Mississippi Study Committee on Alternative Student Assessment Models; create.

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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Rhodes

SENATE BILL NO. 2234

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI STUDY COMMITTEE ON 1
ALTERNATIVE STUDENT ASSESSMENT MODELS TO EXAMINE AND DEVELOP 2
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR MEASURING 3
STUDENT EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN LIEU 4
OF STATEWIDE STANDARDIZED TESTING; TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION, 5
ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE; TO DIRECT THE 6
COMMITTEE TO MEET AT LEAST FOUR TIMES, ENSURING SUFFICIENT TIME TO 7
DELIBERATE AND FINALIZE ITS RECOMMENDATIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE 8
COMMITTEE SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE 9
LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2026; TO DIRECT THE STATE 10
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE NECESSARY STAFF AND 11
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE COMMITTEE; TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL 12
SUPPORT FROM THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON PERFORMANCE 13
EVALUATION AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW (PEER), UPON REQUEST AND SUBJECT 14
TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES; TO PROVIDE FOR COMPENSATION ACCORDING TO 15
LAW FOR LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS AND TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FOR 16
NON-LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE 17
COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 1, 2027, OR UPON THE SUBMISSION OF ITS FINAL 18
REPORT, WHICHEVER IS LATER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 19
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 20
SECTION 1. (1) Study committee established. There is 21
hereby created the Mississippi Study Committee on Alternative 22
Student Assessment Models for the purpose of examining and 23
developing recommendations regarding alternative methods for 24
measuring student educational outcomes in Mississippi public 25
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schools in lieu of the current statewide standardized testing 26
model. The committee shall, at a minimum: 27
(a) Evaluate and consider innovative assessment 28
practices including, but not limited to: 29
(i) Project-based learning assessments; 30
(ii) Portfolio evaluations; 31
(iii) Competency-based progress measures; 32
(iv) Locally developed or teacher-created 33
assessments; and 34
(v) Other methods that support a more holistic and 35
accurate measurement of student learning, growth and achievement. 36
(b) Prioritize models that: 37
(i) Promote instructional equity; 38
(ii) Reduce unnecessary testing burdens on 39
students and educators; 40
(iii) Increase flexibility and relevance in 41
classroom instruction; and 42
(iv) Improve the accuracy and usefulness of 43
student performance data. 44
(2) Composition of the committee. (a) The committee shall 45
be composed of the following nine (9) members: 46
(i) The State Superintendent of Education, or 47
his/her designee; 48
(ii) Two (2) individuals not employed by the State 49
Department of Education, appointed by the Governor; 50
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(iii) Two (2) school district superintendents, 51
appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; 52
(iv) Two (2) public school teachers, appointed by 53
the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 54
(v) The Chair of the Senate Education Committee, 55
or his/her designee; and 56
(vi) The Chair of the House Education Committee, 57
or his/her designee. 58
(b) The Chairs of the Senate and House Education 59
Committees shall serve as co-chairs of the study committee. 60
(c) Appointments to the committee shall be made no 61
later than April 10, 2026. 62
(3) Committee organization and responsibilities. (a) The 63
study committee shall hold its first meeting no later than the 64
third week of April, 2026. At its first meeting, the committee 65
shall establish rules for transacting business and keeping 66
records. 67
(b) The committee shall convene at least three (3) 68
additional times between its formation and December 1, 2026. The 69
co-chairs shall call meetings during the months of July, September 70
and October 2026, to ensure sufficient time to deliberate and 71
finalize the committee's recommendations. The committee may meet 72
more frequently upon the call of the co-chairs. The committee 73
shall report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature 74
no later than December 1, 2026. 75
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ST: Mississippi Study Committee on Alternative
Student Assessment Models; create.
(c) A majority of committee members shall constitute a 76
quorum for conducting business. 77
(4) Support and cooperation. (a) The State Department of 78
Education shall provide necessary staff and administrative support 79
to the committee. 80
(b) In addition, the Joint Legislative Committee on 81
Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) may provide 82
additional staff and administrative support to the committee upon 83
request and subject to available resources. 84
(c) To achieve its objectives, the committee may 85
request data, analysis and assistance from any state agency, 86
division or political subdivision. 87
(5) Compensation of committee members. (a) Legislative 88
members of the study committee shall be entitled to per diem and 89
reimbursement of expenses in accordance with Section 25-3-41, 90
Mississippi Code of 1972. 91
(b) Non-legislative members shall serve without 92
compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses 93
from any available funds designated for such purposes. 94
(6) Dissolution of the committee. The committee shall be 95
dissolved on January 1, 2027, or upon the submission of its final 96
report, whichever is later. 97
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 98
and after its passage. 99