Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6.1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 17-6.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6.1
Status: in_force

(1) In the Mississippi Achievement School District, in which as of January 1, 2024, two (2) local school districts have been placed into by the State Board of Education, specifically, the Yazoo City Municipal School District and the Humphreys County School District, there shall be an administrative transition of those school districts into two (2) separate Districts of Transformation with such transition completed by July 1, 2025. Until June 30, 2025, preceding the effective date of the required transition of school districts in the Mississippi Achievement School District into Districts of Transformation, the districts shall remain under the authority and control of the Mississippi Achievement School District and the State Board of Education.

(2) From and after July 1, 2024, no local school district shall be placed into the Mississippi Achievement School District and effective July 1, 2025, the Mississippi Achievement School District shall be dissolved.

(3) On or before September 1, 2024, the State Board of Education shall provide the Mississippi Achievement School District with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for actions to be taken to comply with the transition of those local schools into Districts of Transformation.

(4) A declaration of a state of emergency shall not be required by the Governor for the two (2) districts to transition from the Mississippi Achievement School District placement into a District of Transformation; however, the two (2) districts shall be required to comply with any and all obligations and laws as required by other Districts of Transformation and the State Board of Education shall have all the authorities granted to it in Sections 37-17-6 and 37-17-13 , including the assignment of an interim superintendent to the Districts of Transformation, or in its discretion, contracting with an appropriate private entity with experience in the academic, finance and other operational functions of schools and school districts, who will be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the school district in accordance with Section 37-17-6(15) , and the determination of when a District of Transformation is ready to be reconstituted, reorganized, and returned to local control.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-83 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 27-83
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-83
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any agricultural high school in the state, which on account of loss or destruction of school property by fire, storm, or other like unforeseen disaster, can no longer be maintained and operated successfully, is, with the approval of the board of supervisors, hereby authorized to sell and dispose of the lands, buildings, and other property belonging to such school, and place the proceeds derived from the sale of same to the credit of the county common school fund.

Sale of said property may be made at public or private sale on such terms as the board of trustees may elect, subject to the approval of the board of supervisors. In case of sale on credit, the deferred payments shall be evidenced by notes payable to the county, for the benefit of the county common school fund and shall bear interest at a rate of not less than six percent (6%) per annum, and the county shall have a lien on the property for the purchase-money, as against all persons, until paid.

The deed or deeds of conveyance shall be executed by the president or chairman and the secretary of the board of trustees, pursuant to an order of the board of trustees, entered on its minutes, and pursuant to an order of approval by the board of supervisors entered on its minutes, and when so executed shall be fully effective to convey title to said property.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 139-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-7
Status: in_force

The board shall be authorized to solicit and utilize the staff of the State Department of Education, staff of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and other state agencies as required for the implementation of this chapter. In addition, the board shall be authorized to contract or enter into agreements with other agencies and/or private research centers that it may deem necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 12-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-13
Status: in_force

This chapter shall not be construed to limit the authority of any public school to do any of the following:

(a) Maintain order and discipline on the campus of the public school in a content and viewpoint neutral manner.

(b) Protect the safety of students, employees and visitors of the public school.

(c) Adopt and enforce policies and procedures regarding student speech at school provided that the policies and procedures do not violate the rights of students as guaranteed by the United States and Mississippi constitutions and laws.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-22-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 22-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-22-25
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi School District Emergency Bridge Loan Act.”

(2)(a) There is established a bridge loan program to be administered by the State Department of Education for the purpose of assisting local school districts that suffer revenue losses as a result of an economic downturn that substantially impacts the state and local revenues available to school districts. Loan proceeds distributed to school districts shall be specifically for school district operations identified as essential by the department.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department endeavor to ensure that the costs of the administration of this section are as low as possible.

(3)(a) There is created a special fund in the State Treasury to be designated as the “Mississippi School District Emergency Bridge Loan Fund,” referred to in this section as the “fund.” The fund shall consist of money designated for deposit in the fund from any source including, but not limited to, appropriations, bond proceeds, grants, gifts, donations or funds from any source, public or private. The fund shall be credited with all repayments of principal and interest derived from loans made from the fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the State General Fund. Monies in the fund may not be used or expended for any purpose except as authorized under this section.

(b) The department shall establish a loan program by which loans may be made available to school districts to assist those school districts. Any school district that demonstrates for the current fiscal year a projected revenue loss equal to or exceeding one-third ( 1 / 3 ) of its revenues in the preceding fiscal year may qualify for a loan. The interest rate on loans made under this section may vary from time to time and from loan to loan and shall be at or below market interest rates as determined by the department. The department shall act as quickly as is practicable and prudent in deciding on any loan request that it receives.

(c) The aggregate amount of any loans received under this section by a school district shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the revenue received by the school district to fund essential operations in the preceding fiscal year and the estimated revenue from those sources in the current fiscal year plus sixteenth section principal funds that may be expended under law, cash reserves or fund balances at the fiscal year end, as determined by the department. The State Board of Education shall set the maximum amount of any loan made under this section at an amount that will ensure the equitable distribution of the amounts available for loans to the eligible school districts.

(d) A school district that receives a loan from the fund shall pledge for repayment of the loan any part of the homestead exemption annual tax loss reimbursement to which it may be entitled under Section 27-33-77 , as may be required by the department. Each recipient of a loan shall establish a dedicated source of revenue for repayment of the loan. Before any school district shall receive a loan, it must execute with the department a loan agreement evidencing the loan, a copy of which must be filed by the department with the State Tax Commission. The loan agreement may not be construed to prohibit any recipient from prepaying any part or all of the funds received. The repayment schedule in each loan agreement shall provide for: (i) monthly payments; (ii) semiannual payments; or (iii) other periodic payments. The loan agreement shall provide for the repayment of all funds received from the fund within not more than ten (10) years. At the request of the department, the State Tax Commission shall withhold semiannually from the amount to be remitted to a school district the sum necessary to pay all or a portion of the periodic payments for the loan.

(e) A school district that receives a loan from the state which is not eligible to pledge for repayment of the loan under paragraph (d) of this subsection shall repay the loan by making payments each month to the State Treasurer through the Department of Finance and Administration for and on behalf of the department according to Section 7-7-15 , to be credited to the fund in lieu of pledging homestead exemption annual tax loss reimbursement.

Loan repayments shall be according to a repayment schedule contained in each loan agreement as required under paragraph (d) of this subsection.

(f) Evidences of indebtedness that are issued under this section may not be deemed indebtedness within the meaning specified in Section 37-59-5 .

(g) The State Auditor, upon the request of the department, shall audit the receipts and expenditures of a school district if loan repayments appear to be in arrears. If the Auditor finds that the school district is in arrears in the repayments, the Auditor immediately shall notify the State Superintendent of Public Education, who may take any action necessary to enforce the terms of the loan agreement. The superintendent, in his discretion, may notify the State Tax Commission to withhold all future payments to the school district of homestead exemption annual tax loss reimbursements under Section 27-33-77 until such time that the school district is again current in its loan repayments, as certified by the department.

(h) All monies deposited in the fund may be used only for providing the loans authorized under this section. In addition, any amounts in the fund may be used to defray the reasonable costs of administering the fund. The department is authorized to use amounts available to it from the fund to contract for those facilities and staff needed to administer and provide routine management for the funds and loan program.

(4) In administering this section, the State Department of Education shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To supervise the use of all funds made available under this section;

(b) To promulgate rules and regulations and to establish procedures in accordance with this section for the implementation of the loan program;

(c) To requisition monies in the fund and distribute those monies in accordance with this section;

(d) To maintain, in accordance with generally accepted government accounting standards, an accurate record of all monies in the fund made available to school districts under this section; and

(e) To file annually with the Legislature a report detailing how monies in the fund were spent during the preceding fiscal year in each school district.

(5) The State Bond Commission, at one time or from time to time, may declare the necessity for general funds for the purposes provided in this section, including the costs incident to the administration of the loan program. Upon approval by the State Bond Commission, the Department of Finance and Administration may transfer the necessary amount from the General Fund to the fund in ample time to discharge such loans and incidental costs.

(6) The Department of Finance and Administration, without further process of law, may certify the necessity for warrants and issue those warrants in such amounts as may be necessary to make loans under the program authorized by this section.

(7) After any state funds in the fund are no longer needed for the particular purpose for which they were appropriated, deposited or transferred into the fund, the Department of Finance and Administration shall transfer those state funds back to the particular fund or funds in the State Treasury from which they were appropriated or transferred into the fund, upon certification of the State Superintendent of Public Education that the state funds currently are not needed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-77 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 113-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-77
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Subject to the availability of funds, the program may annually enter into agreements with up to an average of two (2) veterinary students as determined by the criteria established for the administration of the Dr. Elton Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinarians Scholarship Program.

(b) Each student entering into a program agreement under this section shall receive annual assistance in an amount not to exceed the in-state tuition rate assessed for attending the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine for a period not to exceed four (4) years for tuition and fees incurred by the student in pursuit of his or her veterinary medicine degree. Upon completion of all commitments under the provisions of the agreement and the provisions of this section, the financial obligations pursuant to this section shall be deemed satisfied and forgiven.

(2) To be eligible for program scholarship funds, recipients shall:

(a) Be a student of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine;

(b) Agree to become licensed in the practice of veterinary medicine in the State of Mississippi upon graduation;

(c) Complete all requirements in public health, livestock biosecurity, foreign animal disease diagnosis, regulatory veterinary medicine and zoonotic disease, and an externship and mentoring requirement with a licensed, accredited veterinarian in a rural area, as required by the veterinary medical school;

(d) Enter into a contract with the program to provide full-time veterinary medicine services as a food supply animal veterinarian or as a rural mixed animal veterinarian for a minimum of four (4) years in one or more communities approved by the program; and

(e) Commence the full-time practice of veterinary medicine in a rural community within ninety (90) days after completion of the degree program or, if the scholarship recipient enters a post-degree training program, such as graduate school, internship or residency program, within ninety (90) days after completion of the post-degree training program; and

(f) Be accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services to provide services relating to food supply animals within six (6) months of graduation or passage of veterinary licensure examination.

(3) Priority shall be given to Mississippi residents. If the number of Mississippi residents applying for scholarship funds is less than the number of slots available, nonresident students may be considered. Nonresident students shall only receive scholarship funds sufficient to pay for in-state tuition rates, and they must meet the same obligations as specified in subsection (2) of this section for students who are residents of the State of Mississippi.

(4) Recipients of the scholarship must remain in good academic standing while in receipt of this scholarship, as specified in the rules and regulations promulgated by the Dean of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine with the advice and consent of the President of Mississippi State University of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. If a student is dismissed or withdraws from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the dean shall assess the circumstances of the student's dismissal or withdrawal and make a formal recommendation regarding whether the student shall be liable for the repayment of all or a portion of the financial assistance provided to the student through the program, along with other penalties that may be prescribed in accordance with the policies adopted by the dean as prescribed in Section 37-113-81 .

(5) The dean may adopt additional provisions, requirements or conditions for participating in the program as are practicable and appropriate to accomplish the provisions of the program or which may be required for the implementation or administration of the program, and which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 104-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-29
Status: in_force

Revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of the State of Mississippi or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state, but such bonds shall be payable solely from the sinking fund provided therefor, as hereinafter established in Section 37-104-31 . The issuance of such revenue bonds shall not directly, indirectly or contingently obligate the state to levy or pledge any form of taxation whatever therefor, and all such revenue bonds shall contain recitals on their face substantially covering the foregoing provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 27-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-5
Status: in_force

Boards of supervisors are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to levy on the taxable property in the county at the time the annual tax levy is made, a tax for the building, repair, and equipment of agricultural high schools, as well as for the purchase of suitable lands or buildings, or both, or for the payment of debts heretofore created for any of said purposes, not to exceed three mills. Within twenty (20) days after levy has been made, twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of said county may file with the clerk of the board of supervisors a petition asking that the tax be not levied; thereupon, the question shall be submitted to an election of the people, which election shall be decisive to the levy for that year only. The maximum levy for maintenance purposes as fixed by the law for the agricultural high school, shall not be deemed a limitation on the tax levy for the building, repair, and equipment of agricultural high schools hereinbefore mentioned, nor the levy under this section, a limitation on the levy for maintenance purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 41-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-31
Status: in_force

(1) In each case where pupils are transported to and from the public schools in the school districts of this state in privately owned vehicles, the contract for such transportation shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder who is able to furnish a solvent bond for the faithful performance of his contract. This shall be done after each route over which such pupils are to be transported has been laid out and established as provided in this chapter. Such contracts shall be awarded upon receipt of sealed bids or proposals after the time and place of letting such contracts and the manner of bidding have been duly advertised in some newspaper published in the county in accordance with the procedures provided in Section 31-7-13(c) . If no newspaper is published in the county, then the advertisement shall be made by publication for the required time in some newspaper having a general circulation therein, and, in addition, by posting a copy thereof for that time in at least three (3) public places in the county, one (1) of which shall be at the county courthouse in each judicial district of the county. The awarding of all such contracts shall, however, in all respects be subject to the provisions of Section 37-41-29 .

(2) Private contracts for the transportation of exceptional children, as defined in Section 37-23-3 , may be negotiated by the local school board without the necessity of the advertising for or taking of bids. The same may apply under extraordinary circumstances where regular transportation is considered to be impractical. The local school board may negotiate and contract for the transportation described in this paragraph so long as the local school board complies with the school transportation regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education.

(3) Contracts shall be made for four (4) years, at the discretion of the local school board and shall include the stipulation for the placement of district-identifying signage on all buses under contract, as required under Section 37-41-43 . Any and all bids may be rejected. At the expiration of any transportation contract, if the school board believes a route should remain substantially as established and finds that the carrier thereon has rendered efficient and satisfactory services it may extend the contract for not more than four (4) years, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 37-41-29 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-181 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 23-181
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-181
Status: in_force

Sections 37-23-171 through 37-23-181 shall be in addition to and supplemental to the provisions of Sections 37-23-121 through 37-23-131 , known as the “Mississippi Learning Resources Law of 1974.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-81 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-81
Status: in_force

There is created the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement within the Office of Dropout Prevention of the State Department of Education. The office shall be responsible for the administration of a statewide system of enforcement of the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law ( Section 37-13-91 ) and for the supervision of school attendance officers throughout the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 63-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-3
Status: in_force

The Authority for Educational Television shall consist of the State Superintendent of Public Education, or his designee, and six (6) members appointed, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Governor shall appoint four (4) members, one (1) of whom shall be actively engaged as a teacher or principal in a secondary school system in the State of Mississippi and one (1) of whom shall be actively engaged as a teacher or principal in an elementary school system in the State of Mississippi. Beginning July 1, 1994, the appointee actively engaged as a teacher or principal in a secondary school shall be appointed for an initial term of three (3) years. The member actively engaged as a teacher or principal in an elementary school shall be appointed for an initial term of four (4) years. The remaining two (2) gubernatorial appointees shall serve until July 1, 1996. Beginning July 1, 1996, the Governor shall appoint two (2) members for initial terms of three (3) and four (4) years, with the Governor specifically designating which member shall be appointed for three (3) years and which shall be appointed for four (4) years. The Mississippi Community College Board shall appoint one (1) member, and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall appoint one (1) member. After the expiration of the initial terms, all members shall serve for terms of four (4) years. An appointment to fill a vacancy among the gubernatorial appointees, other than by expiration of a term of office, shall be made by the Governor for the balance of the unexpired term.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-57 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 153-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-57
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Accelerate Mississippi Workforce Development Program, which shall be directed by the office for the purpose of providing education and training to citizens seeking employment in high-wage, high-demand industries in the state, including, but not limited to, the nursing and healthcare fields, which were impacted by the disruption to the economy and workforce caused by COVID-19. This program shall be subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature using Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds made available under ARPA or any other funds appropriated by the Legislature.

(2) As used in this section, the following words have the meanings ascribed unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) “ Recipient ” means a community college, institution of higher learning, or trainee recipient of grant funding under this section.

(b) “ Trainee ” means an individual receiving training or other services through programs under this article with the goal of becoming employed in a high-wage, high-demand industry.

(c) “ High-wage, high-demand industry ” means those industries paying above Mississippi's median annual income and prioritized by the office and the four (4) local workforce areas.

(d) “ Eligible expenses ” means a cost incurred by a recipient, pursuant to this article, to include:

(i) Necessary equipment or other supplies;

(ii) Curricula or other academic or training materials;

(iii) Remote learning or other classroom technology;

(iv) Stipends for teaching staff or faculty for workforce development programs;

(v) Trainee support, including tuition expenses and childcare or transportation assistance;

(vi) Coaching or mentoring services;

(vii) Job placement services;

(viii) Apprenticeship programs; and

(ix) Recruitment programs.

(3) The Department of Employment Security shall serve as fiscal agent in administering the funds.

(4) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, allocations to recipients shall be awarded by the office through an application process, which shall require the applicant to provide:

(a) A detailed explanation of the program the applicant intends to use awarded funds to create or expand, including:

(i) A description of the high-wage, high-demand field or workforce shortage area the program is intended to address;

(ii) The number of trainees who will be served by the program; and

(iii) The average wage rate for trainees receiving employment after completing the program;

(b) A proposed budget on how awarded funds will be expended, including a plan to consistently report expenditures to the office throughout the funding commitment;

(c) A plan to provide data on participation and outcomes of the program, including a plan to report outcomes to the office throughout the funding commitment; and

(d) Other relevant information as determined appropriate by the office.

(5) Applicants agreeing to commit a portion of their federal COVID-19 relief funds, if they received federal COVID-19 relief funds directly, or other state, federal or private funds as supplemental matching funds to offset the total cost of the approved program will be prioritized for approval.

(6) The office shall:

(a) Inform each recipient of its portion of the funds appropriated to the grant program;

(b) Develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the grant program;

(c) Prioritize high-wage, high-skill industries, including, but not limited to, nursing jobs or other jobs within the healthcare field; and

(d) Coordinate with the Department of Employment Security to share information to identify individuals who were furloughed, unemployed, underemployed or otherwise displaced due to COVID-19.

(7) The office may use a maximum of two percent (2%) of funds allocated for this article for the administration of the grant program, to the extent permissible under federal law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 28-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-5
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Applicant ” means any person or group that develops and submits an application for a charter school to the authorizer.

(b) “ Application ” means a proposal from an applicant to the authorizer to enter into a charter contract whereby the proposed school obtains charter school status.

(c) “ Authorizer ” means the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board established under Section 37-28-7 to review applications, decide whether to approve or reject applications, enter into charter contracts with applicants, oversee charter schools, and decide whether to renew, not renew, or revoke charter contracts.

(d) “ Charter contract ” means a fixed-term, renewable contract between a charter school and the authorizer which outlines the roles, powers, responsibilities and performance expectations for each party to the contract.

(e) “ Charter school ” means a public school that is established and operating under the terms of charter contract between the school's governing board and the authorizer. The term “ charter school ” includes a conversion charter school and start-up charter school.

(f) “ Conversion charter school ” means a charter school that existed as a noncharter public school before becoming a charter school.

(g) “ Education service provider ” means a charter management organization, school design provider or any other partner entity with which a charter school intends to contract for educational design, implementation or comprehensive management.

(h) “ Governing board ” means the independent board of a charter school which is party to the charter contract with the authorizer and whose members have been elected or selected pursuant to the school's application.

(i) “ Noncharter public school ” means a public school that is under the direct management, governance and control of a school board or the state.

(j) “ Parent ” means a parent, guardian or other person or entity having legal custody of a child.

(k) “ School board ” means a school board exercising management and control over a local school district and the schools of that district pursuant to the State Constitution and state statutes.

(l) “ School district ” means a governmental entity that establishes and supervises one or more public schools within its geographical limits pursuant to state statutes.

(m) “ Start-up charter school ” means a charter school that did not exist as a noncharter public school before becoming a charter school.

(n) “ Student ” means any child who is eligible for attendance in a public school in the state.

(o) “ Underserved students ” means students qualifying as low-income or qualifying for a special education program under Section 37-151-201 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 23-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-105
Status: in_force

There shall be held an election, conforming in all respects to applicable statutes governing special elections, in which the proposition authorized in Sections 37-23-91 through 37-23-103 shall be submitted for approval or rejection by the electorate of said county. The power and authority to levy taxes or to issue bonds as provided in Sections 37-23-101 and 37-23-103 , shall be contingent upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified electors of said county participating in said election.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 145-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-33
Status: in_force

Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 37-145-23 through 37-145-41 or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted hereunder, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 37-145-23 through 37-145-41 to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-109 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 65-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-109
Status: in_force

Upon or during any period of closure in accordance with the provisions of this article, any teacher or other employee affected thereby may be, by the board of trustees of such school district, placed in any other school within the district, or in a school or schools of another convenient district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-49 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 45-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-49
Status: in_force

Any cost or fees provided by this chapter to be paid by any county board of education or board of trustees of a municipal separate school district may be paid by the county board of education from any school funds of the district other than total funding formula funds, and by the municipal separate school district from the maintenance funds of the district, other than total funding formula funds. Any fees or costs provided by this chapter to be paid by the department may be paid from the funds appropriated for its operation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-121 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 23-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-121
Status: in_force

Sections 37-23-121 through 37-23-131 shall be cited as the “Mississippi Learning Resources Law of 1974.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-41
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, and subject to the provisions of Section 37-101-42 , the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (the “board”) is authorized and empowered to lease to private individuals or corporations for a term not exceeding thirty-five (35) years any land or land with existing auxiliary facilities at any of the following state-supported institutions: Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi, Alcorn State University, University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi University for Women and Delta State University, for the purpose of erecting or renovating, furnishing, maintaining and equipping auxiliary facilities thereon for active faculty, staff and/or students. The auxiliary facilities shall be constructed or renovated, and may be furnished, maintained and equipped thereon by private financing, and may be leased back to the board for use by the concerned state-supported institution of higher learning. The lease shall contain a provision permitting the board to purchase the building located thereon, including any furnishings and equipment therein, for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) after payment by the board of all sums of money due under said lease.

(b) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may grant authority to universities to lease to private individuals or corporations for a period not exceeding thirty-five (35) years, any land or land with existing auxiliary facilities at the university, for the purpose of erecting or renovating, furnishing, maintaining and equipping auxiliary facilities thereon for active faculty, staff and/or students. The auxiliary facilities shall be constructed or renovated, and may be furnished, maintained and equipped thereon by private financing, and may be leased back to the board for use by the university. The lease shall contain a provision permitting the board to purchase the auxiliary facilities located thereon, including any furnishings and equipment therein, for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) after payment by the board of all sums of money due under the lease.

(2) Upon there being an agreement reached between the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and a university upon whose land the auxiliary facility will be constructed or renovated and a private individual(s) or corporation(s) to enter into such lease agreement as described in subsection (1), it shall be stipulated in the agreement that all newly constructed or renovated auxiliary facilities shall be in compliance with the minimum building code standards employed by the state as required under Section 31-11-33 .

(3) The board, in conjunction with the university, shall have sole discretion to decide the placement of new auxiliary facilities upon the university's campus. However, the scope of any such construction or renovation by private entities shall be limited to two (2) leases entered into pursuant to this Section 37-101-41 per year for each university, and shall not exceed in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) of the university's total main campus or satellite campus property under the original lease period. In addition, the scope of any such renovation by private entities shall be limited to one (1) project per fiscal year for each university.

(4) No contractual lease agreement for the construction or renovation, furnishing, maintaining and equipping of privately financed auxiliary facilities shall be entered into by a university without prior approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. An auxiliary facility is a facility that is described by the current Postsecondary Education Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual (FICM) as within categories 500/600/700/800/900.

Before entering into contractual lease agreements for the construction or renovation, furnishing, maintaining and equipping of privately financed auxiliary facilities, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall establish rules and procedures to ensure adequate public advertisement of any requirement for the construction or renovation, furnishing, maintaining and equipping of privately financed auxiliary facilities at a university in order to promote full and open competition and which set forth the requirements for evaluation of offers and award of the contract lease agreement to the private entity.

(5) In addition to the above stated authority, the university, with the permission of the board, is authorized to enter into such marketing, support, management, operating, cooperating or other similar agreements as the university and board may deem advisable or prudent in connection with the ongoing operations of such auxiliary facilities for a period not to exceed the term of the lease relating to such auxiliary facilities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-24 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 43-24
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-24
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be referred to and may be cited as the “Timely Acquisition of Braille and Large Print Textbooks Act of 2002.”

(2) The State Department of Education is hereby authorized and directed to place textbook procurement orders for visually impaired and hearing impaired students in the schools of this state prior to the beginning of the fiscal year for which the expenditure for such order has been authorized by the Legislature. After June 1 of any year, the State Department of Education may order additional books, as needed. In addition, the State Department of Education is authorized and directed to place textbook, equipment and school supply procurement orders for students attending the state supported schools administered by the State Board of Education prior to the beginning of the fiscal year for which the expenditure for such order has been authorized by the Legislature, and may order additional books, equipment and supplies at a later date, as needed. The department shall insure that the appropriate procedures for textbook procurement are followed according to state law and board policy as described in the Textbook Administration Handbook.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-55 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 145-55
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-55
Status: in_force

The bonds may be secured by an indenture by and between the company and a corporate trustee which may be any bank or other corporation having the power of a trust company or any trust company within or without this state. Such indenture may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the duties of the company in relation to the exercise of its powers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-159 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-159
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-159
Status: in_force

The State Board of Rehabilitation Services shall appoint an Executive Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, in accordance with standards established by the State Personnel Board and on the basis of his education, training, experience and demonstrated ability. The executive director shall serve as secretary and executive officer of the board, and he shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board. The salary of the executive director shall be set by the board, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board, and shall be provided for out of any funds made available for such purpose by the Legislature, the federal government or other gifts or grants. The executive director shall be responsible to the board for the proper administration of the programs of rehabilitation provided under this chapter in conformity with the policies adopted by the board and shall be responsible for appointing directors of offices and any necessary supervisors, assistants and employees. The salary and compensation of such employees shall be subject to the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the State Personnel Board as created under Section 25-9-101 et seq.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 27-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-11
Status: in_force

The government of an agricultural high school established by two counties shall be vested in the board of trustees, six to be selected by each county in the same manner designated in Section 37-27-7 and the thirteenth to be chosen by the twelve so selected. In case no one receives a majority of all the votes of the twelve members the thirteenth trustee shall be selected by lot from the two highest in voting. The terms of the six trustees from each of the said counties shall be as provided in Section 37-27-7 , and the thirteenth trustee shall serve for a term of four years. The government of an agricultural high school established by more than two counties shall be vested in a board of trustees composed of six trustees from each county selected in the manner provided by law. A majority of the board of trustees of an agricultural high school shall constitute a quorum. A county or counties co-operating with an established agricultural high school may be represented on the board of trustees of such school by the county superintendent of education and one trustee chosen by the board of supervisors of such county.

In levying the taxes provided by law, each county shall act independently, but if one county joining another or others in establishing a school, shall decline to levy the tax, the other county or counties may nevertheless do so, in which event the joint plan shall thereby be abandoned in so far as the county failing to levy the tax is concerned, and the county or counties levying the tax may proceed in the management and control of the school. In case two or more counties join in establishing or maintaining a joint school, and each county levies a special tax as provided by law, the tax collector of each county shall collect the tax in his county and pay the same into the county depository of his county. In paying the expenses of either school, the trustees shall draw on the funds of each county provided for that school, equitably as near as may be in proportion to the amount of tax collected for that school by each county; if no tax is levied, the trustees shall draw on any fund in the depository of the respective counties provided by law for the support of that school in proportion to the number of educable children attending such school for each county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-131 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 65-131
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-131
Status: in_force

The fact that the power and authority to close any one or more or all of the schools of any school district may, by some other law of the State of Mississippi, be vested in some other person or officer or board shall not cause this article and any other such law to be in conflict nor shall the same be construed to be in conflict with each other, and the power and authority vested in each such board or boards of trustees or person or officer may be exercised by each or either, independent of the other such board or boards or person or persons or officer or officers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-10 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 63-10
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-10
Status: in_force

No individual who sits on any board or authority empowered to contract with the Educational Television Authority or to appoint members to the board which shall govern the use of the ITFS channels shall own or be interested in, directly or indirectly, any interest in any private organization doing business under the FCC license herein approved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.2 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-104.2
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.2
Status: in_force

(1) In Clay County, Mississippi, in which are located, as of January 1, 2013, two (2) school districts, there shall be an administrative consolidation of all of those school districts in the county into one (1) new consolidated school district to be designated as West Point Consolidated School District which shall consist of the territory of the former Clay County School District and the West Point School District. The central administrative office of the West Point Consolidated School District shall be located in West Point, Mississippi.

(2) On or before September 1, 2013, the State Board of Education shall serve the local school boards in Clay County with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to comply with the administrative consolidation required in this section. The State Board of Education shall provide for the administrative consolidation of the school districts in the county on or before July 1, 2015. In the new West Point Consolidated School District, there shall be a new board of trustees comprised of five (5) members selected as follows: (a) the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of West Point shall appoint three (3) of the five (5) members, each to be selected for a term of four (4) years; and (b) two (2) members to be elected for a term of four (4) years by the electors of Clay County residing outside of the West Point corporate limits who shall be residents of that territory and who shall be elected in a November 2014 special election which shall be called by the Governor for that purpose. All subsequent members of the board elected from the territory outside of the West Point corporate limits shall be elected for a term of four (4) years at the regular general election held on the first Monday in November next preceding the expiration of the term of office of the respective member or members. All elected and appointed members shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election or appointment. The State Board of Education, with the assistance of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER), shall apportion the territory of the new consolidated school district located outside the West Point corporate limits into two (2) new single member board of trustee election districts. The State Board of Education shall thereafter publish the same in some newspaper of general circulation in the county for at least three (3) consecutive weeks and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the school boards of each school district in the county, the new district lines will thereafter be effective for the November 2014 special election. Any school board member of the former school districts residing in the proper territory shall be eligible for appointment or election to the new Board of Trustees for West Point Consolidated School District.

Any school district affected by the required administrative consolidation in Clay County that does not voluntarily consolidate as ordered by the State Board of Education shall be administratively consolidated by the State Board of Education, to be effective on July 1 following the election of the new local school board. The State Board of Education shall promptly move on its own motion to administratively consolidate a school district which does not voluntarily consolidate in order to enable the affected school districts to reasonably accomplish the resulting administrative consolidation into one (1) consolidated school district by July 1 following the selection of the new board of trustees. The affected school districts shall comply with any consolidation order issued by the State Board of Education on or before July 1 following the selection of the new school boards.

(3) On July 1 following the selection of the new Board of Trustees of the West Point Consolidated School District, the former county board of education and the former Board of Trustees of the West Point School District shall be abolished. All real and personal property which is owned or titled in the name of a school district located in such former school district shall be transferred to the new reorganized school district of West Point Consolidated School District in which such former school district is located. Each former school board shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for teachers and principals for the next school year following the required administrative consolidation with the consultation of the newly elected successor school board. The new Board of Trustees for the West Point Consolidated School District shall appoint the Superintendent of Schools for the school district. The Superintendent of Schools for the West Point Consolidated School District may appoint assistant superintendent(s) of schools for the district, but in no instance shall the administrative leadership of the West Point Consolidated School District exceed the number of assistant superintendents employed in the former West Point School District. The subsequent superintendent of schools of the reorganized school district shall not be elected, but shall thereafter be appointed by the successor board of trustees in the manner provided in Section 37-9-25 . It shall be the responsibility of the successor board of trustees to prepare and approve the budget of the new reorganized district, and the successor board of trustees may use staff from the former school districts to prepare the budget. Any proposed order of the State Board of Education directing the transfer of the assets, real or personal property of an affected school district in the county, shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation. Any person or school district aggrieved by an order of the successor newly selected Board of Trustees of the West Point Consolidated School District pursuant to the required administrative consolidation may appeal therefrom within ten (10) days from the date of the adjournment of the meeting at which such order is entered. Said appeal shall be taken in the same manner as appeals are taken from judgments or decisions of the board of supervisors as provided in Section 11-51-75, Mississippi Code of 1972 , the provisions of which shall be fully applicable to appeals taken hereunder. The Board of Trustees of the West Point Consolidated School District shall not pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order until the time for an appeal therefrom shall have expired, nor shall said board pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order from which an appeal is taken until said appeal shall have been finally determined.

(4) When any school district in the county is abolished under the provisions of this section, the abolition thereof shall not impair or release the property of that former school district from liability for the payment of the bonds or other indebtedness of such district.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the closing of any school or school facility, unless the facility is an unneeded administrative office located within a school district which has been abolished under the provisions of this section. All administrative consolidations under this section shall be accomplished so as not to delay or in any manner negatively affect the desegregation of another school district in the county pursuant to court order.

(6) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative consolidation of the school districts in Clay County pursuant to this section. The consolidated districts shall make an election within one (1) year of consolidation concerning the group term life insurance described in subsection (7) of Section 25-15-9 . When the orders of the State Board of Education adopting the boundaries of the successor board of trustees election districts have been entered and are final, as directed by the State Board of Education, the new district lines shall be submitted by the State Board of Education with the assistance of the Attorney General to the Attorney General of the United States for preclearance or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for a declaratory judgment in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended. In the event the change in the school district lines and election districts are precleared or approved, the State Board of Education shall formally declare the new lines as the new boundaries of the successor school district.

(7) For the initial two (2) years following the administrative consolidation required by this section, the State Department of Education may grant a waiver of accountability and state assessment requirements to the West Point Consolidated School District for the student population enrolled therein from the former Clay County School District when determining the new consolidated school district accreditation level on the performance and accountability rating model.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-1
Status: in_force

There shall be maintained a uniform system of free public schools consisting of grades one through twelve, which may be divided between grammar schools, junior high schools and high schools, or any combination thereof, on such basis and in such grades as the board of trustees of the school district involved, in its discretion, shall deem necessary and desirable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-215 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 151-215
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-215
Status: repealed

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 37-151-211(3) , the state share in support of the funding formula for a school district or charter school for fiscal year 2025, fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027 may not be less than an amount equal to the sum of all state funds received by that school district or charter school for fiscal year 2024, as follows:

(a) Funds distributed under the Mississippi Adequate Education Program;

(b) Funds distributed by the State Department of Education for the purpose of paying teachers' salaries according to the teacher salary schedule prescribed in Section 37-19-7 and assistant teachers, as prescribed in Section 37-21-7 for the 2023-2024 school year; and

(c) Funds distributed by and based on net enrollment or the total number of students enrolled for each day in each public school district or charter school, divided by the total number of school days, and allowable to be spent on any expenditures necessary to operate a public school district or charter school, excluding salary increases for superintendents, assistant superintendents or principals.

(2) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2027.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-239 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-239
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-239
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any pupil attending the public junior colleges of this state to become a member of or to belong to or participate in the activities of any junior college fraternity, sorority, or secret society as defined in Section 37-29-235 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 12-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-3
Status: in_force

A public school district shall not discriminate against students or parents on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression. A school district shall treat a student's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject in the same manner the district treats a student's voluntary expression of a secular or other viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject and may not discriminate against the student based on a religious viewpoint expressed by the student on an otherwise permissible subject.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 121-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-11
Status: in_force

The Alcorn State University Baseball Park on the campus of Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be named the Willie E. “Rat” McGowan, Sr., Baseball Stadium. The Department of Finance and Administration shall prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place within the Willie E. “Rat” McGowan, Sr., Baseball Stadium, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Mr. McGowan.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 138-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-3
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the accreditation and certification of persons who perform inspections and reinspections, prepare management plans and perform as air monitors, contractors, project designers, supervisors and workers in abatement projects for the purpose of identifying, evaluating and abating the hazard of asbestos-containing material in public and private elementary and secondary school buildings and in all public and commercial buildings in this state. It is the intent of this chapter that the cost of the administration of this chapter shall be borne fully by the certification fees provided for herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 103-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-19
Status: in_force

(1) Resident status of a spouse or child of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on extended active duty shall be that of the military spouse or parent for the purpose of attending state-supported institutions of higher learning and community/junior colleges of the State of Mississippi during the time that the military spouse or parent is stationed within the State of Mississippi and shall be continued through the time that the military spouse or parent is stationed in an overseas area with last duty assignment within the State of Mississippi, excepting temporary training assignments en route from Mississippi. Resident status of a spouse or minor child terminates upon reassignment under Permanent Change of Station Orders of the military spouse or parent for duty in the continental United States outside the State of Mississippi, excepting temporary training assignments en route from Mississippi. However, except for spouses who enroll at a professional school or college, spouses or children of members of the Armed Forces who attain Mississippi residency in accordance with the provisions of this subsection and who enroll full time in a Mississippi institution of higher learning or community/junior college shall maintain their residency status so long as they remain enrolled in good standing at a Mississippi institution of higher learning or community/junior college. Enrollment during summer school is not required to maintain such resident status.

(2) The spouse or child of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies or is killed is entitled to pay the resident tuition fee if the spouse or child becomes a resident of Mississippi within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of death.

(3) If a member of the Armed Forces of the United States is stationed outside Mississippi and the member's spouse or child establishes residence in Mississippi and registers with the Mississippi institution of higher learning or community/junior college at which the spouse or child plans to attend, the institution of higher education or community/junior college shall permit the spouse or child to pay the tuition, fees and other charges provided for Mississippi residents without regard to length of time that the spouse or child has resided in Mississippi.

(4) A member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the child or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Mississippi residents under another provision of this section shall maintain resident classification for tuition and fee purposes as long as he or she is continuously enrolled at a Mississippi institution of higher learning or community/junior college. A student may withdraw or may choose not to reenroll for no more than one (1) semester or term while pursuing a degree or certificate without losing resident status only if that student provides sufficient documentation by a physician that the student has a medical condition that requires withdrawal or nonenrollment. For purposes of this subsection, a person is not required to enroll in a summer term to remain continuously enrolled in a degree or certificate program. The person's eligibility to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Mississippi residents under this subsection does not terminate because the person is no longer a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the child or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-413 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-413
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-413
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District is hereby authorized and empowered to operate junior college attendance centers at Perkinston, Mississippi, in the vicinity of Gulfport and Biloxi and in the vicinity of Pascagoula and Moss Point and at such other places within the district, subject to the approval of the Mississippi Community College Board, as the board of trustees shall determine to be in the best interest of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 15-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-31
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Except as provided in subsections (2) through (5) of this section, upon the petition in writing of a parent or guardian resident of the school district of an individual student filed or lodged with the president or secretary of the school board of a school district in which the pupil has been enrolled or is qualified to be enrolled as a student under Section 37-15-9 , or upon the aforesaid petition or the initiative of the school board of a school district as to the transfer of a grade or grades, individual students living in one school district or a grade or grades of a school within the districts may be legally transferred to another school district, by the mutual consent of the school boards of all school districts concerned, which consent must be given in writing and spread upon the minutes of such boards.

(b) The school board of the transferring school district to which such petition may be addressed shall act thereon not later than its next regular meeting subsequent to the filing or lodging of the petition, and a failure to act within that time shall constitute a rejection of such request. The school board of the other school district involved (the transferee board) shall act on such request for transfer as soon as possible after the transferor board shall have approved or rejected such transfer and no later than the next regular meeting of the transferee board, and a failure of such transferee board to act within such time shall constitute a rejection of such request. If such a transfer is approved by the transferee board, then such decision shall be final. If such a transfer should be refused by the school board of either school district, then such decision shall be final.

(c) Any legal guardianship formed for the purpose of establishing residency for school district attendance purposes shall not be recognized by the affected school board.

(2)(a) Upon the petition in writing of any parent or guardian who is a resident of Mississippi and is an instructional or licensed employee of a school district, but not a resident of such district, the school board of the employer school district shall consent to the transfer of such employee's dependent school-age children to its district and shall spread the same upon the minutes of the board. Upon the petition in writing of any parent or guardian who is not a resident of Mississippi and who is an instructional or licensed employee of a school district in Mississippi, the school board of the employer school district shall consent to the transfer of such employee's dependent school-age children to its district and shall spread the same upon the minutes of the board.

(b) The school board of any school district, in its discretion, may adopt a uniform policy to allow the enrollment and attendance of the dependent children of noninstructional and nonlicensed employees, who are residents of Mississippi but are not residents of their district. Such policy shall be based upon the employment needs of the district, implemented according to job classification groups and renewed each school year.

(c) The employer transferee school district shall notify in writing the school district from which the pupil or pupils are transferring, and the school board of the transferor school district shall spread the same upon its minutes.

(d) Any such agreement by school boards for the legal transfer of a student shall include a provision providing for the transportation of the student. In the absence of such a provision the responsibility for transporting the student to the transferee school district shall be that of the parent or guardian.

(e) Any school district which accepts a student under the provisions of this subsection shall not assess any tuition fees upon such transferring student in accordance with the provisions of Section 37-19-27 .

(3) Upon the petition in writing of any parent or legal guardian of a school-age child who is a resident of an adjacent school district residing in the geographical situation described in Section 37-15-29(3) , the school board of the school district operating the school located in closer proximity to the residence of the child shall consent to the transfer of the child to its district, and shall spread the same upon the minutes of the board. Any such agreement by school boards for the legal transfer of a student under this subsection shall include a provision for the transportation of the student by either the transferor or the transferee school district. In the event that either the school board of the transferee or the transferor school district shall object to the transfer, it shall have the right to appeal to the State Board of Education whose decision shall be final. However, if the school boards agreeing on the legal transfer of any student shall fail to agree on which district shall provide transportation, the responsibility for transporting the student to the transferee school district shall be that of the parent or guardian.

(4) Upon the petition in writing of any parent or legal guardian of a school-age child who was lawfully transferred to another school district prior to July 1, 1992, as described in Section 37-15-29(4) , the school board of the transferee school district shall consent to the transfer of such child and the transfer of any school-age brother and sister of such child to its district, and shall spread the same upon the minutes of the board.

(5)(a) If the board of trustees of a municipal separate school district with added territory does not have a member who is a resident of the added territory outside the corporate limits, upon the petition in writing of any parent or legal guardian of a school-age child who is a resident of the added territory outside the corporate limits, the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district and the school board of the school district adjacent to the added territory shall consent to the transfer of the child from the municipal separate school district to the adjacent school district. The agreement must be spread upon the minutes of the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district and the school board of the adjacent school district. The agreement must provide for the transportation of the student. In the absence of such a provision, the parent or legal guardian shall be responsible for transporting the student to the adjacent school district. Any school district that accepts a student under this subsection may not assess any tuition fees against the transferring student.

(b) Before September 1 of each year, the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district shall certify to the State Department of Education the number of students in the added territory of the municipal separate school district who are transferred to the adjacent school district under this subsection. The municipal separate school district also shall certify the total number of students in the school district residing in the added territory plus the number of those students who are transferred to the adjacent school district. Based upon these figures, the department shall calculate the percentage of the total number of students in the added territory who are transferred to the adjacent school district and shall certify this percentage to the levying authority for the municipal separate school district. The levying authority shall remit to the school board of the adjacent school district, from the proceeds of the ad valorem taxes collected for the support of the municipal separate school district from the added territory of the municipal separate school district, an amount equal to the percentage of the total number of students in the added territory who are transferred to the adjacent school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-201 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 31-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-201
Status: in_force

Wherever used in this chapter, or in any other statute, rule or regulation affecting the Vocational Education Division of the State Department of Education and any of its functions or duties:

(a) The word “board” shall mean and refer to the State Board of Education.

(b) The word “division” shall mean and refer to the Mississippi Division of Vocational and Technical Education of the State Department of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 11-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-33
Status: in_force

The office or law enforcement department or agency or the justice court judge or the clerk of the circuit court making such reports as are required pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-11-29(2) , shall receive the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) for each such report made, which sum shall be paid from the general fund by the town, city, or county where such report or reports are made, upon proper bill being submitted therefor supported by certificate or affidavit that such reports have been made.

All such reports shall be preserved by each recipient thereof and a copy retained in the office or law enforcement department or agency, state, county or municipal, and in the office of any justice of the peace or circuit clerk, as the case may be, who or which made such report or reports.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 106-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

(a) By legislative enactment, programs are herein created wherein Mississippi residents are granted forgivable loans in certain professional fields in return for their contractual obligation to perform services in such professions under a variety of requirements of location, duration, manner and mode of service, and institution in which performed;

(b) There is a need for the creation of additional forgivable loan programs for the purpose of encouraging eligible Mississippi residents to enter into professional schools, and that, in particular, there should be programs to encourage the participation of minorities in graduate professional programs in the institutions of this state;

(c) There is a need to create an ability within the board to fashion new and innovative systems for the financing of forgivable loan programs by combining the use of private sector loans for education and guaranteed student loans with loan repayment programs promulgated by the board; and

(d) The board should be granted authority to devise and develop such innovative systems to obtain the most efficient use of state funds to encourage entry and service in certain professional fields.

(2) The purpose of the Legislature in the passage of this chapter is to make manifest the belief that the continued growth and development of Mississippi requires that all Mississippi youth be assured ample opportunity for the fullest development of their abilities and to recognize that this opportunity will not fully materialize unless the State of Mississippi moves to encourage and financially assist our young people in their efforts. This chapter shall be broadly construed to accomplish that purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 175-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-29
Status: in_force

The inclusion of eligible nonpublic schools within options available to Mississippi public school students does not expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers, or any school district to impose any additional regulation of nonpublic schools beyond those reasonably necessary to enforce requirements expressly set forth in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-101 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 101-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-101
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning in connection with the issuance of the bonds for the purposes enumerated in Section 37-101-91 , or in order to secure the payment of such bonds and interest thereon, shall have power by resolutions:

(a) To fix and maintain (1) fees, rentals, and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members and others using or being served by any dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities, erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved, or acquired under the authority of Section 37-101-91 ; (2) fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members, and others using or being served by any other dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities at any institution which so issues bonds, which fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members, and others using or being served by such other dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities, shall be the same as those applicable to the dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities referred to in the preceding subdivision (1); however, in fixing such fees, rentals and other charges, there may be allowed reasonable differentials based on the condition, type, location and relative convenience of the dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities in question, but such differentials shall be uniform as to all such students or faculty members and others similarly accommodated;

(b) To provide that bonds so issued shall be secured by a first, exclusive and closed lien on, and shall be payable from, all or any part of the income and revenues derived from fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members or others using or being served by any dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities operated at any such institution, and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under Section 37-101-91 , or any other law, or otherwise, and not theretofore so pledged;

(c) To pledge and assign to, or in trust for the benefit of the holder or holders of any bond or bonds, coupon or coupons so issued, an amount of the income and revenues derived from such fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members, or others using or being served by any dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities operated at any such institution, and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under Section 37-101-91 , or any other law, or otherwise, and not theretofore so pledged, which rentals, fees and charges imposed and pledged pursuant to the terms of this section shall be sufficient to pay when due the bonds so issued and interest thereon, to create and maintain a reasonable reserve therefor and to operate and maintain the project so constructed, and to create and at all times maintain an adequate reserve for contingencies and for major repairs and replacements;

(d) To covenant with or for the benefit of the holder or holders of any bond or bonds, coupon or coupons so issued to erect, repair, remodel, maintain, add to, extend, improve or acquire any dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities, that so long as any of said bonds or coupons shall remain outstanding and unpaid, such institution shall fix, maintain and collect, in such installments as may be agreed upon, an amount of fees, rentals or other charges from students, faculty members, and others using or being served by any dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities operated at any such institution and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under Section 37-101-91 , or any other law, or otherwise, which shall be sufficient to pay when due any bond or bonds, coupons or coupons so issued, and to create and maintain a reasonable reserve therefor, and to pay the cost of operation and maintenance of such dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities, including a sum sufficient to pay the cost of insuring such dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities against loss or damage by fire and windstorm or other calamities, in such sum as may be acceptable to the purchaser or purchasers of such bonds. The rentals, fees and other charges shall at all times be sufficient to maintain an adequate bond sinking fund to provide for the payment of interest on and principal of the bonds as and when they accrue and mature, to create a reasonable reserve therein and to pay the cost of operation and maintenance and insurance as herein provided and to create and at all times maintain an adequate reserve for contingencies and for major repairs and replacements;

(e) To make and enforce and agree to make and enforce parietal rules that shall insure the use of any such dormitory, dwelling, apartment, athletic stadium, gymnasium, student union building, student service center, athletic field, swimming pool, or other project or facility by all students in attendance at such institution, and faculty members thereof, to the maximum extent to which such dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities are capable of serving same, so long as it does not interfere with any existing contract;

(f) To covenant that as long as any of the bonds so issued shall remain outstanding and unpaid, it will not, except upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the resolution issuing such bonds, (1) voluntarily create, or cause to be created, any debt, lien, pledge, assignment, encumbrance, or other charge having priority to or being on a parity with the lien of the bonds so issued upon any of the income and revenues derived from fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members and others using or being served by any dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities operated at any such institution and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under Section 37-101-91 , or any other law, or otherwise, or (2) convey or otherwise alienate any such dormitories, dwellings, apartments, athletic stadiums, gymnasiums, student union buildings, student service centers, athletic fields, swimming pools, or other projects or facilities, or the real estate upon which the same shall be located, except at a price sufficient to pay all the bonds then outstanding payable from the revenues derived therefrom and interest accrued on such bonds, and then only in accordance with any agreements with the holder or holders of such bonds, or (3) mortgage or otherwise voluntarily create, or cause to be created, any encumbrance on any such dormitory, dwelling, apartment, athletic stadium, gymnasium, student union building, student service center, athletic field, swimming pool, or other project or facility, or the real estate upon which it shall be located;

(g) To covenant as to the proceedings by which the terms of any contract with a holder or holders of such bonds may be amended or rescinded, the amount or percentage of bonds the holder or holders of which must consent thereto and the manner in which such consent may be given;

(h) To vest in a trustee or trustees the right to receive all or any part of the income and revenue and proceeds of insurance pledged and assigned to, or for the benefit of, the holder or holders of such bonds, and to hold, apply and dispose of the same and the right to enforce any covenant made to secure or pay or in relation to such bonds;

(i) To authorize the chairman and the secretary of said board to execute and deliver, in the name of the institution for which such bonds are being issued, a trust agreement or agreements which may set forth the powers and duties of such trustee or trustees, and limiting the liabilities thereof, and describing what occurrences shall constitute events of default and prescribing the terms and conditions upon which such trustee or trustees or the holder or holders of bonds of any specified amount or percentage of such bonds may exercise such right and enforce any and all such covenants and resort to any such remedies as may be appropriate; and

(j) To vest in a trustee or trustees or the holder or holders of any specified amount or percentage of bonds the right to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for and have granted the appointment of a receiver or receivers of the income and revenue pledged and assigned to or for the benefit of the holder or holders of such bonds, which receiver or receivers may have and be granted such powers and duties as are usually granted under the laws of the State of Mississippi to a receiver or receivers appointed in connection with the foreclosure of a mortgage made by a private corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-77 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-77
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Mississippi School Administrator Sabbatical Program which shall be available to licensed teachers employed in Mississippi school districts for not less than three (3) years, for the purpose of allowing such teachers to become local school district administrators under the conditions set forth in this section. The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, shall develop guidelines for the program. Application shall be made to the State Department of Education for the Mississippi School Administrator Sabbatical Program by qualified teachers meeting the criteria for a department-approved administration program and who have been recommended by the local school board. Administration programs that are eligible for the administrator sabbatical program shall be limited to those that have been approved by the department by the January 1 preceding the date of admission to the program. Admission into the program shall authorize the applicant to take university course work and training leading to an administrator's license.

(2) The salaries of the teachers approved for participation in the administrator sabbatical program shall be paid by the employing school district from funds other than total funding formula funds as provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 . However, the State Department of Education shall reimburse the employing school districts for the cost of the salaries and paid fringe benefits of teachers participating in the administrator sabbatical program for one (1) contract year. Reimbursement shall be made in accordance with the then current salary schedule under Section 37-19-7 , except that the maximum amount of the reimbursement from state funds shall not exceed the salary prescribed for a teacher holding a Class A license and having five (5) years' experience. The local school district shall be responsible for that portion of a participating teacher's salary attributable to the local supplement and for any portion of the teacher's salary that exceeds the maximum amount allowed for reimbursement from state funds as provided in this subsection, and the school board may not reduce the local supplement payable to that teacher. Any reimbursements made by the State Department of Education to local school districts under this section shall be subject to available appropriations and may be made only to school districts determined by the State Board of Education as being in need of administrators.

(3) Such teachers participating in the program on a full-time basis shall continue to receive teaching experience and shall receive the salary prescribed in Section 37-19-7 . Such participants shall be fully eligible to continue participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System and the Public School Employees Health Insurance Plan during the time they are in the program on a full-time basis.

(4) As a condition for participation in the School Administrator Sabbatical Program, such teachers shall agree to employment as administrators in the sponsoring school district for not less than five (5) years following completion of administrator licensure requirements. Any person failing to comply with this employment commitment in any required school year, unless the commitment is deferred as provided in subsection (5) of this section, shall immediately be in breach of contract and become liable to the State Department of Education for that amount of his salary and paid fringe benefits paid by the state while the teacher was on sabbatical, less twenty percent (20%) of the amount of his salary and paid fringe benefits paid by the state for each year that the person was employed as an administrator following completion of the administrator licensure requirements. In addition, the person shall become liable to the local school district for any portion of his salary and paid fringe benefits paid by the local school district while the teacher was on sabbatical that is attributable to the local salary supplement or is attributable to the amount that exceeds the maximum amount allowed for reimbursement from state funds as provided in subsection (2) of this section, less twenty percent (20%) of the amount of his salary and paid fringe benefits paid by the school district for each year that the person was employed as an administrator following completion of the administrator licensure requirements. Interest on the amount due shall accrue at the current Stafford Loan rate at the time the breach occurs. If the claim for repayment of such salary and fringe benefits is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection after default, then the obligor shall be liable for an additional amount equal to a reasonable attorney's fee.

(5) If there is not an administrator position immediately available in the sponsoring school district after a person has completed the administrator licensure requirements, or if the administrator position in the sponsoring school district in which the person is employed is no longer needed before the completion of the five-year employment commitment, the local school board shall defer any part of the employment commitment that has not been met until such time as an administrator position becomes available in the sponsoring school district. If such a deferral is made, the sponsoring school district shall employ the person as a teacher in the school district during the period of deferral, unless the person desires to be released from employment by the sponsoring school district and the district agrees to release the person from employment. If the sponsoring school district releases a person from employment, that person may be employed as an administrator in another school district in the state that is in need of administrators as determined by the State Board of Education, and that employment for the other school district shall be applied to any remaining portion of the five-year employment commitment required under this section. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent a school district from not renewing the person's contract before the end of the five-year employment commitment in accordance with the School Employment Procedures Law ( Section 37-9-101 et seq. ). However, if the person is not employed as an administrator by another school district after being released by the sponsoring school district, or after his contract was not renewed by the sponsoring school district, he shall be liable for repayment of the amount of his salary and fringe benefits as provided in subsection (4) of this section.

(6) All funds received by the State Department of Education from the repayment of salary and fringe benefits paid by the state from program participants shall be deposited in the Mississippi Critical Teacher Shortage Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-147-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 147-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-147-7
Status: in_force

The authority shall be composed of an odd number of members, said number to be determined and appointed by the board from among the research officers of the eight (8) institutions of higher learning and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, to serve at the will and pleasure of the board; the vice president of the board during the term of his office; the Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, or his designee; and the Commissioner of Higher Education as an ex officio, nonvoting member.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-409 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 7-409
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-409
Status: in_force

(1) When any school districts shall be authorized to unite, join and cooperate in the construction, erecting and equipping of a joint school building or school facility or in the joint operation of a school erected, constructed and equipped entirely by one of such districts, any school district so authorized may, with the prior consent and approval of the State Board of Education, expend in the construction, erecting and equipping of such joint school building or the school building which is to be jointly operated any available state public school building funds, or any available funds derived from bonds issued by such school district for such purpose, or any other funds which are otherwise available to such school district for such purpose, as is set forth and stipulated in the agreement entered into between the school districts involved. Except as is herein specifically provided all provisions of law relative to the construction, erecting and equipping of school buildings, the acquisition of land therefor, and the expenditure of funds for such purposes, shall be fully applicable to any joint school building which has been or is to be constructed, erected and equipped or which is to be operated jointly pursuant to an agreement entered into under the provisions of Section 37-7-405 .

(2) When a contract is made and entered into for the construction, erecting and equipping of joint school facilities or the joint operation of school facilities erected, constructed and equipped entirely by one of such districts, as provided in Section 37-7-405 , and where such contract has been approved by the State Board of Education, then any funds which are available for the lawful operating and incidental expenses of a school district may be expended by such school district as provided and stipulated in the agreement entered into between the school districts involved (including, but not limited to, funds for payment of tuition, funds payable as a rental upon the use of the building and equipment, and funds for maintenance and incidental costs of operation). The levying authority for the school district, as defined in Section 37-57-1 , upon receipt of a certified copy of an order adopted by the school board of the school district in the county requesting same, shall at the same time and in the same manner as other ad valorem taxes are levied, levy an annual tax in the amount fixed in such order as may be required to meet any monetary obligation incurred under such contract. Notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, such number of mills as is necessary to defray any such contractual obligation shall be levied. However, this provision shall in no way be construed to increase the number of mills now reimbursable under the homestead exemption laws of the State of Mississippi.

(3) Before levying any taxes under the provisions of this section, which levy would exceed the limitations otherwise provided for school purposes, the levying authority for the school district, as defined in Section 37-57-1 , shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention so to do, stating the amount of millage to be levied and the purpose for which the proceeds are to be used, and the date upon which it proposes to make such levy. Such resolution shall be published once a week for not less than three (3) consecutive weeks, in at least one (1) newspaper having general circulation in the school district. The first publication of such resolution shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the date fixed in such resolution for the levying of taxes, and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days prior to such date. If within fifteen (15) days after the final publication of said resolution, a petition signed by the lesser of fifteen hundred (1500) or twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of said school district, requesting an election on the proposition of levying such additional taxes for school purposes is filed with the clerk of the board of supervisors or the clerk of the municipality, as the case may be, such levy shall not be made until an election shall be held to determine whether or not three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of qualified electors of said school district shall favor the additional levy for school purposes. If three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the qualified electors of said school district voting in such election approves the levying of the additional taxes, then the levy shall be made within the manner, form and time as required by law. If no such petition is filed with the clerk as herein provided, then said levy shall be made by the levying authority in the manner, form and time as required by law. If any election is held under the provisions of this section, said election shall be under the supervision of the county or municipal election commission, as the case may be, in the manner, form and time as required by law for conducting general elections in this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-101 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 33-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-101
Status: in_force

In addition to the authority now vested in the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, it may establish and operate by any means, including incorporation under the nonprofit laws of this state, a system of community rehabilitation programs in the several counties of the state for the general purposes of training, rehabilitating, retraining and developing individuals with disabilities to become more productive citizens, including, but not limited to training and job coaching, in order to obtain the maximum degree of independent living.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-67-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 67-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-67-1
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Distance Learning Collaborative Act of 2016.”

(2) As used in this section:

(a) “ Distance learning ” means a method of delivering education and instruction on an individual basis to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. Distance learning provides access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both. Distance learning courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason other than taking examinations may be referred to as hybrid or blended courses of study.

(b) “ Department ” means the Mississippi Department of Education.

(c) A “ distance learning collaborative ” means a school or schools that write and submit an application to participate in the voluntary distance learning program. A distance learning collaborative is comprised, at a minimum, of a public school district, and may include an agency or other nonprofit organization approved by the State Department of Education to provide distance learning resources.

(d) A “ lead partner ” is a public school district or other nonprofit entity with the instructional expertise and operational capacity to manage the Distance Learning Collaborative Program as described in the approved application for funds. The lead partner serves as the fiscal agent for the collaborative and shall disburse awarded funds in accordance with the collaborative's approved application. The lead partner ensures that the collaborative adopts and implements the Distance Learning Collaborative Program consistent with the standards adopted by the State Board of Education. The public school district shall be the lead partner if no other qualifying lead partner is selected.

(3) Effective with the 2016-2017 school year, the Mississippi State Department of Education shall establish a voluntary distance learning grant program which shall be a collaboration among the entities providing distance learning services for students. The Distance Learning Collaborative Program shall provide financial assistance to encourage and improve distance learning education services in rural areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks and related advanced technologies to be used by students, teachers and rural residents. Grants are for projects where the benefit is primarily delivered to end users who are not at the same location as the source of the education service.

(4) Distance Learning Collaborative Grants may be used to:

(a) Acquire the following types of equipment: (i) computer hardware and software; (ii) audio and video equipment; (iii) computer network components; (iv) terminal equipment; (v) data terminal equipment; (vi) inside wiring; (vii) interactive video equipment; and (viii) other facilities that further distance learning technology services.

(b) Acquire instructional programming for distance learning programs.

(c) Acquire technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment.

(d) The cost of tuition and fees for students to participate over and above the available federal Perkins Loans or Stafford Loans which are loaned directly to qualifying students to assist in covering the cost of distance learning funding.

(e) Any interest charges that accumulate during a student's degree program for the utilization of distance learning services.

(5) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated therefor, the State Department of Education shall administer the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the voluntary Distance Learning Collaborative Program, including awards and the application process. The department shall establish a rigorous and transparent application process for the awarding of funds. Lead partners shall submit the application on behalf of their distance learning collaborative. The department will establish monitoring policies and procedures that shall include at least one (1) site visit per year. The department will provide technical assistance to collaboratives and their providers to improve the quality of distance learning services. The department will evaluate the effectiveness of each distance learning collaborative.

(6) Distance Learning Collaborative Program funds shall be awarded to distance learning collaboratives whose proposed programs meet the program criteria established by the State Board of Education which shall include the following:

(a) Distance learning programs shall be approved and registered with the State Department of Education and course content must be aligned with state standards.

(b) Distance learning instructors shall complete professional development training in online methodology and technical aspects of web-based instruction, and may be credentialed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

(c) Transcript equivalency of grades between online and traditional classes. Student enrollment and credits awarded shall be made in accordance with regulations jointly approved by the State Board of Education, the Mississippi Community College Board and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

(d) Curriculum standards for online courses.

(e) Classroom “seat time” requirements for online courses.

(f) Accountability for student achievement, including methods to assess online course completion rates.

(7) A teacher, assistant teacher or other employee whose salary and fringe benefits are paid from state funds allocated for the Distance Learning Collaborative Program shall only be classified as a state or local school district employee eligible for state health insurance benefits or membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System, if the person's employer is already a public school district or an agency or instrumentality of the state, and the employee would be eligible for such benefits in the normal course of business.

(8) Funding shall be provided for the Distance Learning Collaborative Program beginning with the 2016-2017 fiscal year subject to appropriation by the Legislature, and the Legislature may appropriate funds to implement the program on a phased-in basis. The State Department of Education may receive and expend contributions and funding from private sources for the administration and implementation of the Distance Learning Collaborative Program. In the initial phase of implementation, the State Department of Education shall award state funds based on a community's capacity, commitment and need in order to encourage and improve distance learning services in rural areas. The department shall make an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor regarding the effectiveness of the Distance Learning Collaborative Program, and the PEER Committee shall review those reports and other program data and submit an independent evaluation of the program operation and effectiveness to the Legislature and the Governor on or before October 1 of the calendar year before the beginning of the next phased-in period of funding. The State Department of Education shall reserve no more than five percent (5%) of the appropriation in any year for administrative costs. Funds remaining after awards to distance learning collaboratives may be carried over in the following year.

(9) The lead partner of a distance learning collaborative and the local school district shall compile information about online learning programs for high school students to earn college credit and place the information on its website. Examples of information to be compiled and placed on the website include links to providers of approved online learning programs, comparisons among various types of online programs regarding awarding of credit, advantages and disadvantages of online learning programs, and other general assistance and guidance for students, teachers and counselors in selecting and considering online learning programs. Public high schools shall ensure that teachers and counselors have information about online learning programs for high school students to earn college or university credit and are able to assist parents and students in accessing the information. Distance learning collaboratives shall ensure that parents and students have opportunities to learn about online learning programs under this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-215 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 33-215
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-215
Status: in_force

The Office of Special Disability Programs shall provide services to any individual who is determined to meet the eligibility criteria for receiving services through one or more special disability programs. The services provided through the Office of Special Disability Programs shall be those defined as special disability services and independent living services.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-179-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 179-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-179-1
Status: in_force

(1) For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ District of innovation ” means a district that has developed a plan of innovation in compliance with this section and has been approved by the State Board of Education to be exempted from certain administrative regulations and statutory provisions to improve the educational performance of students within the district;

(b) “ Innovation ” means a new or creative alternative to existing instructional and administrative practices intended to improve student learning and student performance of all students;

(c) “ School of innovation ” means a school that voluntarily participates in a district of innovation plan to improve instruction, including waivers and exemptions from local school board policies, selected provisions of rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education, and selected sections of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as permitted under this section and Section 37-179-3 ;

(d) “ Board ” means the State Board of Education;

(e) “ Department ” means the State Department of Education.

(2) The State Board of Education is authorized to approve districts of innovation for the purposes of improving students' educational performance. Districts of innovation shall be provided flexibility from selected board regulations, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , and local school board policies for school administrators, teachers and staff to meet the diverse needs of students. The initial approval of a district of innovation shall be for a five-year period. Each renewal of a district of innovation shall not exceed five (5) years and shall comply with administrative regulations promulgated by the board pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

(3) The board shall promulgate administrative rules and regulations to prescribe the conditions and procedures to be used by a local school board to be approved as a district of innovation and shall publish the same on or before December 31, 2015.

(4) Administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the board under subsection (3) of this section shall specify:

(a) The regulatory areas which may be exempted or modified if approved by the board, except as provided in Section 37-179-3(2) , and in addition to those areas identified in Section 37-179-3(3) ;

(b) The application, plan review, approval and amendment process for a district;

(c) Timelines for initial approval as a district of innovation, the renewal process and ongoing evaluative procedures required of the district;

(d) Acceptable documentation of a critical mass of parental, community, educator and business support and capacity to effect a change;

(e) Evidence of teacher collaboration and shared leadership within the district and the schools to be designated as schools of innovation;

(f) The process of revocation of the designation of district of innovation or school of innovation;

(g) Reporting and oversight responsibilities of the district and the State Department of Education;

(h) The financial detail relating to budgets of schools and evidence of sound fiscal management practices;

(i) Acceptable areas of emphasis for innovation;

(j) Acceptable documentation of job-embedded professional development within the proposed innovation design; and

(k) Other components deemed necessary to implement this section and Section 37-179-3 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 106-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-17
Status: in_force

Any student desiring financial assistance shall submit an application to the board on an annual basis. The director shall adhere to the board's rules and regulations promulgated under authority of this chapter in determining the eligibility of each applicant and in administering the programs authorized in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-205 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 153-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-205
Status: reserved

(1) There is established the Accelerate Mississippi Nursing/Allied Health Grant Program, which shall be directed by the office for the purpose of increasing capacity in nursing and allied health training programs, including accredited paramedic programs, job sectors which were severely impacted by the disruption to the economy and workforce caused by COVID-19.

(2) For purposes of this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) “ Grant program ” means the program established in this section, which provides funding, as determined by the office, from federal COVID-19 relief funds to sustain and increase capacity in nursing and allied health education and training programs, including accredited paramedic programs, or to help retain and graduate nursing and allied health students, at community and junior colleges or other entities facilitating healthcare-focused training programs as determined by the office.

(b) “ Recipient ” means a community or junior college or other entities facilitating healthcare-focused training programs as determined by the office.

(c) “ Trainee ” means an individual receiving training or other services through the grant program under this article with the goal of becoming employed in the nursing or allied health field, including as a licensed paramedic.

(d) “ COVID-19 ” means the Coronavirus Disease 2019.

(e) “ Federal COVID-19 relief funds ” means funds allocated to the State of Mississippi from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund in Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law No. 117-2 ).

(f) “ High-wage, high-demand industry ” means those nursing or allied health jobs, including paramedics, paying above Mississippi's median annual income and prioritized by the office.

(g) “ Eligible expenses ” means a cost incurred by a recipient under this article, to include:

(i) Necessary equipment or other supplies to sustain or increase capacity in nursing or allied health training programs, including accredited paramedic programs;

(ii) Necessary infrastructure, including building renovation or construction, for increasing capacity in nursing or allied health training programs, including accredited paramedic programs;

(iii) Curricula or other academic or training materials to sustain or increase capacity in nursing or allied health training programs, including accredited paramedic programs;

(iv) Remote learning or other classroom technology to sustain or increase capacity in nursing or allied health training programs, including accredited paramedic programs;

(v) Job placement services for nursing or allied health students and graduates, including those in accredited paramedic programs;

(vi) Recruitment programs for nursing or allied health students and graduates, including those in accredited paramedic programs;

(vii) Other services aimed at helping retain and graduate current nursing and allied health students, including those in accredited paramedic programs.

(3) The Department of Employment Security shall serve as fiscal agent in administering the funds.

(4) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, allocations to recipients shall be awarded by the office through an application process, which shall require the applicant to provide:

(a) A detailed explanation of the program the applicant intends to use awarded funds to create or expand, to include:

(i) A description of the nursing or allied health workforce shortage the program is intended to address, including specific information from hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities or other health care providers in the region;

(ii) Any relevant waitlist or other information demonstrating high demand for graduates from the relevant nursing or allied health program;

(iii) The number of nursing or allied health students who will be served by the program; and

(iv) The average wage rate for nursing or allied health students receiving employment after completing the program;

(b) A proposed budget on how awarded funds will be expended, including a plan to consistently report expenditures to the office throughout the funding commitment;

(c) A plan to provide data on participation and outcomes of the program, including a plan to report outcomes to the office throughout the funding commitment; and

(d) Other relevant information as determined appropriate by the office.

(5) Applicants agreeing to commit a portion of their federal COVID-19 relief funds, if they received federal COVID-19 relief funds directly, or other state, federal or private funds as supplemental matching funds to offset the total cost of the approved program will be prioritized for approval.

(6) The office shall:

(a) Inform each recipient of its portion of the funds appropriated to the grant program;

(b) Develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the grant program;

(c) Prioritize jobs within the nursing or allied health fields which are currently experiencing staffing shortages in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and other health care providers across the state; and

(d) Prioritize jobs which are high-wage, high-demand jobs within the nursing and allied health fields, including the paramedic field.

(7) Seventy-five percent (75%) of the funds provided through the appropriations process for this program shall be reserved for community and junior colleges. A maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the funds provided through the appropriations process for this program may be awarded to recipients other than a community or junior college which facilitate healthcare-focused training programs as determined by the office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 177-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-7
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education shall:

(a) Select schools most in need for the reading intervention program and create criteria for selection for participation based on number and percentages of students scoring in the lowest two (2) achievement levels on state-adopted yearly reading assessments, screening results, and other relevant data;

(b) Assign a supervisory position within each school to be responsible for the faithful implementation of the Reading Intervention Program; and

(c) Subject to legislative appropriation, the Mississippi Department of Education shall conduct a program with willing “C” level or low-performing districts and/or schools. The program shall focus on the use of data coaches to improve reading and literacy, to determine the effectiveness of intense data-focused professional development, provide expert support in literacy and early reading instruction but it shall not necessarily be limited to literacy. Data coaches should be experts in both pedagogy and data analysis who facilitate professional learning community meetings, and provide observation and feedback, to help teachers and district leaders build skills in using data to inform instruction. Schools and districts selected by the department to participate in the program shall agree to involve the school and district leadership team as directed by the department. The Mississippi Department of Education is authorized to include pre-school programs it deems appropriate. The department is authorized to contract with a private sector provider to implement the program and work in partnership with four-year institutions of higher learning to develop and implement the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-47 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 145-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-47
Status: in_force

The bonds issued pursuant to Sections 37-145-43 through 37-145-73 shall be authorized by a resolution of the company, shall bear such date or dates, and shall mature at such time or times as such resolution may provide, except that no bond shall mature more than thirty (30) years from the date of issue. Bonds which are not subject to taxation shall bear interest at such rate or rates not exceeding that authorized by Section 75-17-103 , including variations of such rates, be in such denominations, be in such form, carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption, including redemption prior to maturity, as such resolution may provide. Except as expressly provided otherwise in Sections 37-145-43 through 37-145-73 , the provisions of other laws of the state relating to the issuance of revenue bonds shall not apply to bonds issued by the company. As to bonds issued hereunder and designated as taxable bonds by the company, any immunity to taxation by the United States government of interest on such bonds or notes is hereby waived. Bonds of the company may be sold by the company at public or private sale, from time to time, and at such price or prices as the company shall determine.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-111
Status: in_force

(1) The school board, or its designee, upon request for a hearing from an employee under the terms of Sections 37-9-101 through 37-9-113 , shall set the time, place and date of such hearing and notify the employee in writing of same. The date shall be set not sooner than five (5) days nor later than thirty (30) days from the date of the request, unless otherwise agreed. The hearing may be held before the board or before a hearing officer appointed for such purpose by the board, either from among its own membership, from the staff of the school district or some other qualified and impartial person, but in no event shall the hearing officer be the staff member responsible for the initial recommendation of nonreemployment. No hearing officer may have an interest in the outcome of a hearing, nor may a hearing officer be related to a board member, any administrator making the recommendations of nonreemployment or the employee. Once a hearing officer is appointed, no ex parte communications may be made regarding any substantive provisions of the hearing.

(2) The hearing must be held in executive session unless the employee elects to have a public hearing. If an employee makes this election, however, the board or the hearing officer, as the case may be, may order any part of the hearing to be held in executive session, if, in the opinion of the board or the hearing officer, the testimony to be elicited deals with matters involving the reputation or character of another person. Notwithstanding the election by an employee for a public hearing, any testimony by minor witnesses must be held in executive session and considered confidential personnel records and confidential student records, subject to an expectation of reasonable privacy and confidentiality. Public disclosure of these records may be by court order only.

(3) The district shall present evidence, either in written or oral form, at the hearing in support of its recommendation for nonreemployment.

The employee shall be afforded an opportunity to present matters at the hearing relevant to the reasons given for the proposed nonreemployment determination and to the reasons the employee alleges to be the reasons for nonreemployment and to be represented by counsel at such a hearing. Such hearing shall be conducted in such a manner as to afford the parties a fair and reasonable opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence pertinent to the issues and to cross-examine witnesses presented at the hearing. The board or the hearing officer may require any portion of the evidence to be submitted in the form of depositions or affidavits, and in case affidavits are received, an opportunity to present counter-affidavits shall be provided.

(4) The board shall cause to be made stenographic notes of the proceedings. In the event of a judicial appeal of the board's decision, the entire expense of the transcript and notes shall be assessed as court costs.

(5) The board shall review the matters presented before it, or, if the hearing is conducted by a hearing officer, the report of the hearing officer, if any, the record of the proceedings and, based solely thereon, conclude whether the proposed nonreemployment is a proper employment decision, is based upon a valid educational reason or noncompliance with school district personnel policies and is based solely upon the evidence presented at the hearing, and shall notify the employee in writing of its final decision and reasons therefor. Such notification shall be within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the hearing if the hearing is conducted by a hearing officer and within ten (10) days of the conclusion of the hearing if the hearing is initially conducted by the board. If the matter is heard before a hearing officer, the board shall also grant the employee the opportunity to appear before the board to present a statement in his own behalf, either in person or by his attorney, prior to a final decision by the board.

(6) In conducting a hearing, the board or hearing officer shall not be bound by common law or by statutory rules of evidence or by technical or formal rules of procedure except as provided in Sections 37-9-101 through 37-9-113 , but may conduct such hearing in such manner as best to ascertain the rights of the parties; however, hearsay evidence, if admitted, shall not be the sole basis for the determination of facts by the board or hearing officer.

(7) In the event the decision of the school board is in favor of the employee, the board shall have the authority to order the execution of a contract with the employee for an additional period of one (1) year.

(8) For purposes of conducting hearings under Sections 37-9-101 through 37-9-113 , the board or hearing officer shall have the authority to issue subpoenas for witnesses and to compel their attendance and the giving of evidence. Any expense connected therewith shall be borne by the party requesting the subpoenas, which shall include an appearance fee for each witness so subpoenaed not inconsistent with state laws governing payments to witnesses. In the event it is necessary to enforce or to quash a subpoena issued to compel the attendance of a witness, application shall be made with the chancery court of the county where the school board is located.

(9) This section shall not be applicable to a superintendent whose employment has been terminated by the school board under Section 37-9-59 , or whose employment contract has not been renewed by the school board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 97-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-3
Status: in_force

A government entity, any licensing or accrediting organization, or any athletic association or organization shall not entertain a complaint, open an investigation, or take any other adverse action against a primary or secondary school or institution of higher education for maintaining separate interscholastic or intramural athletic teams or sports for students of the female sex.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-169 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 29-169
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-169
Status: in_force

The formula for allocating funds to the state's public junior colleges in support of the purposes set forth in Section 37-29-163 shall be determined by the Mississippi Community College Board based upon need for the program set forth in the application.

Said board shall furnish a copy of the application to the Governor's Office of General Services and a copy to the Board of Economic Development. The Board of Economic Development shall review each application, and if said board finds and determines there exists a need for said training programs, facilities and equipment, it shall issue a certificate of necessity to the Mississippi Community College Board, which certificate of necessity shall be a prerequisite for approval.

The Mississippi Community College Board shall consider each application with reference to adequacy of the past, present and prospective use of the instruction, personnel, curriculum, equipment, budget, operation, facilities, grants, scholarships, tuition, maintenance and other similar administrative and technical data as relates to each junior college. The said board shall, by resolution or order, approve or disapprove the application.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-18 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-18
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-18
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations concerning the type of financial reports required to be submitted by the superintendent of schools to the local school board, and the frequency with which the reports shall be submitted. The rules and regulations promulgated by the board shall include:

(i) A requirement that the reports be listed as an agenda item for discussion at a regularly scheduled meeting of the board;

(ii) A requirement that the minutes of the board meeting reflect that the reports were discussed;

(iii) A requirement that each board member present be provided a copy of all required reports; and

(iv) A requirement that a copy of all required reports be included in the official minutes of the board meeting at which the reports were discussed.

(b) The State Board of Education is authorized to require school districts to submit any of the required reports to the State Department of Education on a basis determined by the department.

(c) Failure to comply with any of the rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education with regard to reporting requirements shall constitute a violation of the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards.

(2) The State Auditor shall audit the financial records of school districts in accordance with Section 7-7-211(e) . The State Auditor shall give reasonable notice to school districts regarding the times during which the State Auditor will perform such audits. In any fiscal year in which the State Auditor is not scheduled to perform an audit, the school board shall cause all the financial records of the superintendent of schools to be audited in accordance with Section 7-7-211(e) . If the school board so elects by resolution adopted each year, the audit shall be performed by the State Auditor. Contracts for the audit of public school districts shall be let by the school board in the manner prescribed by the State Auditor. The audit shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and generally accepted accounting principles, and the report presented thereon shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. If the Auditor's opinion on the general purpose financial statements is a disclaimer, as that term is defined by generally accepted auditing standards, or if the State Auditor determines the existence of serious financial conditions in the district, the State Auditor shall immediately notify the State Board of Education. Upon receiving the notice, the State Superintendent of Public Education shall direct the school district to immediately cease all expenditures until a financial advisor is appointed by the state superintendent. However, if the disclaimer is a result of conditions caused by Hurricane Katrina 2005 and applies to fiscal years 2005 and/or 2006, then the Superintendent of Education may appoint a financial advisor, and may direct the school district to immediately cease all expenditures until a financial advisor is appointed. The financial advisor shall be an agent of the State Board of Education and shall be a certified public accountant or a qualified business officer. Unless the financial advisor is an employee of the State of Mississippi, they shall be deemed an independent contractor. The financial advisor shall, with the approval of the State Board of Education:

(a) Approve or disapprove all expenditures and all financial obligations of the district;

(b) Ensure compliance with any statutes and State Board of Education rules or regulations concerning expenditures by school districts;

(c) Review salaries and the number of all district personnel and make recommendations to the local school board of any needed adjustments. Should such recommendations necessitate the reduction in local salary supplement, such recommended reductions shall be only to the extent which will result in the salaries being comparable to districts similarly situated, as determined by the State Board of Education. The local school board, in considering either a reduction in personnel or a reduction in local supplements, shall not be required to comply with the time limitations prescribed in Sections 37-9-15 and 37-9-105 and, further, shall not be required to comply with Sections 37-19-11 and 37-19-7(1) in regard to reducing local supplements and the number of personnel;

(d) Work with the school district's business office to correct all inappropriate accounting procedures and/or uses of school district funds and to prepare the school district's budget for the next fiscal year;

(e) Report frequently to the State Board of Education on the corrective actions being taken and the progress being made in the school district. The financial advisor shall serve until such time as corrective action and progress is being made in such school district as determined by the State Board of Education with the concurrence of the State Auditor, or until such time as an interim conservator is assigned to such district by the State Board of Education under Section 37-17-6 . The school district shall be responsible for all expenses associated with the use of the financial advisor. If the audit report reflects a failure by the school district to meet accreditation standards, the State Board of Education shall proceed under Section 37-17-6 ; and

(f) If a financial advisor is appointed to a school district in accordance with this subsection and it is determined by the financial advisor and/or any other official of the school district that an audit by a certified public accountant for that district was deficient in any manner, the financial advisor and/or any other official of the school district shall, within thirty (30) days, refer the matter to the State Board of Public Accountancy for follow-up and possible disciplinary action. Any disciplinary action by the State Board of Public Accountancy with regard to the certified public accountant shall, within thirty (30) days after notifying such certified public accountant, be reported to the Office of State Auditor.

(3)(a) When conducting an audit of a public school district, the State Auditor shall test to insure that the school district is complying with the requirements of Section 37-61-33(3)(a)(iii) relating to classroom supply funds. The audit must include a report of all classroom supply funds carried over from previous years. Based upon the audit report, the State Auditor shall compile a report on the compliance or noncompliance by all school districts with the requirements of Section 37-61-33(3)(a)(iii) , which report must be submitted to the Chairmen of the Education and Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate.

(b) When conducting an audit of a public school district, the State Auditor shall test to insure correct and appropriate coding at the function level. The audit must include a report showing correct and appropriate functional level expenditure codes in expenditures by the school district. Compliance standards for this audit provision shall be established by the Office of the State Auditor. Based upon the audit report, the State Auditor shall compile a report on the compliance or noncompliance by all public school districts with correct and appropriate coding at the function level, which report must be submitted to the Chairmen of the Education and Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate.

(4) In the event the State Auditor does not perform the audit examination, then the audit report of the school district shall be reviewed by the State Auditor for compliance with applicable state laws before final payment is made on the audit by the school board. All financial records, books, vouchers, cancelled checks and other financial records required by law to be kept and maintained in the case of municipalities shall be faithfully kept and maintained in the office of the superintendent of schools under the same provisions and penalties provided by law in the case of municipal officials.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 23-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-1
Status: in_force

The purpose of Sections 37-23-1 through 37-23-159 is to mandate free appropriate public educational services and equipment for exceptional children in the age range three (3) through twenty (20) for whom the regular school programs are not adequate and to provide, on a permissive basis, a free appropriate public education, as a part of the state's early intervention system in accordance with regulations developed in collaboration with the agency designated as “lead agency” under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The portion of the regulations developed in collaboration with the lead agency which are necessary to implement the programs under the authority of the State Board of Education shall be presented to the State Board of Education for adoption. This specifically includes, but shall not be limited to, provision for day schools for the deaf and blind of an age under six (6) years, where early training is in accordance with the most advanced and best approved scientific methods of instruction, always taking into consideration the best interests of the child and his improvement at a time during which he is most susceptible of improvement. Educational programs to exceptional children under the age of three (3) years shall be eligible for total funding formula funds provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 .

All references in the laws of this state to the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” or to the “IDEA” shall be construed to include any subsequent amendments to that act.

The educational programs and services provided for exceptional children in Sections 37-23-1 through 37-23-15 , 37-23-31 through 37-23-35 , 37-23-61 through 37-23-75 and 37-23-77 shall be designed to provide individualized appropriate special education and related services that enable a child to reach his or her appropriate and uniquely designed goals for success. The State Board of Education shall establish an accountability system for special education programs and students with disabilities. The system shall establish accountability standards for services provided to improve the educational skills designed to prepare children for life after their years in school. These standards shall be a part of the accreditation system and shall be implemented before July 1, 1996.

The State Department of Education shall establish goals for the performance of children with disabilities that will promote the purpose of IDEA and are consistent, to the maximum extent appropriate, with other goals and standards for children established by the State Department of Education. Performance indicators used to assess progress toward achieving those goals that, at a minimum, address the performance of children with disabilities on assessments, drop-out rates, and graduation rates shall be developed. Every two (2) years, the progress toward meeting the established performance goals shall be reported to the public.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 115-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-71
Status: in_force

Any such county as is provided for in Section 37-115-69 is hereby authorized and empowered to issue and sell its bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of providing funds with which to make the contribution or donation authorized under the provisions of said section. Such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness shall not be issued in an amount which will exceed the limit of indebtedness of said county as such limit is prescribed by Sections 19-9-1 through 19-9-31, Mississippi Code of 1972 . Before issuing any such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, the board of supervisors acting for such county shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to issue the same, stating the amount and purpose thereof and fixing the date upon which an election will be held on the proposition. Notice of such election shall be given by publication of such resolution once a week for at least three consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper published in said county. The first publication of such notice shall be made not less than twenty-one days prior to the date fixed in such resolution for the holding of said election as aforesaid and the last publication shall be made not more than seven days prior to such date. At such election all qualified electors of said county may vote and the ballots used shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the amount and purpose of the bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness proposed to be issued and the voter shall vote by placing a cross (x) or check (✓) opposite his choice on the proposition. The bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness authorized herein shall not be issued unless authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified voters of said county who vote on the proposition at such election.

Such election shall be conducted and the returns thereof made, canvassed, and declared as nearly as may be in like manner as is now or may hereafter be provided by law in the case of general elections in counties. In the event that the question of the issuance of such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness be not authorized at such election, such question shall not again be submitted to a vote until the expiration of a period of six months, from and after the date of such election.

Such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness shall bear such date or dates, shall be of such denomination or denominations, shall be payable at such place or places, shall bear such rate or rates of interest and shall mature in such amounts and at such times as may be provided and directed by the board of supervisors of said county. Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates not exceeding six per cent per annum and shall mature in not more than twenty-five years from the date thereof and shall be sold for not less than par and accrued interest.

Any bonds authorized to be issued at an election as provided for in this section shall be issued by such county, acting by and through its board of supervisors, at such times and in such amounts as shall be provided for by resolution of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.

All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued hereunder shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of such county. There shall annually be levied upon all taxable property within said county an ad valorem tax in addition to all other taxes, sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and the interest on said bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness as the same respectively mature and accrue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-133 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 57-133
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-133
Status: in_force

In the event taxable real property has been or is incorporated in, annexed to, or otherwise made a part of a school district, or in the event taxable personal property is or becomes situated or located within a school district, as the case may be, prior to October 1 of any year but after the approval of the assessment roll of the county or school district for such year, then the board of supervisors of the county or the governing authority of the municipality, as the case may be, shall have the power and authority to make such changes in the assessment roll as shall be necessary to cause such real or personal property to be assessed properly for the ad valorem taxes levied during said year for which such property shall be liable under the terms of Section 37-57-131 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 28-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-39
Status: in_force

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, to the extent that any provision of this chapter is inconsistent with any other state or local law, rule or regulation, the provisions of this chapter govern and are controlling.

(2) A charter school and any education service provider which provides comprehensive management for a charter school must be a nonprofit education organization.

(3) A charter school is subject to all federal laws and authorities specified in this chapter or agreed upon with the authorizer in the charter contract, where such contracting is consistent with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

(4) To the extent approved by the authorizer, a charter contract may consist of one or more schools. Each charter school that is part of a charter contract must be separate and distinct from any other charter school.

(5) A single governing board may hold one or more charter contracts.

(6) A charter school must function as a local educational agency, and as such, a charter school is responsible for meeting the requirements of local educational agencies under applicable federal laws, including those relating to special education, receipt of funds and compliance with funding requirements. Status as a local educational agency, however, does not preclude a charter school from developing, by mutual agreement or formal contract, links with the local school district for services, resources and programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 16-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-5
Status: in_force

The school board of every district in this state shall periodically assess student performance and achievement in each school. Such assessment programs shall be based upon local goals and objectives which are compatible with the state's plan for education and which supplement the minimum performance standards approved by the state board of education. Data from district assessment programs shall be provided to the state department of education when such data is required in order to evaluate specific instructional programs or processes or when the data is needed for other research or evaluation projects. Each district may provide acceptable, compatible district assessment data to substitute for any assessment data needed at the state level when the state department of education certifies that such data is acceptable for the purposes of Section 37-16-3 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-231 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 153-231
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-231
Status: in_force

This article shall be known and cited as the “Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-127 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-127
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-127
Status: in_force

Sections 37-29-121 through 37-29-125 shall be construed as cumulative and no restriction, limitation or prohibition of the general laws shall operate to curtail the authority or prescribe the procedure by which the purposes of said sections shall be effected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 133-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-9
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning to make periodic fiscal reports to the state fiscal management board and the legislative budget office, and to otherwise comply with the budget and accounting laws of the state of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 175-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-19
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall publicize information regarding the Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship on the department's official website.

(2) The department shall annually, by December 15, report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives the department's actions with respect to implementing accountability in the scholarship program under this section, any substantiated allegations or violations of law or rule by an eligible nonpublic school under this program concerning the enrollment and attendance of students, the credentials of teachers, background screening of teachers, and teachers' fingerprinting results and the corrective action taken by the department.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 173-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-13
Status: in_force

(1) The maximum scholarship granted per eligible student with dyslexia shall be an amount equivalent to the student base amount under the total funding formula provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 .

(2)(a) The nonpublic school under this program shall report to the State Department of Education the number of students with dyslexia who are enrolled in nonpublic schools on the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarships as of September 30 of each year in order to determine funding for the subsequent year. Funds may not be transferred from any funding provided to the Mississippi School for the Deaf and the Blind for program participants who are eligible under Section 37-173-5 .

(b) The State Department of Education will disburse payments to nonpublic schools under this program in twelve (12) substantially equal installments. The initial payment shall be made after department verification of admission acceptance, and subsequent payments shall be made upon verification of continued enrollment and attendance at the nonpublic school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 43-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-33
Status: in_force

Any parent, person or school board in any community of the state may purchase books from a board-approved regional depository who is given authority to sell books under the provisions of this chapter. The price of the books so ordered or brought shall be the same as the contract price, plus whatever postage or delivery charges might accrue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 121-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-13
Status: in_force

The baseball field within the Willie E. “Rat” McGowan, Sr., Baseball Stadium, as designated in Section 37-121-11 , located on the campus of Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be named the William “Bill” Foster Baseball Field. The Department of Finance and Administration shall prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place on the William “Bill” Foster Baseball Field, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Mr. Foster.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-117 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 57-117
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-117
Status: in_force

All funds derived from such taxation under Sections 37-57-111 through 37-57-119 shall be collected by the tax assessors and/or tax collectors of the county prior to or simultaneous with the sale of the new family unit and shall be deposited into a county trust fund entitled “county school building and repair fund” to be utilized by the county board of education for capital improvements only in compacted areas. However, the board of supervisors of such county shall be authorized to utilize the proceeds of taxation toward paying the principal and interest on full faith and credit bonds of the county which may be issued to provide immediate funds for acquiring sites and constructing public school facilities.

All funds levied and collected under authority of Sections 37-57-111 through 37-57-119 shall be expended for the purposes set forth in said sections and in the manner now provided by law for making such expenditures in counties having a countywide school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 27-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-51
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any agricultural high school or the board of trustees of any junior college, in connection with which an agricultural high school is operated, and the board of trustees of any school district, or a county board of education, under the conditions hereinafter provided for, are hereby authorized and empowered to enter into agreements, one with the other, providing for the attendance of any high school pupils of such school district or any grades thereof, at such agricultural high school or junior college, and for the instruction of such high school pupils or grades at such agricultural high school or junior college. Subject to the provisions of Sections 37-27-53 through 37-27-59 , all such contracts so executed shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by and between the boards of trustees or the county board of education involved. All such contracts shall be subject to the approval of the state educational finance commission.

Any parent or guardian of such high school pupil or pupils, as to an individual pupil or as to any grade or grades, may request in writing that such agreement be entered into with the board of trustees of said agricultural high school or board of trustees of any junior college in connection with which an agricultural high school is operated. Such request shall be filed or lodged with the president or secretary of the board of trustees of such school district. Said board of trustees of said school district shall no later than the date of its next regular meeting approve or disapprove the request therein made to provide for the attendance of the pupil or pupils, or grade or grades, at such agricultural high school; failure of said board of trustees of such school district to act upon said request not later than said date shall be and will constitute a disapproval or rejection thereof.

In the event such board of trustees of said school district shall either disapprove or reject said request, or fail to act thereon on or before said date, then and in that event the county board of education is hereby authorized to act upon such request not later than the next regular meeting date of the said county board of education after the filing or lodging by such parent or guardian of a true copy of the request theretofore filed or lodged with the said board of trustees of the said school district, with the president or secretary of the said county board of education, and with said copy shall be filed or lodged a written statement of the action, if any, or non-action, taken by the board of trustees of the said school district upon the request made to it. If such request be approved by the county board of education, then it may proceed to enter into such agreement with the board of trustees of said agricultural high school or the said board of trustees of said junior college, but subject to the approval of the state educational finance commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-353 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 101-353
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-353
Status: in_force

The board is authorized to take any and all necessary and proper action for the implementation of Sections 37-101-351 through 37-101-357 , including but not limited to (a) pursuing cooperative ventures with the John C. Stennis Institute of Government; and (b) pursuing cooperative ventures with the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 175-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-23
Status: in_force

Teachers and other school personnel shall be subject to criminal history record checks and fingerprinting requirements applicable to other public schools under Section 37-9-17(2) and (3) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-317 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 101-317
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-317
Status: in_force

The State Treasurer is hereby authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Fiscal Management Board the necessity for warrants, and the board is hereby authorized and directed to issue such warrants payable out of any funds authorized by Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 for such purpose, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of and interest on all bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 ; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-85 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 151-85
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-85
Status: in_force

(1) Using those funds appropriated by the Legislature for transportation purposes, the amount to be allotted by the State Board of Education for transportation shall be determined as follows:

The State Department of Education shall calculate the cost of transportation in school districts by ascertaining the average cost per pupil in net enrollment of transported pupils in school districts classified in different density groups, as determined by the State Department of Education. Based on these calculations, the State Department of Education shall develop a scale for determining the allowable cost per pupil in different density groups, which scale shall provide greatest allowance per pupil transported in school districts with lowest densities and smallest allowance per pupil in school districts with highest densities. The total allowance under this section for transported children for any school district for the current year shall be the net enrollment of the transported children for months two (2) and three (3) of the prior year, multiplied by the allowance per transported pupil as provided herein. However, the State Department of Education is authorized and empowered to make proper adjustments in allotments, under rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, in cases where major changes in the number of children in net enrollment transported occur from one (1) year to another as a result of changes or alterations in the boundaries of school districts, a change in or relocation of attendance centers, or for other reasons which would result in major decrease or increase in the number of children in net enrollment transported during the current school year as compared with the preceding year. Moreover, the State Board of Education is hereby authorized and empowered to make such payments to all districts and/or university-based programs as deemed necessary in connection with transporting exceptional children as defined in Section 37-23-3 . The State Board of Education shall establish and implement all necessary rules and regulations to allot transportation payments to university-based programs. In developing density classifications under the provisions hereof, the State Department of Education may give consideration to the length of the route, the sparsity of the population, the lack of adequate roads, highways and bridges, and the presence of large streams or other geographic obstacles. In addition to funds allotted under the above provisions, funds shall be allotted to each school district that transports students from their assigned school or attendance center to classes in an approved vocational-technical center at a rate per mile not to exceed the average statewide cost per mile of school bus transportation during the preceding year exclusive of bus replacement. All such transportation must have prior approval by the State Department of Education.

(2) The net enrollment of transported children shall be reported by the school district in which such children attend school. If children living in a school district are transported at the expense of such school district to another school district, the net enrollment of such transported children shall be deducted by the State Department of Education from the aggregate net enrollment of transported children in the school district in which they attend school and shall be added to the aggregate net enrollment of transported children of the school district from which they come for the purpose of calculating transportation allotments. However, such deduction shall not be made for the purpose of calculating total funding formula funding.

(3) The State Department of Education shall include in the allowance for transportation for each school district an amount for the replacement of school buses or the purchase of new buses, which amount shall be calculated upon the estimated useful life of all school buses being used for the transportation of children in such school district, whether such buses be publicly or privately owned.

(4) The school boards of all districts operating school bus transportation are authorized and directed to establish a salary schedule for school bus drivers. No school district shall be entitled to receive the funds herein allotted for transportation unless it pays each of its nonstudent adult school bus drivers paid from such transportation allotments a minimum of One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($190.00) per month. In addition, local school boards may compensate school bus drivers, to include temporary or substitute bus drivers, for actual expenses incurred when acquiring an initial commercial license or any renewal of a commercial license in order to drive a school bus. In addition, local school boards may compensate school bus drivers, to include temporary or substitute bus drivers, for expenses, not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), when acquiring an initial medical exam or any renewal of a medical exam, in order to qualify for a commercial driver's license.

(5) The State Board of Education shall be authorized and empowered to use such part of the funds appropriated for transportation as may be necessary to finance driver training courses as provided for in Section 37-41-1 .

(6) The State Board of Education, acting through the Department of Education, may compensate school bus drivers, to include temporary or substitute bus drivers, who are providing driving services to the various state operated schools, such as the Mississippi School for the Deaf, the Mississippi School for the Blind, the Mississippi School of the Arts, the Mississippi School for Math and Science and any other similar state operated schools, for actual expenses incurred when acquiring an initial commercial license or any renewal of a commercial license in order to drive a school bus, to include the expense, not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), of acquiring an initial medical exam or any renewal of a medical exam in order to qualify for a commercial driver's license.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 104-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-23
Status: in_force

The Authority may sell the revenue bonds in such a manner and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par, plus accrued interest to date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. Notice of the sale of any revenue bonds shall be published at least one (1) time not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published in Jackson, Mississippi, and having general circulation within the State of Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals as may be directed by the Authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 15-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-17
Status: in_force

If the parent, guardian or other person having custody of any child shall feel aggrieved by the assignment of such child to a school or attendance center by the school board, then such parent, guardian or other person may, at any time within thirty (30) days after such assignment, make application in writing to the school board for a review or reconsideration of such assignment. Upon receiving any such application, the school board shall set a time and place for the hearing thereof which time shall be not more than fifteen (15) days after the regular meeting of said board next succeeding the date of the filing of said application. At the time and place so fixed, the person filing such application shall have the right to appear and present evidence in support of said application. After hearing said evidence, the school board shall determine whether said application is well taken and supported by the evidence and shall enter an order either affirming its previous action or modifying or changing same as said school board shall find proper.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.8 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-104.8
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.8
Status: in_force

(1) In Chickasaw County, Mississippi, in which are located, as of January 1, 2017, three (3) school districts, there shall be an administrative consolidation of two (2) of those school districts in the county as a new school district to be designated as Chickasaw County School District which shall consist of the territory of the former Chickasaw County School District and the Houston Municipal Separate School District, effective on July 1, 2021. At such time that the administrative consolidation becomes effective, the central administrative office of the new Chickasaw County School District shall be located in Houston, Mississippi.

(2) On July 1, 2020, the Superintendent of Schools of the former Houston Municipal Separate School District shall continue to serve in like administrative capacity for the purpose of managing the transition for the consolidation of the former Chickasaw County School District and the Houston Municipal Separate School District. The said Superintendent of Schools shall be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the school district from July 1, 2020, until July 1, 2021, including, but not limited to, the following activities: (a) merging the existing budgets with the budget of the new consolidated school district; (b) nonrenewal of central office staff as necessary; (c) construction of a new salary scale for licensed and nonlicensed employees; (d) supplemental duties of school district employees; (e) assist local officials with school tax assessment; (f) appointment of assistant superintendents for the new district not to exceed three (3); and (g) veto authority over decisions of the former school boards until the new Chickasaw County Board of Education is in place. The said Superintendent of Schools shall cooperate with the State Department of Education, as soon as practicable after July 1, 2017, for the planning and transition of programs, services and alignment of curriculum for the administratively consolidated school districts.

(3) On July 1, 2020, the State Board of Education shall serve the Chickasaw County Board of Education and the Board of Trustees of the Houston Municipal Separate School District with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to comply with the administrative consolidation required in this section. The State Board of Education shall require the administrative consolidation of the Chickasaw County School District and the Houston Municipal Separate School District on or before July 1, 2021.

(4) In the new Chickasaw County School District, there shall be an Interim County Board of Education elected in a November 2020 special election which shall be called by the Governor for that purpose. The State Board of Education shall declare that the following territory shall be the election districts for the Interim Chickasaw County Board of Education, and members shall be qualified electors residing in that district: (a) three (3) members shall be elected at large from the territory of the former Houston School District; and (b) two (2) members shall be elected at large from the territory of the former Chickasaw County School District. Members elected in the November 2020 special election shall serve terms of three (3) years beginning on January 1, 2021. There shall be a new Chickasaw County Board of Education for the Chickasaw County School District, elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2023, at the same time and in the same manner as the statewide general election is held and conducted, for that purpose. The new county board of education shall be elected and the terms of office established as provided in Section 37-5-7(5) . Any school board member of the former school districts residing in the proper territory shall be eligible for election to the new Chickasaw County Board of Education.

(5) The State Board of Education shall declare that the territory embraced by Chickasaw County, Mississippi, excluding the territory of Okolona Separate School District, shall be the boundary lines for the territory of the new Chickasaw County School District and shall spread a legal description of the new school district on the minutes of its August 2020 meeting and shall serve the applicable school boards and the board of supervisors with an adequate legal description of these new boundaries. Any school district affected by the required administrative consolidation in the county that does not voluntarily consolidate as ordered by the State Board of Education shall be administratively consolidated by the State Board of Education, to be effective immediately upon action of the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall promptly move on its own motion to administratively consolidate a school district which does not voluntarily consolidate in order to enable the affected school districts to reasonably accomplish the resulting administrative consolidation into the Chickasaw School District by July 1, 2021, following the motion to consolidate. The affected school districts shall comply with any consolidation order issued by the State Board of Education.

(6) The Interim Chickasaw County Board of Education shall conduct a search for a new Superintendent of Schools for the Chickasaw County School District to be selected no later than July 1, 2021, in the manner provided in Section 37-9-13 and the Superintendent of Schools serving on that date may be selected to continue in office. The position of Chickasaw County Superintendent of Schools shall be an appointive position. No superintendent serving in a school district placed under conservatorship shall be eligible for appointment as a superintendent or assistant superintendent in the new Chickasaw County School District. The Interim Chickasaw County Board of Education shall also employ central office staff for the Chickasaw County School District no later than July 1, 2021, or as soon thereafter as is practicable.

(7) On January 1, 2021, following the motion of the State Board of Education to consolidate school districts in Chickasaw County and the Houston Municipal Separate School Districts, the Chickasaw County School District and the Houston Municipal Separate School District and the former school boards of those districts shall be abolished. All real and personal property which is owned or titled in the name of the school district located in such former school districts shall be transferred to the new Chickasaw County School District. The Superintendent of Schools and the County Board of Education of the new Chickasaw County School District shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for teachers, principals, clerical and administrative staff personnel for the 2020-2021 school year and thereafter. It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent of Schools and the County Board of Education of the new Chickasaw County School District to prepare and approve the budget of the new reorganized district. Any proposed order of the State Board of Education directing the transfer of the assets, real or personal property of an affected school district in the county, shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation.

(8) From and after July 1, 2021, all outstanding debt of the former Chickasaw County School District and the Houston Municipal Separate School District shall be assumed by and become the debt of the new Chickasaw County School District. Any debt assumed by the Chickasaw County School District secured by a special ad valorem tax shall become secured by and payable from a mandatory, special ad valorem tax which shall be levied on all taxable property in the territory of the former Houston Municipal Separate School District or the former Chickasaw County School District, as the case may be, by the levying authority of the new Chickasaw County School District. It is the intent of the Legislature that any such pledges of the former school districts will remain in effect and that the pledged funds will be available to the new Chickasaw County School District to pay its debt to which the funds are pledged. The Board of Supervisors of Chickasaw County shall be the “levying authority” for the new Chickasaw County School District.

(9) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the closing of any school or school facility, unless the facility is an unneeded administrative office located within a school district which has been abolished under the provisions of this section. All administrative consolidations under this section shall be accomplished so as not to delay or in any manner negatively affect the desegregation of another school district in the county pursuant to court order.

(10) The State Board of Education, acting through the new Superintendent of Schools, shall promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative consolidation of the school districts in Chickasaw County and Houston, Mississippi, pursuant to this section. The consolidated district shall make an election within one (1) year of consolidation concerning the group term life insurance described in Section 25-15-9(7) .

(11) For the initial two (2) years following the administrative consolidation required by this section, conditioned on approval by the U.S. Department of Education, the State Department of Education shall grant a waiver of accountability and state assessment requirements to the new Chickasaw County School District for the student population enrolled therein from the former Chickasaw County School District and the Houston Municipal Separate School District, when determining the new consolidated school district accreditation level based on the performance and accountability rating model.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-111-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 111-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-111-13
Status: in_force

The State Board of Institutions of Higher Learning shall study the fire safety of private fraternity and sorority houses located on state property. Such study shall include the feasibility of fire sprinkler systems and the evaluation of fire safety procedures. The board shall report its written findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Insurance Committees on or before January 1, 2006.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 173-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-3
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program is established to provide the option to attend a public school other than the one to which assigned, or to provide a scholarship to a nonpublic school of choice, for students with a diagnosis of dyslexia. Students in Grades 1 through 12 who have been properly screened and diagnosed with dyslexia shall be eligible to receive scholarship assistance under this program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-49-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 49-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-49-3
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(a) “person” means any individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity;

(b) “educational institution” means a university, college, community college, junior college, high school, technical, vocational or professional school, or similar institution, wherever located, approved or accredited by the state department of education for the purposes of this chapter, or by the appropriate official, department or agency of the state in which the institution is located; and

(c) “educational loan” means a loan or other aid or assistance for the purpose of furthering the obligor's education at an educational institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 63-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-11
Status: in_force

(1) The Authority for Educational Television is empowered to request and to receive such state funds for educational television construction and operation as may be appropriated or allocated to it, and to solicit and receive contributions, matching funds, gifts, bequests and devises from any source, whether federal, state, public or private. It may enter into agreements with federal, state, public or private agencies, departments, institutions, firms, corporations or persons for the production, transmission, sale, lease or purchase of educational television and educational radio programs, or any research and development projects, joint ventures pertaining to content or other projects that do not duplicate communication facilities or services utilized under contract by the state and that the authority determines are in its best interests. The authority may enter into any contracts and other agreements necessary for those purposes, and in doing so, the authority may agree to terms of indemnification, the law of another state or jurisdiction or other necessary terms when, in the judgment of the authority, that would be in its best interests. The authority may delegate to its executive director its power to enter into these contracts or other agreements, or to exercise any of its other powers, in accordance with guidelines established by the authority. All materials produced or received by the authority in the exercise of its power, in the preceding provisions of this subsection, that are protected by copyright or considered confidential or proprietary information of third parties, shall not be public records. All such materials shall not be subject to release under the Public Records Act. The authority may also lease antenna space on television towers which it owns. Before the authority is empowered to contract for communication facilities to carry television signals, it shall obtain written authority to do so from the Department of Finance and Administration in order to ensure that there be no duplication of state communication facilities.

(2) There is hereby established in the State Treasury a special fund for the purpose of providing for the payment of all expenses in respect to the administration of this chapter. Such fund shall be administered by the authority. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of such funds and all monies and securities in such fund shall be held in trust by such Treasurer and shall not be the money or property of the state. The State Treasurer is authorized to disburse monies from such fund only upon order of the authority. The official bond of the State Treasurer shall be conditioned for the faithful performance of his duty hereunder. The State Treasurer shall deposit any monies paid into such fund into such qualified depository banks as the authority may designate and is authorized to invest any portion of the fund which, in the opinion of the authority, is not needed for current requirements in the same manner and subject to all provisions of the law with respect to the deposit of state funds by such Treasurer. All interest earned by such portion of the fund as may be invested by the State Treasurer shall be collected by him and placed to the credit of such fund.

(3) The Authority for Educational Television is empowered to provide noncommercial production or reproduction services for other public agencies, and may collect the costs of providing the services from the public agency. These costs shall be deposited into the special fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 27-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-29
Status: in_force

The trustees of agricultural high schools by and with the consent of the board of supervisors of the county or counties affected are hereby authorized to lease all or any part of the lands belonging to them for the purpose of investigating, exploring, prospecting, drilling and mining for and producing oil, gas and all other minerals, laying pipe lines, building roads, tanks, power stations, telephone lines and other structures thereon to produce, save, take care of, treat, transport and dispose of and own said products, and housing its employees, and to collect royalties from such leases. Any lease of such land shall contain a provision to retain at least a one-eighth interest in the royalties and proceeds and receipts of any oil, gas and/or minerals produced thereon for the benefit of such school.

Any funds arising from or collected under this section shall be deposited in the county depository of the county in which said school is located to the credit of said agricultural high school. Such funds may be disbursed as other funds belonging to said institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-154-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 154-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-154-3
Status: in_force

(1) The SLDS will be governed by a SLDS Governing Board (the board), which shall be composed of a representative from each agency or entity providing data to the system. Each agency or entity will appoint their representative to sit on the Governing Board. For the two (2) years following July 1, 2013, the State Workforce Investment Board Chair will also serve as Chair of the SLDS Governing Board. In subsequent years, the SLDS Governing Board will elect a chair from among its members. The Chair of the SLDS Governing Board will serve a two-year term.

(2) The SLDS Governing Board shall develop and promulgate all rules and regulations governing the activities of the SLDS in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. The board is authorized to contract with a third party to manage and maintain the system and to insure the policies and procedures developed by the board are enforced.

(3) The SLDS Governing Board shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the following objectives:

(a) Identifying critical research and policy questions that need to be addressed by education (P-20) and workforce programs;

(b) Identifying reports and other information that should be available to education and workforce entities and other public stakeholders;

(c) Developing a funding mechanism for sustaining the system after it is developed;

(d) Defining and maintaining standards for privacy, confidentiality and security of data; and

(e) Performing other advisory functions that are necessary for the successful continuation and management of the longitudinal data system.

(4) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent an individual agency or entity from maintaining control of their agency's individual data.

(5) All data provided to the SLDS shall be provided in accordance with all local, state and federal laws governing the protection and sharing of such data.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 117-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-11
Status: in_force

The privilege of rooming in the dormitories at the Mississippi State College for Women belongs to the free students, and to the due quota of girls from each county, in preference to all others. The basis of apportionment is hereby fixed at the present dormitory capacity. However, this provision shall not be construed to exclude pupils from free tuition who pay their board elsewhere.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 185-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-3
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 37-185-1 through 37-185-9 , the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “ COVID-19 ” means the Coronavirus Disease 2019.

(b) “ CARES Act ” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

(c) “ Eligible independent school ” means any private or nonpublic school operating within the State of Mississippi that:

(i) Is a member of the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) and located in the State of Mississippi; or

(ii) Is accredited by a state, regional or national accrediting organization; and

(iii) Is not subject to the purview of authority of the State Board of Education.

“ Eligible independent school ” includes independent universities that are accredited by a state, regional or national accrediting organization and are not subject to the purview of authority of the State Institutions of Higher Learning.

(d) “ Interruption in learning ” means disruption of regular educational instruction in a school facility resulting from required or voluntary closure related to COVID-19.

(e) “ Public health measure ” means any action reasonably taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the educational setting.

(f) “ Eligible expense ” means a cost incurred by an independent school for public health measures or due to interruption in learning from March 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020. Such eligible expenses may consist of:

(i) Training and professional development of local school staff regarding measures to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and familiarity with technology programs and devices to facilitate distance learning;

(ii) Purchasing facility sanitization supplies and other expenses of disinfection of the independent school's facilities to mitigate or respond to COVID-19;

(iii) Purchasing technology programs and equipment for the expansion of internet connectivity and broadband access within the school facility to be used by school administrators, faculty and staff to facilitate online distance learning;

(iv) Purchasing necessary equipment and accommodations and providing adequate services for students with disabilities;

(v) Purchasing medical supplies and personal protection equipment (PPE);

(vi) Developing infrastructure necessary at the community or junior colleges to increase capacity in workforce development or skills training classes for students who are unemployed, underemployed or seeking new employment as a direct or indirect result of COVID-19; or

(vii) Medical expenses incurred by the independent school to treat or dispense COVID-19, including COVID-19 testing and serological testing, emergency medical response and transportation, and telemedicine expenses related to COVID-19.

No cost will be considered an eligible expense if found to be ineligible under the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act.

(g) “ MDA ” means the Mississippi Development Authority.

(h) “ Grant ” means an award by the MDA to an independent school to cover eligible expenses in accordance with Sections 37-185-1 through 37-185-9 .

(i) “ Program ” means the Independent Schools' COVID-19 Assistance Grant Program established in Sections 37-185-1 through 37-185-9 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-2 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-2
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-2
Status: in_force

(1) No public institution of higher learning, community/junior college, school district or public school, including public charter schools, shall direct or otherwise compel students to personally affirm, adopt or adhere to any of the following tenets:

(a) That any sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin is inherently superior or inferior; or

(b) That individuals should be adversely treated on the basis of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin.

(2) No public institution of higher learning, community/junior college, school district or public school, including public charter schools, shall make a distinction or classification of students based on account of race, provided that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the required collection or reporting of demographic information by such schools or institutions.

(3) No public institution of higher learning, community/junior college, school district or public school, including public charter schools, shall teach a course of instruction or unit of study that directs or otherwise compels students to personally affirm, adopt or adhere to any of the tenets identified in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section.

(4) No funds shall be expended by the State Department of Education, any entity under the Department of Education's jurisdiction or purview, a school district, public charter school, community/junior college, the Mississippi Community College Board, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or a public institution of higher learning for any purpose that would violate the provisions of this section.

(5) The provisions of this section shall be severable, and if any provision of this section or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid for any reason, such declaration shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 41-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-31
Status: in_force

(1) In each case where pupils are transported to and from the public schools in the school districts of this state in privately owned vehicles, the contract for such transportation shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder who is able to furnish a solvent bond for the faithful performance of his contract. This shall be done after each route over which such pupils are to be transported has been laid out and established as provided in this chapter. Such contracts shall be awarded upon receipt of sealed bids or proposals after the time and place of letting such contracts and the manner of bidding have been duly advertised in some newspaper published in the county in accordance with the procedures provided in Section 31-7-13(c) . If no newspaper is published in the county, then the advertisement shall be made by publication for the required time in some newspaper having a general circulation therein, and, in addition, by posting a copy thereof for that time in at least three (3) public places in the county, one (1) of which shall be at the county courthouse in each judicial district of the county. The awarding of all such contracts shall, however, in all respects be subject to the provisions of Section 37-41-29 .

(2) Private contracts for the transportation of exceptional children, as defined in Section 37-23-3 , may be negotiated by the local school board without the necessity of the advertising for or taking of bids. The same may apply under extraordinary circumstances where regular transportation is considered to be impractical. The local school board may negotiate and contract for the transportation described in this paragraph so long as the local school board complies with the school transportation regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education.

(3) Contracts shall be made for four (4) years, at the discretion of the local school board and shall include the stipulation for the placement of district-identifying signage on all buses under contract, as required under Section 37-41-43 . Any and all bids may be rejected. At the expiration of any transportation contract, if the school board believes a route should remain substantially as established and finds that the carrier thereon has rendered efficient and satisfactory services it may extend the contract for not more than four (4) years, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 37-41-29 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 59-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-45
Status: in_force

No interest-bearing indebtedness shall hereafter be incurred by any such school district except in the manner provided in this article or as may otherwise be provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-18 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-18
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-18
Status: in_force

In any county bordering on the Mississippi Sound and having therein at least four (4) municipal separate school districts, each member of the county board of education established by Section 37-5-1 for such county shall be elected from and shall be a resident and qualified elector in a special district determined in the following manner:

The board of education of such a county shall apportion the county into five (5) board of education districts in the territory outside the municipal separate school districts and these board of education districts shall be divided as nearly equal as possible according to population, incumbency and other factors heretofore pronounced by the courts. The board of education shall place upon its minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) board of education districts. The board of education of said county shall thereafter publish the same in some newspaper of general circulation within said county for at least three (3) consecutive weeks and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the board of education of said county, said new district lines will thereafter be effective.

All incumbents now holding office within the district as presently constituted shall continue holding their respective offices provided they reside within the new district for the remainder of the term of office to which they have heretofore been elected and all members from the respective district shall be elected from the new board of education district constituted as herein provided in the same manner provided by law for the election of members of the county board of education. Any vacancies in the office, whether occasioned by redistricting or by other cause, shall be filled in the manner presently provided by law for the filling of vacancies.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-211 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-211
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-211
Status: in_force

(1) The name of any qualified elector who is otherwise eligible under the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 37-7-203 who shall desire to be a candidate for the office of trustee must qualify in the following manner in order to be allowed to be considered for election. By 5:00 p.m. no more than ninety (90) days and not less than sixty (60) days before the election, he shall file with the county election commissioners a petition signed by not less than fifty (50) qualified electors of the area represented by the office which he seeks, either for a full term or an unexpired term, as the case may be, and an affidavit by the candidate offering for election stating his qualifications under the terms of the section. Where there are less than one hundred (100) qualified electors in said area represented by the trustee, it shall only be required that said petition of nomination be signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors in said area. The petition shall contain an affidavit certifying that all signatures are the personal signatures of each person whose name appears on the petition and that each person is a qualified elector.

(2) Unless the petition and affidavit required in subsection (1) of this section are filed by 5:00 p.m. not less than sixty (60) days prior to the election, the name of the candidate shall not be considered in the election, and votes cast for any person who has failed to qualify shall not be counted in the election.

(3) If after the time for candidates to file the petition and affidavit provided for in this section there should be only one (1) person to qualify for the office of trustee, then no election or notice of election shall be necessary and such person shall, if otherwise qualified, be declared elected without opposition.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-121 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 65-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-121
Status: in_force

A signed duplicate original copy or a photostatic or other reproduced copy, not a hand or typewritten copy, of the petition or petitions provided for in Section 37-65-119 , shall be sent by registered or certified mail to the state superintendent of public education on the day when one such copy shall have been filed with or delivered to the president or secretary of the board of trustees to which such petitions be directed. Such copy or copies above mentioned may be transmitted to the state superintendent of public education by the person or persons filing or delivering same to said president or secretary of said board of trustees and shall be accompanied by the oath of such person or persons as to such facts and the date or dates on which such action was done. If such is not done the original petition shall have no validity.

All duplicate original signed copies or other copy or copies of said petitions, as hereinabove provided for, shall be preserved for not less than one calendar year from the date of said filing and same shall be public records.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 97-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-1
Status: in_force

(1) Interscholastic or intramural athletic teams or sports that are sponsored by a public primary or secondary school or any school that is a member of the Mississippi High School Activities Association or public institution of higher education or any higher education institution that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA or NJCCA shall be expressly designated as one of the following based on biological sex:

(a) “Males,” “men” or “boys”;

(b) “Females,” “women” or “girls”; or

(c) “Coed” or “mixed.”

(2) Athletic teams or sports designated for “females,” “women” or “girls” shall not be open to students of the male sex.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-127-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 127-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-127-7
Status: in_force

The president of the Mississippi Valley State College shall be held as the professional adviser of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning of all matters pertaining to the inside arrangements of buildings, selection of faculty, and course of study. He shall have the immediate supervision and management of said college in all its departments, subject however, to the general supervision, management, and direction of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-107 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 115-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-107
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning to elect or appoint a dean of this school; to determine and provide for an adequate faculty, staff and other employees; to fix and provide for the compensation of said faculty, staff and employees; to provide an adequate physical plant for this school; to prescribe the courses of study and research compatible with the objects and purposes hereinabove set forth; and to do and accomplish all other related functions consistent with the implementation of Sections 37-115-101 through 37-115-111 .