Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

Smith, Kaleb

Committee Member

Bost, Zachary

Committee Member

Brandt, W. Christopher

Committee Member

Milam, Alisha

Date of Degree

5-15-2026

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Education (Educational Policy & Organizational Design)

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

College

College of Education

Department

Division of Education

Abstract

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to identify schools for improvement based on overall performance and the performance of student subgroups. While substantial research has examined CSI schools, limited attention has been given to state policies governing the identification and exit of TSI and ATSI schools. This project evaluates Mississippi’s policy for identifying and exiting TSI and ATSI schools to determine whether the system appropriately identifies underperforming subgroups, promotes sustained improvement, and aligns with ESSA's equity-focused intent. Guided by the policy analysis triangle framework, the study employed a desk-based secondary data analysis of Mississippi’s publicly available state and federal accountability data for the 2017–2018 through 2024–2025 school years. Descriptive statistics were used to examine identification patterns, subgroup representation, exit and reidentification rates, and contextual factors, including school summative ratings, enrollment, grade configuration, and community socioeconomic conditions. The findings and subsequent recommendations were compiled in a policy analysis report addressed to the Mississippi Department of Education. The findings indicate that Mississippi’s accountability system effectively identifies schools with underperforming subgroups across all summative rating levels and community contexts, including schools whose overall performance may otherwise mask subgroup disparities. However, the findings highlight challenges related to minimum n-size requirements and the stability of subgroup measures. Additionally, the findings highlight misalignment between state and federal accountability systems, which limits the system’s effectiveness.

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