Jackson Free Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves says Mississippi should stop using the Common Core State Standards to guide its public school curriculum and should instead create its own higher standards.

The Republican made the remarks Monday at a luncheon sponsored by Mississippi State University's Stennis Institute of Government and the Capitol press corps.

Reeves had previously blocked efforts by some senators to have Mississippi abandon the standards, saying he was monitoring implementation. He now says he's persuaded that the federal government has "hijacked" what began as an effort by states and business groups to improve academics.

Reeves says he wants the Legislature to appoint a task force to devise new standards, bypassing the state Board of Education. Reeves says he still supports state Superintendent Carey Wright, a staunch defender of Common Core.