Mississippi science standards get C

HATTIESBURG — An educational research institute gives Mississippi a grade of C for what it describes as mediocre standards for teaching science in public schools.

But state associate superintendent Trecina Green tells The Hattiesburg American it’s a tremendous improvement from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute’s last report. In 2005, Mississippi got an F from the Washington-based group.

Green says only 13 states got a higher grade and 27 got lower grades.

She says a 2008 curriculum rewrite took the earlier report into consideration.

Curriculum standards tell teachers what kindergarten through 12th-grade students should know.

Official Kathleen Porter-Magee says Fordham considered content and rigor, and whether they were specific enough to guide instruction and tests.

She says Mississippi was squarely in the middle of disappointing national results.