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S. B. No. 2240 *SS08/R302* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Rhodes
SENATE BILL NO. 2240
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEMONSTRATION OF PROFICIENCY IN CIVICS 1
AS A CONDITION OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION BY REQUIRING STUDENTS TO 2
TAKE A CIVICS COURSE THAT DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING 3
OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE HISTORY, PRINCIPLES AND FORM OF 4
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES; TO REQUIRE THE UNITED STATES 5
HISTORY CURRICULUM TO INCLUDE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE BEGINNING WITH 6
THE SETTLEMENT OF JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA, IN 1607; TO AMEND SECTION 7
37-16-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED 8
PURPOSES. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 10
SECTION 1. High school graduation requirement; civics 11
course. (1) For purposes of this section, "civics course" means 12
a course promulgated by the State Department of Education that 13
must demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals 14
of the history, principles and form of government of the United 15
States. 16
(2) The State Board of Education shall provide that the 17
requirements of this section shall be incorporated into the United 18
States History curriculum required for high school students. 19
Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the United States 20
History curriculum shall include historical knowledge regarding 21
S. B. No. 2240 *SS08/R302* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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the United States of America from the settlement of Jamestown, 22
Virginia, in 1607 to the present. 23
(3) This section is applicable to any student who graduates 24
from high school during or after the 2026-2027 school year. 25
SECTION 2. Section 37-16-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 26
amended as follows: 27
37-16-7. (1) Each district school board shall establish 28
standards for graduation from its schools which shall include, as 29
a minimum: 30
(a) Mastery of minimum academic skills as measured by 31
assessments developed and administered by the State Board of 32
Education. 33
(b) Completion of a minimum number of academic credits, 34
and all other applicable requirements prescribed by the district 35
school board. 36
(c) Demonstration of proficiency in civics and United 37
States History as prescribed in Section 1 of this act. 38
( * * *d) By school, information on high school 39
graduation rates. High schools with graduation rates lower than 40
eighty percent (80%) must submit a detailed plan to the 41
Mississippi Department of Education to restructure the high school 42
experience to improve graduation rates. 43
(2) A student who meets all requirements prescribed in 44
subsection (1) of this section shall be awarded a standard diploma 45
in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education. 46
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ST: High school graduation requirements;
require civics course to graduate.
(3) The State Board of Education may establish student 47
proficiency standards for promotion to grade levels leading to 48
graduation. 49
(4) The State Board of Education shall develop a curriculum 50
related to the study of sign language. Any such class developed 51
by the board may count as an academic credit for foreign languages 52
for the purposes of high school graduation requirements. 53
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 54
and after July 1, 2026. 55