JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Key parts of Gov. Phil Bryant's education agenda are advancing in the state House.
The House Education Committee approved two bills Wednesday. One would create tax credits for people who donate scholarships to students who attend private schools. Though critics have described the measure as a back-door way to create school vouchers, it attracted little Democratic opposition in committee.
The other measure would take a number of steps, including setting up stronger reading standards for students in kindergarten through third grade, raising requirements to major in education at state universities and setting up a pilot teacher merit pay program.
Lawmakers stripped out of the second measure provisions that would have allowed students to transfer to schools in other districts or other schools in their district.
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