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Bill > HB278
MS HB278
MS HB278State Board of Education; require to develop curriculum and implement programs of conflict resolution.
summary
Introduced
01/10/2025
01/10/2025
In Committee
01/10/2025
01/10/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act To Amend Section 37-11-54, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The State Board Of Education To Develop The Curriculum And Implement A Program Of Conflict Resolution And Peer Mediation To Be Used By Local School Districts; To Provide That The Curriculum Developed For Use Shall Be Age And Grade Appropriate; To Require Programs Of Conflict Resolution And Peer Mediation In Failing Districts To Be Supervised By The School Resource Officer With The Assistance Of Other District Personnel To Combat Violence And Bullying; To Provide That The Program Of Conflict Resolution Shall Provide School Administrators With Alternatives To Handling Student Disciplinary Matters; To Amend Section 37-11-53, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require School Districts To Allow Any Public School Student Who Has Never Been Subject To Disciplinary Action Who Commits An Act Or Engages In Conduct For Which The Student Otherwise Would Be Suspended Or Expelled Under The School District's Discipline Plan, At The Election Of The Student, To Participate In A Community Service Program As An Alternative To Suspension Or Expulsion; To Provide That While Participating In The Program, The Student Shall Receive Youth Peer Counseling Deemed Appropriate By The School District; To Amend Sections 37-3-82 And 37-3-83, Mississippi Code Of 1972, In Conformity To The Preceding Provisions; To Bring Forward Section 37-7-321, Mississippi Code Of 1972, For The Purpose Of Possible Amendments; And For Related Purposes.
AI Summary
This bill requires the Mississippi State Board of Education to develop a comprehensive conflict resolution and peer mediation curriculum for public schools, to be implemented statewide by the 2025-2026 school year. Specifically, the curriculum must address responsible decision-making, causes of school violence, cultural diversity, and nonviolent conflict resolution techniques, and will be age- and grade-appropriate. For school districts rated as "D" or "F", the conflict resolution program must be directly supervised by the school resource officer, working alongside a licensed teacher and professional counselor. The bill also introduces an alternative disciplinary approach, allowing first-time offending students to choose community service and peer counseling instead of traditional suspension or expulsion. School resource officers will now have an expanded role to include conflict resolution and peer mediation supervision, and the bill mandates that school districts' safety plans incorporate these new conflict resolution strategies. By providing schools with alternative disciplinary methods and emphasizing proactive conflict resolution, the bill aims to reduce school violence, bullying, and disruptive behaviors while promoting a more constructive educational environment.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Died In Committee (on 02/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0278.xml |
| BillText | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2025/html/HB/0200-0299/HB0278IN.htm |
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