HB428 • 2026

African-American Studies and Racial Diversity; require SBE to develop curriculum for implementation in public high school.

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM AND IMPLEMENT COURSES IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES AND RACIAL DIVERSITY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION CURRICULUM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Karriem
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the exact content of the curriculum beyond mentioning it must cover contributions of people of African descent, chronological history, cultural realities, and contemporary issues. The bill text specifies certain historical events but these are part of a broader requirement rather than an exhaustive list.

African-American Studies and Racial Diversity Curriculum

This bill requires the State Board of Education to create a curriculum for African-American studies and racial diversity courses in public high schools.

What This Bill Does

Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to develop a comprehensive curriculum for African-American Studies and Racial Diversity.
Includes these courses as part of the required education for students from Grade 9 through Grade 12.

Who It Names or Affects

Public high school students in Grades 9 through 12
State Board of Education

Terms To Know

Comprehensive Curriculum: A complete set of courses and materials designed to cover a wide range of topics.
Racial Diversity: The variety of racial backgrounds within a group or community.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
It would have taken effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/12 (H) Referred To Education

Official Summary Text

African-American Studies and Racial Diversity; require SBE to develop curriculum for implementation in public high school.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 428 *HR31/R1359* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R1359
PAGE 1 (DJ\JAB)

To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Karriem

HOUSE BILL NO. 428

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A 1
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM AND IMPLEMENT COURSES IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN 2
STUDIES AND RACIAL DIVERSITY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC HIGH 3
SCHOOL EDUCATION CURRICULUM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. In addition to the curriculum otherwise required 6
by law or the State Board of Education to be taught in the public 7
schools of this state, the board shall develop a comprehensive 8
curriculum and implement courses in African-American Studies and 9
Racial Diversity for all students in Grade 9 through Grade 12. In 10
addition to meeting the competencies and objectives established by 11
the State Board of Education in the Mississippi Social Studies 12
Framework, the African-American Studies and Racial Diversity 13
course must: 14
(a) Provide students with an examination of the 15
contributions of people of African descent to American History and 16
emphasis on the importance of diversity in American culture; 17
(b) Provide a chronological framework of African and 18
African-American history; 19
H. B. No. 428 *HR31/R1359* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R1359
PAGE 2 (DJ\JAB)
ST: African-American Studies and Racial
Diversity; require SBE to develop curriculum for
implementation in public high school.
(c) Broaden the knowledge and understandings of 20
students interested in learning about the histories, cultures and 21
economic, geographic and political realities of African Americans; 22
(d) Provide students with an opportunity to engage with 23
the social, economic and political activities of African 24
Americans; 25
(e) Consist of historical content taught with relevance 26
to contemporary and current issues in order to ensure a deeper 27
understanding of cultural issues of the nineteenth and twentieth 28
centuries which have impacted the diverse ethnic and racial 29
populations of the state and nation; 30
(f) Infuse African-American Studies and Racial 31
Diversity as an integral part of American History, including: 32
(i) Slavery; 33
(ii) Post slavery; 34
(iii) The Civil Rights Movement and its 35
contributions; 36
(iv) Reconstruction; 37
(v) Harlem Renaissance; 38
(vi) World Wars I and II; and 39
(vii) Other national and global events. 40
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 41
and after July 1, 2026. 42