MS HB308

Establishes a Trimester School Year Pilot Program with the State Board of Education selecting up to 12 eligible school districts to participate during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years, with at least one district per congressional district selected if applications are received.

Requires participating districts to follow a school year calendar with three trimesters of at least 75 days each, breaks of at least 15 calendar days between trimesters, and a total school year of at least 225 days, with the school year opening on the Tuesday after the first Monday in September.

Mandates a core curriculum for grades 4-12 in participating districts consisting of Language Arts, Math, Foreign Language, Social Studies, and Science, with each core course containing a minimum of 18 trimester units of instruction.

Requires the State Department of Education to provide standardized tests in core subjects administered statewide on the same day, scored by machine and reported only as pass or fail.

Increases annual funding for participating districts under the Mississippi Adequate Education Program based on a formula accounting for the difference between 225 days and the average attendance days in non-participating districts, and requires the board to report findings to legislative education committees before January 1, 2021.