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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Williams
SENATE BILL NO. 2237
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE STUDENT SCHOOL STEWARDSHIP PILOT 1
PROGRAM TO IMPLEMENT STRUCTURED, STUDENT-LED CLEANING ACTIVITIES 2
IN PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS; TO STIPULATE THAT THE PROGRAM OPERATE FOR 3
NO LESS THAN TWO ACADEMIC YEARS; TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF 4
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS TO TEN; TO REQUIRE SELECTED SCHOOLS TO 5
REPRESENT DIVERSE AGES, LOCATIONS AND DEMOGRAPHICS; TO REQUIRE 6
WRITTEN CONSENT FROM PARENTS OR GUARDIANS PRIOR TO A CHILD'S 7
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS TO 8
CREATE A LIST OF ACTIVITIES FOR APPROVAL; TO PROVIDE FOR OPERATION 9
OF THE PROGRAM; TO ALLOW INSTRUCTORS TO INTEGRATE ASPECTS OF THE 10
PROGRAM INTO INSTRUCTION; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 11
TO COLLECT DATA AND SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER 12
THAN DECEMBER 31, 2028; TO PROVIDE FOR ALLOCATION OF FUNDING, IF 13
AVAILABLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 14
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 15
SECTION 1. (1) There is established within the State 16
Department of Education the Student School Stewardship Pilot 17
Program to implement in Mississippi public K-12 schools 18
structured, student-led cleaning activities designed to foster 19
responsibility, respect for shared spaces, teamwork and community 20
engagement modeled on the Japanese educational tradition known as 21
"ōsōji." The program shall operate for no less than two (2) 22
academic years beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, subject 23
to extension or expansion by the Legislature. 24
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(2) The program shall be implemented in no more than ten 25
(10) school districts in the state, representing elementary 26
schools, middle schools, and high schools. Schools shall be 27
selected for participation in the program according to a voluntary 28
application process. Such applications should be considered 29
according to criteria designed by the Mississippi Department of 30
Education for the purpose of ensuring that participating school 31
districts are geographically and demographically diverse. 32
(3) Upon selection for participation in the program, school 33
districts shall create a list of nonhazardous, age-appropriate 34
activities for the program to be approved by the department. Such 35
activities may include, but are not limited to, sweeping floors, 36
wiping desks, organizing materials, and tidying common areas. 37
(4) Upon approval of such list by the department, 38
participating school districts shall implement daily or regular 39
student-led cleaning sessions of approximately ten (10) to twenty 40
(20) minutes. Students shall rotate tasks in teams, under the 41
supervision of school staff. At no time shall students 42
participate in program activities without appropriate adult 43
supervision. A local school district shall obtain written 44
informed consent from a student's parent or legal guardian prior 45
to the student participating in any activities under the program. 46
(5) All materials used for cleaning shall be provided by the 47
school, and students shall receive training on appropriate 48
cleaning practices. No student shall be required to handle 49
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hazardous materials or perform tasks unsuitable for their age or 50
physical ability. Each task assigned shall be chosen with the age 51
and ability of the students in mind. Accommodations shall be made 52
for students with disabilities or health concerns. 53
(6) As a component of program implementation, school 54
districts may incorporate lessons on civic responsibility, 55
environmental stewardship and community service in conjunction 56
with program activities. Teachers may facilitate periodic 57
reflections or discussions to support learning outcomes in 58
furtherance of these principles. 59
(7) The Mississippi Department of Education shall collect 60
data from participating schools, including, but not limited to, 61
student and teacher feedback, school climate indicators, and 62
observational reports. The department may promulgate rules and 63
regulations concerning the collection of data from participating 64
school districts. 65
(8) No later than December 31, 2028, the department shall 66
submit a report to the Legislature summarizing findings, lessons 67
learned, and recommendations for continuation, expansion or 68
termination of the program. 69
(9) Subject to appropriation, funds shall be allocated by 70
the Department of Education to cover cleaning materials, training, 71
evaluation and administrative costs. Schools may also partner 72
with local businesses or civic organizations for in-kind support. 73
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ST: Student School Stewardship Pilot Program;
establish.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 74
and after July 1, 2026. 75