State subject area tests and acountability standards; replace with college prep test and revise provisions.

HB 1588 would replace end-of-course subject tests for Mississippi 11th and 12th graders with nationally recognized college- and career-readiness exams like the ACT and ACT WorkKeys, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill requires all public high school students to take these tests and updates the state's school accreditation system to incorporate results from them. It also seeks federal approval to use these tests for compliance with federal testing requirements, eliminating the need for federal end-of-course tests. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.