Bill > HB372

This bill, called the Mississippi High School Dropout Prevention Act of 2025, requires the State Department of Education to implement comprehensive strategies to reduce high school dropout rates. The bill mandates that the department work closely with school districts having the lowest graduation rates, developing targeted intervention methods such as early math intervention, alternative programs for dropouts, dual enrollment opportunities, and specialized support for at-risk students including foster youth, pregnant teens, English language learners, and special education students. The bill also establishes strict guidelines for student withdrawal, allowing 17-year-olds to leave school only under specific conditions like documented financial hardship, illness, or court order, and requiring an exit interview with written acknowledgement that explains the potential negative economic consequences of dropping out. Additionally, the department must collect detailed data on student suspension, enrollment in alternative programs, course failures, and other metrics to continuously improve dropout prevention strategies. Schools are empowered to withdraw chronically absent students after documented attempts to contact parents, with a provision for prompt reenrollment if the student returns or was mistakenly withdrawn. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0372.xml