(Columbus, GA)-The Muscogee County School District (MCSD) expands the number of Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools for the 2017-2018 school year from 38 to 41 schools. Blanchard Elementary, Midland Academy, and Shaw High School are new additions to the list of CEP schools. CEP is a provision established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and part of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which allows all children who attend a CEP school to eat breakfast and lunch at no charge.

CEP eligible schools must have at least 40% of students directly certified by the State of Georgia as a homeless child, a foster child, a recipient of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). In addition, 40% of the students identified who are eligible can be calculated by individual school, groups of schools, or the entire district. Groups of schools can be any combination of schools in the district. The students who are eligible are based on data as of April 1 for the previous school year.

There are 13 MCSD schools that are non-CEP schools (Aaron Cohn Middle School, Blackmon Road Middle School, Britt David Magnet Academy, Clubview Elementary School, Columbus High School, Double Churches Elementary School, Eagle Ridge Academy, Mathews Elementary School, Midland Middle School, North Columbus Elementary School, Northside High School, Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts, and Veterans Memorial Middle School). Parents of students who attend non-CEP schools may complete an application for free and reduced meals to determine eligibility.

2017-2018 Meal Prices
Elementary Schools Breakfast $ .95 Lunch $2.35
Middle Schools and High Schools Breakfast $1.20 Lunch $2.60

Parents or legal guardians who have an outstanding balance for their child’s meals for the previous year should contact the School Nutrition Manager at the school to pay the balance in-full before the first day of school for the 2017-2018 school year.

For more information on CEP, access the Georgia Department of Education site, www.gadoe.org or contact
communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

(Columbus, GA)-The Muscogee County School District (MCSD) increases the percentage of students identified as Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 14 of the 24 Georgia Milestones assessed areas. Likewise, MCSD decreased the percentage of students identified as Beginning Learners in twelve (12) areas and outperforms other second-tier city comparison districts (Bibb, Chatham, Richmond) in 20 of 24.

“I am pleased with the return on investment we are realizing in the sustained areas of improvement such as increased reading Lexile levels in nearly all grades,” said Dr. David Lewis, Superintendent. “Likewise, these results further substantiate our strategic realignment of budget and training priorities already in place for the coming year and beyond to address needed improvement in math as well as the transition to new state science and social studies curriculum standards that go into effect this year.”

Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) End-of-Grade Assessment Highlights

• The district increased or maintained the number of Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 9 of 16 (56.25%) areas on the End-of-Grade (EOG) assessment.
• The district decreased or maintained the number of Beginning Learners in 9 of 16 (56.25%) areas on the End-of-Grade assessment.
• The district increased or maintained the number of Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 4 of 6 (66.6%) of grade levels in English language arts.
• The district increased or maintained the number of Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 3 of 6 (50%) of grade levels in mathematics.
• The district increased the number of Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 8^th grade Science which represents 50% of grade levels assessed for Science.
• The district maintained the number of Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 8^th grade Social Studies which represents 50% of grade levels assessed Social Studies.

*These results include the combined EOG and EOC for math and science in 8^th grade.



GMAS End-of-Course Assessment Highlights

• The district increased or maintained the number of Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 5 of 7 (71.4%) areas on the End-of-Course assessments (EOC).
  (This is the first year MCSD administered Geometry instead of Analytic Geometry, so two-year trend data is not available.)
• The district decreased the number of Beginning Learners in 3 of 7 (42.8%) areas on the End-of-Course assessments
• The district increased the number of Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 2 of 2 (100%) of courses in English language arts
• The district increased the number of Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 2 of 2 (100%) of courses in science
• The district increased or maintained the number of Proficient and Distinguished Learners in 2 of 2 (100%) of courses in social studies

*The State results included a 2016 and 2017 comparison of Analytic Geometry.
MCSD no longer offers Analytic Geometry.




Patrick Knopf, Director of Research, Accountability and Assessment says, “An analysis of the release data and school level report shows there are increases in the number of students reading above grade level, which is a portion of the total ELA score, however, writing and math are areas that need improvement district-wide.”

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies for End of Grade (EOG) in grades 3-8, and End of Course (EOC) in grades 9-12.

Georgia Milestones EOG and EOC tests report student learning with four levels of performance, compared to three with the CRCT. The designations aim to shift the focus away from test scores and aim to capture the progression of a student’s learning.

Beginning Learners are students that require a significant amount of support from home and school to be successful in the next grade level.

Developing Learners have shown partial mastery of their grade level standards, but need some additional home and school support to be successful in the next grade level.

Proficient Learners have strongly shown the mastery of the grade level standards and they are ready to move up to the next grade level.

Distinguished Learners have shown mastery beyond the grade level, which indicates their readiness for advanced coursework.

“We thank and commend our students, teachers, administrators, and support staff for their hard work and commitment to our district’s continuous improvement,” added Lewis. “We recognize and appreciate the support of our parents and our community because we know schools cannot do this work alone.”

For more information, contact communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us or access the Georgia Department of Education, www.gadoe.org .

How to Register Your Child
2017-2018 School Calendar
Parent Forms to Complete
Elementary School Supply List

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (AHERA) was enacted by Congress to determine the extent of and develop solutions for any problems schools may have related to asbestos. A certified asbestos inspector, as required by AHERA, has inspected facilities of the Muscogee County School District. The results of the inspection were used to develop a professionally certified asbestos management plan.

The management plan of the district facilities includes the education and training of employees, a set of plans and procedures designed to minimize the disturbance of asbestos-containing materials and plans for regular surveillance of those materials.

A copy of the asbestos management plan is available for your scrutiny in the Principal or Supervisor’s office.

(Columbus, GA)-The Director of Communications, Valerie Fuller, is leaving the Muscogee County School District (MCSD) after a decade of dedicated service.

“I celebrated my 10 year anniversary with the Muscogee County School District July 2, 2017,” said Valerie Fuller, MCSD Director of Communications and Open Records Officer.“Although I have twenty-three years of various professional communications experience, this fiscal year begins my 12^th year of service in education communications in Georgia. It is a privilege to serve and support the students, employees, families, and community. Now, it’s time…time to take on a new career challenge that I have accepted, which is out of town.It is one that I look forward to and one that will allow me to continue using my gifts and talents in strategic and effective communications, which is my passion.”

Over the last decade Fuller has earned more than twenty (20) recognitions for exemplary and effective communications including, but not limited to the National Schools Public Relations Association Golden Achievement Award for implementation of the Be There: Parent, Family, Community involvement campaign, numerous (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) awards from the Georgia Schools Public Relations Association (GSPRA), and strategic communications planning that helped lead the way to successful passing of two Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for room to learn, ways to learn and support to learn for our students.

Under her leadership, she also developed the concept and implementation plan for the live-streaming of all high school graduations in support of all MCSD students and families, and as a special effort to support military children and their families in partnership with WTVM News Leader 9.In addition, she streamlined the internal and external communications processes, implemented a mass notification system, and professional development trainings for school and district leaders and administrators, which significantly improved proactive communications and two-way communications throughout the district. Fuller also serves on several boards and has forged effective partnerships on behalf of the Muscogee County School District, which includes, but is not limited to WTVM News Leader 9, The Ledger-Enquirer, the American Cancer Society, Safe Kids of Columbus, United Way and the American Cancer Society.

Dr. David Lewis, MCSD Superintendent says, “Although perhaps best known to the parents, the students and the community of Columbus as the voice of district-wide communications, Ms. Fuller has distinguished herself at the state and national levels as well.I thank her for her dedication to our district the past ten years and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”

Fuller's last day with MCSD is effective Wednesday, August 2, 2017.



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