Miss. Ed. Board encourages House to pass accountability bill

The Sun Herald, 3/18/8

The Mississippi Board of Education is urging lawmakers to pass a bill that would make school superintendents more accountable for academic performance in their districts.

Under the bill, a superintendent in a district that is low-performing for two consecutive years will be removed from office. If that superintendent is elected, his position becomes appointed.

Board of Education Chairman Claude Hartley of Belden said on Monday that he hopes the bill will survive this legislative session. He said holding leadership accountable is the key to a district’s success. Mississippi traditionally ranks at or near the bottom nationally on assessment tests.