SECC assisted the Office of Federal Programs and the Board for Directors of the Mississippi Association of Federal Education Program Directors (MAFEPD) in providing professional development on the Mississippi English Language Learners (ELL) Guidelines at the 2011–2012 MAFEPD Annual Conference on June 18, 2012, in Jackson, Mississippi. The session provided educators with a general overview of the revised Mississippi EL Guidelines.

SECC assisted in revising the regional training presentation to include specific presenter notes that would enable an individual with little knowledge of Title III requirements and the comprehensive district plan to do the presentation in the absence of the state’s Title III coordinator. The coordinator and substitute presenter acknowledged that the notes were very helpful in the training session.In revising a document that presents research-based strategies for mathematics, SECC staff are helping the office include information specific to the English learner school population. During the month, SECC was officially notified that the present Title III coordinator would be leaving to assume another position in the department. A new Title III coordinator was hired at the end of May.

During April, MDE’s Title III coordinator and SECC staff prepared training for school district Title III coordinators. The training materials contain all components of Mississippi’s required comprehensive district plan for English learners in all Mississippi schools, including those not receiving federal funds under Title III. Besides specific requirements on program models and program evaluation, this professional development will make publicly known student progress on Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs) and attainment targets for 2011–2012 as well as 2012–2013 (targets that were approved by the U.S. Department of Education in November 2011). Two regional training sessions are planned for the month of May to deliver this informative professional development to school district personnel.

With the federal monitoring visit successfully behind them, the EL coordinator and SECC staff returned to preparing training materials for school district personnel on EL guidelines and district improvement planning. Rather than delivering this training through webinars, the EL coordinator decided that face-to-face meetings with school staff in regional locations across the state would be the best way to disseminate the information and guidance. These are tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-May 2012.

In February, SECC continued providing support to the state EL coordinator in preparing for the federal monitoring visit to occur at the end of the month. Follow-up assistance in reviewing state documentation, as well as a review of school district documentation from the Jackson and Pascagoula school systems was provided. SECC also accompanied the coordinator on visits to the school districts to help ensure staff readiness for the visit.

In January, SECC provided technical assistance to the Mississippi Department of Education's (MDE) English learner coordinator in preparing for the upcoming monitoring visit by the U.S. Department of Education. On-site support involving discussion of the monitoring instrument and interview questions and in reviewing the state's monitoring documentation was provided. Future support will include accompanying the EL coordinator on visits to school districts that will be part of the federal monitoring activity.