JACKSON, Miss.–Your state is responsible for what your kids learn in public school, was the gist of an executive order issued by Gov. Phil Bryant Monday afternoon, as the State of Mississippi prepares to implement Common Core standards. Some have called those standards into question lately, believing Common Core, to some degree, turns over educational standards to the federal government.
The action does not block Common Core, which was adopted by the Miss. Dept. of Education in 2010.
Common Core was not conceived by the federal government, but has since been embraced and promoted by the Obama administration, causing some to become concerned that it may be a vehicle to push federal concepts.
The state’s new superintendent of Education, Cary Wright, has voiced her support for Common Core.
House Education Chair John Moore and Senate Chair Gray Tollison both supported Bryant’s order.
“Mississippi families need to know that their children’s education is not going to be turned over to an outside authority, and I thank Gov. Bryant for this order,” said Moore. “We are in tune with our constituents’ concerns and look forward to further codifying the points of this order in the upcoming legislative session.”
“Excellent public education opportunities are vital to our state’s success, and the Legislature takes the responsibility for fostering success in Mississippi classrooms very seriously,” aid Tollison. “We have seen tremendous momentum for improvement, and this order clarifies that Mississippians have the right to continue creating education solutions that are best for this state.”
The executive order affirms that:
- the state and its local public school districts, not the federal government, shall determine public school standards and curricula.
- the state and not the federal government shall select statewide assessments, and local school districts may implement additional assessments to monitor academic progress.
- no federal law or grant currently purports to mandate the adoption of any uniform, nationwide academic standards, curricula, or assessments.
- the state is under no obligation to comply with any future federal mandates for uniform academic standards, curricula or assessments.
- the collection of test data and other student information pertaining to academic performance shall comply with all laws that protect student and family privacy.
- the constitutional rights of Mississippi school children and their families will not be violated as result of federal education decisions.
- that, in accordance with applicable law, homeschool students are not bound by K-12 academic standards set by the Mississippi Department of Education.
