On Sept. 18, 2025, the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation voted to request that the State Board of Education begin the Administrative Procedures Act process to revise Process Standard 3.1 so that the Office of School and District Transformation may use a new evaluation instrument for interim superintendents in state-run transformation districts and state special schools. John Farrell presented the tool, which was developed with feedback from four interim superintendents and aligns with the Mississippi Department of Education Administrative Growth Rubric's four-point scoring (4 = above and beyond; 3 = expected; 2 = needs growth; 1 = urgent concern). The tool emphasizes a district analysis (standard 1), and requires each interim superintendent to produce a strategic plan targeting three prioritized goals — including the what, why, who, when and how — and to provide monthly update forms. The office will conduct regular site visits, provide follow-up reports and convene collaborative brainstorming sessions at MDE at least three times per year so interim superintendents can share plans and strategies. Farrell said the evaluation will be performed by staff from the Office of School and District Transformation. The commission moved and seconded a request to begin the APA process and approved it by voice vote; final adoption would require completion of APA steps and State Board approval.