Mississippi’s state Board of Education is voting to take the Humphreys County and Yazoo City school districts into a statewide district aimed at improving academic performance.

The board voted Thursday to include the two as the first districts in Mississippi’s achievement school district.

Board members chose not to take over Amite County, Jefferson County and Clarksdale districts.

The board in 2018 delayed takeover actions, waiting until a superintendent was hired for the achievement district. A board member indicates Thursday the state has a candidate to hire.

The achievement district can take over schools with state ratings of F for two years, or in two of three years.

The board previously decided only to take over districts with half or more F-rated schools or half or more students attending F-rated schools.