Bill > SB2302

This bill, known as the Teaching Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Virtue, and Excellence (THRIVE) Act, mandates that the State Department of Education require public elementary and secondary schools to teach "success sequence and character education courses" by the 2026-2027 school year, with the department approving a list of compliant courses and materials by June 30, 2026. These courses must teach the value of finishing high school, working full-time, and marrying before having children, along with specific character traits and fundamental values such as trustworthiness, responsibility, kindness, respect for authority and life, patriotism, and fidelity within marriage, among others. School boards are required to publicly announce the adoption of these courses, make materials available for inspection, and allow parents to opt their children out, with participation being voluntary and terminable by parents at any time. The State Department of Education will also report annually to the legislature and the public on school districts' compliance with these requirements. Furthermore, schools must make their premises available for voluntary after-school programs provided by third parties that offer philosophical, historical, traditional, or religious justifications for the success sequence and character education, with parental consent required for student participation.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/SB/SB2302.xml