NEWS

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) is prioritizing the development of foundational literacy skills for thousands of students, with a special focus on kindergarten through 3rd grade.

At their annual board retreat, district leaders invited Dr. Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow with ExcelinEd and former Executive Director for the Jackson, MS Public School District’s Office of Teaching and Learning, to deliver a presentation on Mississippi’s education transformation efforts. Dr. Burk emphasized the critical importance of early literacy, noting that students who are not reading proficiently by 3rd grade are four times more likely not to graduate from high school. For African American and Hispanic students, that risk rises to six times.

Dr. Burk also addressed the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, outlining practical ways the business community can support local schools. She emphasized the importance of partnerships between schools and local businesses in enhancing student outcomes and improving graduation rates throughout the community.