PPS of Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi

Located in a small rural county in Mississippi, PPS of Jefferson Davis County officially joined the ranks of the PPS national network in 1998.  Since that time the chapter has helped parents hold the district more accountable on many fronts.

When parents voiced concern over discipline procedures that appeared to be unfairly applied, PPS lobbied the school board and superintendent to review district policies with all principals and teachers.  They also called for a review of in-school and out-of-school suspension practices.  Parents let it be known that they expected the district to ensure fair treatment for all students according to the policies, proper notification of parents when their children had behavior problems and a study to determine exactly how discipline was being applied to various groups of students.

The chapter also made the district aware of parent concerns with bus and school safety issues that were impediments to student safety and learning.  The chapter recommended that security personnel and/or parents be brought into the school to assist in promoting good behavior by all students and that the district consider a Zero Tolerance plan.  To do their part in addressing these concerns, the chapter volunteered to present sessions for parents to review the student conduct handbook so that parents and students understood their rights and responsibilities.

The chapter supported parents who were frustrated with a chronic shortage of textbooks for students in many classrooms by making presentations to the school board and monitoring follow up.  PPS also publicized an unacceptable failure rate of students in math classes.

In partnership with the Parents Partnership in Jackson, the chapter hosted parent training meetings on topics related to legal rights of at-risk children and how to accommodate special needs children.

PPS of Jeff Davis will partner with other Mississippi PPS chapters in a statewide effort to educate parents on the state's new academic standards and accountability processes that begins in the 2001-02 school year.

PPS of Jefferson Davis County clearly demonstrates their concern for the quality of public education available to all children in their schools and their willingness to do this hard work in spite of the difficulties they encounter in addressing sensitive issues in a close-knit and rather isolated rural part of the state.