"Mississippi Universal Prekindergarten Program Act of 2026"; create.

HB 156 proposes creating Mississippi's "Universal Prekindergarten Program Act of 2026," establishing a publicly funded pre-K program for 4-year-olds not yet enrolled in kindergarten. The bill requires school districts to provide funding for up to 10 hours weekly over 35 weeks annually to eligible children, allowing parents to choose between public school programs in their district, other public schools, or prequalified private providers. It sets quality standards for providers, including teacher qualifications, curriculum requirements aligned with state learning standards, and minimum classroom ratios (1 adult per 10 children), with a statewide tuition rate determined annually. The program would be jointly administered by the State Board of Education and the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development, requiring annual reports to the legislature. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.