JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi educators responded to the State Board of Education’s (SBE) decision to eliminate the administration and graduation requirement of the U.S. History statewide assessment beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

Dr. Darein Spann, president of the Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE), said he hopes the state will consider eliminating more mandated tests. He believes state testing is often unnecessary and fails to accurately measure a student’s knowledge.

“I have really been a proponent, especially working in high school. And in last couple of years working as the principal of a high school and seeing where conversations had to be had with parents and students, after they’ve been in school 12, 13 years to finish and can’t graduate because of a state exam, so I’m excited,” Spann said.

“There is room for, I guess you would say, mind growth and imagination that they can enhance what’s beyond the textbooks and what’s beyond the facts. And students can put their creativity into making this world better and possibly some new ideas that we’ve never thought of,” said Jacqueline Brown, a teacher at Okolona High School.

According to the SBE, all students will still be required to take and pass the high school U.S. History course to qualify for graduation. State assessments in Algebra I, Biology and English Language Arts will continue to be administered and remain a graduation requirement.