Common Core Transition

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The details of Mississippi’s transition to Common Core are becoming clearer.

The state Board of Education is likely Friday to approve new course high school descriptions, a transition plan for standardized tests and new textbook lists, after discussion Thursday.

Mississippi public schools are switching to the new standards even as detractors try to build support in the Legislature to get Mississippi to pull out of Common Core, which has been adopted by 45 states.

Mississippi Department of Education officials are warning the changeover in high school math could be particularly challenging, with more difficult material pushed into lower grades. The board plans to eliminate math and English courses based on Mississippi’s old standards. But old math courses are likely to remain in the 2014-2015 school year to ease the transition.