The Picayune School District is implementing a Ready Common Core program to help elementary students meet Mississippi’s educational standards.

According to a Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation press release, the foundation gave the district a $19,442 grant to provide training to teachers and help students from third to sixth grade reach Common Core standards.

The Mississippi Common Core is a state-led effort that establishes a set of criteria for instruction for students in kindergarten through 12^th grade in English language arts and math, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.

The press release also stated that the Ready Common Core program is a “rigorous instruction and practice program for grades K-8 that fully prepares students for the Common Core State Standards.”

Vera Beech, curriculum director and testing coordinator for the Picayune School District, spoke to the foundation in order to establish a program in Picayune.

South Side Elementary School Principal Debbie Smith agreed with the idea and is optimistic the program will serve as a beneficial tool for students.

“The funds will provide online resources for our schools and for our teachers to use. It also provides materials for our students so they can get extra practice in math, reading and writing,” Smith said.

She added that her school received the new student workbooks, student instructional books and an online teacher toolbox last week.

“Of course all the different resources we can provide to students will help them reach the goals that have been put in place for them,” Smith said.

Last week, the Item reported that several Mississippi senators were against implementing Common Core standards in the classroom.

District 40 state Sen. Angela Burks Hill, R, wrote bill SB2690, along with additional authors, which called to repeal the Common Core standards and adopt a new standard.

The Mississippi State Senate denied the bill this week, Hill said.