Gov. Phil Bryant will lead the national group that awarded Mississippi an award earlier this year for innovation in education. Bryant, a Republican was elected to the office of chairman of the Denver-based Education Commission of the States during the group’s winter conference. Bryant will succeed Montana Governor. Steve Bullock (a Democrat) in July 2017. Bryant announced on his Facebook page that “this is a credit the progress Mississippi has seen in recent years regarding our education system.” Mississippi has made the most significant gains on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the nation’s report card about public schools, for two consecutive years. Mississippi ranks second for significant gains in science, math, and reading results. The state is still in the bottom tier of each grade and subject. There is also a large achievement gap between students of different races and genders. Despite recent improvements, the state remains at the bottom of the national rankings. The state’s education funding formula is still being underfunded by the Legislature. Two legislative committees engaged a consulting firm in October to examine and suggest a new funding model. The Education Commission of the States gave Mississippi the Frank Newman Award of State Innovation in May. It cited a “transformational education package” that included the expansion of charter schools as well as the implementation of an A-to-F accountability system for schools. The group also cited the 2014 teacher pay hike. Contributing: Kate Royals. Support this work by making a regular donation today to celebrate our Spring Member Drive. This will allow us to continue important work such as this story. Our reporters give a human face to policy’s impact on everyday Mississippians by listening more closely and understanding their communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think. Republish this Story You can republish our articles online or in print for free under a Creative Commons licence.