SECC staff collaborated with the MDE’s Office of Federal Programs regarding preparations for the 2013–2014 Monitoring Instrument Work Session #2, scheduled for October 9–10. As part of these preparations, SECC staff and MDE Advisory Board members attended the Mississippi Schools Obtaining Academic Results for Success (SOARS) training during the last week of September 2012.

SECC staff facilitated and assisted with the Office of Federal Programs’ presentations on District Preparations for Federal Programs Monitoring Visits: The Revised SY 2012–2013 Monitoring Instrument and Required Documentation. The two regional work sessions to assist local school districts with preparations for their 2012–2013 federal programs monitoring visits were conducted August 2 in Oxford, Mississippi, and August 9 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.SECC staff also facilitated the 2013–2014 Monitoring Instrument Work Session #1 with the Office of Federal Programs’ Advisory Council. During this work session, Advisory Council members initiated revisions for the school year 2012–2013 federal programs monitoring instrument to reflect changes specified in Mississippi's approved ESEA Flexibility Request. The 2013–2014 Monitoring Instrument Work Session #2 is scheduled for October 9-10, 2012.

SECC staff facilitated planning meetings and a series of conference calls with MDE staff and MDE external consultants to develop regional work sessions to assist local school districts with preparations for their 2012–2013 federal programs monitoring visits.

SECC staff worked with staff from the Office of Federal Programs regarding next steps for reviewing the 2011–2012 Federal Programs Consolidated Monitoring Instrument to determine revisions needed to align it with Mississippi’s ESEA Flexibility Request, when approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Alternative dates for the August work session were explored.

SECC staff facilitated the fourth work session of the Federal Programs Advisory Council. Revisions to the last five sections of the monitoring instrument and the instructions and data page were completed. All revisions to the Consolidated Federal Programs Monitoring Instrument are now complete. On June 18–19, 2012, the Mississippi Department of Education will present the revised instrument to local school districts at the annual Mississippi Association of Federal Education Program Directors Conference.Discussion was initiated regarding future monitoring instrument revisions that will be needed to monitor focus schools, as outlined in Mississippi’s ESEA Flexibility Waiver Request. The next Federal Programs Advisory Council work session was scheduled for August 20-21, 2012.

SECC staff facilitated the third work session of the Federal Programs Advisory Council. Revisions to five sections of the monitoring instrument were completed.

SECC staff assisted with facilitation of the March work session of the Federal Programs Advisory Council. The Council continued work on revising the current monitoring instrument, completing about 40% of the needed changes.

SECC staff continued work with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Federal Programs in planning for meetings of the Federal Programs Advisory Council to work on revisions of the current monitoring instrument. SECC staff assisted with facilitation of the initial work session of the Federal Programs Advisory Council. During a second meeting of the Federal Programs Technical Assistance Council, SECC staff facilitated discussion of feedback on the revised definition of technical assistance (TA) and the internal documentation form. The council identified two processes for delivery of TA when requested by individual districts. Federal Programs Technical Assistance Council discussion of the mentoring program for new federal program directors resulted in the decision that the MDE would not specify mentor professional development or methods. A pool of prospective mentors will be identified, and new directors will be notified of their availability. Having accomplished two of the goals set by the TA council (established definition of technical assistance and developed a service delivery plan/process), MDE leadership stated that no additional council meetings would be held unless the MDE identified a need for additional work.

In January, SECC staff assisted the Mississippi Department of Education's Office of Federal Programs in developing the work session agenda for the Federal Programs Advisory Council's initial meeting. SECC staff also facilitated the first meeting of the Federal Programs Technical Assistance Council during which work focused on developing an expanded definition of technical assistance (TA), discussing possible methods for delivering TA, internal documentation of the assistance, and processes for gaining district feedback on the quality of TA provided.