State Education officials answer lawmakers’ questions

Lawmakers grill Mississippi Dept. of Education officials

Lawmakers grilled Mississippi Department of Education officials about everything from recent cheating allegations and state testing irregularities to school funding and the role of the department.

Rep. Becky Currie asked State Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright about her handling of cheating allegations in Clarksdale and other school districts, including the timeline of the outside firm’s investigation into testing irregularities flagged as possible cheating incidents.

“I have a weekly conference call with the firm investigating, and we are working at their pace,” Wright said. Wright presented a plan to restructure the department, telling the committee operational functions of the department were spread out and uncoordinated.

Wright’s plan creates three chief officers to oversee operations, academics and school performance, including one person who will look at the department as a whole.

ClarionLedger
6/30/14