.)
CLASSROOM
A school room in which student instruction takes
				  place.
COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE
				  CHILD
A child who has attained or will attain the age of six (6)
				  years on or before September 1 of the calendar year and who has not attained
				  the age of seventeen (17) years on or before September 1 of the calendar year;
				  and shall include any child who has attained or will attain the age of five (5)
				  years on or before September 1 and has enrolled in a full-day public school
				  kindergarten program. Provided, however, that the parent or guardian of any
				  child enrolled in a full-day public school kindergarten program shall be
				  allowed to disenroll the child from the program on a one-time basis, and such
				  child shall not be deemed a compulsory-school-age child until the child attains
				  the age of six (6) years. See Miss. Code Ann. §
									37-13-91.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
A plan to correct deficiencies on record that shall be
				  developed by the Mississippi Department of Education, in conjunction with the
				  school district, when a school district is assigned a
PROBATION
accreditation status.
CREDIT RECOVERY
A course-specific, skill-based learning opportunity for
				  students who have previously been unsuccessful in mastering content/skills
				  required to receive course credit or earn promotion. Any LEA who provides a
				  Credit Recovery Program shall develop and implement a Credit Recovery Program
				  that has been adopted by the schoolboard and that includes rules, regulations,
				  and processes.
CRITERION-REFERENCED TEST
				  (CRT)
A test designed to reveal what a student knows, understands,
				  or can do in relation to specific performance objectives. CRTs are used to
				  identify student strengths and weaknesses in terms of specific knowledge or
				  skills that are goals of the instructional program.
CURRICULUM
The course content listed in the
Mississippi
				  Curriculum Frameworks
.
DEPARTMENTALIZED CLASS
A class in which an educator teaches one (1) or more core
				  academic subjects to more than one (1) group of students.
DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE
A course designed to be taught in any grade 7-12 (or any
				  combination of grades 7-12 served within a school) which does not appear as an
				  approved course in the current edition of the
Approved Courses for the
				  Secondary Schools of Mississippi
but has received approval to be
				  taught in a school district during the developmental process.
DEFICIENCY
The failure of a school district to comply with an
				  accreditation requirement.
DIRECT INSTRUCTION
Act or process in which a teacher is actually guiding
				  (instructing) students toward achieving specific learning objectives.
NOTE: As a result of COVID-19, staff time spent on activities necessary
				  to deliver instruction via different learning modes (hybrid, remote, one-on-one
				  virtual) may be considered direct instruction as a part of the teacher
				  workday.
DISTANCE LEARNING
				  COURSES
Courses utilizing telecommunications technologies including
				  satellites, telephones, and cable-television systems to broadcast instruction
				  from a central site to other classrooms.
DISTRICT LEVEL
				  ACCREDITATION
The accreditation status of all public school districts based
				  on compliance with process standards as determined annually by the Commission
				  on School Accreditation. Annual accreditation statuses are assigned in the fall
				  of each school year and are based on verified accreditation data from the
				  previous school year.
DISTRICT OF
				  TRANSFORMATION
A state of emergency in a district declared by the governor
				  which gives the State Board of Education several options for action as
				  described in Miss. Code Ann. §
									37-17-6.
DROPOUT
A student who leaves a school at any time and for any reason,
				  except death, before graduation or completion of a program of studies and
				  without transferring to another school.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
				  PROGRAM
Kindergarten and assistant teacher programs that comply with
Mississippi Kindergarten Guidelines
and approved by the State
				  Board of Education and published by the Mississippi Department of Education.
				  (See also
kindergarten
and
pre-kindergarten
.)
EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION
Practices and behaviors designed to establish and implement
				  conditions that promote student learning.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Primary, elementary, and intermediate division of the
				  educational system within the school district comprising grades/levels Pre-K
				  through 6 or Pre-K through 8 or any combination of such grades.
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS
Students who are required to be tested in the Mississippi
				  Statewide Assessment System. A student may be eligible for testing based on the
				  student's grade level enrollment in a specific course. All eligible students
				  must be tested. (See Process Standard 22.)
ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
An academic course with defined objectives, evaluation
				  criteria, and mastery requirements that exposes students to material or
				  instruction that would not otherwise be part of a student's curriculum during
				  the normal sequence of his/her educational experiences.
EVALUATION
Formal appraisal (assessment) of educational experiences,
				  including the performance of schools, educational programs, personnel, and
				  students. Evaluations are conducted to determine strengths and areas which need
				  improvement and may involve the use of various measurements designed to
				  appraise the effects of educational experiences.
EVALUATION TEAM
A trained evaluation team assigned to a School At-Risk within
				  fifteen (15) days after notification that the school has been designated as a
				  School At-Risk. The evaluation team shall be independent of the school being
				  evaluated and may include employees of the State Department of Education. The
				  team may include retired educators who have met certain standards and have
				  completed all necessary training.
EXTRACURRICULAR
				  ACTIVITIES
School district sponsored student activities that require
				  administrative supervision and student involvement outside the allocated time
				  for instruction. Student participation in extracurricular activities may be
				  noted on the student's transcript, but academic credit may not be
				  awarded.
EXTENDED YEAR PROGRAM
A program of instruction offered by the district after the
				  close of the regular academic year that is designed for students who need extra
				  time to complete course objectives/requirements (not ESY provided through
				  special education programs).
FAILING SCHOOL
A school performance classification based on the Letter Grade
				  achieved by the school.
FAILING SCHOOL DISTRICT
A district that fails to meet both the absolute student
				  achievement standards and the rate of annual growth expectation standards as
				  set by the State Board of Education for two (2) consecutive years. A school
				  district that has been designated as failing as defined by the State Board of
				  Education shall also establish a community- based prekindergarten through
				  higher education council comprised of a broad spectrum of the community and is
				  required to publicly report progress to the community as a whole. (See Miss.
				  Code Ann. §
									37-18-5.) (See Process Standard
				  12.)
FINANCIAL EXCHANGE TRANSFER SYSTEM
				  (FETS)
The system used to collect financial data from each district
				  at the close of the fiscal year.
FRAMEWORKS
Competencies (required learning standards for all students)
				  and objectives (learning outcomes indicating how the competencies can be
				  fulfilled) approved by the State Board of Education.
FULL ACADEMIC YEAR
This term refers to (approximately) 70% of the instructional
				  time from the beginning of the school year to the time students are assessed.
				  Only students who have been enrolled in the school for a full academic year
				  (approximately 70%) are included in the
Mississippi Statewide
				  Accountability System
.
FUNCTIONAL LITERACY
				  SKILLS
Specific learning objectives that represent the application
				  of basic skills to everyday life situations and that are tested through the
				  Functional Literacy Examination.
GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT (GED)
				  OPTION
GED Option is an integral component of a high school
				  curriculum that provides another option to obtain a high school level
				  credential. The GED Option is targeted for a subgroup of students who have the
				  capabilities to complete high school requirements, but for a variety of
				  adjustment and life circumstance obstacles are behind in the credits needed to
				  graduate with their class and are at risk of leaving school without a high
				  school credential. The GED Option provides these students a viable second
				  opportunity to stay in school and acquire the necessary high school level
				  knowledge and skills to pass the GED Tests and earn a high school
				  diploma/credential within the same time frame as their peers. (See the
American Council on Education (ACE) Guidelines
.)
GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING
				  STANDARDS
The rules by which a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) must
				  conduct himself while performing an audit of a company or government entity's
				  financial statements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
				  establishes these guidelines.
GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY
				  STANDARD
A performance standard that establishes the percentage of
				  students proficient in each school based on a demonstrated range of performance
				  in relation to content as reflected in the
Mississippi Curriculum
				  Frameworks.
GROWTH EXPECTATION
A reasonable expectation for improved student academic
				  achievement based on annual assessment data and using a psychometrically
				  approved formula to track progress. The formula used to calculate the growth
				  expectation will result in a composite score each year for each school.
HALF-TIME
Any staff person who devotes 50% of the instructional
				  schedule to the assigned duties.
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
See the
Guidelines for Mississippi Educator
				  Licensure
.
HIGH SCHOOL
The secondary division within the educational system of the
				  school district comprising grades 9-12 or any combination of such
				  grades.
HIGHEST LEVELS OF ACCREDITATION
				  STANDARDS
A school or district with a Letter Grade in the top two (2)
				  ranges of the accountability rating system will be identified as meeting the
				  highest levels of accreditation standards.
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE
				  BOARD OF EDUCATION
Programs of study approved by the Mississippi Board of
				  Education that are designed to provide innovative approaches to teaching and
				  learning. These programs are designed to better prepare students for
				  postsecondary education and direct entry into the workplace.
INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF
Employees of a school district who are professionally trained
				  and licensed to provide instruction and services to students enrolled in the
				  schools of the district.
INVESTIGATIVE EVALUATION (COMPLAINT AGAINST
				  DISTRICT)
An evaluation that is conducted in a school district in
				  response to a formal written complaint. All formal complaints made against
				  schools or districts must be submitted to the Commission in writing and bear
				  the signature of the individual(s) filing the complaint. The written complaint
				  shall contain specific details concerning alleged violations. When the
				  complaint is received, the superintendent is notified in writing of the nature
				  of the complaint and informed that the district is subject to an unannounced
				  audit to investigate the allegations. If the complaint addresses an area over
				  which the Commission has no authority, the individual filing the complaint is
				  notified. (See Accreditation Policy 5.0)
KINDERGARTEN
That portion of the elementary school serving children who
				  have reached the age of five (5) years on or before September 1.
KINDERGARTEN INSTRUCTIONAL
				  DAY
At this level, the school day. (For specific requirements,
				  see the current edition of the
Mississippi Kindergarten
				  Guidelines
.)
LABORATORY
Room or rooms basically/appropriately equipped and used by
				  students for the supervised study of some branch of science or the application
				  of scientific principles.
LEARNING CENTER
An area in the kindergarten classroom that contains a
				  collection of materials and activities to introduce, teach, reinforce, and/or
				  enrich a skill or concept.
LEARNING CENTER
				  ACTIVITIES
Activities housed in the kindergarten learning centers that
				  promote student participation through developmentally appropriate instructional
				  techniques.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Statements of what a student will know, feel, or do when a
				  course is completed.
LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER
A specially designed space in each school equipped for
				  centrally housing an organized collection of materials and equipment
				  representing a broad range of current learning media, including instructional
				  technology. The facility contains areas for individualized study and for large
				  and small group instruction. The facility is organized and administered to
				  function as a learning laboratory where the use of all media is purposeful,
				  planned, and integrated with the educational program and instructional
				  processes of the school. (See
Mississippi School Library Media
				  Guide.)
LIBRARY RESOURCES
Includes all print materials, non-print materials, and other
				  current multimedia resources and technologies that meet the curriculum goals,
				  needs, and interests of the school community.
LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY
				  (LEA)
A local education agency is any one (1) of the 144 public
				  school districts in Mississippi.
LOWEST PERFORMANCE LEVEL OF ACCREDITATION
				  STANDARDS
A school or district that is identified as failing after one
				  (1) year or identified as at-risk of failing or low performing for two (2)
				  consecutive years will be identified as accredited at the lowest performance
				  levels.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
A school with any configuration of intermediate grades 4-8
				  whose principal may be licensed as an elementary school administrator or a
				  secondary school administrator.
MISSION STATEMENT
A school district's statement of purpose that is used in
				  strategic planning as the basis for educational decisions.
MISSISSIPPI STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT
				  SYSTEM
A program of statewide assessment designed to improve the
				  operation and management of public schools by providing educators, parents,
				  students, legislators, and the general public with meaningful achievement data
				  from the school, district, and state levels. The program consists of two (2)
				  components:
(1) a norm-referenced
				achievement testing program to be administered in selected grades and
(2) a criterion-referenced testing
				program which assesses basic skills and knowledge and application of selected
				high school subjects.
NORM-REFERENCED TEST
				  (NRT)
A test that provides information about the performance of
				  examinees relative to other examinees. A norm-referenced test yields a measure
				  of relative performance of the individual or group by comparison with the
				  performance of other individuals or groups taking the same test.
ON-LINE COURSE
Instruction delivered via the Internet.
ON-SITE
Any geographical location selected by the local professional
				  development committee for a professional development activity as planned by the
				  school district and provided during contractual time at the school district's
				  expense.
ON-SITE EVALUATIONS
On-site evaluations or investigations of a school district
				  that the State Board of Education, the State Superintendent of Education, or
				  the Commission on School Accreditation has the authority to call at any time.
				  If deficiencies are found in meeting accreditation standards, the
				  superintendent is notified in writing and given thirty (30) days from the
				  receipt of notification to provide a written response. The report of findings
				  is filed in the current accreditation records in the Office of Accreditation.
				  (See Accreditation Policy 5.0)
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Standards for individual schools and districts based on
				  student achievement data using established proficiency levels and a reasonable
				  expectation for annual growth in student achievement. Output or product
				  standards that address selected components of the statewide testing program and
				  other outcome measures related to the performance of a school or
				  district.
PERSONNEL ACCREDITATION DATA REPORTING
				  SYSTEM
School district employee information required by the
				  Mississippi Department of Education on an annual basis. This information is
				  transmitted electronically, reflects the daily schedule of each employee, and
				  is used to determine district compliance with a number of accreditation
				  standards.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The instructional requirements for physical education are
				  specified in the
Fitness through Physical Education Framework
.
				  Elective units for graduation include participation in interscholastic athletic
				  activities that meet the instructional requirements specified in the
Fitness through Physical Education Framework
and that are
				  sanctioned by the Mississippi High School Activities Association. Beginning
				  with school year 2008-2009 (seniors of 2011-2012), one- half (1/2) Carnegie
				  unit in physical education is required for graduation.
PLANNING PERIOD
An unencumbered period of time during the teaching day or
				  week required for each classroom teacher except career technical teachers who
				  teach in time blocks of fifty (50) minutes or more. (See Process Standard
				  30.)
POLICY
A statement of official intent adopted by the school board
				  and recorded as official action in school board minutes. The school district
				  must comply with all school board policies.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
Instructional program serving children who have reached the
				  age of four (4) years on or before September 1.
PRINCIPAL
The individual who is responsible for the total program of a
				  school and who holds valid and appropriate administrator certification.
PROBATION STATUS
An accreditation status assigned to a district that complies
				  with fewer than 100% of the Accreditation Policies and Process Standards. The
				  district will be required to develop a corrective action plan to address the
				  deficiencies. (See Accreditation Policy 2.8)
PROCEDURE
A statement of processes by which policies, regulations, and
				  standards are carried out.
PROCESS STANDARDS
Input standards that address accepted educational principles
				  and practices believed to promote educational quality. See Accreditation Policy
				  2.2.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The growth-promoting learning process that empowers
				  stakeholders (teachers, administrators, staff, and other school personnel) to
				  improve the educational organization.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR
				  EDUCATORS
As part of the school improvement plan for a School At-Risk,
				  the professional development plan that is prepared and implemented in
				  accordance with Miss. Code Ann. §
									37-18-7 for those school
				  administrators, teachers, or other employees who are identified by the
				  evaluation team as needing improvement
.
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Any employee of the school district whose assigned duties
				  require state licensure.
PROFICIENCY
An established criterion level based on the demonstrated
				  range of performance in relation to content as reflected in the
Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks
.
PUBLIC NOTICE
After a state of emergency has been declared for a school
				  district, the public notice that the Commission on School Accreditation files
				  at least once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper
				  published within the immediate or general vicinity of the affected school
				  district in accordance with Miss. Code Ann. §
									37-17-6(12).
REMEDIAL INSTRUCTIONAL
				  PROGRAMS
Programs designed to provide interventions and supports for
				  students who have been unsuccessful in mastering content/skills.
SCALED SCORE
A transformation of the raw score to have a desired mean and
				  standard deviation for ease of interpretation. Scaled scores provide meaningful
				  year-to-year comparisons, but they cannot be used across subject areas or
				  subtests. Scaled scores represent approximately equal units on a continuous
				  scale. Therefore, a difference of five (5) points between two (2) students'
				  scores represents the same amount of difference in performance wherever it
				  occurs on the scale. Scaled scores can be designed to have any range and
				  midpoint (e.g., 200 through 500, with a midpoint of 350).
SCHOOL
An institution that exists for the purpose of teaching
				  school-aged children, consists of one (1) physical plant located on one (1)
				  school site, includes instructional staff members and students, and is in
				  session each school year.
SCHOOL AT-RISK
A school level performance classification. Previously defined
				  as priority schools. A school shall be identified as a School At-Risk and in
				  need of assistance if the school:
(a)
				does not meet its growth expectation and has a percentage of students
				functioning below grade level as designated by the State Board of
				Education;
(b) is designated as a
				Failing School; or
(c) is designated
				as At-Risk of Failing or Low Performing for two (2) consecutive
				years.
SCHOOL BOARD
As used in this document, the policy-making body of a public
				  school district.
SCHOOL DAY
That portion of the calendar day that includes the teaching
				  day, intermissions, and any additional time included in the employee contract.
				  School day defines the normal working day for employees.
SCHOOL GUIDANCE
				  COUNSELOR
School guidance counselors shall provide comprehensive
				  counseling services, including the following: academic and personal/social
				  counseling; student assessment and assessment counseling; career and
				  educational counseling; individual and group counseling; crisis intervention
				  and preventive counseling; referrals to community agencies; educational
				  consultations and collaboration with teachers, administrators, parents, and
				  community leaders; educational and career placement services; follow-up
				  counseling services; conflict resolution; and other counseling duties or other
				  duties as assigned by the school principal. No individual shall be employed as
				  a school guidance counselor without a minimum of a master's degree in Guidance
				  and Counseling, or in an emergency situation, an appropriate certification as
				  determined by the Commission on Educator Licensure. School guidance counselors
				  shall abide by the American School Counselor Association Code of Ethics. (See
				  Miss. Code Ann. §
									37-9-79.)
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
A plan that a School At-Risk is required to develop based on
				  the findings of the evaluation team report and the results of a public meeting.
				  The Mississippi Department of Education and evaluation team leader shall assist
				  the school principal and other local school officials in the development of a
				  school improvement plan. A local parents/citizens advisory council shall be
				  established by the evaluation team at the school to provide input and guidance
				  into the development of the school improvement plan and its evaluation. The
				  school improvement plan shall be developed and approved by the principal of the
				  School At-Risk, the superintendent of the local school district, the local
				  school board, and a majority of the teachers of the school.
SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
				  CLASSIFICATION
A classification assigned to a school based on student
				  achievement and growth. (See Accreditation Policy 3.3.)
SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN
The foundation document a school uses to maintain a safe and
				  secure educational environment.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
A school that contains any or all of grades 9 through 12 and
				  may include grades 7 and 8.
SELF-CONTAINED CLASS
A classroom in which an educator teaches all core subjects to
				  a group of students.
SHOW CAUSE HEARING
The hearing that the Commission on School Accreditation
				  conducts to allow the officials of the affected district to present evidence or
				  other reasons as to why the accredited status should not be withdrawn. This
				  occurs before the Commission recommends to the State Board of Education that
				  the accredited status of a district be withdrawn in accordance with Miss. Code
				  Ann. §
									37-17-6(11)(a).
SPECIAL DIPLOMA OR
				  CERTIFICATE
Upon meeting all applicable requirements prescribed by the
				  district school board, students with disabilities shall be awarded a special
				  diploma in a form prescribed by the state board. Any such student who meets all
				  special requirements of the district school board for his exceptionality but is
				  unable to meet the appropriate special state minimum requirements, shall be
				  awarded a special certificate of completion in a form prescribed by the state
				  board. See Miss. Code Ann. §
									37-16-11.
SPECIAL SCHOOL
A school that serves students with disabilities in accordance
				  with
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) and
				  applicable state statutes and regulations.
SPECIAL TEST AUDITS
Audits that include reports regarding potential testing
				  irregularities or test security violations and audits that are regularly
				  conducted on-site before, during, and following scheduled assessments to
				  promote the integrity and security of the Mississippi Assessment System.
STANDARD DIPLOMA
A standard high school diploma is awarded to a student who
				  has met all the requirements established by the local board of education and by
				  the State Board of Education. (See Miss. Code Ann. §
									37-16-7.)
STANDARDS
Criteria by which school districts and schools are assessed.
				  The two (2) types of standards used in the performance-based accreditation
				  system are performance and process.
STATEWIDE TESTING
				  PROGRAM
See Mississippi Statewide Assessment System.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
School district sponsored activities which require
				  administrative supervision and student involvement during the teaching day.
				  (See
teaching day
.) Student participation in extracurricular
				  activities may be noted on the student's transcript, but academic credit may
				  not be awarded.
STUDENT SUPPORT
				  PERSONNEL
A professional qualified to offer student support services
				  (e.g., psychologist, guidance counselor, social worker, psychometrist,
				  etc.).
STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM
A program of activities designed to assist and/or complement
				  instructional activities for all students through the following types of
				  activities: planned counseling, consultation, student appraisal, diagnosis,
				  remediation, and follow up.
SUBJECT AREA
A division or field of organized knowledge for which state
				  curriculum guidelines have been prepared.
SUBJECT AREA TESTS
Assessments which measure content knowledge in the subject
				  areas of Algebra I, English II, Biology I, and U.S. History from 1877.
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM
A program of instruction offered by the district during the
				  summer months after the close of the regular academic year. The program of
				  instruction is designed for students who need extra time to complete course
				  requirements and/or for students who wish to enroll in new
				  courses/subjects.
SUPERINTENDENT
The school board employee who is responsible for
				  administering the operations and activities of schools within the district and
				  for implementing the decisions of the school board. The superintendent holds a
				  valid Class AA license in school administration.
SUPERVISOR
An individual who provides direct assistance to instructional
				  and support staff and who holds a valid Class AA license in supervision or
				  administration.
SUPPORT STAFF
Persons employed by an educational organization to provide
				  services to students and staff.
TEACHER
Any person employed by the school district who is required by
				  law to obtain a teacher's license from the State Board of Education and who is
				  assigned an instructional area of work as defined by the Mississippi Department
				  of Education (e.g., employment in an official capacity for the purpose of
				  imparting knowledge, skills, information, and ideas to students in an
				  instructional setting). (See Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-1.)
TEACHING DAY
A day in which a minimum of 330 minutes of instruction and/or
				  evaluation and/or district approved group testing is provided. Exceptions are
				  days with fewer than 330 instructional minutes that are part of an
				  instructional week of at least 27.5 hours.
TEST AUDITS
See Special Test Audits.
TEXTBOOK
Any medium or manual of instruction which contains a
				  systematic presentation of the principles of a subject, and which constitutes a
				  major instructional vehicle for that subject. Whenever any book under contract
				  is displaced by a new adoption, the board may continue to require the schools
				  to use the recently purchased books from any previous adoption; however, such
				  period of use shall not exceed four (4) years. See Miss. Code Ann. §
									37-43-31(2) and
				  refer to the current edition of the
Textbook Administration Handbook
				  Rules and Regulations
.
UNQUALIFIED OPINION
An opinion is said to be unqualified when the auditor
				  concludes that the financial statements give a true and fair view in accordance
				  with the financial reporting framework used for the preparation and
				  presentation of the financial statements. This type of report is issued by an
				  auditor when the financial statements presented are free of material
				  misstatements and are represented fairly in accordance with the Generally
				  Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
WITHDRAWN STATUS
The status of a school district when the accreditation of the
				  school district is withdrawn due to noncompliance with its corrective action
				  plan or as a result of action taken by the Commission on School Accreditation.
				  The status is listed as "Withdrawn Not Accredited" and the record of that
				  district will continue to be maintained. See Accreditation Policy
				  2.3
Source: Miss. Code
				  Ann. §§
										37-1-3,
				  37-17-6,
				  37-16-7