Mississippi School for the Blind (MSB)
 

I. Instructional Services
K-12 net enrollment	81
Early Intervention enrollment	54
Percent graduates earning academic diplomas	75%
ACT test scores	Ranged from 13 to 19 for the year.
Percent grade averages of "B" or "S" or better maintained by:	elementary students:                    48% pre-vocational students:              26% junior/senior high students:        40%
Instructional training provided	Braille, low vision, orientation and mobility, daily living skills, and use of computers and/or adaptive technology.
Tests administered in conjunction with MDE's assessment program	*FLE *Mississippi Curriculum Test *Subject Area Tests *English II Writing Assessment *ACT (not part of MDE program)
MSB accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
MSB memberships	Mississippi High School Activities Association; South Central Association of Schools for the Blind (SCASB).
Other programs in which students participated	*Approximately 60% of all MSB students took piano lessons and choir. *Approximately 38% of all students in grades 9 through 12 participated in one or more of the athletic programs. *Students competed and many placed in the SCASB Conference Tournament in track and field, wrestling, and cheerleading. *Students also participated in the school's Science Fair and in the regional Reading Fair *2 students mainstreamed to Murrah High School for class work in Spanish and English.
Curriculum	*MSB continues to align its curriculum with the state's new science and math curricula. The MSB curriculum includes adaptations for its students. *A Core Curriculum Committee was established with representatives from each department and subject area. Each subject area group completed an end-of-year curriculum questionnaire, and results will be used in future planning.

II. Comprehensive Home-based Intervention Program (CHIP)
Eligibility	Visually-impaired children from birth to age five.
Number children served	54 children residing in 31 counties.
Instruction	*Teachers are specially trained in both the needs of visually impaired children, as well as in the needs of young children. *Services are home-based and provided free of charge with the aim of preparing children for enrollment in appropriate classroom learning situations. *Specific developmental needs of each child are addressed, and direct training in methods appropriate for enhancing each child's overall development is provided for parents. *Intervention ranges from baby rattles and parental nurturing programs and pre-mobility training to laptop computer programs and pre-Braille instruction.
Transition services	*Approximately 20 transition meetings were scheduled (four transition meetings can be provided to each child during the school year at the request of local school districts). *Provided to children entering their local school districts and MSB.

III. Low Vision Clinic (LVC)
Jackson Central Lions Club Low Vision Clinic at MSB	Serves visually impaired students of Mississippi, regardless of their educational setting.
Eligibility	Children from birth to age 21 whose vision is not correctable by conventional prescription glasses or contact lenses are provided low vision consultations, training, and follow-up. Services are free of charge by the LVC staff on Wednesdays during the school year.
Evaluations performed	*125 children were evaluated during 140 appointments, with several students having multiple evaluations during the year. *12% increase in the number of off-campus students evaluated over SY 99-00. *Approximately 37% of the evaluations were for children ages birth to age 4, 43% for ages 5 to 12, and 20% for ages 13 to 21. *The predominant eye conditions exhibited by evaluated students were retinal in nature (38%) with optic nerve damage or irregularities accounting for another 26%. The other 36% of students exhibited one or more of the following: neurologically induced visual impairments, aphakia, ocular media opacities, aniridia, or glaucoma.  *The greatest number of students were from the Third (27%) and Fourth (33%) Congressional Districts, followed by the Second District (17%), and First and Fifth Districts (11% each). *Students from 30 counties were served.

IV. Mississippi Instructional Resources Center (MIRC)
Purpose	Serves as the repository for specialized learning aids and large type and Braille textbooks for the Mississippi Department of Education.
Materials	*Purchased with state and federal funds. *Provided on a free-loan basis to eligible students attending public and private schools as approved by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Number served	182 students.

V. Outreach Program
Number served	*386 people. *Seventeen school districts and 6 programs or agencies were served through some aspect of the MSB Outreach Program in the 2000-2001 school year. *Approximately 37 individuals representing 14 different school districts participated in the Outreach Training Professional Development programs during the year.
Training provided	*Service was provided through tours, informational training tours, phone conferences, in-service training programs, and training forums. *In-service training was offered monthly on the MSB campus without cost to the participant. *The training exposed participants to information about visual impairments, curricula, accommodations and adaptations, specific educational concerns for visually impaired children, orientation and mobility, low vision assessments and aids, and guidelines for obtaining large print and Braille materials. *MSB hosted the Tenth Annual National Outreach Forum for Schools for the Blind in March, 2000. Thirty-five individuals from 22 states were represented.

VI. Residential Services
Students receiving services	*Approximately 75% of the students enrolled at MSB receive residential education services in two dorms for female students and three dorms for male students. *Seniors are scheduled to receive extended independent living training while residing in the Independent Living House.
Services provided	*28 staff members in the residential department ensure students experience a home-like environment to help meet their educational needs. *Professional development for residential staff members included training in the MANDT System, first aid, transportation safety, rights of students and staff, basic sign language and other communication skills, basic Braille, and basic computer applications.