Earlier this month, the Education Week’s Quality Counts report gave the state of Mississippi an F in K-12 achievement. The report tracks key education indicators and grades states on their performance and outcomes. 
This year, the report also focused on school district governance and operations as its special theme, examining the impact of the increasingly complex fiscal, political and technological forces.
Mississippi was awarded a D+ in chance of success, F in K-12 achievement, D in school finance analysis, C in transitions and alignment, A in standards, assessments and accountability and D in the teaching profession. 
Carey Wright, who was appointed as the state superintendent of education Sep. 25, said in a statement on Jan. 8 that progression in education is crucial.
“We must forge ahead with supporting higher expectations for our students, providing technical assistance and professional development to our teachers and school leaders and working together to offer all of our students the education they deserve,” Wright said.
The report includes more than half (55 percent) survey respondents who agree that significant changes in the governance or structure of their school districts are needed in order to address the current challenges. 
According to the report, the state of Mississippi’s high school graduation rates ranks 46th in the nation.
In the state of the state address on Jan 22., Gov. Bryant said every Mississippian must have the opportunity to learn from the best educational system the state can offer.
“When we set about to develop our Education Works agenda, we found troubling evidence of the struggles in Mississippi classrooms. Just two weeks ago, Education Week released its Quality Counts ratings that placed Mississippi as No. 51 for K-12 student achievement,” Bryant said.
Bryant said the rating is unacceptable, but finger-pointing on the political landscape does not help children. 
“So we have worked together in these past two years to offer solutions. Not through some arbitrary formula or standards dictated by the federal government but by common sense priorities. Our Education Works reforms will help prepare children for lifelong learning by improving literacy skills and ending status-quo social promotion,” Bryant said. 
John Stephens, head of Starkville Academy, said many of the numbers in the report are indicative of where Mississippi has been for several years.
“One of our challenges is economics. It would mean getting these children into an education setting of 21st century technology, that’s the one thing we need to work for,” Stephens said.
Ceci Land, Starkville resident, said she wonders how large a role poverty plays into these statistics.
“It is almost impossible to focus on learning and improving yourself when the basics of life are in peril — access to consistent food, shelter, transportation, clothing and familial support provide the base of the pyramid that gives people or children the dignity and self-respect they need to take steps to educate themselves,” Land said.
Stephens said teacher recruitment is always a difficult thing with less people entering the teaching profession.
“This is not a negative shot at the legislation, but if a person has not been in these classrooms and in this school building actually teaching, they really don’t know what is going on, they don’t know the challenges the teachers and administrators have but I do appreciate that it is in the forefront for them and they are looking to make improvements,” Stephens said.