FY 2021 Annual Report
R E S E A R C H & C U R R I C U LU M U N I T
Assessment The Research and Curriculum Unit (RCU) researches, develops and disseminates statewide assessments for all secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs in Mississippi, including alternative methods such as performance-based assessment and national certifications.
FY '21 Facts Developed
346
secondary & postsecondary assessments
Tested
15,109
students electronically with MS-CPAS assessments
High school CTE students earned
12,600
national certifications
RCU Develops System to Measure CTE Program Quality The RCU developed a CTE measurement tool that enhances the Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System (MS-CPAS), a program developed over two decades in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE). The updates — made in response to the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) — are intended to align CTE learning outcomes more closely to the desired skills needed by business and industry. The longstanding relationship enabled MDE and the RCU to seamlessly collaborate on finding a way to monitor and measure aspects of program quality as defined by the Perkins V core indicators of performance. The effort reworks the state’s assessment methods to focus less on student testing or proficiency scores and more on a holistic view of secondary CTE program quality. The change from a combination of industry credentials and performance and statewide assessments to a combination of industry-recognized credentials and work-based learning are intended to better prepare students for the workplace and serve as an accurate indicator of a program’s success. To date, the RCU’s assessment team has piloted the program quality measurement system with a few school districts to validate aspects of the instrument. The team also worked with MDE program supervisors to further revise the instrument in preparation for a full implementation and move from an online survey tool to a web application. The changes reflect a nationwide movement toward Perkins V requirements. To facilitate this programmatic goal, one facet of Perkins V required states to select one or more of three high school CTE program quality options: earning industry-recognized credentials, earning postsecondary credits or participating in work-based learning experiences. The system update will allow MDE to monitor districts real-time for Perkins V compliance and promote better CTE experiences for high school students across Mississippi.
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Communications The RCU strives to convey Mississippi's education story through a number of communication methods, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube social media channels, magazines published in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education, webinars, the dissemination of research briefs and other design and editorial projects.
FY '21 Facts
RCU, MDE Collaborate to Publish AFA Guide 2.0 RCU staff collaborated with the MDE and educators across the state to publish an updated version of the Access for All (AFA) Guide that aids teachers in providing quality classroom instruction for all students in general education settings. MDE and RCU began updating the original 2019 document in fall 2020 with the goal of introducing new key terminology that will provide general education teachers with a better understanding of how the document can aid in providing quality classroom instruction for all students. The updated version, called the AFA Guide 2.0, removes the words accommodations and modifications and instead uses adaptations. The change of this language came about because accommodations and modifications are more commonly associated with special education. The intent of the AFA Guide was always to be a resource for teachers to meet the learning needs of all students, not just one group. To facilitate further use of these research-based classroom adaptations by teachers for all students, not only those with Individualized Education Programs, the AFA Guide 2.0 provides educators with four specific types of adaptations that can be used and addresses four select student populations. "There are many things you can do in your classroom that are available to every child," said RCU Project Manager Ginny Sanders. "By providing the four types of adaptations and four select student populations, we have been able to take the suggestions for instruction and align them with the specific classroom adaptations teachers can use." The new guide, which was published in spring 2021, was designed as a completely digital document with robust color-coding organization and the addition of resource links provided in the section containing suggestions for instruction.
Completed
315
design and editorial projects
4
issues of Connections and School Focus featuring K-12 schools in Mississippi counties
31
Conducted webinars to assist CTE educators in promoting their programs, which were viewed
4
277 times
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R E S E A R C H & C U R R I C U LU M U N I T
Center for Cyber Education The RCU's Center for Cyber Education (CCE) works to enhance computer science education in the state’s K-12 schools through developing curricula, training teachers and increasing awareness and access to cyber education resources.
FY '21 Facts
50,753
students took computer science courses in school year 2020-2021, an increase of
80%
80+
students participated in the C Spire Software Development Pathway program
44 206
students passed a certification exam
new computer science teachers were trained at the middle and high school levels
CCE Staff, State Leaders Preparing First Comprehensive Computer Science Plan CCE and MDE officials collaborated to create a new state plan for computer science education that will be presented to the Mississippi State Board of Education for approval and implementation in 2022. A first-of-its-kind for Mississippi, the state plan will provide a long-range vision for expanding access to quality cyber education that ensures all students are equipped with the technology skills needed in the workforce. “One of the most important purposes of developing a state plan for computer science in Mississippi will be to create guidance when the MDE or state government looks to make decisions on implementation timing, overcoming access barriers, preparing teachers, providing funding and improving local and state infrastructure,” CCE Assistant Director Shelly Hollis said. CCE staff began facilitating the development of the plan in January 2021 by establishing both core and regional strategic planning teams comprised of educators and stakeholders representing each Congressional district. The strategic planning teams conducted a statewide landscape survey of parents, students, educators and administrators to evaluate the current landscape and perceptions of computer science in Mississippi. In March 2021, the state Legislature passed House Bill 633, the Mississippi Computer Science and Cyber Education Equality Act, a milestone achievement for the Computer Science for Mississippi (CS4MS) initiative. Now signed into law by Gov. Tate Reeves, the act set a timeline for expanding computer science instruction to all K-12 students and required an official, long-range state plan to be adopted. “K-12 computer science education is not about making everyone a computer scientist. It’s about making all students aware of and prepared for the digital world and economy they are going to grow up and be a part of in the future,” Hollis said.
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Curriculum The RCU, in partnership with educators and industry leaders, creates course content for Mississippi’s CTE pathways that combines academic rigor with real-world relevance. The RCU also provides curricula for K-12 science, social studies and computer science in Mississippi.
RCU Creates Diversified Agriculture Curriculum Pathway The RCU worked with a task force of MDE personnel, educators and industry leaders to create a diversified agriculture pathway that will offer a more customizable learning experience for students in Mississippi’s CTE agriculture programs. Courtney McCubbins, the RCU project manager for agriculture, food and natural resources curricula, said the 4-credit pathway, which replaces the agriculture and environmental science and technology pathway, offers students either broad or specialized learning opportunities and gives them time to fully immerse themselves in classroom instruction, FFA opportunities and Supervised Agricultural Experience programs. “We want students in Mississippi to be competitive with their peers across the country by giving them more rigorous curricula that focus on career-ready practices,” she said. “Agriculture is Mississippi’s largest employer. With the support of our industry partners, we will truly be able to meet our students’ needs by providing opportunities to be successful in the agriculture industry.” In its initial meeting in December 2020, the task force crafted a four-credit model McCubbins said will allow for better tracking of student progress for Perkins V and Institutions of Higher Learning requirements. Writing teams then developed the initial curricula approved by the Mississippi State Board of Education in November 2021 for implementation starting with the 2022-2023 school year. Students begin with Principles of Agriscience before moving to a series of specialized one-credit courses for the second and third credits. Turfgrass Management, Precision Agriculture and Capstone — a fourth-credit course that combines content-based learning and instructor-guided work-based learning — will be added for the 2023-2024 academic year. Needs from industry and teachers, along with educator and student data, will be used to guide the development of additional courses in the pathway. 5
FY '21 Facts
89 40
instructors and
industry representatives served on curriculumwriting teams
13
Curricula Revised
and up for approval by the State Board of Education to go into effect the 2022-2023 academic year:
• Principles of Agriscience • Diversified Agriculture – Mechanization Core • Diversified Agriculture – Animals Core • Diversified Agriculture – Plants Core • Diversified Agriculture – Environment Core • Diversified Agriculture – Agribusiness Core • Automotive Service Technician • Early Childhood • Cosmetology • Natural Hair Care and Braiding • Furniture Manufacturing • Unmanned Aerial Systems • Introduction to Drone Technology
R E S E A R C H & C U R R I C U LU M U N I T
GEER Funding Allows RCU to Offer Innovative Solutions to Educators The RCU was awarded $1.5 million by the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund in 2021 to implement a pair of projects aimed at providing innovative education solutions across Mississippi. The projects were part of $4.3 million allocated to MSU during a second round of funding by Gov. Tate Reeves. The GEER program is funded by federal COVID-19 relief legislation and administered by the governors in each state. “The 2020-2021 school year was a challenging period for the educators, students and parents in our state. Thanks to Gov. Reeves’ support, the RCU had the opportunity to work with Math Nation and develop online courses that will provide valuable resources for our state’s teachers as they continue to provide quality instruction through the pandemic,” RCU Director Betsey Smith said. The RCU’s partnership with Math Nation — formerly Algebra Nation — provided expanded digital mathematics tools and resources. The second project supported the development of a robust K-12 online learning environment that is the first of its kind in the state.
Mississippi’s 141 school districts already had access to Math Nation’s Algebra I and Geometry Mississippi Collegeand Career-Readiness Standards resources, but the GEER Fund award allowed those resources to expand to students in grades 6-12 and include tools and resources for math and additional support resources for families. Additionally, the grant supported Math Nation’s distribution of videos and more than 43,000 take-home workbooks for families to supplement classroom instruction. “The funding made available through the GEER Fund provided Mississippi math students with classroom and virtual instruction to supplement what may have been lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” RCU Associate Director Myra Pannell said. The second GEER project allowed the RCU to collaborate with some of the state’s top educators to begin development of 13 high-quality online courses that align to Mississippi’s curriculum framework. Those 13 courses, along with six more that will be published in spring 2022, will be available to students through the 2022-2023 school year. “It is exciting that the RCU can use Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding provided by Gov. Reeves’ office to provide a valuable resource to high schools in Mississippi,” said Sean Owen, the RCU’s assistant director of research development and strategic initiatives. “These courses, along with their digital instructional resources, can help increase students’ access to consistent, free, quality educational content whether at home or in the school.” While these courses will enhance learning opportunities for students faced with COVID19-related quarantine situations, districts can also utilize the courses as remediation for struggling students, an aid for new teachers lacking high levels of expertise and a source of continuing education following a natural disaster. As part of the project, the RCU worked toward creating a professional development resource to aid state educators in implementing the online courses.
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F Y 2 0 21 A N N UA L R E P O R T
Operations The operations team supports the RCU by assisting clients via our online Help Desk system with needs such as the creation of design projects, online course modules and rosters for testing. The RCU also manages a print shop that services the MDE and the state's career and technical student organizations.
FY '21 Facts
190,435,936
total pages printed
Responded to a total of
6,291
Help Desk tickets
Processed
94
print requests
Funding Summary RCU
Center for Cyber Education
ľ GEAR UP Mississippi ���������������������$3,713,067 ľ MDE (Combined Contract) �����������$3,364,000
ľ CS4MS Appropriation ������������������������������������������������������������� $300,000 ľ National Science Foundation (NSF) — CS4All ��������������������� $770,721
ľ CTE �������������������������������������������������$2,515,000
ľ CS4MS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$608,625
ľ Special Education ���������������������������$435,000
ľ CS4MS (Participant Costs Only) ���������������������������������������������$103,881
ľ Secondary Education ��������������������$230,000
ľ CS4MS (Mississippi State University College of Education Only) ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $58,215
ľ Office of School Improvement ����$184,000
ľ ľ ľ ľ
MS-CPAS ���������������������������������������$1,329,487 GEER — Math Nation (CARES) ��������$850,414
ľ NSF — Collaborative Research: Identifying Participation Barriers to CS Education in Rural Mississippi ������������������������ $266,496 ľ Delta ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$170,536
GEER — Online Learning (CARES) �$681,725 Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning ����������������������������$47,787
ľ Mississippi Development Authority ���$16,500 ľ APL/Educause �������������������������������������$15,000
ľ Delta (Participant Costs Only) ��������������������������������������������������� $95,960
ľ ľ ľ ľ ľ
Expanding Computing Education Pathways ��������������������������� $18,528 Code.org ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $143,655 C Spire ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $550,000 Google Grant (Foundation Fund) �������������������������������������������� $35,000 CS4MS (Foundation Fund) ��������������������������������������������������������� $2,500
All RCU & CCE Grants & Contracts: $12,104,880 7
R E S E A R C H & C U R R I C U LU M U N I T
GEAR UP Mississippi Through the U.S. Department of Education Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant, the RCU partners with the MSU College of Education to provide support to three Mississippi school districts to increase their students' academic performance, graduation rates and postsecondary enrollment.
FY '21 Facts
$27.9 million awarded to MSU over years
7
$3,500
A scholarship awarded to graduating students in each supported district Approximately
632
high school seniors will receive assistance with college and financial aid application processes in fall 2021 More than
4,000
students will be impacted by GEAR UP Mississippi initiatives
GEAR UP Mississippi Meets Student, Teacher Needs in FY '21 GEAR UP Mississippi project managers continued meeting the needs of students and coaches in the grant’s three participating school districts — Greenville, McComb and Meridian — despite limitations created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Drive-thru events were held in the three districts to announce students in Grades 8-12 as participants in GEAR UP, a national college access initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by MSU to significantly increase the number of Mississippi students prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Although the fanfare of the event had to be altered to allow for proper COVID-19 precautions, each student received a personalized certificate along with information about the educational financial assistance benefits they will receive through the program. While GEAR UP students were introduced to the program, project managers were already working with district coaches to equip them with the resources needed to continue the program model. The RCU’s professional learning team developed Coaching Conversations, a new coaching experience for GEAR UP's math coaches modeled after the RCU's existing Coach University. In an eight-week period, 15 coaches from the GEAR UP districts received specialized training in evidence-based practices for their general coaching responsibilities and training on coaching math professionals in their schools. In the spring, Get2College, a program of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation specializing in college planning and financial aid acquisition in Mississippi, provided students in the GEAR UP districts virtual tours of Mississippi’s postsecondary institutions, and MSU’s CCE exposed more than 400 middle school students to computer science through coding and artificial intelligence activities. 8
F Y 2 0 21 A N N UA L R E P O R T
Research, Evaluation and Strategic Initiatives The RCU conducts research on a wide range of topics related to public education to provide timely and useful analyses to state policymakers and educators. Additionally, the RCU conducts robust internal evaluations of RCU programs and serves as evaluators on several initiatives for the Mississippi Department of Education and our university partners to help the agencies determine if programs are meeting desired outcomes and running efficiently.
FY '21 Facts
RCU Formative Assessment Research Published An RCU study on how formative practices positively impact secondary CTE assessment scores received publication in the December 2020 edition of The Asian Association of Open Universities Journal. Each year, Mississippi’s CTE students take the MS-CPAS test designed for their course to demonstrate growth in learning throughout the course. The RCU, which manages and implements the MS-CPAS and has provided assessment and reporting services for the state’s secondary and postsecondary CTE programs for nearly 25 years, analyzed exam results from 28,015 Mississippi students enrolled in more than 50 different secondary CTE courses. Because of the high stakes surrounding the MS-CPAS for CTE programs, practice tests — also known as formative assessments — familiarize students and teachers with the process, types of questions and possible material covered on the tests and provide the opportunity for teachers to see where students need review or enrichment. RCU researchers Ben Alexander, Sean Owen and Cliff Thames analyzed data from the MS-CPAS tests administered during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years — the first two years practice exams were available to the state’s CTE centers — to study whether students who take MS-CPAS formative assessments score higher on their final test compared to those who do not take a practice test beforehand. Analysis revealed participation in one or more CTE practice exams makes a difference, confirming the research team’s hypothesis that providing practice tests better prepares students for their MS-CPAS exams and increases learning. This result demonstrates how teachers who receive feedback on what aspects of their students’ learning need attention can adjust their practices accordingly prior to the final test. Results of the RCU’s formative assessment study serve to encourage CTE educators to take advantage of the available practice to increase the visibility of their hard work on their students’ final MS-CPAS test scores. 9
3 3
articles published
research briefs created
Our goal for all research and evaluation is to assist stakeholders in making informed decisions that support effective innovations for schools and programs. services:
• Data Analysis • Education and Workforce Policy • Economic Value of Certifications and Credentials of Value • Innovative Projects • Practitioner Communications
R E S E A R C H & C U R R I C U LU M U N I T
School Innovations and Professional Learning School Innovations
Professional Learning
The RCU's school innovations team supports schools to prompt rapid, substantial progress based on six foundational design principles: college and career readiness, learning and instruction, student culture and personalization, collegiality and professionalism, purposeful leadership and innovative design.
From facilitating online learning to delivering conferences with more than 1,000 attendees, the RCU helps educators perfect the craft of teaching by providing professional development for teachers, counselors and administrators using versatile teaching styles and delivery methods.
FY '21 Facts Hosted the sixth annual Innovative Institute, which was attended by approximately
300
education stakeholders from across Mississippi
Supported
7
5&
Supported
15,607
users of the Canvas learning management system
early college high schools,
middle college programs
11
Offered different online professional development courses
8
50
districts of innovation
new CTE teachers successfully completed the New Teacher Induction program
3,780
professional development course completers
Events hosted by the RCU school innovations team: • Leadership Summit • Innovative Institute • Learners Leading: Strategies for Student Engagement • Coach University • Leadership Assembly
Registered
1,337
attendees for the virtual MS ACTE Summer Conference and provided 115 informative breakout sessions 10
F Y 2 0 21 A N N UA L R E P O R T
School Innovations and Professional Learning RCU Staff Support GEAR UP Districts to Change Conversations In fall 2020, RCU professional learning staff helped math instructional coaches in the Greenville, McComb and Meridian school districts — the three districts supported in the GEAR UP initiative — change the way they converse with their teachers. COVID-19 altered the original plans of offering the RCU's Coach University (Coach U) — a year-long program focused on developing exceptional instructional coaches, lead teachers and educational leaders in schools and districts across Mississippi — for the three districts. Instead, the professional learning staff held Coaching Conversations, a three-month course that focused on having productive conversations with people — the largest component of Coach U. Instructional coaches often suggest ways for teachers to improve their classroom instruction. Coaching Conversations sought to change that approach for the GEAR UP districts and get their instructional coaches to start encouraging teachers to reflect on their interactions, identify unhelpful tactics and support them in improving their practices. The professional learning staff assessed the instructional coaches to gauge how they currently hold conversations with teachers, then they incorporated adult learning theories to guide them in reshaping those conversations. The program alternated weeks between Coaching Conversations and math instruction from Shauna Hedgepeth, a math curriculum specialist for the Lamar County School District and former Math Nation coach. Coaching Conversations guided the instructional coaches through learning theories, questions, reflections, activities and protocols. Hedgepeth then incorporated that material into her math instruction. To close Coaching Conversations, instructional coaches were given the same assessment from the start of the semester. Cindy Ming, an RCU professional learning manager, said the instructional coaches recognized a shift in their communication with teachers. Participants expressed changes in their coaching methods, with a particular emphasis on listening to hear and understand, rather than to respond or correct.
Accomplishments National Publications
Special Recognition
• Alexander, B., Owen, S., & Thames, C.B. (2020). Exploring differences and relationships between online formative and summative assessments in Mississippi career and technical education. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, 15 (3), 335-349.
Shelly Hollis was selected to serve on the information technology task force created by C Spire and the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB). C Spire Chief Technology Officer Carla Lewis and SWIB Chairman Patrick Sullivan tapped Hollis, who also leads MSU’s CCE.
• Tedder, G. and Campbell, J. (2021). Building Inclusivity: Powerful Relationships and Powerful Instruction. ACTE Techniques.
Ginger Tedder was one of five delegates selected from the Mississippi State Teachers of the Year chapter of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year to attend the Alumni Teach to Lead Summit (TTL) in April 2021. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, ASCD and Teach Plus, the goals of the TTL Summit are networking and implementing teacher leadership initiatives nationally. The delegation's project was the Mississippi Teacher Leaders Network. 11
RCU Staff As of Dec. 1, 2021
ADMINISTRATION
COMMUNICATIONS
Betsey Smith ������������������������������������������������������������������������ Director Sean Owen ��� Research Professor, Assistant Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives Myra Pannell �����������������������������������������������������������Associate Director Pam Stafford ������������������������������Assistant Director/Business Operations
Brock Turnipseed ���������������Marketing and Communications Manager Heather Craig ������������������������������������������������������������������������� Editor Will Graves ��������������������������������������������������������� Intermittent Worker Amanda Gronewold ����������������������������� Communications Coordinator Carl Smith �������������������������������������������������������������� Managing Editor
ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
CURRICULUM
Sean Owen ��� Research Professor, Assistant Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives Ben Alexander ���������������������Research Associate III/Assessment Manager Avery Adkins ������������������������������������������������������������ Project Manager Riesa Blackwell ��������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager Sarah Dygert ��������������������������������������������������������� Graduate Assistant Dustin Finch ��������������������������������������������������������� Graduate Assistant Mandy Scarpulla ������������������������������������������������������ Project Manager Bhanupriya Shanmugam ������������������������������������������ Project Manager Denise Sibley ������������������������������������������������ Senior Research Associate Cliff Thames ������������������������������������������������������ Research Associate III
Courtney McCubbins ��������������Project Manager/Curriculum Manager Angie Davis �������������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager Rob Fyke ������������������������������������������������������������������ Project Manager Melissa Luckett �������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager JoAnn Watts ������������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Pam Stafford ������������������������������Assistant Director Business Operations Chris Gotwald ��������������������������� Project Manager/Operations Manager Joseph Dudgeon ���������������������������������������������������Project Coordinator Lydia Eaton ����������������������������������������������������������������Student Worker Lynn Eiland ���������������������������������������� Project Manager Rehire Retiree Bree Keowen ��������������������������������������������������������������Student Worker Courtney Martin �������������������������������������������������������������� Accountant Mhaire Nickels ���������������������������������������������������������������� Receptionist Caitlyn Powell ������������������������������������������������������������ Office Associate Romika Sudduth-Conley ��������������������������������������Project Coordinator Kallie Wallace �������������������������������������������������������������Student Worker CENTER FOR CYBER EDUCATION
Shelly Hollis ������������������������������������������������������������Assistant Director Lizzie Brandon ��������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager Amanda Taylor ��������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager
GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Judy Middleton ��������������������������������������������������������� Project Director Altonique Binion ������������������������������������������������������ Project Manager PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND SCHOOL INNOVATIONS
Myra Pannell �����������������������������������������������������������Associate Director Cindy Ming ��������������Project Manager/Professional Learning Manager Annabelle Alsobrooks ����������������������������������������������� Project Manager Suzanne Bean �������������������������������������� Project Manager Rehire Retiree Ashley Edwards �������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager LaNell Kellum ������������������������������������� Project Manager Rehire Retiree Kindra Mason ���������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager Ginny Sanders ���������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager Ginger Tedder ���������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager Tammie Tubbs ��������������������������������������������������������� Project Manager +45 additional intermittent/rehire retiree employees/trainers