View APA submissions in the Mississippi Administrative Bulletin on the Secretary of State’s website.
Division of Safe and Orderly Schools
Office of Chief Accountability Officer
Proposed establishment of Miss. Admin. Code 7: Part 267: Mississippi Driver Education and Training Program Curriculum
On May 15, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to establish Miss. Admin. Code 7: Part 267: Mississippi Driver Education and Training Program Curriculum effective 2026-2027
Background Information: Since 2001, the Mississippi Driver Education Framework has been used by school districts that choose to offer Driver Education in public secondary schools in the State. Driver Education is not currently required to be offered by school districts.
Senate Bill 2695 of the 2024 Regular Mississippi Legislative Session, later codified into law as Miss. Code Ann. §37-25-5, requires the Commissioner of Public Safety and the State Superintendent of Public Education to jointly prepare and recommend to the State Board of Education rules and regulations governing the establishment, conduct and scope of driver education and training programs in secondary schools in Mississippi prior to July 1, 2025.
Although Driver Education is not currently required to be offered by school districts, Senate Bill 2695 of the 2024 Regular Mississippi Legislative Session, later codified into law as Miss. Code Ann. §37-25-3, requires any school board of any school district maintaining a secondary school, which includes grades 9-12, to offer Driver Education, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, thus, making the course mandatory to be offered regardless of enrollment requests.
In addition to the proposed curriculum and training program requirements, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Driver’s Manual shall be used as the state-adopted instructional materials.
Please submit written comments to Mr. Brian McGairty, Office of Safe and Orderly Schools, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at schoolsafety@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Safe and Orderly Schools no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 16, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on June 19, 2025.
Office of Advocacy and Counsel
Mississippi Seeks Public Comment on State Board Policy Chapter 100, Rule 100.1
On May 15, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to establish State Board Policy Chapter 100, Rule 100.1 – Compliance with State Law Regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Prohibitions, Complaint Process, and Investigations
Background Information: During the 2025 Legislative Session, the legislature passed House Bill 1193, which became effective upon passage, April 17, 2025.
House Bill 1193 is an act to prohibit public schools and public postsecondary educational institutions from taking certain actions and engaging in discrimination practices, specifically related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”). It seeks to ensure that employment, academic opportunities, and student engagement are based solely on individual merit, qualifications and academic performance, without consideration of an individual’s race, sex, color, national origin, or expressed opposition to, or refusal to affirm or participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The law requires that within 90 days of passage, the State Board of Education shall adopt a model complaint process, investigative procedures, and all other policies and procedures for appropriately investigating violations under House Bill 1193.
The policy has been developed, in conjunction with the Mississippi School Board Association, and meets the requirements of House Bill 1193.
You may review proposed revisions on the Secretary of State’s Administrative Bulletin by selecting Title 7 Department of Education in the search bar.
Please submit written comments to Erin Meyer, Chief of Advocacy and Counsel, 359 N. West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771 or via email at EMeyer@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Advocacy and Counsel no later than 5:00 PM on June 10, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on June 19, 2025.
Office of Secondary Education
Mississippi Seeks Public Comment on State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.7
On April 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to establish State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.7 – Early Graduation Policy.
State Board Policy Rule 36.7 is being created to provide guidance to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with early graduation opportunities. The policy provides a definition of early graduation and identifies the following six (6) areas that LEA’s policy must address.
You may review proposed revisions on the State’s Administrative Bulletin sos.ms.gov/adminsearch/default.aspx?current_page=Bulletin (To locate the filing documents, select “Title 7 Department of Education” in the search bar.)
Please submit written comments to Wendy Clemons, Associate State Superintendent for Secondary Education, 359 N. West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email (secondaryeducation@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Office of Secondary Education no later than 5:00 PM on May 19, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on June 19, 2025.
Office of Accreditation
Office of Secondary Education
Proposed revisions to Miss. Admin. Code: 7-24, Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024, Appendices A-5 – A-9, F and the Glossary.
On April 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the following:
State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.4 – Assessments Required for Graduation. The proposed revisions to SBP Chapter 36, Rule 36.4 remove references to and establish rules for the elimination of the US History End-of-Course assessment as an assessment required for graduation in the 2025-2026 School Year.
State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.5 – Additional Assessment Options for Meeting End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment Requirements. The proposed revisions to SBP Chapter 36, Rule 36.5 eliminate references to US History End-of-Course assessment.
Appendices A-5 – A-9, F and the Glossary. The proposed revisions to the appendices for the 2025-2026 School Year eliminate references to US History End-of-Course assessment (EOC) and updates the Glossary.
You may review proposed revisions on the State’s Administrative Bulletin https://sos.ms.gov/adminsearch/default.aspx?current_page=Bulletin (To locate the filing documents, select “Title 7 Department of Education” in the search bar.)
Please submit written comments to Wendy Clemons, Associate State Superintendent, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (secondaryeducation@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Division of Secondary Education no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on June 19, 2025.
Division of Educator Licensure
Office of Chief Accountability Officer
Proposed revision of Miss. Admin. Code 7-4: Part 4: Licensure Guidelines K-12
On April 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to establish a qualifying score for the revised versions of certain Praxis Subject Assessments: Early Childhood Education: Foundational Knowledge and Content (Test Code 5534); Family and Consumer Sciences (5123); and Social Studies (5581) as recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee of the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development and approval to establish a qualifying score for Praxis Subject Assessment: Japanese: World Language (Test Code 5661) and add Japanese: World Language (Licensure Endorsement Code TBD) to the list of approved supplemental endorsements that may be added to a valid three (3) year internship license or valid five (5) year standard license by obtaining a passing score on the appropriate Praxis Subject Assessment; and update the test code associated with the Foundations of Reading Assessment to change from test code 190 to test code 890 with no changes to the test content, and no change to the current Mississippi Board of Education’s required passing score
Background Information: On February 3, 2025, an Ad Hoc Committee of the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development convened and recommended for approval the adoption of the following revised Praxis Subject Assessments and associated qualifying score:
The new versions of the Praxis Subject Assessments will replace the current versions and shall have an effective date of September 1, 2025. The current version of each assessment will be discontinued effective August 31, 2025. Adhering to the Mississippi State Board of Education’s Discontinued Test Policy, Mississippi’s qualifying passing score for the respective discontinued versions of the assessments will be accepted through August 31, 2027, if that qualifying passing score was achieved on or prior to August 31, 2025.
In addition, the Division of Educator Licensure is requesting approval to establish a qualifying score for Praxis Subject Assessment: Japanese: World Language (Test Code 5661) and add Japanese: World Language (Endorsement Code TBD) to the list of approved supplemental endorsements that may be added to a valid three (3) year internship license or valid five (5) year standard license by obtaining a passing score on the appropriate Praxis Subject Assessment. The Japanese: World Language related item shall be effective upon receipt of final State Board of Education approval. Please note that the Licensure Commission has directed the MDE Division of Educator Licensure to monitor the performance of Mississippi test takers on the respective tests found herein, and when robust enough data are collected, reconvene an Ad Hoc Committee for review of such data to determine the need to make possible recommendations for score adjustments, as appropriate.
The final request is for approval to adopt and update the test code associated with the Foundations of Reading licensure assessment that is being changed by the administering testing company, from test code 190 to test code 890, for the purpose of offering certain supports to test takers that are not affiliated with the current state client test use license. There are no changes to the test content, and no changes will be made to the current Mississippi State Board of Education required passing score, at this time. Updates will be made to any official documents and other mediums where the Foundations of Reading Assessment licensure requirement is published.
On March 7, 2025, at its regular meeting, the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development granted approval of the recommendations noted herein.
Please submit written comments to Dr. Cory Murphy, Office of Teaching and Leading, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (licensure@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Division of Educator Licensure no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 23, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on June 19, 2025.
Office of Chief Accountability Officer
Proposed revision of Miss. Admin. Code 7-24:
Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024
On April 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the following:
Miss. Admin. Code 7-24: Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024, specifically the business rules of the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System
Please submit written comments to Mr. Alan Burrow, Office of District and School Performance, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (accreditation@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Office of Accreditation no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 23, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on June 19, 2025.
Division of Educator Licensure
Office of Chief Accountability Officer
Proposed revision of Miss. Admin. Code 7-4: Part 4: Licensure Guidelines K-12
On April 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise Miss. Admin. Code 7 – 4: Part 4: Licensure Guidelines K-12 to establish a supplemental endorsement and licensure criteria for Advanced Placement Computer Science A (Licensure Endorsement Code 612)
Background Information: On March 7, 2025, at its regular meeting the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development granted approval of the Division of Educator Licensure’s request as described herein.
Particularly, the Division seeks to establish a supplemental endorsement in the area of Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science A (7-12) and criteria for licensure to teach the AP Computer Science A course. A prospective educator shall be required to successfully complete an MDE – approved Advanced Placement Summer Institute to obtain the 612 AP Computer Science A (7-12) supplemental endorsement. The supplemental endorsement shall only be added to a valid three (3) – year Mississippi teacher internship license or valid five (5) – year standard Mississippi license in the secondary education content area of 154 Mathematics (7-12), or 181 Biology (7-12), or 185 Chemistry (7-12), or 189 Physics (7-12).
The 612 AP Computer Science A (7-12) supplemental endorsement and one of the secondary education licensure content area endorsements listed above are required to teach the AP Computer Science A course. The five (5) – year standard 612 AP Computer Science A (7-12) supplemental endorsement shall be renewed in accordance with Mississippi Board of Education licensure renewal requirements in effect at the time the complete licensure renewal application packet is received in and validated by the MDE Division of Educator Licensure. All requirements noted herein shall be required beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
Please submit written comments to Dr. Cory Murphy, Office of Teaching and Leading, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (licensure@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Division of Educator Licensure no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 23, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on June 19, 2025.
