NATCHEZ — Natchez-Adams School District leaders hope new coaching positions created Friday will help elementary school students become better readers.

During a specially called board meeting Friday morning, the NASD Board of Trustees approved the creation of a literary coach position within the district, whose responsibilities will include providing support to teachers in implementing the five components of reading, developing a school-wide literacy plan and analyzing data, among other things.

Superintendent Frederick Hill said the position was needed, in part, because of a legislative action passed last year that requires third-grade students to reach a certain achievement level in reading before advancing to the fourth grade.

The Literacy-Based Promotion Act was passed during the 2013 Mississippi Legislature and mandates that students scoring at the lowest achievement level in reading on state tests for third graders would not be promoted to the fourth grade. The requirements go into effect in the 2014-2015 school year.

Board president Tim Blalock said the new positions would allow the district to start helping those students in need now instead of later.

“We’re being proactive and getting literary coaches ready to help the stragglers,” Blalock said.

Hill said the district will look to hire three individuals for the positions, which would work at the three elementary schools: McLaurin, Frazier and West.

In other news from the meeting:

• The board approved a revised version of the district’s parental involvement policy in an effort to contribute to the district’s goal to increase student achievement.

Federal guidelines require an annual review and adoption of the parental involvement policy for the district, and assistant superintendent Rhonda Prunty said this year’s revisions provide clearer guidelines and expectations where parental involvement is expected.

All parents in the district will sign a parent school compact designating specific responsibilities of the students, parents, teachers and the school regarding the child’s education.

The policy lists several strategies to increase parental involvement, including administering a parent needs survey in the spring of each year, arranging an annual parent meeting at the beginning of the school year, and providing parents information about programs and expectations, among other things.

• The board approved a three-day course to prepare for students for the ACT, a college preparatory exam.

The class will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 11 through 13 at Natchez High School, and is free for NASD students interested in participating.

For more information or to sign up for the class, call 601-445-3018.