MS HB1176

Parents and guardians of public school students in Mississippi have the right to opt their children out of all or any specified part of statewide tests administered by the state.

School districts must provide written notice to parents at the beginning of each school year (starting 2015-2016) explaining the opt-out right and the process for submitting written requests to the school principal.

Parents may submit written opt-out requests without providing a reason, and school districts must grant all properly submitted requests by the established deadline.

School districts and employees are prohibited from soliciting or encouraging parents to submit opt-out requests on behalf of students.

The State Board of Education must ensure that school accreditation ratings and employee assessments are not negatively impacted by students opting out, and school districts must develop alternative assessment methods to measure academic skills for students who opt out.