MS HB961

School districts with the three lowest accreditation ratings must adopt policies requiring daily homework, reading assignments with written comprehension assessments, manuscript and cursive writing instruction, spelling words (minimum 5 per subject per week), and monthly book reports for each subject.

Districts must require school uniforms for students, professional dress for teachers (prohibiting jeans and t-shirts), and implement parent-teacher conferences at mid-term for struggling or misbehaving students; parents must participate in one supportive service for the school.

School holidays are limited to Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Spring Break, and Good Friday, with permanent early release days prohibited; staff development training must occur after regular school hours.

Alternative schools in low-performing districts must require 8-hour school days and 8-hour Saturday sessions ("Attitude Adjustment Day") featuring retired military, first responders, mentors, and community volunteers sharing skills with students.

All school districts must implement a video streaming program with the U.S. Department of Labor to develop career-track curricula based on the five fastest-growing occupations in Mississippi and twenty fastest-growing occupations nationally over the next five years, leading to standard high school diplomas.