Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A group pushing for changes in how the nation trains teachers says Mississippi's teacher training programs are mediocre at best.

The report is from the National Council on Teacher Quality, and is backed by Mississippi groups pushing for educational improvements. However, leaders of some colleges of education say the council's report either misconstrues information or is based on incorrect information.

William Carey University and the Mississippi University for Women generally did the best on the ratings, while the council issued a "consumer alert" over some programs at Delta State University, warning students to avoid them.

NCTQ is influential. Gov. Phil Bryant pushed its recommendations to raise entrance standards for teaching programs during the 2013 legislative session.

The report faults most Mississippi colleges on student teaching, lesson planning and classroom management.