Editor’s note: This essay is part of Mississippi Today Ideas, a platform for thoughtful Mississippians to share their ideas about our state’s past, present and future. You can read more about the section here.
In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, we must ensure that Mississippi’s students graduate with knowledge of and appreciation for the Declaration of Independence and our state and federal institutions it inspired. Civics knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors are not passed along through the gene pool, but must be built anew with each rising generation of citizens.
To this end, I am proud to author Senate Bill 2292, legislation that would require civics courses in every public and charter school in Mississippi in order for students to graduate high school.
Earlier this month, the Senate unanimously passed SB 2292 with strong bipartisan support. It’s now assigned to both the House Education and Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee, and I encourage my House colleagues to put aside “education politics” of the last couple of years and advance it to the House floor, teeing up its passage prior to our adjournment in April.
Thirty-seven states plus D.C. require stand-alone civics courses for high school graduation, seven of them for a full year. If we pass this bill, beginning with the 2027-28 school year, Mississippi would proudly join this mix.
Civics knowledge is sadly lacking across our citizenry, perhaps most acutely among our students here in Mississippi. Nationally, only 22% of eighth graders achieved proficiency on the most recent NAEP civics assessment — the lowest performance of any tested subject outside U.S. History. For Mississippi students, who largely lack access to a dedicated civics course, the picture is likely no better. Mississippi students deserve better than that national floor.
But the national assessment also showed the power of civics courses. Eighth graders who experienced a stand-alone civics course performed about 10% better on the NAEP assessment. More broadly, research shows that students who receive a comprehensive civics education are more likely to be informed and engaged voters and citizens.
Specific benefits include a high likelihood among students to talk about current public issues at home, to volunteer and work on community issues, and to complete college and develop employable skills like working collaboratively in a group or giving a public presentation.
SB 2292 elevates civics education above just the basic eighth grade government class. It ensures students will receive instruction on both the Mississippi Constitution and U.S. Constitution; the foundational principles of federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances; appreciation for free speech and civil discourse; and the intersection of these principles in our daily lives.
The new civics courses will emphasize both historic and modern public debates, building students’ critical thinking skills along the way. This includes the ability to analyze various information sources and determine their reliability. These are not just civic virtues — they are workforce competencies Mississippi urgently needs.
With Mississippi having more than 70,000 job openings and a job openings rate above the national average, the Legislature is already investing in solutions, including new pathways through community colleges to equip workers with skills for high-demand industries. But workforce readiness begins before community college.
A student who graduates high school understanding how institutions work, how to evaluate information, how to present ideas publicly and how to collaborate effectively is a student ready to succeed in those pathways — and to stay in Mississippi to build a career.
Perhaps most importantly, students will emerge with a better understanding of how national, state and local institutions operate. Ultimately, Mississippi graduates will better understand how they can contribute to the civic life of our communities.
Considering average voting participation rates hover around 20% or less in non-presidential elections, having more graduates who understand the importance of voting, and then who actually vote regularly, would be an improvement over the status quo.
Ensuring that our students have the civics education they need to become future knowledgeable and productive citizens should be a priority no matter the politics of our present day.
Today’s kindergartner will celebrate our semiquincentennial this summer, and will graduate in 2038, the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution’s ratification. Let’s ensure that they graduate with the civics knowledge and commitments necessary to sustain and strengthen our democratic republic, here at home in Mississippi and across the country, for another 250 years.
Republican Sen. Brice Wiggins represents District 52 covering south Jackson County, including the cities of Pascagoula, Gautier and Ocean Springs. Wiggins, an attorney, has been serving in the state Senate since 2012.
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