Mississippi one step closer to scrapping high school history test requirement
Published 4:02 pm Monday, August 19, 2019
Mississippi education officials are taking another step toward scrapping a now-required U.S. history test.
The state Commission on School Accreditation voted unanimously on Monday to recommend to the state Board of Education that Mississippi stop giving the test to high school students.
Students formerly had to pass exams in history, English, algebra and biology to graduate. Now, there are alternate routes to graduate, but some Mississippi students still don’t earn a diploma because they failed one or more tests.
Teacher groups and others who say students are overtested are seeking the change.
The history test also counts in Mississippi’s A-to-F grading system for high schools and districts.
The state Board of Education plans to seek public comment before voting later this year.
No changes will take place this school year