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Bill > HB1311


MS HB1311

MS HB1311
Teaching Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Virtue and Excellence (T.H.R.I.V.E.) Act; establish.


summary

Introduced
01/19/2026
In Committee
01/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Be Known As The Teaching Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Virtue And Excellence (t.h.r.i.v.e.) Act; To Require The State Department Of Education To Mandate Developmentally Appropriate Success Sequence And Character Education Courses In All Public Elementary And Secondary Schools Beginning With The 2026-2027 School Year; To Require The Department To Approve A Ministerial, Nondiscretionary List Of Compliant Courses And Instructional Materials And Restrict Districts To Adoption From That Approved List; To Prescribe The Specific Success Sequence Principles And Enumerated Character Traits And Fundamental Values To Be Taught, Including Respect For Family, Marriage, Work, Personal Responsibility, Lawful Authority, Community Service, Patriotism, And Moral Character; To Require Local School Boards To Provide Public Notice Of Curriculum Adoption, Ensure Transparency Through Public Inspection Of Materials, And Establish Parental Opt-out Rights Without Penalty To Students; To Require Annual Compliance Reporting By The State Department Of Education To State Leadership And Public Disclosure Of District Compliance Status; To Authorize Acceptance Of Federal Or Private Funds To Assist Implementation; To Require Local School Boards To Adopt Policies Permitting Voluntary, Parent-consented After-school Instruction Programs Provided By Third Parties That Offer Philosophical, Historical, Traditional, Or Religious Justifications For The Success Sequence And Character Education Curriculum, Subject To Content Consistency And Viewpoint Neutrality Protections; To Authorize The State Department Of Education To Promulgate Rules Necessary For Implementation; To Provide For Codification In Chapter 13, Title 37, Mississippi Code Of 1972; To Establish Supremacy Over Conflicting State Laws Or Policies; To Provide Severability; To Set An Effective Date; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill, known as the Teaching Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Virtue and Excellence (T.H.R.I.V.E.) Act, mandates that by the 2026-2027 school year, Mississippi public elementary and secondary schools must teach specific "success sequence" principles, which include finishing high school, working full-time, and marrying before having children, alongside character education courses. The State Department of Education will create a non-discretionary, approved list of compliant courses and instructional materials, restricting school districts to choosing only from this list to ensure consistency with values such as trustworthiness, responsibility, respect for family, authority, patriotism, and lifelong marriage. Local school boards must publicly announce curriculum adoptions, allow parents to inspect materials, and provide an opt-out option for students without penalty, while the State Department of Education will report annually on district compliance and make this information public. The bill also allows for the acceptance of federal or private funds for implementation and requires local school boards to permit voluntary, parent-consented after-school programs that offer philosophical, historical, traditional, or religious justifications for the curriculum, provided these programs are consistent with the curriculum's purpose and viewpoint-neutral. The State Department of Education is authorized to create necessary rules, and this act will supersede any conflicting state laws or policies.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)

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