Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 7 - Education K-12 › Part 163 - Mississippi Nonpublic School Accountability Standards 2022 › GLOSSARY

Current through June 25, 2024
The following definitions are established for the
						  purpose of implementing the
Mississippi Nonpublic School Accountability
						  Standards
established by the State Board of Education and authorized
						  under Miss. Code Ann. §
													37-17-7.
ACADEMIC CORE
Required course offerings in which specific skills contained in
				the
Mississippi College- and Career-Ready 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.
ACCREDITATION RECORD
				SUMMARY
A continuous record maintained on each nonpublic school seeking
				State Board accreditation 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 officials are
				notified in writing of such.
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
Process (input) standards that address accepted educational
				principles and practices believed to promote educational quality.
ACCREDITATION STATUS
The annual status for a school 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				are Temporary, Accredited, Advised, Probation, and Withdrawn. (See Policy
				2.3.)
ACCREDITED STATUS
An accreditation status assigned when the school is in
				compliance with each of the applicable accreditation requirements and standards
				as described in this document.
ADMINISTRATOR
Any staff member employed by a local governing body who is
				assigned the responsibility for coordinating, directing, supervising, or
				otherwise administering programs, services, and/or personnel under the auspices
				of the program or school.
ADVANCED
A non-profit, non-governmental organization that accredits
				primary and secondary schools throughout the United States and internationally.
				AdvancED was formed in 2006 by the consolidation of the pre-college divisions
				of two (2) of the U.S. regional accreditation organizations: the Commission on
				Accreditation and School Improvement of the North Central Association of
				Colleges and Schools (NCA CASI), and the Council on Accreditation and School
				Improvement of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS CASI). In
				2012, the NorthwestAccreditation Commission (NWAC)joined AdvancED. Information
				is also available on-line at
www.advanc-ed.org
.
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.
ADVISED STATUS
An accreditation status assigned to a school the first
				year that the school has a verified process standard deficiency on record from
				the previous school year.
ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT
				APPEAL
An appeal made to the State Board of Education. Upon written
				application, the State Board of Education may consider new factual
				evidence.
ASSISTANT TEACHER
A school employee assigned to assist a licensed teacher and who
				works under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher.
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 11.2 for exceptions.)
CENTRAL DEPOSITORY
A secure, designated location approved by the local governing
				body.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
One exit option that is available to a student with a
				disability following the student's completion of his or her IEP goals. This
				exit option is provided to students with disabilities who are unable to meet
				the appropriate state minimum requirements for a Standard Diploma or the
				requirements for any of the other exit options available to students with
				disabilities. Miss. Code Ann. §
								37-16-11.
CHIEF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
The administrator of the school who is responsible for
				administering the daily operations and activities of the school. Other titles
				may include superintendent, principal, director, and headmaster.
CHURCH-RELATED SCHOOL
A school that is governed and operated by a denominational,
				parochial, or other bona fide church organization or religious order.
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
				(CAP)
A plan to correct the deficiencies on record that shall be
				developed by the school, in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of
				Education, when a school is assigned a
PROBATION or WITHDRAWN
accreditation status.
CORRESPONDENCE COURSE
Independent study carried on through lessons and exercises that
				are provided to non-resident students by approved university extensions. (See
				the
Approved Courses for Secondary Schools in
				Mississippi
.)
CURRICULUM
The course content listed in the
Mississippi College-
				and Career-Ready Standards
and
Mississippi Curriculum
				Frameworks
.
DEFICIENCY
The failure of a school to comply with an accreditation
				requirement.
DEPARTMENTALIZED CLASS
A class in which an educator teaches one (1) or more core
				academic subjects to more than one (1) group of students.
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.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
				PROGRAM
Kindergarten and assistant teacher programs that comply with
Mississippi Kindergarten Guidelines, Mississippi Elementary School
				Assistant Teacher Program Regulations
, and
Mississippi Reading
				Improvement Program Regulations
approved by the State Board of
				Education and published by the Mississippi Department of Education. (See also
kindergarten
and
pre-kindergarten
.)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Primary, elementary, and intermediate division of the
				educational system comprising grades/levels K through 6 or K through 8 or any
				combination of such grades.
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.
EXTENDED YEAR PROGRAM
A program of instruction offered by the school 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).
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
School 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.
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.
HALF-TIME EMPLOYEE
Any staff person who devotes 50% of the instructional schedule
				to the assigned duties.
HIGH SCHOOL
The secondary division, within the educational system
				comprising grades 9-12 or any combination of such grades.
HOME SCHOOLING PROGRAM
An instructional program that is provided in the home by the
				parents and is not instituted/operated for the purpose of avoiding or
				circumventing the compulsory attendance law.
HONORS COURSES
See Accelerated Courses.
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM
				(IEP)
A written plan outlining the special education and related
				services that are designed to meet the unique needs of each child with a
				disability.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT
				(IDEA)
This act authorizes a federal formula grant to each state to
				assist in meeting the special education needs of children with disabilities as
				mandated in federal regulations.
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 who are professionally trained and
				licensed to provide instruction and/or services to students enrolled in the
				school.
INVESTIGATIVE EVALUATION (COMPLAINT AGAINST
				SCHOOL)
An evaluation that is conducted in a school in response to a
				formal written complaint. All formal complaints made against schools must be
				submitted to the State Board of Education 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 chief school administrator is notified in writing of the nature of the
				complaint and informed that the school is subject to an unannounced audit to
				investigate the allegations. If the complaint addresses an area over which the
				State Board of Education has no authority, the individual filing the complaint
				is notified.
JOINT COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF HEALTHCARE
				ORGANIZATIONS (JCAHO)
The Joint Commission develops standards of quality in
				collaboration with health professionals and others and stimulates healthcare
				organizations to meet or exceed the standards through accreditation and the
				teaching of quality improvement concepts. Standards include specific
				requirements for educational services provided by inpatient and residential
				organizations. The national office address is One Renaissance Boulevard,
				Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181.
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 OBJECTIVES
Statements of what a student will know and be able to 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.
LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY
				(LEA)
A public board of education or other public authority legally
				constituted within Mississippi for either administrative control or direction
				of, or to perform a service function for, public elementary or secondary
				schools in a city, county, township, school district, or other political
				subdivision of the State, or for a combination of school districts or counties
				as are recognized in the State as an administrative agency for its public
				elementary schools or secondary schools.
LOCAL GOVERNING BODY
A policy-making entity, governing entity, advisory council, or
				a combination of such entities, as designated at the school level.
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's statement of purpose that is used in strategic
				planning as the basis for educational decisions.
MISSISSIPPI COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
				LAW
The Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law Miss. Code
				Ann. §
								37-13-91 of the Mississippi Code
				1972 Annotated governs compulsory school attendance. It requires a parent,
				legal guardian, or custodian who has legal control or charge of a child aged
				six (6) to seventeen (17) to enroll him or her in an education program (i.e.
				public, private, or home school). Student enrollment must occur except under
				the limited circumstances specified in subsection three (3) of Miss. Code Ann.
				§
								37-13-91 which includes, but are
				not limited to, sending the child to a state approved, nonpublic, or educating
				the child at home in an organized educational program. July 1, 2003, the law
				was amended to include the following: a child, five (5) years of age, who
				enrolls in public kindergarten, will have to abide by the same guidelines as
				outlined in the Miss. Code Ann. §
								37-13-91. The Office of Compulsory
				School Attendance Enforcement at the Mississippi Department of Education is
				responsible for oversight of this law.
MISSISSIPPI OCCUPATIONAL
				DIPLOMA
A viable exit option available to students with disabilities
				which emphasizes high expectations in both academics and work experiences that
				will assist students with disabilities to acquire and maintain the necessary
				competencies and skills needed to secure and retain competitive employment.
				This exit option expands the opportunities available for students with
				disabilities to exit high school. (See Miss. Code Ann. §
								37-16-11(2) and
				Appendix F.)
MISSISSIPPI VIRTUAL PUBLIC
				SCHOOLS
A free web-based educational program offered by the Mississippi
				Department of Education to provide Mississippi students with access to a wider
				range of course work. Technology will be used to deliver instruction to
				students via the Internet in a virtual or remote setting.
NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS
Private schools, parochial and other church-related schools,
				special purpose schools either privately owned and operated or governed by a
				public agency other than the Mississippi Department of Education, and tribal
				schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education. Nonpublic schools may be
				operated either as a for profit organization or as a nonprofit, tax-exempt
				corporation.
ON-SITE EVALUATION
An evaluation conducted at the geographical location of the
				school to determine compliance with all accreditation requirements and
				standards. If deficiencies are found in meeting accreditation standards, the
				chief school administrator 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.
PARENTALLY PLACED PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILD WITH A
				DISABILITY
A child with a disability enrolled by his or her parent(s) in a
				private school, including religious schools or facilities that meet the
				definition of elementary school or secondary school.
PAROCHIAL SCHOOL
A parochial school is a school that is governed and operated by
				a parochial or other bona fide church organization or religious order.
PERSONNEL ACCREDITATION DATA REPORTING
				SYSTEM
School 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 school compliance with a number of accreditation standards.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The instructional requirements for physical education 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
				(instructional) day or week required for each classroom teacher. See Process
				Standard 20.
POLICY
A statement of official intent adopted by the (local governing
				body) and recorded as official action in minutes. The school must comply with
				all local governing body policies.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
Instructional program serving children who have reached the
				ages of three (3) or 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.
PRIVATE SCHOOL
A private school is a school that is privately owned and
				operated, which may be non-profit or for profit.
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 (CAP) to address
				the deficiencies.
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. 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 STAFF
Any employee of the school whose assigned duties require state
				licensure.
REMEDIAL INSTRUCTIONAL
				PROGRAMS
Programs designed to provide interventions and supports for
				students who have been unsuccessful in mastering content/skills.
SATELLITE SCHOOL
A school operating at a different location under the
				management/supervision of an existing accredited non- public local governing
				body.
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 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
Individual providing comprehensive counseling services,
				including the following: academic planning and advisement; responsive services
				- personal/social counseling, crisis intervention, and preventative counseling;
				career and college counseling; individual, small, and large group counseling;
				referrals to community agencies; educational consultations and collaboration
				with teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders; and follow-up
				counseling services. No individual shall be employed as a Professional School
				Counselor (PSC) without a minimum of a Master's degree in School Counseling.
				Professional School Counselors shall abide by the American School Counselor
				Association Code of Ethics. Miss. Code Ann. §
								37-9-79.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
See Strategic Educational Plan.
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.
SERVICES PLAN
A written plan that describes the specific special education
				and related services that an LEA will provide to a parentally placed private
				school child with a disability following the LEA's determination and
				designation of the specific special education and related services that a child
				will receive from the LEA.
SPECIAL PURPOSE SCHOOL
A school that is organized to serve a specific population(s) of
				students or to provide a special program of instruction for students. A special
				purpose school that serves students with disabilities in accordance with IDEA
				and applicable state statutes and regulations must meet all relevant state and
				federal requirements for special education programs.
STANDARD DIPLOMA
As standard high school diploma awarded to a student who has
				met all the requirements established by the local governing body and by the
				State Board of Education. Miss. Code Ann. §
								37-16-7.
STANDARDS
Criteria by which schools are assessed. By law, accreditation
				standards established for nonpublic schools may not be more stringent than
				accreditation standards applied to public schools.
STRATEGIC EDUCATIONAL PLAN
A plan that identifies the mission, goals, strengths, and needs
				of the school and outlines strategies for implementing changes and
				improvements. (See Appendix G, Process Standard 9.)
STUDENT SUPPORT PERSONNEL
A professional qualified to offer student support services
				(e.g., psychologist, guidance counselor, social worker, psychometrist,
				etc.).
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM
A program of instruction offered by the school 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.
SUPPORT STAFF
Persons employed by an educational organization to provide
				services to students and staff.
TEACHER
Any person holding a teacher's license from the State Board of
				Education, employed by theschool, and 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).
TEACHING DAY
A day in which a minimum of 330 minutes of instruction and/or
				evaluation and/or school approved group testing is provided.
TEMPORARY STATUS
An accreditation status assigned to a satellite school or a
				school newly established by the local governing body of an accredited nonpublic
				school/system currently on record with the State Board of Education.
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 local governing body 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. Miss. Code Ann.
				§
								37-43-31(2) and
				refer to the current edition of the
Textbook Administration Handbook
				Rules and Regulations
.
TRIBAL SCHOOL
Schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
WITHDRAWN STATUS
An accreditation status assigned to a school when the State
				Board of Education takes action to withdraw the accreditation status of a
				nonpublic school due to noncompliance with its approved corrective action plan.
				The status of a school when the school has been previously assigned a status of
				PROBATION and the school fails to meet the goals and timelines for resolving
				identified deficiencies as stated in its approved Corrective Action Plan
				(CAP).