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SB2504 • 2026

Study Committee on Mathematical Literacy; create.

AN ACT TO CREATE THE STUDY COMMITTEE ON MATHEMATICAL LITERACY TO EXAMINE, EVALUATE AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE MATH SKILLS OF KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST- THROUGH THIRD-GRADE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THAT EVERY STUDENT COMPLETING THE THIRD GRADE IS ABLE TO READ AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL; TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION, ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMITTEE SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2026; TO DIRECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE NECESSARY STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE COMMITTEE; TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW (PEER), UPON REQUEST AND SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES; TO PROVIDE FOR COMPENSATION ACCORDING TO LAW FOR LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS AND TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FOR NON-LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 1, 2027, OR UPON THE SUBMISSION OF ITS FINAL REPORT, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Blount
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so its full impact is uncertain.

Create Study Committee on Mathematical Literacy

This bill creates a committee to study ways to improve math skills for kindergarten through third-grade students so they can read at grade level by the end of third grade.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a committee to examine and develop recommendations regarding methods for improving math skills in kindergarten through third-grade public school students.
  • The committee will assess financial costs, study existing curricula, and determine how provisions from the Literacy-Based Promotion Act can be applied to math education.
  • Sets up rules for who can join the committee, how they meet, and when they need to finish their work by December 1, 2026.
  • Directs the State Department of Education to provide necessary staff support to the committee.
  • Provides for compensation according to law for legislative members and travel expense reimbursement for non-legislative members.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students in kindergarten through third grade who go to public schools.
  • The State Department of Education which helps run the schools.

Terms To Know

Mathematical Literacy
Being able to understand, use, and communicate about numbers and math in everyday life.
Literacy-Based Promotion Act
A law that focuses on improving reading skills of students.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass the legislature.
  • It does not specify how much money will be spent on this committee or its work.
  • There is no information about who will join the committee after it is created.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (S) Referred To Education

Official Summary Text

Study Committee on Mathematical Literacy; create.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2504 *SS26/R924* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R924
PAGE 1 (icj\kr)

To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Blount

SENATE BILL NO. 2504

AN ACT TO CREATE THE STUDY COMMITTEE ON MATHEMATICAL LITERACY 1
TO EXAMINE, EVALUATE AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING METHODS 2
FOR IMPROVING THE MATH SKILLS OF KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST- THROUGH 3
THIRD-GRADE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THAT EVERY 4
STUDENT COMPLETING THE THIRD GRADE IS ABLE TO READ AT OR ABOVE 5
GRADE LEVEL; TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION, ORGANIZATION AND 6
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMITTEE 7
SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE 8
NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2026; TO DIRECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF 9
EDUCATION TO PROVIDE NECESSARY STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO 10
THE COMMITTEE; TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE JOINT 11
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND EXPENDITURE 12
REVIEW (PEER), UPON REQUEST AND SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES; TO 13
PROVIDE FOR COMPENSATION ACCORDING TO LAW FOR LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS 14
AND TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FOR NON-LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS; TO 15
PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 1, 2027, 16
OR UPON THE SUBMISSION OF ITS FINAL REPORT, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER; 17
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 18
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 19
SECTION 1. (1) Study committee established. There is 20
hereby created the Study Committee on Mathematical Literacy for 21
the purpose of examining, evaluating and developing 22
recommendations regarding methods for improving the math skills of 23
Kindergarten and First- through Third-Grade students enrolled in 24
the public schools so that every student completing the Third 25
S. B. No. 2504 *SS26/R924* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R924
PAGE 2 (icj\kr)

Grade is able to read at or above grade level. The committee 26
shall, at a minimum: 27
(a) Study the required standardized curriculum for math 28
instruction; 29
(b) Study the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, Section 30
37-177-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, and determine which 31
provisions of the act may be employed in the context of math 32
education for the purposes of improving student mathematical 33
literacy; 34
(c) Assess the financial cost of expanding the State 35
Department of Education's program using data coaches, pursuant to 36
Section 37-177-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, into the context of 37
math literacy; and 38
(d) Develop recommendations for legislative or 39
administrative reforms to be implemented in the next legislative 40
session. 41
(2) Composition of the committee. (a) The committee shall 42
be composed of the following eleven (11) members: 43
(i) The State Superintendent of Education, or 44
his/her designee; 45
(ii) Three (3) senators appointed by the 46
Lieutenant Governor; 47
(iii) Three (3) representatives appointed by the 48
Speaker of the House of Representatives; 49
S. B. No. 2504 *SS26/R924* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R924
PAGE 3 (icj\kr)

(iv) The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Senate 50
Education Committee, or their designees; and 51
(v) The Chair and Vice-Chair of the House 52
Education Committee, or their designees. 53
(b) Appointments to the committee shall be made within 54
thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act. 55
(3) Committee organization and responsibilities. (a) At 56
its first meeting, the committee shall: 57
(i) Elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from 58
among its members; and 59
(ii) Establish rules for transacting business and 60
keeping records. 61
(b) The committee shall meet as necessary and report 62
its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 63
December 1, 2026. 64
(c) A majority of committee members shall constitute a 65
quorum for conducting business. 66
(4) Support and cooperation. (a) The State Department of 67
Education shall provide necessary staff and administrative support 68
to the committee. 69
(b) In addition, the Joint Legislative Committee on 70
Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) may provide 71
additional staff and administrative support to the committee upon 72
request and subject to available resources. 73
S. B. No. 2504 *SS26/R924* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R924
PAGE 4 (icj\kr)
ST: Study Committee on Mathematical Literacy;
create.
(c) To achieve its objectives, the committee may 74
request data, analysis and assistance from any state agency, 75
division or political subdivision. 76
(5) Compensation of committee members. (a) Legislative 77
members of the study committee shall be entitled to per diem and 78
reimbursement of expenses in accordance with Section 25-3-41, 79
Mississippi Code of 1972. 80
(b) Nonlegislative members shall serve without 81
compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses 82
from any available funds designated for such purposes. 83
(6) Dissolution of the committee. The committee shall be 84
dissolved on January 1, 2027, or upon the submission of its final 85
report, whichever is earlier. 86
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 87
and after its passage. 88