Bryant Says State Will Decide School Standards

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Gov. Phil Bryant says the state and not the federal government will set academic standards for Mississippi schools.

The Republican Bryant issued an executive order Monday. He says Mississippi would not give up its right to set the curriculum and the standards for its public schools.

A spokesman for Bryant told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (http://bit.ly/19O1lMG ) that the executive order does not block the enactment of Common Core

In recent months, the Common Core standards have come under attack from various conservative groups that maintain the federal government is meddling with local public schools. The Common Core standards were developed by the nation’s governors and public school officials.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and the House and Senate education chairmen voiced support for Bryant’s action.