Ellington

JACKSON — Mississippi is the latest state to receive a waiver from portions of the federal No Child Child Left Behind Act.

Lynn House, the interim state superintendent, told the Associated Press the exemptions would give Mississippi schools greater flexibility.

"The waiver includes incentives for student growth, ambitious performance targets in math and reading/language arts, and closing the gap between student groups," House told the AP.

To get the school waivers, school districts have to agree to prepare students better for college and the workforce, improve teacher effectiveness and performance at low-achieving schools.

President Obama has granted more than half the states waivers from the law that his White House predecessor, George W. Bush, championed.