(from the Mississippi Department of Education)

The Mississippi Department of Education supports school district efforts to invest in proven strategies that have an evidence-base for effectiveness toward improving outcomes for children in our schools. The factors that undergird the MDE’s position include, but are not limited to the expectations and requirements bulleted below.

• State law requires that we categorize all programs and activities based on evidence of effectiveness (MS Code 27-103-159).
• Federal law requires that we select and implement evidence-based programs when using federal funds (Every Student Succeeds Act).
• MDE State Board of Education established the expectation that we are to create a world-class educational system that gives students the knowledge and skills to be successful in college and the workforce. To obtain this vision, we must use evidence-based practices/programs with a proven track record of success.