NATCHEZ — Natchez-Adams School District leaders hope new programs and resources will help ensure third graders can soon become better readers.

The district hopes to get a jumpstart on requirements of the state’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act, which requires third-grade students to reach a certain achievement level in reading before advancing to the fourth grade.

The requirements went into effect this school year, and Superintendent Frederick Hill discussed with NASD Board of Trustee members Thursday ways the district is planning on ensuring students meet the new regulations. .

Based on state test scores from the 2013-14 school year, Hill said nearly 50 percent of third-grade students in the district were not reading on grade level.

Preliminary data show students are on roughly the same level this year so far.

In an effort to support the act, the Mississippi Department of Education created literacy coach positions that were meant to work in local school districts to develop literacy programs.

Hill told board members that Latoya Clark, a West Elementary teacher, was chosen by MDE to be a participant in the statewide program.

As part of the program, Clark will receive training through MDE on the Literacy-Based Promotion Act requirements and work with elementary schools in Natchez to monitor and provide support for those requirements.

Hill said teachers that are selected for that program don’t always stay in the districts in which they already teach, but Clark will remain in Natchez.

“We were fortunate enough to have someone in our district that the state selected to be a part of this program, but who is also going to stay here and work with our district,” Hill said. “This will have a direct impact on the Literacy-Based Promotion Act requirements, but it will also develop the students’ writing and reading skills.”

Though Clark will remain employed by the district, MDE will provide funding to cover the cost of her training and employment in the position through June 30, Hill said.

Students at Frazier Elementary School, where Clark will spend the majority of her time, will benefit greatly from the program, but so will other teachers and administrators, Hill said.“The professional development and support will be there for others at the school as well,” Hill said.

Board member Thelma Newsome said Clark’s selection was impressive.

“It’s very nice that someone from this district has been picked by the state department of education,” Newsome said. “That says a lot.”

Another program the district hopes to use to target literacy wouldn’t be implemented until the following school year, but is something Hill hopes will make a significant impact throughout the district.

Hill presented board members with a plan to create a peer mentoring and tutoring program within the district.

Members of a non-profit organization called Peer Power visited Natchez last year to present the basic structure of the program to district leaders.

The program pays high school and college students an hourly wage to tutor district students after school.

Hill said the program was a perfect one to use to tackle the problem of literacy in the district.

In the proposed program for Natchez, college students majoring in education would lead groups of high school students to provide tutoring for third-grade students that have not demonstrated grade level proficiency in reading based on data from state and district assessments.

A teacher at each elementary school would serve as site coordinator for each location, while college students would serve as captains for each team of tutors.

The tutoring would occur after school for nearly two hours a day Monday through Thursday.

Hill asked the board to review the proposal he presented and offer feedback while other portions of the plan, such as costs and funding sources, are finalized.

Hill said he hopes the program would be implemented for the 2015-16 school year, but the program first requires board approval.