School curriculum; require that schools teach civics courses before completion of high school.

S. B. No. 2292 *SS08/R204PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Wiggins, Rhodes, Blackwell,
Butler, England, McLendon, Seymour, Simmons
(13th), Tate, Taylor, Williams

SENATE BILL NO. 2292
(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-13-56, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1
1972, TO PROVIDE THAT, BEGINNING IN THE 2027-2028 SCHOOL YEAR, 2
EVERY PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOL WITHIN THE STATE SHALL TEACH 3
CIVICS COURSES STARTING IN THE 8TH GRADE AND BEFORE THE COMPLETION 4
OF 12TH GRADE; TO PROVIDE THE AIM AND CONTENT OF SUCH COURSES; TO 5
PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL PRESCRIBE THE 6
COURSE OF STUDY AND SHALL UPDATE COURSE STANDARDS TO ALIGN WITH 7
CURRENT CIVICS SCHOLARSHIP; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 10
37-13-56, Mississippi Code of 1972: 11
37-13-56. (1) For purposes of this section, "civics" means 12
a nonpartisan educational program that promotes: 13
(a) The acquisition of knowledge of the history, 14
heritage, civic life and civic institutions of the United States 15
of America and the State of Mississippi; 16
(b) The acquisition of skills such as the ability to 17
analyze texts and determine the reliability of sources; and 18
(c) An understanding of the ways in which civic 19
institutions operate and how individuals may be involved in civic 20
life. 21
S. B. No. 2292 *SS08/R204PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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(2) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, every public and 22
charter school within the state shall be required to teach 23
standalone civics courses as part of the required curriculum for 24
high school graduation. Training for the teaching of these civics 25
courses shall be conducted during the summer of 2027. Each school 26
shall require students to complete regular courses of instruction 27
in the factually accurate history of the United States, in civics, 28
in the Constitution of the United States and in the Constitution 29
and the government of the State of Mississippi starting in the 30
eighth grade and before students complete twelfth grade. The 31
courses shall focus on increasing the knowledge of the 32
organization of the government of the United States and of the 33
State of Mississippi. The courses shall have an emphasis on the 34
study of federalism, the separation of powers, the checks and 35
balances throughout the government, the Bill of Rights, and 36
appreciation for free speech and civil discourse, using historical 37
references, congressional and public debates, including current 38
public policy issues. The courses shall also increase the 39
critical thinking skills of the students in how and why the 40
separate branches of government operate as they do. 41
(3) The State Department of Education, using rigorous and 42
relevant resources, shall prescribe the courses of study, 43
including the basic course requirements and the academic standards 44
for these courses, and shall update course standards to align with 45
current civics scholarship grounded in a factual depiction of the 46
S. B. No. 2292 *SS08/R204PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: School curriculum; require that schools
teach civics courses before completion of high
school.
history and tradition of the United States. The department shall 47
rename its United States Government courses as "United States 48
Government and Civics" to account for the additional civics 49
component while maintaining the government component. 50
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 51
and after July 1, 2026. 52