This story is part of a series of stories that students in the University of Mississippi’s Meek School of Journalism and New Media’s state government reporting class produced. Fred Anklam Jr., Mississippi Today’s co-editor, and LaReeca Rucker, Meek School journalism professor, will lead the class. JACKSON — Lt. Governor. Tate Reeves spoke Wednesday to a group of University of Mississippi journalism student journalists that the number one priority of the state was job creation. One way to achieve that goal is to increase education attainment. Reeves stated that education attainment must be improved in order to create a skilled workforce. Reeves stated that he is passionate about improving the educational outcomes of Mississippi students. Reeves stated that he believes public charter schools can be a way to improve these outcomes, particularly in poor areas. Reeves stated, “One thing that we are trying to accomplish in low income areas because it’s crucially important is we have been strong supporters in adding public charter school.” Public charter schools not only create options but also offer competition. This will improve the learning environment of these children. Consolidating school districts is another way that the state is trying improve educational outcomes. Over the past six years, school districts have decreased from 152 to just 139. Reeves stated that the best way students can get a quality education, is to have a teacher who is qualified. The best way to ensure that teachers are qualified is to spend more in the classroom than in the office. Reeves stated that output is not about the input of schools but rather about what they produce. He said that he meant constantly increasing student expectations and increasing graduation rates. The state’s graduation rate in 2017 was 82.3 percent. This is just a little less than the national average of 83.3 per cent. Reeves stated that this is a significant achievement because 3,000 more people will graduate with a high-school degree overtime, which will have a major impact on the quality and enforcement of our work. “All that we did was raise expectations. But Mississippi administrators, Mississippi teachers and Mississippi parents and, most importantly, Mississippi children have risen to the occasion and met those higher expectations.” Reeves and others advocate for a student-weighted school funding formula for 2018. He said, “At the end it’s how these kids are performing that will decide how well they do in their lives and how strong our economy.”