Bill > HB313

This bill establishes a College and Career Readiness Planning Program in Mississippi's public schools to help students better prepare for post-secondary education and workforce opportunities. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all 8th-grade students will take the EXPLORE pre-ACT assessment, and all 10th-grade students will take either the PLAN pre-ACT or PSAT assessment. These assessments are designed to provide early insights into students' academic readiness, help identify areas for improvement, and guide course selection and career planning. The bill recognizes that many students currently enter college unprepared, requiring remedial courses that increase educational costs and time to degree completion. By implementing these assessments, the state aims to provide students, teachers, and guidance counselors with valuable data about college readiness skills, reduce the need for remediation, and ultimately increase student success in higher education and the workforce. The State Department of Education will collect and analyze data from these assessments, report on the program's effectiveness to legislative committees by October 1, 2029, and develop rules to ensure school compliance. Funding for these assessments may come from the department's at-risk funding, and schools are expected to fully incorporate assessment results into their college and career planning processes by the 2027-2028 school year.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0313.xml