Mississippi Young Readers Club; establish pilot program to provide reading literature to certain students to enhance early literacy.

H. B. No. 752 *HR43/R1722* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1722
PAGE 1 (DJ\KP)

To: Education;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Roberson, McLean

HOUSE BILL NO. 752

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI YOUNG READERS CLUB (MYRC) 1
AS A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE BOOKS 2
AND LITERACY MATERIALS THROUGH PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE 3
FOR ADMINISTRATION BY THE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN LITERACY 4
INSTRUCTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI; TO DEFINE A 5
ONE-SCHOOL-YEAR PILOT PERIOD; TO AUTHORIZE CONSULTATION WITH THE 6
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO REQUIRE THE PROVISION OF 7
NO FEWER THAN TWELVE BOOKS PER PARTICIPATING STUDENT PER SCHOOL 8
YEAR; TO AUTHORIZE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING, INCLUDING PRIVATE 9
MATCHING FUNDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 11
SECTION 1. (1) (a) There is created the Mississippi Young 12
Readers Club (MYRC) as a one-school-year pilot program to provide 13
developmentally appropriate books and literacy materials to 14
students attending participating public schools. The program 15
shall be administered by the Center for Excellence in Literacy 16
Instruction (CELI) at the University of Mississippi, which shall 17
serve as the administrative and fiscal agent of the program. 18
(b) The Mississippi Young Readers Club shall operate as 19
a pilot program for one (1) school year, beginning with the 2026–20
2027 school year, unless continued in subsequent years by 21
legislative appropriation. 22
H. B. No. 752 *HR43/R1722* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1722
PAGE 2 (DJ\KP)

(2) The purpose of the program is to expand access to 23
high-quality books in the home and support family engagement in 24
at-home reading, and complement existing state literacy 25
initiatives, including the Literacy-Based Promotion Act and the 26
Mississippi Comprehensive Literacy Plan, by supporting early 27
literacy development and establishing and expanding home 28
libraries. 29
SECTION 2. (1) Participation in the Mississippi Young 30
Readers Club shall be school-based. The Center for Excellence in 31
Literacy Instruction (CELI) at the University of Mississippi shall 32
select participating public schools or districts based on 33
available funding and program design considerations. For the 34
pilot year, the administrator shall identify a subset of the 35
eventual statewide population with the intent of serving a sizable 36
and meaningful number of students sufficient to assess program 37
feasibility, reach and family engagement. In its selection of 38
participating schools or districts, the Center for Excellence in 39
Literacy Instruction shall seek to prioritize schools serving 40
student populations that include a high proportion of striving 41
readers and students with limited access to books and other 42
resources necessary to establish home libraries. Such schools may 43
meet a combination of the following characteristics: 44
(a) Serve high concentrations of economically 45
disadvantaged students; 46
(b) Be designated as Title I schools; 47
H. B. No. 752 *HR43/R1722* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1722
PAGE 3 (DJ\KP)

(c) Serve a high percentage of students identified as 48
striving readers; 49
(d) Be identified for improvement, intervention, or 50
additional support; or 51
(e) Operate within alternative, turnaround or 52
achievement-focused school structures. 53
(2) The Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction shall 54
consult with the Mississippi Department of Education in 55
identifying participating schools or districts to ensure alignment 56
with statewide literacy priorities. Subject to appropriation, the 57
Mississippi Young Readers Club may be expanded in future years to 58
serve additional schools or grade levels, including students in 59
prekindergarten through Grade 3, or any other grades as determined 60
appropriate by the Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction. 61
(3) Each participating student shall receive no fewer than 62
twelve (12) age-appropriate books during the school year. Books 63
and materials provided through the program shall align with 64
Mississippi's literacy goals, be developmentally appropriate for 65
use in family settings, and support the establishment or expansion 66
of a home library. Book selection shall be conducted by the 67
Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction. All books provided 68
through the program shall become the property of the participating 69
student or family. 70
SECTION 3. (1) The Center for Excellence in Literacy 71
Instruction is authorized to establish partnerships and enter into 72
H. B. No. 752 *HR43/R1722* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1722
PAGE 4 (DJ\KP)

contracts with qualified organizations for the selection, 73
preparation, distribution and support of books and literacy 74
materials in accordance with applicable state procurement and 75
purchasing laws. The State Department of Education shall serve in 76
a consultative and collaborative role to support alignment with 77
statewide literacy initiatives. 78
(2) (a) The Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction 79
shall compile and analyze information related to implementation of 80
the pilot, which may include: 81
(i) Participation and reach; 82
(ii) Family engagement and feedback; 83
(iii) Implementation quality and operational 84
performance indicator; and 85
(iv) Evidence-based takeaways. 86
(b) The Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction 87
shall use the information compiled under paragraph (a) of this 88
subsection (2) to develop recommendations for the Legislature and 89
the State Department of Education regarding future implementation 90
or expansion of the program. The manner, format and timing of the 91
analysis and recommendations shall be determined by the Center for 92
Excellence in Literacy Instruction. 93
SECTION 4. (1) Implementation of the Mississippi Young 94
Readers Club (MYRC) is subject to appropriation by the 95
Legislature. Upon successful implementation of the pilot program, 96
the Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction is authorized to 97
H. B. No. 752 *HR43/R1722* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1722
PAGE 5 (DJ\KP)
ST: Mississippi Young Readers Club; establish
pilot program to provide reading literature to
certain students to enhance early literacy.
accept, solicit and expend private, philanthropic or other 98
nonstate funds, including private matching funds, to supplement or 99
expand the program. However, the acceptance of such funds does 100
not obligate the Legislature to make future appropriations for the 101
support and administration of the program. 102
(2) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the pilot 103
program implemented may be extended in subsequent school years and 104
expanded administratively to serve additional schools or grade 105
levels, including prekindergarten through Grade 3, or any other 106
grades as funding allows. 107
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from 108
and after July 1, 2026. 109