MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Bell (21st)
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT AN INFORMATIONAL DATA SAMPLING OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE MATERIAL AND CONTENT USED ON THE UNITED STATES HISTORY END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT FOR SCHOLASTIC YEARS BEGINNING WITH 2014-2015 ASSESSMENT AND ENDING WITH 2018-2019 ASSESSMENT; TO PRESCRIBE THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING THE SAMPLING DATA; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Education shall conduct an informational data sampling of the questionnaire material and content used on the United States History end-of-course assessment administered under the statewide testing program. The data sampling shall be collected from United States History end-of-course assessment administered by the department to public school students from the scholastic years beginning with 2014-2015 assessment and ending with the 2018-2019 assessment.
(2) The collection of data sampling required under subsection (1) of this section shall be used to determine the legitimacy, appropriateness and accuracy of the historical content taught in public classrooms. The data shall be evaluated by the department to ensure assessment content:
(a) Aligns with the state's academic standards for history under the College and Career Readiness Standards;
(b) Does not promote historical revisionism; and
(c) Is necessary to support the continuation for the administration of the United States History end-of-course assessment.
(3) On or before December 1, 2022, the department shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, along with a compilation of the questionnaire material and content reviewed in the sampling process, to:
(a) The State Board of Education;
(b) The Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees;
(c) The Lieutenant Governor;
(d) The Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(e) The Clerk of the House of Representatives; and
(f) The Secretary of the Senate.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.