JACKSON, Miss. -- Your Mississippi Senate passes an education reform package. This could be a game changer for your child’s education.
 
The bill gives parents a choice in their child's education, creating a compromise on charter schools and giving A and B school districts power to veto charters school from coming into their districts. In C-rated districts, charter schools would have to gain approval from both the school board and state authorizing board. Charter schools in districts rated D and F would need only approval from the state’s independent authorizing board.
 
Academic standards for teachers would be raised, requiring a 21 on the ACT and 3.0 GPA. Under the bill high schools with a graduation rates lower than 80 percent must submit an improvement plan to reduce those rates.
 
The bill will also measures literacy skills for students below the third grade and would requires third graders to meet reading standards before moving on to the fourth.
 
“This legislation is the most significant education reform package seen in Mississippi since the Education Reform Act of 1982,” Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said. “The public is tired of excuses for not improving education. Gov. Bryant and I agree his initiatives can have a real impact on the quality of education, which will lead to better jobs for future generations. The Legislature has kicked the can down the road long enough. It’s time for real change.”
 
The bill now heads to the house for concurrence.