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MSDE outlines bill positions, absenteeism work and cell‑phone workgroup as legislative session begins
Summary
MSDE staff summarized four bills the department will track—support for a voluntary civic excellence seal, opposition to two curriculum bills, and a letter of information on adding a principal to the state board—and previewed ongoing work on chronic absenteeism and a cell‑phone workgroup.
Dr. Aileen (MSDE) delivered a brief legislative update and asked the committee to endorse department positions so testimony can be filed before the next board meeting. She summarized four bills MSDE is tracking:
• SB 8 / HB 72 — a voluntary civic excellence program that would allow local school systems to award a seal recognizing students who meet civic readiness/engagement criteria; MSDE staff recommended the board support the bill because it would be voluntary and require only an annual report listing recognized students.
• HB 161 — a curriculum bill to require MSDE to develop a comprehensive health education framework with an opt‑out for family life/human sexuality topics; MSDE staff recommended opposing curricular bills and will oppose this one.
• A second curriculum bill (financial literacy/ student service hours) — would require counties to allow eligible financial literacy courses to count toward service learning hours; MSDE staff recommended opposing this bill to preserve the integrity of service learning requirements.
• SB 113 — would add an active, certified school principal to the State Board of Education, selected via an MSDE‑run election beginning 07/01/2026; MSDE will submit a letter of information and noted concern about board size precedent but not opposition.
MSDE staff also briefed the committee on three ongoing areas it is tracking during the session: the governor’s anticipated education bill, ongoing work to reduce chronic absenteeism (with Attendance Works as a national partner), and a newly formed cell‑phone workgroup that will meet beginning Jan. 22 and deliver recommendations later in the spring. Dr. Aileen introduced Maddie Hoke as a new education policy analyst who will assist with legislative tracking and policy work.
Why this matters: The department’s positions will shape testimony and MSDE engagement during the legislative session; the committee agreed staff needed to take positions ahead of the next board meeting so testimony deadlines are met.
