MS HB1254

Creates the 2021 Mississippi Education Task Force to review public school regulations and education programs with goals of removing excessive regulations, improving innovation avenues, and assessing the state's accountability system.

Task force membership includes the State Superintendent, Director of Office of Educational Accountability, State Auditor, local school superintendents and administrators, State Board of Education member, school principals from suburban and rural districts, and at least three district Teachers of the Year.

Task force must study COVID-19 pandemic-related policy suspensions/waivers, regulations waived for high-performing districts, the districts of innovation program, and the state school accountability system under federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements.

Task force must review ESSA flexibility options including participation in Innovative Assessment Development Authority, replacing high school subject tests with nationally-recognized assessments, and administering interim assessments combined into final summative scores.

Task force shall report findings and recommendations to the House and Senate Education Committees by December 1, 2021, and dissolve upon submission; non-state employee members may receive per diem and expense reimbursement subject to available funding and task force authorization.