Research & Curriculum Unit

The RCU is hiring a Program Manager to lead Mississippi's FFA program! This role works collaboratively with educators, students, MDE leaders and industry partners to coordinate events and strengthen FFA opportunities across the state.

The 93rd Mississippi FFA State Convention has officially begun, and day 1 did not disappoint! FFA members from all over the state are bringing the energy as they EMBRACE new experiences and new connections!

The Mississippi Department of Education announced today that 75.6% or 24,118 of third graders passed the initial administration of the third-grade reading assessment given this spring for the 2025-26 school year. For more details, go to bit.ly/4nFPyx4.

While the country considers how to govern AI, Mississippi is preparing its people to lead it.

Today, Mississippi launched the Statewide AI Framework. Not a mandate. Not a curriculum. A conviction, made into a map.

The conviction is this: AI is not here to replace human judgment. It is here to amplify it.

Everything else follows. Eleven skill domains. A pathway from a kindergarten classroom in the Delta to a shipbuilder on the Gulf Coast to a leader in healthcare, agriculture, coastal resilience, or advanced manufacturing. Built to evolve as the technology does. Built to keep people at the center, always.

Mississippi is the first state in the nation to build this kind of coordinated statewide AI initiative. Built by the right people, with the will to do it together.

Thanks to Governor Tate Reeves and the State Workforce Investment Board for the vision, to AccelerateMS and Dr. Courtney Taylor for the partnership, and to MAIN Director Dr. Kollin Napier for chairing this work. To every member of the AI Workforce Readiness Council and the MAIN partner network whose voices shaped the framework: this is yours.

The framework is live. Now the work of building what's next begins.

Regional trainings were held in Hattiesburg and Oxford to celebrate and support the conclusion of the New Special Education Teacher Mentor Program.

Over the past two years, the Mississippi Department of Education and Mississippi State University's RCU have partnered with districts to strengthen mentoring skills, build special education knowledge and promote High-leverage Practices that enhance instruction and student outcomes.

Administrators and educators collaborated to discuss the impact the program has had on their schools, share implementation plans for district-level mentoring programs and explore strategies for continued support of special education teachers.

Congratulations to all participants for their hard work, dedication and commitment to supporting and strengthening special education programs across their districts. Participants left with valuable resources, meaningful collaboration and actionable plans to continue building strong mentoring programs for future educators.

Alcorn School District, Hancock County School District, Hattiesburg Public Schools, Itawamba County Schools, Lamar County Schools, Nettleton School District , South Panola School District,

Last week, two of our team members represented the RCU at the 2026 Work-Based Learning Conference in Providence, Rhode Island. We always appreciate opportunities to learn alongside our nation's best and bring new insights back to our work!

We enjoyed hosting FFA members from Hatley, Houston and Neshoba Central School Districts for a fun day of hands-on learning that concluded with a competitive quiz bowl!

Another successful Professional Development day is in the books! At the RCU, we value time spent learning together and growing as a team.