Statewide School District Clears House Hurdle

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A plan for a new statewide school district to take control of faltering local school districts is moving forward in the Mississippi House.

Representatives voted 82-38 to pass House Bill 989 (http://bit.ly/1p25v2d ) Thursday, sending it to the Senate for more work.

The bill passed by the House was overhauled, putting the state Board of Education in charge instead of a separate seven-member board the bill originally proposed.

The achievement school district would take over any district rated “F” for two straight years, starting with yet-to-be released ratings for 2015-2016.

Districts could be run by charter operators. A district would remain in the achievement district until it scores a “C” rating or better for five years, plus a majority of parents and school employees vote to return it to local control.