Bill

Bill > HB166


MS HB166

MS HB166
"Health Careers Academy"; create for students in Grades 9 through 12.


summary

Introduced
01/07/2026
In Committee
01/07/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Require The State Department Of Education And The Board Of Trustees Of State Institutions Of Higher Learning To Establish And Implement A Program Known As The "health Careers Academy" For Public School Students In Grades 9 Through 12; To Provide That The Purpose Of The Academy Will Be To Stimulate Interest In Science, Mathematics, Language Arts, Critical Thinking And Health Care Professions; To Require The Academy To Be Conducted As A Six-week Nonresidential Summer Program At The University Of Mississippi Medical Center; To Require The State Department Of Education And The Board Of Trustees Of State Institutions Of Higher Learning To Jointly Develop The Criteria And Process To Be Used In A Random Selection Of Candidates; To Require That The Criteria And Process Used Be Nondiscriminatory In Nature; To Prescribe The Eligibility Requirements For Participation In The Academy; To Prescribe The Components To Be Included In The Academy; To Require The Academy To Provide Full-day Instruction During The Course Of The Program; To Require Participating Students To Complete Certain Tasks And Research Projects; To Limit Participation In The Academy To Mississippi Residents In Grades 9 Through 12 Who Attend A Public School; To Require Eligible Persons To Submit An Application For Participation To The State Department Of Education; To Require The Department To Make The Applications Available To All School Districts By A Certain Date And To Establish The Deadline For Acceptance Of Applications; To Require The Department To Forward The Completed Applications To The Vice Chancellor For Health Affairs At The University Of Mississippi Medical Center At The Closing Date For Acceptance Of Applications; To Provide An Incentive In The Form Of A Stipend For Students Participating In The Academy; To Establish The Health Careers Academy Trust Fund In The State Treasury To Provide Support To Local School Districts And The University Of Mississippi Medical Center For Start-up Costs And Costs Associated With Implementing And Operating The Academy; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a "Health Careers Academy" for Mississippi public school students in Grades 9 through 12, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, to spark interest in science, math, language arts, critical thinking, and healthcare professions, particularly among underserved populations, and to improve ACT scores. The academy will be a six-week, non-residential summer program held at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and will include full-day instruction, hands-on activities, CPR certification, ACT preparation, and research projects. Eligibility is limited to Mississippi residents attending public schools with a 2.25 GPA, teacher recommendations, good attendance, positive character, and a desire to learn about healthcare, with parental consent required. The State Department of Education and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning will jointly develop a nondiscriminatory random selection process for participants. Students selected will receive a stipend of up to $1,000 upon completion. A "Health Careers Academy Trust Fund" will be created in the State Treasury to support start-up and operational costs for local school districts and UMMC, funded by federal, legislative, and private sources.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...