Early Commitment to College Program; establish in schools and districts assigned an "F" accountability rating.

H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 1 (DJ\KW)

To: Education; Universities
and Colleges
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Scott

HOUSE BILL NO. 153

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE EARLY COMMITMENT TO COLLEGE PROGRAM; 1
TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH AN "F" ACCOUNTABILITY 2
RATING, AS DEFINED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO BE 3
DESIGNATED AS A COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY ZONE; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL OR 4
SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SIXTH THROUGH 5
NINTH GRADES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN A "SAVE ME A SPOT IN COLLEGE" 6
PLEDGE; TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOLS OR DISTRICTS NOT HAVING THE COLLEGE 7
OPPORTUNITY ZONE DESIGNATION TO ALLOW CERTAIN STUDENTS TO 8
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM; TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES AND 9
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH RESPECT 10
TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM; TO AUTHORIZE A FEE WAIVER 11
FOR STUDENTS COMPLETING THE PROGRAM TO ATTEND A PUBLIC COMMUNITY 12
OR JUNIOR COLLEGE OR STATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING; TO 13
REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE 14
LEGISLATURE; TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES TO 15
COLLABORATE AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES IN COORDINATION WITH 16
LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THIS ACT; TO 17
PROVIDE FOR THE REPEAL OF THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT ON 18
JULY 1, 2035; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 19
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 20
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to establish 21
a program to ensure early notification of and early commitment to 22
college opportunities for students in middle school and high 23
school and their families. It is the intent of the Legislature 24
that the program motivate students to stay in school, graduate 25
H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 2 (DJ\KW)

from high school, take college preparatory coursework, and, if 26
they choose to do so, seek postsecondary opportunities. 27
SECTION 2. The Early Commitment to College Program is 28
established for the purpose of accomplishing all of the following 29
goals: 30
(a) Increase high school completion rates, direct 31
college-going rates, and college preparation of students attending 32
schools with the greatest poverty and low-income students in 33
general; 34
(b) Motivate students to prepare for college by taking 35
college preparatory coursework, which may include career technical 36
coursework and the course requirements for admission to any state 37
institution of higher learning under the authority of the Board of 38
Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning; 39
(c) Help families understand that college is attainable 40
and affordable, that financial aid is available, and that with 41
adequate preparation their children can go to college if they 42
choose to do so; 43
(d) Provide a clear path and direct assistance for 44
students through middle schools, high schools, community colleges, 45
universities, and state and federal financial aid programs, 46
thereby improving opportunity and efficiency; and 47
(e) Prepare the highly skilled workforce necessary to 48
keep Mississippi's economy competitive, maintain the income and 49
H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 3 (DJ\KW)

quality of life for Mississippi residents, increase tax revenues, 50
and provide for improved civic and democratic participation. 51
SECTION 3. (1) As used in this act, the following phrases 52
have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context 53
clearly requires otherwise: 54
(a) "College Opportunity Zone" means a school in an "F" 55
school district, as designated by the State Board of Education, 56
which maintains any combination of sixth, seventh, eighth and 57
ninth grades, with a high proportion of low-income students. 58
(b) "Low-income student" means a student who is 59
eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. 60
(2) A school or school district assigned an accountability 61
rating of "F" must be designated as a College Opportunity Zone and 62
provide all students enrolled in sixth through ninth grades and 63
their parents and guardians the opportunity to sign a "Save Me a 64
Spot in College" pledge. 65
(3) A school in a participating school district not 66
designated as a College Opportunity Zone may give a student in 67
sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth grade who is eligible for free and 68
reduced-price lunches and his or her parent or guardian the 69
opportunity to sign a Save Me a Spot in College pledge. 70
(4) A designated school or school district shall certify 71
that a student has completed the Save Me a Spot in College pledge 72
and shall track students enrolled in the Early Commitment to 73
H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 4 (DJ\KW)

College Program by recording and reporting participation and 74
outcome data, as directed by the State Department of Education. 75
(5) Any school that has students who are eligible for free 76
or reduced-price lunches in the National School Lunch Program may 77
participate in the Early Commitment to College Program. 78
SECTION 4. The State Department of Education shall perform 79
the following duties and responsibilities: 80
(a) Identifying schools as College Opportunity Zones; 81
(b) Developing the Save Me a Spot in College pledge, 82
which must include the commitments made by the student and the 83
major postsecondary and financial aid opportunities provided by 84
the state. The pledge must contain all of the following 85
assurances: 86
(i) A student who signs the pledge and enrolls in 87
the Early Commitment to College Program, in the same manner as all 88
other students, is eligible to continue his or her postsecondary 89
education at a campus of a Mississippi public community or junior 90
college to pursue a career technical education or an associate 91
degree, or to prepare for transfer to a four-year state 92
institution of higher learning, or, if he or she meets 93
the admission requirements and applies for admission, at a state 94
institution of higher learning; 95
(ii) A student who signs the pledge must receive, 96
upon enrollment at a public community or junior college or state 97
institution of higher learning, a fee waiver for two (2) or more 98
H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 5 (DJ\KW)

years of enrollment at the public community or junior college or 99
state institution of higher learning, as long as the student is a 100
Mississippi resident and continues to show financial need on a 101
completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid; 102
(c) Consulting with the State Board for Community 103
Colleges and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher 104
Learning, presidents of state institutions of higher learning, 105
community and junior colleges and independent colleges and 106
universities in developing the pledge, letter and supporting 107
materials, including a method for participating school districts 108
to notify the postsecondary educational institutions in their 109
service area that the local school district is participating in 110
the program and seeking partnerships with postsecondary 111
educational institutions and others to plan and conduct activities 112
to implement the program; 113
(d) Determining the form of recognition for a student 114
who has been certified by his or her school district as having 115
fulfilled the requirements of the pledge, as required under 116
subsection (4) of Section 3 of this act; 117
(e) Developing a method by which participating schools 118
shall record and report participation in, and outcome data of, the 119
Early Commitment to College Program to the superintendent, as 120
required under subsection (4) of Section 3 of this act; 121
(f) Developing a letter addressed to students enrolled 122
in sixth through ninth grades and their parents or guardians, and 123
H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 6 (DJ\KW)

signed by the State Superintendent of Public Education and the 124
superintendent of the local school district, which describes the 125
major steps to prepare for college, including postsecondary career 126
technical education, and the major postsecondary and financial aid 127
opportunities available to students in Mississippi; 128
(g) Developing a second letter signed by the State 129
Superintendent of Public Education and the superintendent of the 130
local school district, to be directed to students eligible to sign 131
the pledge under Section 3 of this act, and their parents or 132
guardians, which details the Early Commitment to College Program, 133
including the pledge, in addition to the information in the letter 134
directed to all students in sixth through ninth grades; and 135
(h) Making both letters and information on the Early 136
Commitment to College Program available on the department's 137
website and requiring each school district to distribute the 138
letters as appropriate through existing means to all students and 139
their parents. 140
SECTION 5. (1) A student who signs a pledge declares a 141
commitment to prepare for college, finish high school and enroll 142
in college and commits to: 143
(a) Meeting all graduation requirements to finish high 144
school in Mississippi; 145
(b) Enrolling in college preparatory coursework, which 146
may include career technical coursework and the course 147
H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 7 (DJ\KW)

requirements for admission to a public community or junior college 148
or state institution of higher learning; 149
(c) Seeking to achieve proficiency in mathematics, 150
reading and writing in English, as demonstrated by results on the 151
statewide assessment testing required under Section 37-16-3; 152
(d) Completing and filing a Free Application for 153
Federal Student Aid and submitting his or her grade point average 154
to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning 155
and the State Board for Community Colleges by March 2 of his or 156
her senior year; and 157
(e) Meeting application and other requirements for 158
university admission or enrolling directly in community college 159
within twelve (12) months after high school graduation. 160
(2) School districts that choose to participate in the 161
voluntary Early Commitment to College Program shall provide 162
information and services, through existing programs to students, 163
not exclusive of those who sign the pledge, through their middle 164
school and high school years. These services must include the 165
following: 166
(a) At the time of enrollment, each student must 167
receive a certificate of participation in the Early Commitment to 168
College Program, with his or her name, and bearing the signature 169
of the State Superintendent of Public Education and the 170
superintendent of the local school district; 171
H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 8 (DJ\KW)

(b) Participating students also must receive a booklet 172
of college information providing more specific information about 173
eligibility requirements, preparation steps and other pertinent 174
information; 175
(c) Transcript review and academics assessment, leading 176
to course planning for the student at the time of enrollment in 177
the Early Commitment to College Program and annual reporting to 178
the student and his or her parent or guardian on how he or she is 179
performing relative to state standards and other benchmarks; 180
(d) A visit to at least one (1) community or junior 181
college, including, but not limited to, exposure to career 182
technical education and transfer programs, and where 183
geographically feasible, at least one (1) state institution of 184
higher learning while the student is in ninth or tenth grade; 185
(e) Information on college admissions tests in eleventh 186
grade; 187
(f) Information on college admission and community or 188
junior college enrollment procedures in twelfth grade; 189
(g) Information on the financial aid application 190
process, including, but not limited to, the Free Application for 191
Federal Student Aid and grade point average verification in 192
twelfth grade; and 193
(h) Information communicating that a student who has 194
signed the pledge and transfers out of a designated school or 195
school district may not receive the recognition set forth in 196
H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 9 (DJ\KW)

Section 4(d) unless he or she attends another school district that 197
is designated as a College Opportunity Zone and participating in 198
the program. The student's new school district may obtain the 199
student's record of participation in the program from the original 200
school district or the student may request to sign the pledge 201
again, including after ninth grade, only if he or she provides 202
documentation that he or she was enrolled in the program in his or 203
her original school district. 204
SECTION 6. (1) The Legislature authorizes the State 205
Department of Education, the Board of Trustees of State 206
Institutions of Higher Learning, the State Board for Community 207
Colleges, independent colleges and universities and other 208
nonprofits, businesses, or other community organizations to 209
provide support services as needed in coordination with local 210
school districts. 211
(2) This act does not prohibit state institutions of higher 212
learning and private institutions of higher education from 213
maintaining existing, or entering into new supplemental 214
agreements, with school districts and their students to offer a 215
guarantee of admission, supplemental services, supplemental 216
financial aid or other opportunities for alignment of 217
prerequisites or curriculum. 218
SECTION 7. (1) Before November 1, 2033, the State 219
Department of Education shall submit to the Legislature a report 220
H. B. No. 153 *HR26/R1230* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1230
PAGE 10 (DJ\KW)
ST: Early Commitment to College Program;
establish in schools and districts assigned an
"F" accountability rating.
on the status of the program, including, but not limited to, the 221
following: 222
(a) The number of school districts and students 223
participating in the program; 224
(b) The number of participating students who fulfilled 225
the requirements of the pledge required under subsection (4) of 226
Section 3 of this act; and 227
(c) Any relevant outcome data reported by local school 228
districts to the State Department of Education under subsection 229
(4) of Section 3 of this act. 230
(2) As part of this report, the department shall provide a 231
recommendation on whether the program should be continued. 232
SECTION 8. Sections 1 through 8 of this act shall stand 233
repealed on July 1, 2035. 234
SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from 235
and after July 1, 2026. 236