Mississippi’s Senate has advanced a bill that would require Mississippi educators to teach students how the government works.
The legislative body unanimously passed an amended version of Senate Bill 2605 on Thursday. If the legislation is passed by the House and etched into law by Gov. Tate Reeves, it would mandate every public and charter school in the Magnolia State to make civics a required course for high school graduation.
According to the bill’s text, students will have to complete regular courses of instruction in the “factually accurate history of the United States, in civics, in the Constitution of the United States and in the government of the State of Mississippi” with classes being available in the eighth grade and before students complete their senior year.
Civics courses would also consist of a nonpartisan curriculum teaching the core functions of government, the differences in local and federal offices, and how checks and balances keep governing officials in check. It would serve to inform youth how they can be more involved as citizens of their local communities.
“Democracy is messy, but it’s the best [system] in the world,” bill author Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, said. “We need informed citizens and you’ve got to understand your government.”
The bill would go into effect in the 2026-27 school year if enacted and the Mississippi Department of Education would be tasked with developing a quality curriculum ahead of the upcoming academic calendar. The department would also rename its U.S. government courses to “United States Government and Civics” to align with the new structure.
SB 2605 now heads across the capitol building for further consideration.
