Miss. Common Core Opponents Seek Momentum as Session Starts

BY JEFF AMY
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. — Gov. Phil Bryant is calling on lawmakers to erase Mississippi’s participation in the Common Core academic standards, but just what legislative leaders plan remains unclear.

Bryant spoke Tuesday to more than 100 who gathered on the Capitol steps to oppose the standards, saying they’re a loss of state control and academically flawed.

The standards were adopted by Mississippi and many other states. They’re intended to provide national benchmarks while helping students learn more analytically and less by memorization.

The rally, meant to build pressure on lawmakers to oppose Common Core as the 2015 legislative session opened, was attended by state senators who led an unsuccessful fight against Common Core last year. Their prospects could be better this year, as Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves now says he opposes Common Core.