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HB 366

STEM Pilot Program; require SDE to create in certain school districts for students in Grades 4-8.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Omeria Scott

Mississippi bill requiring STEM pilot programs in select school districts for grades 4-8 died in committee without advancing, likely due to unresolved funding and implementation concerns.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 366

Legislative bill overview

HB 366 would have required the Mississippi State Department of Education (SDE) to establish a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) pilot program in selected school districts targeting students in grades 4-8. The bill did not advance beyond committee review before dying in the 2025 legislative session.

Why is this important

STEM education initiatives are intended to build foundational skills in high-demand fields and improve student competitiveness in the job market. Early exposure to STEM subjects in elementary and middle school is widely recognized as critical for developing interest and proficiency in these disciplines, which have documented workforce shortages in Mississippi and nationally.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and funding mechanism: The bill's passage through both Education and Appropriations committees suggests fiscal concerns were central—no funding source or budget allocation was specified, raising questions about implementation costs and whether existing education budgets would absorb them.
  • Pilot scope and selection criteria: The bill did not clarify which districts would be selected for the pilot, potentially creating equity concerns about whether disadvantaged districts would receive equal access to enhanced STEM resources.
  • Teacher preparation and resources: Effective STEM instruction requires specialized teacher training and equipment; the bill's lack of detail on these requirements may have raised feasibility questions among lawmakers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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