Bill > HB161

This bill establishes a College and Career Readiness Planning Program in Mississippi public schools, aiming to improve student success in postsecondary education and the workforce by reducing the need for remedial courses. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, all eighth-grade students will be required to take the EXPLORE assessment, a pre-ACT test designed to help them explore future options and focus on high school coursework and post-high school choices. Tenth-grade students will be required to take either the PLAN assessment, another pre-ACT test focused on academic achievement and career planning, or the PSAT, a preliminary SAT test that provides practice and feedback on college readiness skills. The bill defines "college readiness assessment" as a test used by higher education institutions for admissions and placement and by high schools to enhance college and workforce readiness, and "college and career readiness" as a student's preparedness for college-level courses or the workforce without needing remedial instruction in their first year. The results of these assessments are to be fully integrated into each student's college and career planning process by the 2028-2029 school year, with data collected by the State Department of Education to improve instruction, school improvement plans, and reduce college remediation rates. Funding for these assessments may be provided through at-risk funding from the State Department of Education, and the department will report on the program's implementation and effectiveness to legislative education committees annually starting in 2030.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0161.xml