MS SB2704

Requires students entering Mississippi community colleges or state universities beginning in the 2023-2024 school year to demonstrate civic literacy competency through both a passing assessment score and successful completion of a civic literacy course

Mandates local school boards develop and implement character education programs for grades K-12, changing this from discretionary to required

Directs a joint faculty committee appointed by the State Board of Education and Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning to develop civic literacy courses covering American democracy principles, the U.S. Constitution, founding documents, and landmark Supreme Court cases

Requires civic literacy courses to include opportunities for political discussions and civil debates with multiple viewpoints

Adds instruction on voting using primary and general election ballots to the character development curriculum for 11th and 12th grade students beginning in 2023-2024