Bill > HB154

This bill establishes a College and Career Readiness Planning Program in Mississippi public schools, requiring eighth graders to take the EXPLORE assessment and tenth graders to take either the PLAN or PSAT assessment, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. These assessments, collectively referred to as "college readiness assessments," are designed to measure a student's preparedness for college-level work or the workforce without needing remedial courses, a concept defined as "college and career readiness." The program aims to lower educational costs and shorten degree completion times by identifying students who need additional academic support early on, thereby reducing the need for remediation in college. The results of these assessments will be used by schools to guide students in course selection, improve academic achievement, and inform their overall college and career planning. The State Department of Education will collect data from these assessments to track progress, improve instruction, enhance school improvement plans, and ultimately reduce college remediation rates, and will report on the program's implementation and effectiveness to legislative education committees annually starting in 2029. Funding for these assessments may be provided through existing at-risk student funding.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0154.xml