In 2018, state leaders in Mississippi launched the “Mississippi Succeeds Report Card,” a model for state data and reporting systems that provides families and communities with valuable information about local schools. In addition to student performance and growth data, the report card transparently captures postsecondary data, along with information on graduation pathways, career fields, and the performance of students in their first year of college. For every high school, the state reports on postsecondary enrollment relative to the district and the state, alongside disaggregated results for student groups. Mississippi is also one of a handful of states that reports on student enrollment in remedial courses—information that is critical to improving student outcomes during and after high school and postsecondary education.
The report card provides a strong foundation for additional policies that support high school transformation statewide. A starting point for state leaders could be expanding the existing seat time flexibility policy so that school systems are empowered to award credit toward graduation based on students’ demonstrations of proficiency, without having to be designated an innovation district. In addition, state leaders could consider developing a state Portrait of a Graduate reflecting the durable skills and competencies that all high school graduates should have by the end of high school.
