Ellington

FLOWOOD, Miss. (AP) — Gov. Phil Bryant continues to tout the "transformative" potential of new education measures.

The Republican Bryant signed four bills into law Wednesday at Northwest Rankin High School, where he pledged last fall to seek many of the changes.

Among the new laws is one that expands the authority to create charter schools — public schools run by private groups that agree to meet certain standards in exchange for less regulation.

Bryant is also praising efforts to improve literacy instruction in early grades, coupled with a requirement to flunk any third grader who can't read at basic levels.

Other measures include a scholarship plan for high-performing students who become teachers and a pilot plan to pay teachers on merit.

Bryant signed a separate bill creating state-funded prekindergarten classes Tuesday.