JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Board of Education has approved a temporary rule allowing greater flexibility regarding accreditation in a district placed under conservatorship.
The Clarion-Ledger reports (https://on.thec-l.com/1dfKrsd) that the rule approved Friday changes a policy that had required withdrawal of accreditation for school districts taken over by the state.
The board’s decision to allow more leeway in accreditation comes after the resignations of the Scott County district superintendent and all school board members following the state’s takeover of the Scott district. The state cited violations and accreditation issues unrelated to academics.
The takeover had endangered student athletes’ ability to finish out the year’s sports seasons because, until Friday’s policy change, the takeover would have meant automatic accreditation loss.
The temporary rule is effective for 120 days while public comments are gathered.
Wayne Gann, chairman of the state board, said the intent of the original policy was to get local communities involved in a school district when it was academically failing.
“We did not anticipate it would apply to ’A’ and ’B’ districts,” Gann said.
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Information from: The Clarion-Ledger, https://www.clarionledger.com
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