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H. B. No. 237 *HR43/R1262* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Scott
HOUSE BILL NO. 237
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE 1
A SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) PILOT 2
PROGRAM IN CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS PRIMARILY IN THE DELTA FOR 3
HIGH PERFORMING STUDENTS IN GRADES 4 THROUGH 8; TO PRESCRIBE 4
CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF THE STEM PILOT PROGRAM; TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOL 5
DISTRICTS TO PAY AN ANNUAL SALARY SUPPLEMENT TO A TEACHER SERVING 6
AS THE ADVISOR TO THE STEM PILOT PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE PARTICIPATING 7
SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ANNUALLY SUBMIT DATA ON THE PILOT PROGRAM TO 8
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO 9
COMPILE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DATA INTO A REPORT FOR THE HOUSE AND 10
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 11
WHEREAS, recent reports reflect that the State of Mississippi 12
is experiencing a critical shortage of young persons pursuing 13
higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering 14
and mathematics (STEM) fields, thereby resulting in an 15
ever-growing lack of professionals available to meet the workforce 16
demands of the state and the needs of her citizenry; and 17
WHEREAS, the Center for Mathematics and Science Education at 18
the University of Mississippi recently reported that during the 19
2022-2023 school year, ninety-four school districts in the state 20
experienced a critical teacher shortage, with middle school math 21
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having the highest number of teacher vacancies of all subject 22
areas; and 23
WHEREAS, according to data from the Mississippi Hospital 24
Association, the vacancy rate of registered nurses in 25
Mississippi's hospitals in 2022 was 24.5%, the highest it has been 26
since 2010 when the same rate was only 4.3%; and 27
WHEREAS, Mississippi ranks 49th in the number of active 28
physicians per population according to the 2021 State Physician 29
Workforce Data Report published by the Association of American 30
Medical Colleges; and 31
WHEREAS, according to a September 2023 publication by the 32
State Auditor, while engineering programs in Mississippi account 33
for seven of the ten highest-paying degree programs, only 36% of 34
engineering graduates from the 2015-2017 graduation cohort 35
remained working in Mississippi by 2020; and 36
WHEREAS, the overall welfare of the State of Mississippi 37
demands that a wide array of innovative opportunities aimed at 38
reversing these alarming trends in STEM fields be created to 39
expose students at all educational levels to the many STEM jobs 40
available and to prepare them, from an early age, to succeed in 41
attaining an education leading to a meaningful and rewarding 42
career: NOW, THEREFORE, 43
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 44
SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Education shall 45
establish a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 46
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(STEM) pilot program designed to motivate eligible students in 47
Grades 4 through 8 to pursue opportunities in STEM fields by 48
introducing a variety of STEM careers to participating students 49
and creating demanding yet rewarding challenges aimed at preparing 50
those students for success in rigorous STEM academic courses as 51
they progress to higher levels of education. The pilot program 52
must be implemented during the 2026-2027 school year in school 53
districts situated in no less than thirteen (13) counties situated 54
in the Delta region and in Jasper, Clarke and Jones Counties. The 55
State Department of Education shall select school districts for 56
participation in the pilot program, with consideration given to 57
any school district that expresses a particular desire to be a 58
part of the pilot program. 59
(2) In order to be a participant in the STEM pilot program, 60
a student must be identified by a school as being among the 61
students performing at the highest levels on the most recent 62
statewide assessment in mathematics. The school in which a 63
student is enrolled shall determine the number of students which 64
the STEM pilot program may accommodate and shall identify the 65
corresponding number of students who scored the highest on that 66
assessment. Selection for participation in the program must be 67
done on an annual basis; however, a school district, in its 68
discretion, may allow a participant who fails to meet eligibility 69
criteria in a succeeding school year to remain in the program if 70
the student demonstrates a continued willingness and interest. 71
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(3) The STEM pilot program may include the following 72
age-appropriate components: 73
(a) Introduction to a variety of occupations in all 74
STEM fields by arranging for guest speakers in STEM careers to 75
make school presentations that include a seminar type question and 76
answer session and which highlight the rewarding aspects of their 77
profession and how their jobs contribute to their communities; 78
(b) Collaboration with local employers in STEM fields 79
through which field trips to the worksite may be arranged for 80
pilot program participants; 81
(c) For students expressing an aptitude for or a 82
continued interest in a particular STEM field, an opportunity, if 83
feasible depending on the student's age, for the student to shadow 84
a professional in the person's employment; 85
(d) Field trips to local colleges to introduce students 86
to a variety of STEM programs of study, designed to motivate 87
participants and create an expectation of pursuing higher 88
education notwithstanding the fact that no one in a student's 89
family may have attended college; 90
(e) Introduction to the many scholarships, grants and 91
other forms of financial assistance available to students for 92
higher education so that no student determines college is not an 93
option based on cost; 94
(f) Academic challenges designed to quiz students on 95
information presented on particular fields, whether by outside 96
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presenters or through informational sessions by teachers in the 97
school; and 98
(g) Any other components recommended by the State 99
Department of Education which are designed to inspire and motivate 100
students to pursue educational opportunities leading to a career 101
in a STEM field. 102
(4) Each school participating in the STEM pilot program 103
shall select a teacher to serve as the STEM program advisor. The 104
program advisor may be paid an annual salary supplement from any 105
funds that are available to the district. 106
(5) Each participating school district shall prepare and 107
submit a report to the State Department of Education at the end of 108
each school year detailing the activities of the STEM pilot 109
program. The report must include, but need not be limited to, the 110
number of participants by grade level, the number of students 111
interested in remaining in the program in the succeeding school 112
year, whether participants' performance on academic assessments 113
improved, a description of the activities in which students 114
participated, and such other information that the department may 115
require. Before December 1, 2029, and each year thereafter, the 116
department shall submit a compiled report based on the 117
participating school districts' reports to the Education 118
Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate with 119
recommendations on whether the pilot program should be made 120
permanent in all school districts in the state. 121
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ST: STEM Pilot Program; require SDE to create
in certain school districts for students in
Grades 4 through 8.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 122
and after July 1, 2026. 123