Jackson consulting group to help city schools
By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
October 12, 2004
A Jackson education consulting group plans to work with T.J. Harris Elementary and Carver Middle Schools in Meridian to improve student test scores and the schools' performance levels.
Meridian School Superintendent Sylvia Autry said Monday that the state Department of Education provided money to hire JBHM Education Group former educators who work with low-performing schools.
Autry said consultants Paula Tharpe and Cindy Cason will spend two days a week at Harris and Carver and submit a weekly report of their findings. Autry said she appreciates the state department's help.
T.J. Harris Elementary is composed of two former separate schools: West End Elementary and Harris Upper Elementary.
West End was rated the city's only a low-performing, Level 1 school last month down from Level 3, or successful, the previous year. Harris Upper was rated a Level 3 school.
Carver Middle School rated Level 2, or under performing, for the second straight year.
Performance levels are based on scores from statewide standardized tests students take every spring. The ratings are designed to inform parents how well schools are educating their children.
Autry said both Tharpe and Cason will be in the schools until the end of the school year.
Before working for JBHM, Tharpe worked in elementary education, administration and assessment. Cason's background is in middle school administration and special education.
Tharpe said her group's main objective is to help the schools increase student achievement, and, in turn, improve the schools' performance level.
Tharpe's group is not the only visitors to T.J. Harris Elementary and its former, two separate schools.
A group of former educators from the state Department of Education also recently visited the campus and is expected to present a formal report in December on ways to improve student achievement.
Here is a look at efforts to improve performance levels of Meridian's lowest-rated public schools: Carver Middle School and the former West End Elementary School, now part of T.J. Harris Elementary.
The ratings: The state rated schools last month on a 1-to-5 scale with Level 5 being the best; ratings were based on standardized test scores.
The schools: Carver rated Level 2, or under-performing, for the second straight year; West End rated Level 1, or low-performing, the lowest possible rating.
The help: JBHM Education Group plans to work with both schools to improve student test scores; state evaluators also plan to issue a separate report.
