MS HB912

School boards must adopt policies requiring middle and junior high schools to develop academic plans for each student at initial enrollment, including educational goals, required courses, honors/career-technical options, and teacher expectations.

Students and parents must work with school counselors to develop academic plans upon enrollment and review/revise them annually; failure to meet all goals does not prevent promotion to high school if other requirements are met.

Middle and junior high schools with 500+ students must establish small learning communities for initial-year students, including designated geographic areas, tracking of credits/attendance/truancy, identification of special needs, parent involvement methods, and assignment of counselors and mentors.

School boards must adopt peer mentoring programs (with optional adult mentoring components) at all middle and junior high schools to help students transition from elementary school; principals must submit annual reports on program activities and effectiveness.

School boards must adopt policies allowing pupil-led conferences between students, parents, and teachers to review educational development at least once during middle/junior high enrollment, with guidelines for conference structure and evaluation methods.