Trimester School Year Pilot Program; establish.
This bill directly impacts existing school calendar regulations by requiring an increase in the length of the academic year for districts that choose to participate in the pilot program. Furthermore, it would amend various sections of the Mississippi Code related to school attendance days, specifically increasing the minimum number of days for participating schools. The program aims to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a trimester system statewide, potentially leading to more significant adjustments in how education is structured and delivered in Mississippi.
House Bill 115 aims to establish a Trimester School Year Pilot Program in Mississippi, which would allow selected school districts to experiment with a trimester-based academic calendar rather than the traditional school year. The State Board of Education is mandated to select up to twelve school districts to participate in this pilot program starting from the 2024-2025 school year. The bill stipulates that the participating districts must maintain a school calendar of at least 225 days of instruction, which could provide additional instructional time for students and potentially facilitate a revised approach to learning and assessment.
While proponents of HB 115 argue that the trimester school year could enhance educational outcomes by providing more continuous learning opportunities, some may express concerns regarding the readiness of schools to adjust to such a significant shift in scheduling. Questions around the implications for staffing, school resources, and the adaptability of current curriculum to align with a trimester model may arise, as adjustments would need to be made to align educational objectives with the new calendar framework.