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K-12 areas of instruction required by statute in Mississippi

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See also: K-12 education content standards in the states

This page features information about K-12 areas of instruction required by state statute in Mississippi public schools.

Background

See also: K-12 education content standards in the states and K-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the states

State education officials may develop content standards and curricula, depending on the state, in order to facilitate instruction in public schools. In some states, lawmakers also adopt required areas of instruction by statute.

K-12 content standards and curriculum development

State or local education officials may develop K-12 curricula for classroom instruction that generally includes lessons and materials used in a particular course of study.[1] Depending on the state, K-12 curricula may reflect or incorporate state content standards—educational learning and achievement goals that state education officials either require or recommend that local schools satisfy in K-12 instruction.

Areas of instruction required by statute

Some state laws require the inclusion of specific areas of instruction in K-12 public school curricula. In these cases, lawmakers—rather than state education officials—mandate certain education requirements for students. Laws governing specific areas of instruction in K-12 curricula vary by state.

Statutorily required areas of instruction in Mississippi

The following table provides information about selected areas of instruction required by statute in Mississippi, as of 2023. The statutes provided may not be comprehensive. The statutory text is provided below the table.

Statutorily required areas of instruction in Mississippi
Area(s) of instruction Statute(s)
The flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Mississippi Mississippi Code § 37-13-5 (2020)
Cursive reading and writing Mississippi Code § 37-13-10 (2020)
Health education Mississippi Code § 37-13-21 (2020)
Physical education, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) Mississippi Code § 37-13-134 (2020)
Abstinence-only or abstinence-plus education Mississippi Code § 37-13-171 (2020)


Mississippi Code § 37-13-5 (2020):

“ Display of Mississippi and United States flags; course of study


3. In all public schools there shall be given a course of study concerning the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Mississippi. The course of study shall include the history of each flag and what they represent and the proper respect therefor. There also shall be taught in the public schools the duties and obligations of citizenship, patriotism, Americanism and respect for and obedience to law.[2]

”

Mississippi Code § 37-13-10 (2020):

“ Public elementary schools to provide instruction in cursive reading and writing; exceptions


The State Board of Education is authorized and directed to require all public school districts to meet the following elementary education curriculum standard: The standard course of study shall include the requirement that the public schools provide instruction in cursive reading and writing, implemented across the curriculum, so that students create readable documents through legible cursive handwriting by the end of the fifth grade, and that students pass with proficiency a teacher-constructed test demonstrating the students competency in both reading and writing cursive. This requirement shall be applicable beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to the Mississippi School for the Blind and the Mississippi School for the Deaf.[2]

”

Mississippi Code § 37-13-21 (2020):

“ Health education programs


The State Board of Health and the various county health departments are hereby authorized and empowered to establish and provide for health education programs in the public school districts of this state and to employ county health educators for such purpose. In order to effectuate such programs the county superintendents of education of counties in which such programs have been established, with the approval of the county board of education, and the board of trustees of the municipal separate school districts are authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to cooperate and join with the said State Board of Health and the county health departments in such program...[2]

”

Mississippi Code § 37-13-134 (2020):

“ Comprehensive School Health Education Program


1. The Legislature recognizes that there is a problem with Mississippi student inactivity and obesity, and therefore requires the following guidelines for school district physical education, health education and physical activity and fitness classes:

a. Kindergarten through Grade 8: One hundred fifty (150) minutes per week of physical activity-based instruction and forty-five (45) minutes per week of health education instruction, as defined by the State Board of Education.
b. Grades 9 through 12: One-half (1/2) Carnegie unit requirement in physical education or physical activity for graduation. Beginning with the 2015-2016 Ninth Grade class, an instructional component on the proper administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) shall be included as part of the physical education or health education curriculum. The curricula shall incorporate into the instruction the psychomotor skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of an automated external defibrillator as follows:
i. An instructional program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross;
ii. An instructional program which is nationally recognized and is based on the most current national evidence-based Emergency Cardiovascular Care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator;
iii. A licensed teacher shall not be required to be a certified trainer of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, to facilitate, provide or oversee such instruction for noncertification; and
iv. Courses which result in a certification being earned must be taught by an authorized CPR/AED instructor...[2]
 ”

Mississippi Code § 37-13-171 (2020):

“ Implementation of abstinence-only or abstinence-plus education; State Department of Education approval of curriculum for sex-related education required; components of abstinence-only and abstinence-plus education; parent programs; separation of students by gender during sex-related education instruction


1. The local school board of every public school district shall adopt a policy to implement abstinence-only or abstinence-plus education into its curriculum by June 30, 2012, which instruction in those subjects shall be implemented not later than the start of the 2012-2013 school year or the local school board shall adopt the program which has been developed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the Mississippi Department of Health. The State Department of Education shall approve each district's curriculum for sex-related education and shall establish a protocol to be used by districts to provide continuity in teaching the approved curriculum in a manner that is age, grade and developmentally appropriate..[2]

”

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Glossary of Education Reform, "Curriculum," accessed July 26, 2022
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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