State Board of Education; require to develop curriculum and implement programs of conflict resolution.

HB 174 requires Mississippi's State Board of Education to develop age- and grade-appropriate conflict resolution and peer mediation curricula for all public school districts, to be fully implemented by the 2026-2027 school year. It specifically mandates that "D" and "F" rated failing school districts use these programs under supervision of school resource officers to address violence and bullying. The bill also creates an alternative to suspension or expulsion: students facing disciplinary action may choose community service with youth peer counseling instead, at their discretion. School districts must integrate these conflict resolution methods into their disciplinary plans as a standard approach for handling student behavior. This policy directly affects all Mississippi public school students, particularly those in underperforming districts, by shifting disciplinary focus toward prevention and mediation.