"Dream Makers Program"; create as an after-school program for students in Grades 7 and 8.

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To: Education;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Scott

HOUSE BILL NO. 165

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE 1
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO 2
ESTABLISH A PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE "DREAM MAKERS PROGRAM" FOR PUBLIC 3
SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 AND 8; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE OF 4
THE PROGRAM WILL BE TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS 5
AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS; TO REQUIRE THE PROGRAM TO BE 6
CONDUCTED AS AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE PROGRAM TO BE 7
A TWO-YEAR COURSE OF STUDY; TO PRESCRIBE THE ELIGIBILITY 8
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN AND THE COMPONENTS TO BE 9
INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM; TO PRESCRIBE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR 10
PARTICIPANTS; TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DESIGNATE A 11
PROGRAM ADVISOR RESPONSIBLE FOR PERFORMING THE NECESSARY SERVICES 12
TO FACILITATE ACTIVITIES OF THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL 13
DISTRICT TO DESIGNATE A REGIONAL COORDINATOR TO ASSIST THE ADVISOR 14
IN MEETING GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES; TO REQUIRE THE 15
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER TO DESIGNATE A STAFF 16
MEMBER TO ACT AS PROJECT COORDINATOR BETWEEN THE MEDICAL CENTER 17
AND THE ADVISOR; TO ESTABLISH THE DREAM MAKERS TRUST FUND IN THE 18
STATE TREASURY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 19
SCHOOLS FOR START-UP COSTS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING 20
AND OPERATING THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 21
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Legislature emphasizes the 22
importance of fostering high standards for educating the state's 23
students enrolled in and attending public schools by increasing 24
efforts to prepare these students for the pursuit of continued 25
educational success and the professional careers that are obtained 26
as a result; and 27
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WHEREAS, with a nationally growing demand for health care 28
professionals, the Mississippi Legislature finds it incumbent upon 29
itself to take proper measures to reduce shortages in the health 30
care profession, as these shortages directly impact the medical 31
workforce and the availability of health care throughout our 32
state; and 33
WHEREAS, with education being the fundamental building block 34
for the grooming and development of the impressionable minds of 35
our state's educable children for the educational and career paths 36
upon which they will embark, there exists a great need for the 37
implementation of a more rigorously enhanced scientific, 38
mathematic and language arts curriculum in the public school 39
setting to facilitate an increased educational capacity in health 40
care programs; and 41
WHEREAS, to accomplish the pertinent goal of producing a 42
capable and knowledgeable health care workforce, a collaborative 43
effort must be undertaken by the state's medical university and 44
research institution, the State Department of Education and local 45
school districts to afford students every reasonable opportunity 46
to explore a career in the field of health care; and 47
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Mississippi Legislature to 48
promote the educational accountability of public schools and the 49
students educated therein through the implementation of 50
informational, analytical and research-based programs of 51
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instruction to heighten public school students' awareness and 52
interests in health care professions: NOW, THEREFORE, 53
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 54
SECTION 1. (1) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, 55
the State Department of Education, in conjunction with the Board 56
of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning acting for 57
and on behalf of the University of Mississippi Medical Center 58
(UMMC), shall establish and implement a program known as the 59
"Dream Makers Program" for public school students in Grades 7 and 60
8, the purpose of which will be to stimulate interest in science 61
and mathematics and the health care professions, especially among 62
underserved and underrepresented populations in Mississippi, and 63
to increase awareness of the urgent need for health care workers 64
in our state. 65
(2) The program established under subsection (1) of this 66
section for the introduction of students to a potential career in 67
the health care professions must be conducted as an after-school 68
program, during which time students must be provided guidance 69
about health-related careers and how science and mathematics 70
pertain to these areas from a licensed school district employee 71
with adequate certification in science or mathematics, or both. 72
The State Department of Education and the Board of Trustees of 73
State Institutions of Higher Learning shall determine the 74
frequency that the program will meet, as well as the number of 75
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meetings required to be facilitated by a UMMC medical student, 76
resident or health care professional. 77
(3) The program must be a two-year course of study for those 78
students meeting the eligibility requirements of this subsection. 79
A student may not be admitted to the program before the end of the 80
first academic grading period for the student's school district. 81
Eligibility for participation is limited to students who: 82
(a) Maintain a cumulative 2.5 grade point average on a 83
4.0 scale; 84
(b) Are recommended by the their science or mathematics 85
teachers, or both; 86
(c) Have a consistent record of attendance; 87
(d) Display positive attitudes, character and 88
citizenship; and 89
(e) Express a desire to expand their knowledge of 90
health care and medicine. 91
However, before any student is accepted for participation 92
under the criteria of this subsection, that student's parent, 93
legal guardian or custodian must submit written authorization 94
agreeing to the student's participation in the program. 95
(4) Each program must include, but not be limited to, the 96
following components: 97
(a) Dissection of various specimens; 98
(b) Blood pressure and temperature reading instruction; 99
(c) A health care professionals panel; 100
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(d) Instructional interaction with UMMC medical 101
students; 102
(e) Activities planned by individual program advisors; 103
and 104
(f) An end-of-the-year awards banquet. 105
A program advisor, with the consent of the State Department 106
of Education, may modify the program under his or her authority to 107
expand the instructional components offered to the students served 108
by the program. 109
(5) Students participating in the program are expected to 110
attend all meetings of the program; a student may not exceed one 111
(1) excused absence per year in order to remain eligible for 112
participation in the end-of-the-year awards banquet. Any student 113
missing in excess of one (1) absence per year may elect, but is 114
not required, to continue participating in the program. 115
(6) Nothing in this section may be construed to conflict 116
with or repeal the provisions of law relating to after-school 117
mentoring programs under Section 37-3-85. 118
SECTION 2. (1) Each local school district shall designate a 119
program advisor, who shall perform the necessary services to 120
facilitate the execution of the program goals, objectives and 121
activities by: 122
(a) Providing health care career exposure; 123
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(b) Identifying, recruiting, selecting, mentoring and 124
advising a group of seventh and eighth graders from the school 125
district to participate in the Dream Makers Program; 126
(c) Providing the minimum number of health care careers 127
workshops per year, as designated by the State Department of 128
Education and Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher 129
Learning, to students in the Dream Makers Program; 130
(d) Providing Dream Makers student leadership workshops 131
through community entities; 132
(e) Providing an evening presentation to members of the 133
Dream Makers Program and their families on the costs associated 134
with higher education and available sources of financial aid; 135
(f) Addressing unique issues relating to the cultural 136
beliefs of the students from the local school district region 137
about science and health care professions; and 138
(g) Educating students, families and communities about 139
health care professions and UMMC. 140
(2) The program advisor shall develop session topics, which 141
must include areas of health care that are available and relevant 142
to the community. 143
(3) The local school district shall designate a regional 144
coordinator for the district, who will assist the program advisor 145
in securing local health professionals for student workshops. The 146
regional coordinator also will assist in planning the schedule and 147
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activities with the program advisor and local health care 148
professionals. 149
(4) UMMC shall designate a staff member to act as project 150
coordinator between UMMC and the program advisor. Throughout the 151
period of the program, copies of all correspondence, work 152
products, specifications, estimates and other materials prepared 153
by the advisor must be directed to the project coordinator and 154
also to any other UMMC personnel designated by the project 155
coordinator. Direct contact or communication by the program 156
advisor with other UMMC offices or any other state or governmental 157
entity concerning the program may be made only with the prior 158
knowledge and approval of the project coordinator and the State 159
Department of Education. 160
(5) (a) The program advisor shall file with the project 161
coordinator a monthly progress report and schedule for the 162
program. One (1) copy must be forwarded to UMMC in sufficient 163
time to be received no later than the tenth day of the month 164
immediately following the end of the month covered by the report. 165
(b) Each report must include a summary of 166
accomplishments during the past month, a projection of work to be 167
accomplished during the month the report is filed, and a 168
long-range projection of work to be accomplished during the next 169
three (3) months. Any information required from UMMC and the 170
dates that information is necessary in order to maintain the 171
schedule must be specifically identified in these reports. 172
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(c) A monthly report and schedule must be submitted 173
until the program is completed. 174
(d) The schedule must show clearly the reason for any 175
delay, such as program clarification or revision or delay in 176
receipt of UMMC information or approvals, and must include the 177
dates that each delay started and ended. 178
(6) If requested by the project coordinator, the program 179
advisor shall meet, as soon as possible, with the project 180
coordinator and other UMMC and State Department of Education staff 181
to discuss final details relative to commencement of and 182
performance of this program in the local school district. 183
SECTION 3. (1) There is established in the State Treasury a 184
fund to be known as the "Dream Makers Trust Fund." The purpose of 185
the fund is to provide financial support to local school districts 186
and schools for start-up costs and costs associated with 187
implementing and operating the Dream Makers Program. The fund may 188
consist of monies obtained from grants from the federal 189
government, funds made available by the Legislature, and grants, 190
gifts, devises and donations from any public or private source. 191
The State Board of Education and the Board of Trustees of State 192
Institutions of Higher Learning shall administer the fund and may 193
apply for any grants from the federal government or private 194
sources. 195
(2) The State Board of Education and the Board of Trustees 196
of State Institutions of Higher Learning jointly shall adopt rules 197
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ST: "Dream Makers Program"; create as an after-
school program for students in Grades 7 and 8.
and regulations necessary for the implementation of this section. 198
If sufficient funds are available for this purpose, monies from 199
the Dream Makers Trust Fund must be distributed to qualifying 200
school districts and schools in accordance with the procedures 201
established by the State Board of Education and the Board of 202
Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. 203
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 204
and after July 1, 2026. 205