Mississippi House Bill HB1402

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Eleventh Grade students; require to take GED or High School Equivalency Test for senior early-release privilege eligibility.

Impact

The legislation specifically targets the academic evaluation process within Mississippi's educational framework. By implementing this assessment requirement, the bill seeks to ensure that students demonstrating below-grade-level performance do not qualify for senior privileges, thereby emphasizing academic achievement as a prerequisite for certain benefits. This change will directly impact how school districts assess and report student performance, as they will be mandated to incorporate this new assessment into their existing evaluative practices.

Summary

House Bill 1402 aims to amend Section 37-16-5 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 concerning educational assessments for eleventh-grade students. The bill mandates that local school boards assess the performance of all eleventh-grade students through the General Educational Development (GED) or the High School Equivalency Test program. The goal of this requirement is to evaluate students' readiness and ensure they meet certain academic standards before being allowed privileges typically granted to seniors, such as early release from school.

Contention

While supporters argue that this measure will promote higher academic standards and accountability among students, particularly in their final high school years, the bill may face criticism from educators and stakeholders concerned about its implications. Detractors could view the restriction on early release privileges for students performing below expectations as unnecessarily punitive, potentially discouraging those students instead of encouraging improvement. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding the adequacy of support provided to students who do not pass the assessment.