State
Follow the latest K-12 education developments across Mississippi, including news from school districts, the state education agency, associations and education organizations.
Last updated: September 25, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, K-12 News has published 9 Mississippi stories in total, from 1 organization. The most frequent themes are School Districts, Innovation and STEM.
The Mississippi Department of Education named 144 students to its 2026-27 advisory council. Members include 11th- and 12th-graders and college freshmen attending Mississippi colleges or universities.
The Mississippi Department of Education released state assessment results for 2025-26, showing improved science performance, steady English language arts results and a slight drop in math proficiency.
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, a statewide Mississippi Department of Education initiative will help students link school lessons to college, work and life beyond school.
For the 2026-27 school year, Mississippi education officials designated 15 elementary schools as Emerging Science of Reading Schools and one as a Science of Reading School.
The Mississippi Department of Education has made public the results of the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment for the 2025-26 school year in Mississippi.
The Mississippi Department of Education briefed the State Board of Education on the Mississippi Math Act and Adolescent Literacy Initiative, both set for the 2026-27 school year.
The Mississippi Department of Education reported at least 4,309 Education Enhancement Fund transactions totaling $760,445 through the ClassWallet digital wallet since July 15.
Mississippi public school districts will receive access to state Education Enhancement Funds on July 15, allowing teachers to buy instructional supplies for their classes throughout the school year.
Mississippi education officials announced federal income thresholds for free and reduced-price meals under school lunch, breakfast and after-school snack programs.
Connecticut is expanding K–3 reading interventions and educator coaching through a five-year, $10 million grant covering 75 elementary schools, while Massachusetts is continuing early literacy tutoring funding for 338 schools and awarded nearly $25 million for literacy instruction. Nine Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs received accreditation aligned with structured literacy standards, and Mississippi designated science-of-reading schools and is implementing a statewide adolescent literacy initiative for 2026–27. Indiana reported its fifth consecutive year of rising literacy rates, while Colorado reported elementary literacy gains alongside persistent achievement gaps and declining middle school English language arts scores. In Maine, the number of students earning biliteracy recognition rose 18 percent, and the number of high schools offering it grew 11.5 percent.
State and district education leaders are making appointments and involving teachers and students in governance: Florida named a new education commissioner, New York City appointed an early childhood deputy chancellor, Missouri added its first active classroom teacher to the state board, and Illinois selected a student advisory council. Technology policies differ across jurisdictions, with New York City announcing a generative AI moratorium while Illinois issued nonbinding AI guidance and Connecticut recommended bell-to-bell limits on personal devices without a statewide mandate. Illinois increased school funding and awarded teacher recruitment and retention grants, while New York City expanded pre-K special education and Mississippi began implementing statewide math and adolescent literacy initiatives for 2026–27. Maryland reported a four-year decline in chronic absenteeism.
State math results varied in 2025–26: Connecticut reported gains, Colorado recorded elementary math gains across many student groups, and Mississippi saw a slight decline in math proficiency. Mississippi is implementing the Mississippi Math Act statewide in 2026–27, while Iowa selected 44 elementary students from 18 public districts and four accredited nonpublic schools for a 10-year math enrichment program with mentoring and learning support. New York released preliminary statewide mathematics test data.
Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Mississippi announced updated income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price school meals, with Illinois and Pennsylvania specifying coverage for the 2026–27 period. Massachusetts is partnering with Project Bread to provide free meals in child care settings and afterschool programs. Colorado is expanding Healthy School Meals for All through $23.8 million in grants for local food purchases, scratch cooking and higher nutrition staff wages.
States are expanding career pathways and hands-on learning through grants, new facilities and work placements, including apprenticeships and work-based learning in Florida, paid AI internships in Massachusetts and a manufacturing lab at Mililani High School in Hawaii. Pennsylvania awarded $3.5 million to broaden career pathways, while Mississippi launched a statewide initiative connecting classroom lessons with college and careers for the 2026–27 school year. Rhode Island and Maryland are working with Advance CTE to expand pathway access with student participation in program and policy design. At the federal level, a stopgap spending measure maintained Perkins V career and technical education funding at current levels through December 11.
Connecticut and Missouri reported 2025–26 assessment gains across multiple subjects, while Colorado reported gains in elementary math and literacy but declining middle school English language arts scores and persistent achievement gaps. Mississippi reported higher science performance, steady English language arts results and a slight decline in math proficiency. Connecticut’s chronic absenteeism fell to 16.4%, down from 23.7% in 2021–22. Kansas received federal approval to pilot assessments administered throughout the school year.
Based on: MDE names Mississippi Science of Reading School Awardees for 2026-27
Based on: MDE launches Mississippi Classroom to Career Network to connect classroom learning with future careers
Based on: New math and adolescent literacy initiatives to strengthen student achievement being implemented statewide in 2026-27
Based on: Education Enhancement Fund transactions valuing more than $760,000 made so far following launch of digital platform
Based on: MDE to make teaching supply funds available to districts July 15 through new digital wallet platform
Orange County Department of Education · Oct 7, 2026
Clark County School District · Oct 6, 2026
Orange County Department of Education · Oct 6, 2026
Maine Department of Education · Oct 6, 2026
Clark County School District · Oct 6, 2026
