HB 192 Summary

• Requires the State Board of Education to adopt a comprehensive rule establishing exclusive goals, objectives, strategies, indicators, and benchmarks for Mississippi's public education system by July 1, 2013.

• Establishes five exclusive education goals including academic achievement exceeding national/international averages, preparing all students for postsecondary education or employment, achieving functional literacy for working-age adults, promoting health and safety, and providing equitable education opportunities.

• Mandates nine policy-oriented objectives including rigorous 21st-century curriculum, accountability systems, balanced assessment processes, flexible personnel systems, safe school environments, leadership development, technology access, alignment with postsecondary programs, and universal pre-kindergarten.

• Sets five performance-oriented objectives requiring first-grade readiness for all children, 50% improvement for lowest-performing students, 90% high school graduation rate, and specific college-attendance rate targets for the ten lowest-attending counties by 2015 and 2020.

• Establishes nine goals for public higher education focused on enhancing quality of life, lifelong learning, access across demographics, economic diversification, student completion, diversity, academic excellence, research innovation, and wellness programming.