Summer Youth Training Employment Program; authorize school districts to establish.

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To: Education;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Scott

HOUSE BILL NO. 183

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE "D" AND "F" RATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IN 1
COLLABORATION WITH A LOCAL COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE, TO 2
ESTABLISH A SUMMER YOUTH TRAINING EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR RISING 3
SOPHOMORE STUDENTS; TO REQUIRE A YOUTH TRAINING EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM 4
TO INCLUDE COMPONENTS ON SOFT SKILLS, PERSONAL LIVING SKILLS, AND 5
EDUCATION AND ACADEMICS; TO AWARD STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THE 6
PROGRAM WITH A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND A STIPEND IF FUNDING 7
IS MADE AVAILABLE FOR SUCH PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. (1) The school board of a school district with a 10
"D" or "F" accountability rating, in collaboration with the local 11
community or junior college, is authorized to establish a Summer 12
Youth Training Employment Program for the purpose of providing 13
high school students with skills in pursuing employment 14
opportunities and guidance in the selection of academic courses 15
consistent with the long range educational and career goals of 16
each student. A program established under this section must be 17
comprised of no less than the following three (3) components: 18
soft skills; personal living skills; and education and academics 19
in preparation for vocational training or college after high 20
school graduation. 21
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(2) Students who have completed the ninth grade are eligible 22
to participate in a Summer Youth Training Employment Program 23
established under this section during the summer before entering 24
the tenth grade. Sessions of the program may be held at a high 25
school or high schools in the district or on the campus of the 26
local community or junior college. 27
(3) The component in soft skills of a Summer Youth Training 28
Employment Program established under this section must be designed 29
to prepare students to be successful in whatever job they 30
ultimately may hold as well as in the classroom. The soft skills 31
component must include training and instruction in no less than 32
the following topics: 33
(a) Time management, including punctuality and 34
attendance at work; 35
(b) Teamwork; 36
(c) Positive attitudes; 37
(d) Creative thinking; 38
(e) Conflict resolution; 39
(f) Motivation; 40
(g) Interpersonal skills such as communication, 41
listening and empathy; and 42
(h) Respect of authority and coworkers. 43
(4) The personal living skills component of a program 44
established under this section must include training and 45
instruction in no less than the following topics: 46
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(a) Beginning a job search; 47
(b) Completing a neat and well-written job application, 48
using proper spelling and grammar; 49
(c) Dressing appropriately when delivering a hand 50
written application or going to an interview; 51
(d) Demonstrating interest in a prospective job and 52
communicating respectfully with a prospective employer; 53
(e) Appropriate use of personal cell phones in the 54
workplace and in school; and 55
(f) Personal financial responsibility, including: 56
(i) How to open and maintain a personal checking 57
account; 58
(ii) How to open a savings account and dedicate a 59
portion of earnings to savings; 60
(iii) The importance of resisting unsolicited 61
offers for credit as a high school student; and 62
(iv) The importance of paying financial 63
obligations in order to establish good credit. 64
(5) The component on education and academics in preparation 65
for vocational training or college after high school graduation 66
must include no less than the following: 67
(a) An assessment of each participating student which 68
identifies the student's interests, strengths and aptitudes and 69
possible career fields that suit the student; 70
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(b) Exposure to career fields in which there is a 71
foreseeable need for workers and the high school and community or 72
junior college courses and baccalaureate degree programs that will 73
equip a student for an occupation in one (1) of those fields; 74
(c) Direct exposure through observation on the 75
community or junior college campus of technical courses available 76
to prepare students for a trade after high school; 77
(d) Information on postsecondary academic courses that 78
will earn a student credit towards the general requirements of a 79
baccalaureate degree which are available at the local community or 80
junior college and which may be taken while the student is still 81
in high school or after graduation; 82
(e) The importance of doing one's best in high school 83
and college and availing oneself of tutoring and counseling when 84
needed; and 85
(f) Identifying sources of and procuring financial 86
assistance available to students pursuing postsecondary career and 87
vocational training or a bachelor's degree. 88
(6) The State Legislature shall appropriate Two Million 89
Dollars ($2,000,000.00) for the operation of this program. 90
(7) Students who complete a Summer Youth Training Employment 91
Program established under this section will be awarded a 92
certificate of completion evidencing their successful 93
participation in the program. 94
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ST: Summer Youth Training Employment Program;
authorize school districts to establish.
(8) A school district that establishes a Summer Youth 95
Training Employment Program shall encourage ninth grade students 96
to enroll in the program. The district may offer a stipend to 97
students who complete the program as a financial incentive. A 98
school district is encouraged to apply for funding from any 99
available source, public or private, to cover the costs associated 100
with the expansion of the training instruction in the program and 101
providing stipends to students. Grants or gifts may be accepted 102
by a school district for the purposes of this subsection (8). 103
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 104
and after July 1, 2026. 105