Desoto County, MS
Background:
- Partnered with Olive Branch Middle School in 2015 to implement the Middle School Literacy Initiative (MSLI)
- MSLI is a comprehensive approach to raising literacy outcomes
- The primary focus was to improve the Tier I literacy instruction across content areas
Focus of Services:
- Provided 40 days of onsite coaching support for Grade 6
- Supported the use of a universal reading screener to target instruction and monitor student progress
- Increased the quantity and quality of student time on text
- Provided explicit reading comprehension instruction
- Increased the volume of academic vocabulary
- Expanded academic discussion
Results:
- The percentage of students of students at or above grade level increased to over 60% in the spring (compared to 54% in the fall)
- The percentage of students at-risk decreased from 18.5% in the fall to 10% in the spring
- Student scores grew 4.4 DRP levels on average in the spring vs. the fall; more than 47% higher than the national median for Grade 6 students
