IEP Progress Monitoring in Mississippi
How often should you receive IEP progress reports in Mississippi?
Mississippi requires that each IEP include a statement of how the student's progress toward annual goals will be measured and how parents will be regularly informed of that progress (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3); Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-9). Parents must receive progress reports on IEP goals at least as frequently as report cards are provided to parents of nondisabled students. Mississippi follows the federal standard; unlike some states, Mississippi does not require benchmarks or short-term objectives for all students — they are required only for students taking the MAAP-A alternate assessment. When a student is not making expected progress toward annual goals, the IEP team must review and revise the IEP accordingly, which may require convening the team before the scheduled annual review. Mississippi's MDE provides guidance encouraging the use of data-based progress monitoring practices, including curriculum-based measures and ongoing data collection, to document progress and support timely IEP revision.
What Mississippi Requires
The IEP must include a statement of how progress toward annual goals will be measured and how and when parents will be informed of progress (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3); Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-9).
Parents must be informed of progress toward annual goals at least as frequently as report cards are issued to parents of nondisabled students (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
Benchmarks or short-term objectives are required only for students taking the MAAP-A alternate assessment, not all students (34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)(ii); MS Sp. Ed. Regs.).
When a student is not making expected progress, the IEP must be revised and the team reconvened as necessary (34 CFR 300.324(b)(1)).
Progress monitoring data must be documented and available to support IEP team decision-making and parent communication (MS Sp. Ed. Regs.; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
Key Timelines
Progress reports must be issued at least as frequently as report cards for nondisabled students (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
The IEP team must review progress at least annually and revise the IEP when progress is insufficient (34 CFR 300.324(b)).
If a student is not making adequate progress, the IEP team should reconvene promptly to address the insufficiency before the scheduled annual review.