Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.2 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 37-43-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 43-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-1
Status: in_force

(1) This chapter is intended to furnish a plan for the adoption, purchase, distribution, care and use of free textbooks to be loaned to the pupils in all elementary and high schools, other than charter schools, of Mississippi.

(2) The books herein provided by the State Board of Education, which shall be the State Textbook Procurement Commission, shall be distributed and loaned free of cost to the children of the free public school districts of the state and of all other schools located in the state, which maintain educational standards equivalent to the standards established by the State Department of Education for the state schools as outlined in the Approval Requirements of the State Board of Education for Nonpublic Schools.

(3) Teachers shall permit all pupils in all grades of any public school in any school district to carry to their homes for home study, the free textbooks loaned to them, and any other regular textbooks whether they be free textbooks or not.

(4) For the purposes of this chapter, the term “ board ” shall mean the State Board of Education.

(5) “ Textbook ” shall be defined as any medium or manual of instruction which contains a systematic presentation of the principles of a subject and which constitutes a major instructional vehicle for that subject.

(6) In addition to the authority granted in this chapter, local school boards shall make available to the parents or legal guardians of any children of school age who reside in the school district administered by the school board, upon request, any textbooks on the state surplus inventory list. The parent or legal guardian is responsible for the return of the textbook(s) to the local school district upon completion of the textbook(s) use. Failure to return the textbook(s) to the school district will result in the parents or legal guardians being responsible for compensating the school district for the fair market value of the textbook(s).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 117-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-9
Status: in_force

The superintendent of education of each county, after due notice published, shall examine applicants, not qualified to enter by certificate from an accredited school, upon questions prepared and submitted by the president of the Mississippi State College for Women, and, with the consent of the board of supervisors, shall give certificates of selection to the number of girls to which his county is entitled, in addition to those already in the said college, if any. County superintendents shall make their appointments of students to the said college not later than July 1 of each year.

The certificate of selection shall be attested by the clerk of the board of supervisors, under its seal, and shall entitle the holder to admission into the said college, with all the privileges thereof, to pursue all the industrial branches selected, and to enter the subclass or class for which she is fitted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-53 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 141-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-53
Status: in_force

(1) Applications for financial assistance shall be made to the University Research Center.

(2) Applicants may request up to seventy-five percent (75%) of the total projects cost. The applicant shall provide at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total cost, twelve and one-half percent (12- 1 / 2 %) of which may be in in-kind funding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 181-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-23
Status: repealed

Sections 37-181-1 through 37-181-23, Mississippi Code of 1972 , shall stand repealed on July 1, 2028.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-101 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-101
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to other authority granted by Sections 37-29-1 through 37-29-273 or existing laws, the board of trustees may borrow money in anticipation of taxes, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the previous year's ad valorem tax receipts, for the purpose of paying any expenses authorized by law for the operation, maintenance and support of the college. The loan shall be evidenced by note or notes bearing the signatures of the chairman of the board and of the secretary of the board of trustees, and the seal of the college shall be thereon impressed. The notes shall mature not later than the thirtieth day of June next thereafter, and the notes shall not bear interest in excess of that allowed in Section 75-17-105, Mississippi Code of 1972 .

(2) The board of trustees may borrow funds from the United States federal government or any agency thereof to compensate for the loss of revenue collected or estimated to be collected on behalf of the community or junior college district from local sources during a fiscal year as a result of Hurricane Katrina, may issue its promissory note to the United States federal government or any agency thereof, and may comply with and issue the regulations of the United States federal government or agency thereof regarding the promissory note. However, this section does not authorize any levy of taxes or pledge of collateral for the security of a promissory note not otherwise allowed by law. The State of Mississippi may sign any promissory note as an equal co-obligor on any such note, and in the event the State of Mississippi signs the promissory note as a co-obligor, the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi shall be pledged for the payment of the promissory note.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 59-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-9
Status: in_force

No bonds or negotiable notes issued by any school district in order to comply with the provisions of Section 37-47-15 , shall be included in computing the debt limits established in Sections 37-59-5 , 37-59-7 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-611 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-611
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-611
Status: in_force

(1) The Mississippi Community College Board is hereby authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to pass proper resolutions declaring the necessity of the formation of nonprofit educational building corporations, as set forth in Section 37-29-601 .

(2) When the principal of and the interest on any bonds of an educational building corporation payable from the revenues derived from the operation of facilities owned by the corporation shall have been paid in full, then such facilities shall become the property of the community or junior college on whose campus they are located and title to the facilities shall thereupon immediately vest in the community or junior college on whose campus they are located.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-107 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 57-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-107
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning with the tax levy for the 1997 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, the aggregate receipts from taxes levied for school district purposes pursuant to Sections 37-57-105 and 37-57-1 shall not exceed the aggregate receipts from those sources during any one (1) of the immediately preceding three (3) fiscal years, as determined by the school board, plus an increase not to exceed seven percent (7%). For the purpose of this limitation, the term “ aggregate receipts ” when used in connection with the amount of funds generated in a preceding fiscal year shall not include excess receipts required by law to be deposited into a special account. However, the term “ aggregate receipts ” includes any receipts required by law to be paid to a charter school. The additional revenue from the ad valorem tax on any newly constructed properties or any existing properties added to the tax rolls or any properties previously exempt which were not assessed in the next preceding year may be excluded from the seven percent (7%) increase limitation set forth herein. Taxes levied for payment of principal of and interest on general obligation school bonds issued heretofore or hereafter shall be excluded from the seven percent (7%) increase limitation set forth herein. Any additional millage levied to fund any new program mandated by the Legislature shall be excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy and included within such limitation in any year thereafter. For the purposes of this section, the term “ new program ” shall include, but shall not be limited to, (a) the Early Childhood Education Program, as provided by Section 37-21-7 , and any additional millage levied and the revenue generated therefrom, which is excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy, to support the mandated Early Childhood Education Program shall be specified on the minutes of the school board and of the governing body making such tax levy; (b) any additional millage levied and the revenue generated therefrom, which shall be excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy, for the purpose of generating additional local contribution funds required for the total funding formula as required by Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 ; and (c) any additional millage levied and the revenue generated therefrom which shall be excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy, for the purpose of support and maintenance of any agricultural high school which has been transferred to the control, operation and maintenance of the school board by the board of trustees of the community college district under provisions of Section 37-29-272 .

(2) The seven percent (7%) increase limitation prescribed in this section may be increased an additional amount only when the school board has determined the need for additional revenues and has held an election on the question of raising the limitation prescribed in this section. The limitation may be increased only if three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of those voting in the election shall vote for the proposed increase. The resolution, notice and manner of holding the election shall be as prescribed by law for the holding of elections for the issuance of bonds by the respective school boards. Revenues collected for the fiscal year in excess of the seven percent (7%) increase limitation pursuant to an election shall be included in the tax base for the purpose of determining aggregate receipts for which the seven percent (7%) increase limitation applies for subsequent fiscal years.

(3) Except as otherwise provided for excess revenues generated pursuant to an election, if revenues collected as the result of the taxes levied for the fiscal year pursuant to this section and Section 37-57-1 exceed the increase limitation, then it shall be the mandatory duty of the school board of the school district to deposit such excess receipts over and above the increase limitation into a special account and credit it to the fund for which the levy was made. It will be the further duty of such board to hold the funds and invest the same as authorized by law. Such excess funds shall be calculated in the budgets for the school districts for the purpose for which such levies were made, for the succeeding fiscal year. Taxes imposed for the succeeding year shall be reduced by the amount of excess funds available. Under no circumstances shall such excess funds be expended during the fiscal year in which such excess funds are collected.

(4) For the purposes of determining ad valorem tax receipts for a preceding fiscal year under this section, the term “ fiscal year ” means the fiscal year beginning October 1 and ending September 30.

(5) Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, each school district in which a charter school is located shall pay to the charter school an amount for each student enrolled in the charter school equal to the ad valorem taxes levied per pupil for the support of the school district in which the charter school is located. The pro rata ad valorem taxes to be transferred to the charter school must include all levies for the support of the school district under Sections 37-57-1 (local contribution to the total funding formula as required by Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 ) and 37-57-105 (school district operational levy) but may not include any taxes levied for the retirement of school district bonded indebtedness or short-term notes or any taxes levied for the support of vocational-technical education programs. Payments made pursuant to this subsection by a school district to a charter school must be made before the expiration of three (3) business days after the funds are distributed to the school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-69 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 27-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-69
Status: in_force

Any agricultural high school, supported in whole or in part by tax levies of one or more counties, may borrow not exceeding Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), for the purpose of receiving, transporting, erecting on the ground of said institution, and equipping and furnishing any prefabricated houses, or other materials, or appliances, fixtures, machines, furnishings or equipment, obtained by grant or otherwise from the United States of America or any department or agency thereof, or from any other source, where the same may be acquired for the use of the institution, any student personnel, or faculty members.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-437 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-437
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-437
Status: in_force

After the budget shall have been prepared as is provided for in Section 37-29-415 , the board of trustees of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District shall certify the same in writing to the boards of supervisors of the several counties and shall certify to the said boards of supervisors the number of mills of ad valorem taxation required to make provisions for the revenue required in said budget. It shall thereupon become the duty of the board of supervisors of each of the four counties to levy the taxes in the number of mills specified by the board of trustees. The tax levy for maintenance and operation of the district shall not exceed four mills nor shall the levy for capital outlay, including purchase of lands, construction and equipment of buildings and structures, making of major repairs, and for the retirement of bonds, exceed three mills.

Promptly upon having certified the requirements of the district to the several boards of supervisors the board of trustees of the district shall cause publication of notice to be made in each county in a newspaper published or having general circulation therein giving notice of the filing of the request for the levy aforesaid. Said notice shall be published at least one time and within ten days after the certification of the request for such levy to the boards of supervisors. The said notice shall provide that the said levy requested will be made in each county unless a petition signed by twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the district shall be filed with the secretary of the board of trustees of the said district within thirty (30) days from the date of the first publication protesting against the said levy and demanding an election thereon. In the event of the filing of such a petition, it shall be the duty of the secretary forthwith to call a special meeting of the board of trustees of the district setting forth the fact of the filing of such petition in the notice of the call and the said board shall promptly meet and consider the said petition. If it shall find that the same does in fact protest against the said levies and is in fact signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the said district, it shall then so certify to the boards of supervisors of the several counties. As early as possible but not later than fifteen (15) days after the receipt of such notice, it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of each county to enter an order directing the election commissioners of the county to proceed to hold an election in all of the voting precincts of said county to determine whether or not the levy shall be made as requested by the board of trustees of the district.

The said election shall be held within thirty (30) days from the date of the said order of the board of supervisors requesting that the same be called and notice thereof shall be published once a week for three (3) weeks during the period between the order directing the election commissioners to hold the same and the actual date thereof.

The election shall be held in accordance with the laws governing general elections as nearly as is practicable and the election commissioners of each county shall, promptly after the holding of said election, certify to the secretary of the board of trustees of the district the result thereof in each county, certifying also the number of qualified electors in each county on the date of the holding of said election. The board of trustees of the district shall promptly meet and consider the several certificates of the election commissioners and shall determine the result of said election in the district. If it shall be determined that a majority of the qualified electors of the district have voted against the levy requested, the same shall not be made but the board of supervisors in each county shall continue in effect the levy made for the preceding fiscal year. If it be determined that a majority of the qualified electors has not voted against said levy, it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of each county to make the levy as requested. In any event, the levy for full faith and credit bonds outstanding as obligations of the county before May 10, 1962, for capital outlays and improvements for Perkinston Junior College and/or bonds subsequently issued shall be continued in effect in accordance with the obligations undertaken in the issuance of said bonds. All of such bond levies, however, as are reasonably required to meet the annual maturities and interest on outstanding bonds shall be considered a part of the three mill maximum above provided for capital outlays, buildings, purchase of land and other similar items hereinbefore mentioned.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 63-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-13
Status: reserved

The Authority for Educational Television is empowered and is hereby designated as the proper and official state agency to:

(1) Control and supervise the use of television broadcast and ITFS channels and radio frequencies reserved by the Federal Communications Commission for noncommercial, educational purposes in Mississippi. It is further empowered to authorize the sale or lease of any excess capacity of such ITFS channels for commercial use to provide the funds necessary to implement the purposes of Section 37-63-9(2) . No pornographic material or political advertisements shall be allowed on any ITFS channel or radio frequency;

(2) Initiate or receive for review and approval all applications for educational television and educational radio licenses submitted to the Federal Communications Commission for or on behalf of any public school system, junior college, institution of higher learning, private educational institution, or nonprofit community or municipal educational organization;

(3) Initiate or receive for review and approval all applications for federal, state or private funds which involve the construction of educational television or radio facilities or acquisition of educational television or radio equipment;

(4) Prescribe official state-approved standards for appropriate educational television equipment which may be purchased by any public school, junior college, institution of higher learning, private educational institution, or nonprofit community or municipal educational organization in order to insure a standard of quality and technical compatibility throughout the state;

(5) Provide consultative services in all aspects of educational television and radio to any agency, public or private, within the state;

(6) Serve as a clearinghouse for information on television and radio for educational purposes;

(7) Perform all other things necessary to insure the orderly and coordinated development of educational television and radio in Mississippi; and

(8) Determine and approve all policies governing the programming, administration, control and supervision of Mississippi Educational Television and educational radio. All programs prepared for use in the elementary and secondary schools of this state must be prepared in conjunction with the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Education prior to broadcast on Mississippi Educational Television.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-129 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 65-129
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-129
Status: in_force

In the event any board of trustees shall fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of Sections 37-65-119 through 37-65-127 , a failure to act being equivalent to a refusal, then any ten or more qualified electors who have personally signed said petition may appeal from the action or nonaction of such board of trustees to the chancery court of the county in which all or a major portion of such school district is situated, within twenty days after the date by which said board is required to determine whether such petition or petitions are properly signed by the required percentage of qualified electors necessary to require the opening of any school or schools of the district which have been closed. Such appeal shall not serve as a supersedeas or cause an opening of such school or schools pending the hearing of the appeal unless a court or chancellor in vacation, for good cause shown, orders such school or schools to be opened pending the appeal. The appeal shall be by sworn bill of complaint, filed in such chancery court within said twenty-day period. The secretary of the interested board or boards of trustees shall, within fifteen days after the filing of such bill of complaint, file in such chancery court a certified copy of all orders, petitions and findings by such board of trustees; however, he may, in his discretion, file, instead of making copies thereof, the duplicate original copy of the petitions theretofore filed or delivered, if such has been done, with the president or secretary of said board of trustees. Neither the provisions of this section nor any other provision of this article shall be or constitute any waiver of the immunity from suit of any school district or member of the board of trustees thereof except strictly in accord with the terms of this article.

The hearing on appeal shall be de novo and may be heard in term time or in vacation on such date as the chancellor may set. The court may enter such order as the board of trustees involved should have made or affirm the action of such board of trustees. Said appeal shall be tried in the same manner and by the same rules of pleading, procedure and evidence as other causes in chancery courts of Mississippi. The action of such board of trustees shall be affirmed if there be substantial evidence to support the action taken by it. The said board and any qualified electors of the district, by proper pleading, answer or demurrer as used in the chancery courts of this state, may defend the action or nonaction of the board from which the appeal is taken, and be a party thereto.

Any parties to such appeal may appeal from the decision of the chancellor or chancery court to the supreme court of Mississippi as in appeals in other cases from the chancery courts of this state and such case shall be a preference case and treated as such.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-129 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 33-129
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-129
Status: in_force

(1) Every city, county, nonprofit corporation, state-supported institution, or combination thereof establishing a community rehabilitation program shall appoint a community rehabilitation program board of directors of not less than nine (9) members before becoming eligible for the assistance provided by Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 . When any city or county singly establishes such a community rehabilitation program, the board shall be appointed by the governing authorities of the city or county. When any combination of cities, counties, state-supported institutions, or nonprofit corporations establishes such a community rehabilitation program, the governing authorities of the county, city, or nonprofit corporations and directors of state-supported institutions shall appoint the board. If a nonprofit corporation singly establishes such a community rehabilitation program, the corporation shall appoint the board of directors. Membership on a board shall be representative of the community served and shall include an individual with a disability. One-third ( 1 / 3 ) to one-half ( 1 / 2 ) of the board shall be representative of lay associations for individuals with disabilities, labor, the general public and education, welfare, medical and health professions. Nothing in Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 shall be construed to preclude the appointment of elected or appointed public officials or members of the board of directors of the sponsoring nonprofit corporation to the board, so long as representation described above is preserved.

(2) The term of office of each member of the community rehabilitation program board shall be for four (4) years, measured from the first day of the year of appointment, except as follows: Of the members first appointed, at least three (3) shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, at least three (3) for a term of three (3) years, and at least three (3) for a term of four (4) years. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. Any member of a board may be removed by the appointing authority for neglect of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance in office, after being given written statement of charges and an opportunity to be heard on the charges.

(3) Subject to the provisions of Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 and the rules and regulations of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, each community rehabilitation program board shall:

(a) Review and evaluate the need for a community rehabilitation program provided by Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 and report thereon to the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the administrator of the local program, and, when indicated, the public, together with recommendations for additional services and facilities;

(b) Recruit and promote local financial support for the program from private sources such as united funds, business, industrial and private foundations, voluntary agencies and other lawful sources and promote public support for municipal and county appropriations;

(c) Promote, arrange and implement working agreements with other educational and social service agencies both public and private and any other allied agencies;

(d) Advise the local administrator of the community rehabilitation program on the adoption and implementation of policies to stimulate effective community relations;

(e) Review the annual plan and budget and make recommendations thereon;

(f) When so determined by the authority establishing the program, act as the local administrator of the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-175 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-175
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-175
Status: in_force

(1) Within the limits of the funds available to the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services for such purpose, the Executive Director may grant a paid internship to students pursuing junior or senior undergraduate-level year coursework toward a bachelor's degree in a program that qualifies the individual to qualify to become a rehabilitation specialist or a benefit program specialist within the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. Those applicants deemed qualified shall receive funds that may be used to pay for tuition, books and related fees to pursue their degree. It is the intent of the Legislature that the paid internship program (hereinafter referred to as the “program”) shall be used as an incentive for students to develop job-related skills and to encourage careers as rehabilitation specialists or benefits programs specialists at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(2) In order to be eligible for the program, an applicant must:

(a) Attend any college or school approved and designated by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(b) Have successfully obtained a minimum of fifty-eight (58) semester hours toward a bachelor's degree in an eligible field as determined by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services from a Mississippi institution of higher learning. Applicants must have achieved a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) on these semester hours of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If accepted into the internship program, participants shall maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework counted toward a bachelor's degree in an eligible field as determined by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(c) Work at least a total of three hundred (300) hours each summer at a Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services' (MDRS) offices that is mutually agreed upon between MDRS and the respective intern.

(d) Agree to work as a rehabilitation specialist or a benefit program specialist at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services upon graduation for a period of time equivalent to one (1) year for each semester the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services remits payment for tuition, books and/or related fees towards a bachelors degree in an eligible field as determined by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(3)(a) Before being placed into the program, each applicant shall enter into a contract with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, which shall be deemed a contract with the State of Mississippi, agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the internship shall be granted to him or her. The contract shall include such terms and provisions necessary to carry out the full purpose and intent of this section. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney General of this state, and shall be signed by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and the participant.

(b) Upon entry into the program, participants will become employees of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services during their time in the program and shall be eligible for benefits such as medical insurance paid by the agency for the participant; however, in accordance with Section 25-11-105II.(b), those participants shall not become members of the Public Employees' Retirement System while participating in the program. Participants shall not accrue personal or major medical leave while they are in the program.

(c) The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services shall have the authority to cancel any contract made between it and any program participant upon such cause being deemed sufficient by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(d) The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services is vested with full and complete authority and power to sue in its own name any participant for any damages due the state on any such uncompleted contract, which suit shall be filed and handled by the Attorney General of the state. The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services may contract with a collection agency or banking institution, subject to approval by the Attorney General, for collection of any damages due the state from any participant. The State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and its employees are immune from any suit brought in law or equity for actions taken by the collection agency or banking institution incidental to or arising from their performance under the contract. The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, collection agency and banking institution may negotiate for the payment of a sum that is less than full payment in order to satisfy any damages the participant owes the state, subject to approval by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(4)(a) Any recipient who is accepted into the program by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and who fails to complete undergraduate level coursework toward an approved degree, or withdraws from school at any time before completing his or her education, shall be liable to repay the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services for all monies received during the time the recipient was in the program, at the rate of pay received by the employee while in the program, including benefits paid by the agency for the participant, and monies received for tuition, books and related fees used to pursue their degree with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the date the recipient failed or withdrew from school. The recipient also shall not be liable for repayment for any money earned during the required summer hours. This money shall be considered earned by the recipient at the federal minimum wage rate.

(b) All paid internship compensation received by the recipient while in school shall be considered earned conditioned upon the fulfillment of the terms and obligations of the paid internship contract and this section. However, no recipient of the paid internship shall accrue personal or major medical leave while the recipient is pursuing junior or senior undergraduate-level year coursework toward a bachelor's degree in a program that qualifies the individual to qualify to become a rehabilitation specialist or a benefit program specialist within the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. The recipient shall not be liable for liquidated damages.

(c) If the recipient does not work as a rehabilitation specialist or a benefit program specialist at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services for the period required under subsection (2)(d) of this section, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the remaining portion of the compensation that the recipient was paid while in the program which has not been unconditionally earned, with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the recipient's date of graduation or the date that the recipient last worked at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, whichever is the later date.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-81 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 106-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-81
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “State Representative Bill Kinkade Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope (FAITH) Scholarship Program.”

(2) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed in this subsection, unless context of use clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Approved postsecondary educational institution ” means any public state-supported institution of higher learning, community or junior college, or any not-for-profit private institution of higher learning in the state. The term does not include proprietary colleges or universities.

(b) “ Board ” means the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board established in Section 37-106-9 , which is authorized and empowered to administer the provisions of Title 37, Chapter 106, Mississippi Code of 1972 .

(c) “ Director ” means the individual designated by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning to administer the provisions of the various financial assistance programs by promulgating the necessary rules and regulations for their effective administration.

(d) “ Department ” means the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services.

(e) “ Eligible student ” means:

(i) Any individual who is younger than twenty-five (25) years of age who was placed in the legal custody of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services by a youth court or through other legal means and who was in the legal custody of the department at any time on or after attaining thirteen (13) years of age;

(ii) Any individual who is younger than twenty-five (25) years of age who was placed in a qualified residential child care agency by a parent, legal guardian, court of competent jurisdiction, or other person or entity acting in the best interest of the individual and who did reside in a qualified residential child care agency at any time on or after attaining thirteen (13) years of age; or

(iii) Any individual who is younger than twenty-five (25) years of age who was adopted from the department's legal custody or adopted while residing at a qualified residential child care agency as described in paragraph (f) of this subsection at any time on or after attaining thirteen (13) years of age.

(f) “ Qualified residential child care agency ” means an entity that provides a home for children and was licensed by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services at the time that the scholarship applicant was housed by the agency.

(g) “ Scholarship ” means the State Representative Bill Kinkade Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope (FAITH) Scholarship.

(3) The Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board, with the assistance of the Mississippi Department Child Protection Services shall develop and administer the Kinkade FAITH Scholarship Program for eligible students. Commencing with the 2023-2024 academic year, the board shall approve scholarships to eligible students who meet the general requirements set forth in subsection (8) of this section. Scholarships shall be used to pay up to the cost of attendance at any approved postsecondary educational institution, provided that payments to any not-for-profit private institution of higher learning shall not exceed the average cost of attendance required by all of the public state-supported institutions of higher learning.

(4) Payments up to the cost of attendance are considered program scholarships.

(5) The Kinkade FAITH Scholarship Program shall include a mentor service administered by the department as a support system for scholarship recipients. This service shall include mentors who shall be compensated by the department, as employees or contractors, to help participants adapt to independent living, academics and other college or university activities.

(6)(a) Initial recipients shall be selected from all eligible students based on rules promulgated by the board. In the second and subsequent years of the program, priority consideration shall first be given to renewal applicants.

(b) The board shall develop rules for ensuring that expenses of the scholarship program in a fiscal year do not exceed funding for the program in that fiscal year. For that purpose, and any other provision of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, the board may limit the acceptance of scholarship applications and may limit the award of scholarships.

(7) The program shall pay up to the student's cost of attendance for up to five (5) years, except as otherwise provided in subsection (10) of this section. In no event shall the cost of attendance be paid pursuant to this section for more than seventy-two (72) credit hours at a community college or one hundred forty-four (144) credit hours at a four-year college. The program shall only pay up to cost of attendance for courses leading to an undergraduate credential or degree. Scholarship funds may be disbursed only if sufficient funding for the scholarship program is available.

(8) To participate in the program, a scholarship applicant shall satisfy the following general eligibility requirements:

(a) Be an eligible student as defined in subsection (2)(e) of this section;

(b) Be accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program at an approved postsecondary educational institution; and

(c) Have completed and submitted to the United States Department of Education a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before each year in which he or she receives a scholarship. He or she shall have applied for all federal student financial assistance, including Educational and Training Vouchers.

(9) To receive a renewal scholarship, a student shall satisfy the following continuing eligibility requirements:

(a) Make satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of a degree or certificate as determined by rules promulgated by the board and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA for consecutive or nonconsecutive semesters of enrollment; and

(b) Remain in good standing with the policies established by the approved postsecondary educational institution.

(10) The age limitation under subsection (2)(e) of this section shall be extended by the total number of years during which the student was on active duty status in the United States Armed Forces. The number of months served on active duty status in the United States Armed Forces shall be rounded up to the next higher year to determine the maximum length of eligibility extension allowed.

(11) The scholarship will include any costs associated with room and board during institutional holidays at approved postsecondary educational institutions where such accommodations are available.

(12) Funds can be combined with any other federal, institutional, or private scholarships to meet the student's full cost of attendance. No other gift aid should be reduced or supplanted by the Kinkade FAITH scholarship. However, in no case shall the FAITH scholarship be combined with other gift aid to exceed cost of attendance.

(13) The board shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement and administer this section.

(14) Nothing in this section shall be construed to:

(a) Guarantee acceptance of or entrance into any approved postsecondary educational institution for an eligible student;

(b) Limit the participation of an eligible student in any other program of financial assistance for postsecondary education;

(c) Require any approved postsecondary educational institution to waive costs or fees relating to room and board; or

(d) Restrict any approved postsecondary educational institution, the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board, or the Department of Child Protection Services from accessing other sources of financial assistance, except loans, that may be available to an eligible student.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 37-11-69 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 11-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-69
Status: in_force

(1) Each local school district shall include in its personnel policies, discipline policies and code of student conduct a prohibition against bullying or harassing behavior and adopt procedures for reporting, investigating and addressing such behavior, that:

(a) Prohibit the bullying of a student;

(b) Prohibit retaliation against any person, including a victim, a witness, or another person, who in good faith provides information concerning an incident of bullying;

(c) Establish a procedure for providing notice of an incident of bullying to a parent or guardian of the victim and a parent or guardian of the bully within a reasonable amount of time after the incident;

(d) Establish the actions a student should take to obtain assistance and intervention in response to bullying;

(e) Set out the available counseling options for a student who is a victim of or a witness to bullying or who engages in bullying;

(f) Establish procedures for reporting an incident of bullying, investigating a reported incident of bullying and determining whether the reported incident of bullying occurred;

(g) Prohibit the imposition of a disciplinary measure on a student who, after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, on the basis of that student's use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying; and

(h) Require that discipline for bullying of a student with disabilities comply with applicable requirements under federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 USCS Section 1400 et seq. ).

(2) The policies must recognize the fundamental right of every student to take reasonable actions as may be necessary to defend himself or herself from an attack by another student who has evidenced menacing or threatening behavior through bullying or harassing.

(3) The procedure for reporting bullying established under subsection (1) of this section must be posted on the district's Internet website.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-237 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 153-237
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-237
Status: in_force

The office shall enter into a grant contract agreement with each recipient of a grant under the program that incorporates the following obligations and conditions:

(a) The recipient of a grant shall commit to serving as a paramedic for three (3) continuous years in the State of Mississippi;

(b) If any recipient of a grant under the program does not engage in serving as a paramedic in accordance with the terms of this article, the recipient shall be obligated to repay the grant amounts received, together with interest thereon at the maximum rate allowed by Mississippi law or the federal discount rate plus five percent (5%) per year, whichever is less, the interest to accrue from the date that each payment of funds was received by the recipient;

(c) No interest shall accrue and there shall be no obligation to repay the principal sums accrued during any one (1) period of time that the recipient involuntarily serves on active duty in the United States Armed Forces; and

(d) Repayment of the principal with interest shall be due and payable in full immediately on the occurrence of either of the following events:

(i) Failure to remain in the State of Mississippi for three (3) continuous years for any reason other than temporary personal illness; or

(ii) Failure to serve as a paramedic on a regularly sustained basis as provided in the eligibility requirements of Section 37-153-235 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 26-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-3
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to any other fees or costs now or as may hereafter be provided by law, there is hereby charged in all civil cases in the chancery, circuit, county, justice and municipal courts of this state a court education and training cost in the amount of Two Dollars ($2.00), except in justice court cases where the amount sued for is less than Fifteen Dollars ($15.00). Such cost shall be collected by the clerk or judicial officer from the party bringing the civil action at the time of filing and taxed as costs.

(2) From and after July 1, 2017, the expenses of this agency shall be defrayed by appropriation from the State General Fund and all user charges and fees authorized under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund as authorized by law and as determined by the State Fiscal Officer.

(3) From and after July 1, 2017, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-243 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 101-243
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-243
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section, these words are defined as follows:

(a) “ Commission ” means the Commission on College Accreditation created under Section 37-101-241 ; and

(b) “ Institution ” means and includes institutions of higher learning approved under Section 37-101-241 and proprietary schools and other entities subject to regulation under Section 75-60-1 et seq.

(2) The commission may enter into and administer interstate reciprocity agreements that allow institutions to offer postsecondary distance education. The commission is further authorized to carry out the following duties as related to interstate reciprocity agreements:

(a) Approve or disapprove participation in these agreements by institutions;

(b) Establish fees to be paid by participating institutions to cover the commission's direct and indirect administrative costs incurred by the commission or by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning on the commission's behalf;

(c) Serve as the state point of contact for questions, complaints and other communications;

(d) Enter into agreements with other state agencies regarding state responsibilities; and

(e) Form committees to assist in establishing policies and procedures.

(3) The commission shall not:

(a) Require institutions to participate in interstate reciprocity agreements; or

(b) Prohibit institutions that do not participate in these agreements from offering postsecondary distance education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 104-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-17
Status: in_force

Having determined that the private institution of higher learning reasonably can be expected to produce sufficient revenue over a period of twenty-five (25) years to pay the revenue bonds issued for the financing or refinancing of the educational facility project, as well as the interest on the revenue bonds and a reasonable sum for maintenance, renewal and replacement as aforesaid, the Authority shall have the power and is hereby authorized, at one (1) time or from time to time, to provide by resolution for the issuance of negotiable revenue bonds to provide funds for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or any part of the cost of the educational facility project, but in no event shall the amount of the revenue bonds issued for the financing or refinancing of any educational facility project exceed the estimated cost of the educational facility project. The principal of and the interest on the revenue bonds shall be payable solely from a special fund to be provided for that purpose in the manner hereinafter set forth. The revenue bonds shall bear date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates, not to exceed that rate authorized in Section 75-17-103, Mississippi Code of 1972 , be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times, be redeemable prior to maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by the bond loan agreement and the resolution of the Authority. However, the revenue bonds shall mature in annual installments beginning not more than three (3) years from date thereof and extending not more than twenty-five (25) years from date thereof. The revenue bonds shall be signed by the president of the Authority, or by his facsimile signature, attested by the secretary of the Authority, and the official seal of the Authority shall be affixed thereto. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to the revenue bonds may be executed by the facsimile signature of the president of the Authority. Whenever any revenue bonds shall have been signed by the president of the Authority who was in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be president of the Authority prior to the sale and delivery of the revenue bonds or who may have not been in office on the date the revenue bonds may bear, the signatures of such president of the Authority upon the revenue bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the president of the Authority so officially signing the revenue bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the revenue bonds to the purchaser or had been in office on the date the revenue bonds may bear.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 121-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-7
Status: in_force

The new dining hall, currently under construction on the campus of Alcorn State University, located in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be named the Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr., Dining Facility. Alcorn State University shall prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place within the Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr., Dining Facility, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Dr. Bristow.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 101-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-27
Status: repealed

(1) There is created within the Working Cash-Stabilization Reserve Fund in the State Treasury a trust to be known as the Ayers Endowment Trust, which shall be used as provided in this section. On July 1, 1997, Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00) in the Working Cash-Stabilization Reserve Fund shall be set aside and placed in the Ayers Endowment Trust.

(2) The principal of the Ayers Endowment Trust shall remain inviolate within the Working Cash-Stabilization Reserve Fund, and shall be invested in the same manner as the remainder of the Working Cash-Stabilization Reserve Fund.

(3) The interest and income earned from the investment of the principal of the Ayers Endowment Trust shall be appropriated by the Legislature to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the benefit of Jackson State University, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University, the historically black institutions of higher learning in Mississippi, with one-third ( 1 / 3 ) of the amount of the interest and income earned being allocated for the benefit of each of those universities. The money allotted for each university shall be used for continuing educational enhancement and racial diversity, including recruitment of white students and scholarships for white applicants.

(4) The creation of the Ayers Endowment Trust and the appropriation of the interest and income for the purposes specified in this section shall be to comply with the order of the United States District Court in the case of Ayers v. Fordice, 879 F.Supp. 1419 (N.D. Miss. 1995) , with regard to Jackson State University and Alcorn State University, and to provide Mississippi Valley State University with an equal amount of funding for the same purposes as for the other historically black institutions of higher learning.

(5) If the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi approves and directs the implementation of a settlement agreement in the case of Ayers v. Musgrove (Civil Action No. 4:75CV9-B-D, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi), and if the agreement becomes final and effective according to its terms (including, but not limited to, the exhaustion of all rights of appeal) before the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the Legislature, there shall be created in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the Ayers Settlement Fund. Monies deposited into the Ayers Settlement Fund under Section 27-103-203(2) shall be appropriated by the Legislature to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the purpose of establishing a public endowment for the benefit of Jackson State University, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University in compliance with the settlement agreement.

(6) If the Ayers Settlement Fund is created under subsection (5) of this section, subsection (1) through (4) of this section shall be repealed when the Ayers Endowment Trust reaches Zero Dollars ($0.00) in accordance with Section 27-103-203(3) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-157 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 101-157
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-157
Status: in_force

All oil, gas and mineral leases provided for in Section 37-101-153 , shall be executed by the President of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and attested by the Commissioner of Higher Education, respectively, on behalf of the institution owning or having the use of such lands as the case may be. The corporate seal of the institution owning or having benefit of such land shall be affixed to all leases. In all such cases such leases shall be executed only upon order or resolution of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in the manner hereinbefore set forth.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 41-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-25
Status: in_force

Any superintendent of schools, member of the school board, superintendent, principal or carrier, or bus driver, who shall knowingly make any false report, list or record, or who shall knowingly make use of any false report, list or record concerning the number of school children being transported or entitled to be transported in any county or school district shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days, or by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. In addition, any such person shall be civilly liable for all amounts of public funds which are illegally, unlawfully or wrongfully expended or paid out by virtue of or pursuant to such false report, list or record, and upon conviction or adjudication of civil liability hereunder such person shall forfeit his license to teach for a period of three (3) years, if such person is the holder of such a license. Any suit to recover such funds illegally, unlawfully, or wrongfully expended or paid out may be brought in the name of the State of Mississippi by the Attorney General or the proper district attorney or county attorney. In the event such suit be brought against a person who is under bond, the sureties upon such bond shall likewise be liable for such amount illegally, unlawfully or wrongfully expended or paid out.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-4 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-4
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-4
Status: in_force

It shall be lawful for any teacher or school administrator in any of the schools of the state which are supported, in whole or in part, by the public funds of the state, to permit the voluntary participation by students or others in prayer. Nothing contained in this section shall authorize any teacher or other school authority to prescribe the form or content of any prayer. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to amend or repeal the provisions of Section 37-13-4.1 but shall be considered as supplemental and in addition to the provisions of Section 37-13-4.1 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 139-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-1
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed herein, except when the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) “Board” means the State Board of Education.

(b) “School” means the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 106-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-19
Status: in_force

Each eligible applicant before being granted financial assistance through a forgivable loan program under this chapter shall enter into a contract with the board, which shall be deemed a contract with the State of Mississippi, agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the financial assistance shall be granted to him, which shall include full repayment of all monies granted. Said contract shall include such terms and provisions as shall carry out the full purpose and intent of this chapter; and the form shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney General of this state, and shall be signed by the director and the applicant. All disabilities of minority are removed for purposes of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 139-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-13
Status: in_force

All expenditures shall be authorized by the board. Such expenditures shall be paid therefrom by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the State Fiscal Management Board. Said State Fiscal Management Board shall issue its warrant upon requisition signed by the proper person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 28-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-43
Status: in_force

(1) A charter school may not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, disability, national origin or any other category that would be unlawful if done by a noncharter public school.

(2) A charter school may not engage in any sectarian practices in its educational program, admissions or employment policies or operations.

(3) A charter school may not discriminate against any student on the basis of national origin, minority status or limited proficiency in English. Consistent with federal civil rights laws, charter schools must provide limited English proficient students with appropriate services designed to teach them English and the general curriculum.

(4) A charter school may not charge tuition.

(5) The terms of each charter school must include a transportation plan for students attending the charter school.

(6) Subject to the approval of the authorizer, a charter school may contract with an accredited online course provider for the delivery of virtual courses to students enrolled in the charter school.

(7) Except to the extent authorized under paragraph (c) of Section 37-28-41 , the powers, obligations and responsibilities set forth in the charter contract may not be delegated or assigned by either party.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-193 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 13-193
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-193
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education may make civil rights and human rights education a part of the K-12 curriculum of instruction in Mississippi public schools. The State Department of Education shall work with the Mississippi Civil Rights Education Commission established in Section 37-13-195 in implementing these five (5) guidelines: (a) provide assistance and advice to K-12 schools with respect to the Civil Rights Movement and human rights education and awareness programs; (b) survey and catalog the extent to which civil rights and human rights education exists in state curricula; (c) inventory civil rights memorials, exhibits and resources that could be used in classrooms and other educational programs; (d) compile a list of volunteers who are willing to share their knowledge and experiences concerning the struggle for civil rights; (e) prepare reports for the Governor and the State Legislature on the inclusion of civil rights studies into the educational systems of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-239 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 37-47-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 47-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-61
Status: in_force

For the purpose of providing for the payment of the principal of and interest upon bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter according to the terms thereof, there shall be and there is hereby established in the state treasury a sinking fund for such payment. Said sinking fund shall consist of the premiums and accrued interest paid upon any such bonds so issued and of such other amount as shall be paid into such fund by appropriation or other authorization by the legislature. In cases where the loan or advance to a school district was made from the proceeds of bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter, the state educational finance commission shall annually pay into said sinking fund the amounts of annual grants to which any school district is entitled and which are used for the repayment of the principal of and interest upon a loan or grant made to such school district under the authority of Section 37-47-25 . However, where the loan or advance was made from accumulations in the state public school building fund the amounts of the annual grants to which the school districts are entitled which are used for the repayment of principal of and interest upon such loan or grant shall be paid into the state public school building fund and not into the bond and interest sinking fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-133 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-133
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-133
Status: in_force

All such leases shall contain an option granting the board the right to purchase the leased property upon the expiration of the primary term or upon such earlier date as may be agreed upon. With respect to leased machinery, furniture, fixtures and equipment, the purchase price shall be specified in the lease contract separately and distinctly from that portion of lease payments attributable to interest. With respect to other property, the purchase price, excluding payments attributable to interest, shall not exceed the appraised fair market value of the leased property at the time the college takes possession of the property for occupancy.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-213 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-213
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-213
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall work with its member institutions to identify preservice teacher preparation programs to allow for certification in the computer science field.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 109-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-9
Status: in_force

In addition to the criteria established in Section 37-109-7 , the following program participation criteria must be adhered to:

(a) Future enrollment at the providing institution cannot be a requirement for a student to be eligible for Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program funds;

(b) Community college career and technical education (CTE) courses approved in the manual shall be eligible for funding;

(c) The board shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement and administer this section;

(d) The board shall develop rules for ensuring that expenses of the scholarship program in each fiscal year do not exceed funding for the program in that fiscal year. For that purpose, and any other provision of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, the board may limit the acceptance of scholarship applications and may limit the award amount of scholarships;

(e) If the state appropriation is insufficient to fully fund all students eligible for participation in the program in a given year, those funds shall be prorated to the student's account at the eligible participating institution by an amount to be determined by the board. The student or school district will then be responsible for the remaining balance due for the course taken at the providing institution;

(f) The board may conduct its own annual audits of any institution participating in the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program. The board may suspend or revoke an institution's eligibility to receive future funds under the program if it finds that the institution has not complied with the provisions of the manual and the requirements established in Section 37-109-7(1) ;

(g) The board may conduct its own annual audits of students participating in the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program. The board may suspend or revoke a high school's eligibility to participate in the program if it finds the student or high school has not complied with the provisions of the manual and the requirements established in Section 37-109-7(2) ;

(h) The average community college credit hour tuition amount for the current academic year, as referenced in Section 37-109-7(1)(e) , shall be provided annually by the Mississippi Community College Board to the executive director of the board;

(i) If a public institution chooses not to participate in the program, or if a public institution in the eligible student's region does not have a particular program the eligible student wants to enroll in but the program is available at another public institution, a student shall have the option of enrolling at a program at another participating public institution;

(j) Public school districts or charter schools and institutions participating in the program shall be permitted to enter into agreements under Section 37-15-38 , which allow students to enroll and complete additional dual credit or dual enrollment courses, with the goal of increasing the number of students graduating from high school with an associate level degree or other nationally recognized credential. This chapter is intended to provide funding and structure for a minimum standardized dual enrollment/dual credit program across the state;

(k) To encourage more participation in the program, a final grade of C or above in a three (3) credit hour dual credit course, academic or career and technical, shall be weighted the same as a three (3) or above in an Advanced Placement course final examination in the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System. Only courses included in the approved dual credit course list referenced in the manual shall be weighted in the model; and

(l) There is established in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated the “Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program” into which shall be deposited those funds appropriated by the Legislature, and any other funds that may be made available, for the purpose of implementing the program established under this chapter. Money in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the General Fund, and interest earned on any amounts deposited into the fund shall be credited to the special fund;

(m) The program requires specific appropriation by the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 105-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-7
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized and empowered to prevent or regulate the running at large of animals of all kinds on the campus and the streets of any state institution of higher learning under the supervision of such board, and to cause such animals as may be running at large to be impounded and a charge made against the owner to discharge the cost and expenses of keeping the same. If the owner of any such animal does not pay such cost within the time prescribed by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, such impounded animal may be sold to discharge the cost and expense of impounding and selling the same.

If the owner of any such animal does not pay such cost within the time prescribed by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning and if such impounded animal cannot be sold to discharge the cost and expense of impounding and selling the same, such impounded animal may be sold or donated to research organizations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-25
Status: in_force

The school board shall have the power and authority, in its discretion, to employ the superintendent, unless such superintendent is elected at the November 2015 general election, for not exceeding four (4) scholastic years and the principals or licensed employees for not exceeding three (3) scholastic years. In such case, contracts shall be entered into with such superintendents, principals and licensed employees for the number of years for which they have been employed. However, in the event that a vacancy in the office of the superintendent of schools elected at the November 2015 general election shall occur before January 1, 2019, the local school board shall then appoint the superintendent of the school district and enter into contract with the appointee for a period not to exceed three (3) scholastic years. All such contracts with licensed employees shall for the years after the first year thereof be subject to the contingency that the licensed employee may be released if, during the life of the contract, the net enrollment should decrease from that existing during the previous year and thus necessitate a reduction in the number of licensed employees during any year after the first year of the contract. However, in all such cases the licensed employee must be released before July 1 or at least thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the school term, whichever date should occur earlier. The salary to be paid for the years after the first year of such contract shall be subject to revision, either upward or downward, in the event of an increase or decrease in the funds available for the payment thereof, but, unless such salary is revised prior to the beginning of a school year, it shall remain for such school year at the amount fixed in such contract. However, where school district funds are available during the school year in excess of the amount anticipated at the beginning of the school year, the salary to be paid for such year may be increased to the extent that such additional funds are available, and nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit same.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 103-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-17
Status: in_force

Members of the United States Armed Forces on extended active duty and stationed within the State of Mississippi and members of the Mississippi National Guard may be classified as residents, for the purpose of attendance at state-supported institutions of higher learning and community and/or junior colleges of the State of Mississippi. Resident status of such military personnel who are not legal residents of Mississippi, as defined in Section 37-103-13 , shall terminate upon their reassignment for duty in the continental United States outside the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-53 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 47-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-53
Status: in_force

All bonds and interim certificates issued under the provisions of this chapter and all interest thereon and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation, except gift, transfer, and inheritance taxes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-73 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 115-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-73
Status: in_force

The proceeds of any contribution made by any county under the provisions of Section 37-115-69 , including the proceeds from the sale of any bonds issued for such purposes, shall be paid by the board of supervisors of such county into the state treasury into a special fund to the credit of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, and shall thereafter be utilized and expended by said board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning in the construction, erection and equipping of educational facilities in such county to be utilized by the University of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-185 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 13-185
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-185
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall review the proposed character education programs of the individual school districts to ascertain if the programs comply with the criteria set forth in Section 37-13-181 . Review of the programs shall not exceed a time period of sixty (60) days. If a review extends beyond this time period, the proposal will be deemed in compliance with the law.

If the proposed character education program is rejected, the State Board of Education shall set forth in writing the specific areas of objection. These objections must be based on and limited to the following criteria: the definition of the character traits chosen by the school district for implementation shall reflect and be in keeping with both the spirit and letter of our founding documents; no instruction shall promote or encourage participation in any conduct that would violate existing state or federal law; and no student shall be assessed or evaluated as to whether or not the student evidences a specific character trait in his or her own life.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-148-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 148-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-148-7
Status: in_force

IHL and the Department of Revenue each may promulgate, in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, rules and regulations, application forms and any other forms necessary for the implementation and administration of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 101-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-19
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning is hereby authorized and empowered to establish and maintain a marine research laboratory on lands belonging to the State of Mississippi, said lands being a part of the Magnolia State Park in Jackson County, Mississippi, and to be assigned for the use of such laboratory by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.

The marine research laboratory may, in the discretion of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, be operated by the Mississippi Academy of Science, Inc., under the supervision and control of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning is hereby authorized and empowered to expend annually out of its regular appropriation for the support and maintenance of institutions of higher learning a sum not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for the support and maintenance of the marine research laboratory.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-251 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 9-251
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-251
Status: in_force

(1) The following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Beginning principal ” means a principal who:

(i) Possesses an administrator's license issued by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development;

(ii) Is employed as a principal by a public school district; and

(iii) Has served fewer than ninety (90) consecutive days, or one hundred eighty (180) days total, as a licensed principal in any public school.

(b) “ Formal assistance ” means a program provided by a mentor principal to a beginning principal which includes, but is not limited to: direct administrative observation and consultation; assistance in administrative planning and preparation; support in implementation and delivery of principal administrative responsibilities; and support in the administrative functions of school leadership, student psychology, student health, student drug abuse, human relations, multicultural and multiethnic relations, crisis management and other assistance intended to enhance the professional performance and development of the beginning principal.

(c) “ Mentor principal ” means a principal who:

(i) Possesses a standard administrative license issued by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development;

(ii) At the time of selection, is employed under contract primarily as a principal by a public school district or is retired from a public school district;

(iii) Has successfully served for three (3) or more years as a licensed principal in any public school; and

(iv) Has demonstrated mastery of administrative skills and subject matter knowledge and has been selected and trained as described in this section.

(2) The School Executive Management Institute of the State Department of Education shall establish a Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program to provide eligible beginning principals in this state with continued and sustained support from a formally assigned mentor principal during the first full year of principal service.

(3) The State Board of Education shall select one (1) school district in each of the five (5) Mississippi congressional districts, pursuant to the application process provided for in this section, to participate in the Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program. Two (2) or more districts may operate jointly a Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program if the districts meet all the requirements of this section. School districts may coordinate with institutions of higher learning in the design, implementation and evaluation of mentorship programs. Private educational consortia established for approved principal education programs are eligible to operate a Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program to serve beginning principals in a participating school district.

(4) Each district that wishes to participate in the Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program shall submit a formal application to the School Executive Management Institute according to rules of the institute. Along with an application, districts shall provide the institute with the following information:

(a) The names of all eligible beginning principals employed by the district and a description of their administrative duties;

(b) The names of mentor principals selected by a district and a description of their administrative assignments and endorsements;

(c) A description of the content and calendar of the proposed Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program. The program shall provide a minimum of ninety (90) hours of direct contact between mentor principals and beginning principals, including observation or assistance with administrative duties, or both, during the school day; and

(d) A description of the amount and nature of each eligible beginning principal's administrative duties.

(5) After consulting with representatives of administrators, school boards, schools of education of the institutions of higher learning and such others as it considers appropriate, the School Executive Management Institute shall develop or approve workshops to provide training for mentor principals and beginning principals.

(6) The selection, nature and extent of duties of mentor principals shall be determined by the school district, subject to the following:

(a) No principal shall be designated as a mentor principal unless willing to perform in that role;

(b) Each mentor principal shall complete successfully a training workshop provided or approved by the School Executive Management Institute in the Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program; and

(c) Participating school districts shall be fully authorized to compensate mentor principals, grant release time for mentor principals and employ and compensate substitute administrators for additional duties performed under the Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program which are in addition to regular school day responsibilities.

(7) The School Executive Management Institute shall be responsible for the regular and ongoing evaluation of the Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program and may contract for such evaluation. The institute shall report to the State Board of Education and the Legislature in the 2003 Regular Session on the desirability of extending this assistance program statewide.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-191 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 23-191
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-191
Status: in_force

Sections 37-23-191 through 37-23-203 may be cited as the “Blind Persons' Literacy Rights and Education Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-311 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-311
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-311
Status: in_force

The school board shall organize a school so as to avoid unnecessary duplication and shall determine what grades shall be taught at each school and shall have the power to specify attendance areas and to designate the school each pupil shall attend.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 173-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-19
Status: in_force

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

(2) Annually, by December 15, report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives the Department of Education'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 of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-121 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 155-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-121
Status: in_force

Nothing in this article or in any savings trust agreement entered into pursuant to this article shall be construed as a promise or guarantee by the state or any agency or instrumentality of the state that either qualified higher education expenses in general or any specific qualified higher education expense shall be covered in full by contributions or earnings on any savings trust account. Savings trust accounts and agreements entered into pursuant to this article are not guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 43-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-19
Status: in_force

The board shall have the power and is hereby authorized:

(a) To promulgate rules and regulations for the purchase, care, use, disposal, distribution and accounting for all books to be furnished under the terms of this chapter, and to promulgate such other rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.

(b) To adopt, contract for, and make available for purchase, cash or credit, basal, supplementary or alternative textbooks through twelve (12) grades as provided in the school curriculum, or for any other course that it may add thereto.

(c) To determine the period of contract for rated and adopted textbooks which shall not be for less than four (4) years nor more than five (5) years, with the right of the board, in its discretion, to renew or extend such contract from year to year for a period not exceeding two (2) additional years and to determine the conditions of the approval or forfeiture of a contract and such other terms and conditions as may be necessary and not contrary to law.

(d) To have complete power and authority over additions and amendments to textbooks, advertising for bids and the contents thereof, including auxiliary materials and workbooks, advertising on the protective covers of textbooks, bids and proposals, prices of textbooks, specimen copies, cash deposits, selection and adoption, distribution, fumigation, emergencies, selling to others, return of deposits, forfeiture of deposits, regulations governing deposits, renovation and repair of books, requisition, transportation or shipment of books, and any other acts or regulations, not contrary to law, that may be deemed necessary for furnishing and loaning free textbooks to the school children, as provided in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-14-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 14-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-14-7
Status: in_force

(1) There is established in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Mary Kirkpatrick Haskell-Mary Sprayberry Public School Nurse Program Fund, which shall be comprised of the funds specified in subsection (2) of this section and any other funds that are authorized or required to be deposited into the special fund.

(2) The Legislature shall annually appropriate the funds in the special fund to the Office of Healthy Schools of the State Department of Education, which shall expend the funds solely for the purposes specified in Section 37-14-3 . None of the funds in the special fund may be transferred to any other fund or appropriated or expended for any other purpose.

(3) All income from the investment of the funds in the special fund shall be credited to the account of the special fund. Any funds in the special fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-205 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 151-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-205
Status: in_force

(1) The preliminary weighted enrollment of each school district and charter school under Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 is determined by applying the weights prescribed in this section, none of which are mutually exclusive of another, to each applicable school district or charter school's net enrollment, as determined by Section 37-151-207 . To determine additional funding authorized under this section, the number of students in a school district that are identified as the applicable weight shall be calculated as a percentage of the students in the school district. Such amount shall be referred to as the “percentage of applicable students.”

(2) For students identified as low-income, as defined in Section 37-151-201 , the percentage of applicable students in the school district is multiplied by thirty one-hundredths ( 30 / 100 ), and then multiplied by net enrollment.

(3) For students identified as English Language Learners, as defined in Section 37-151-201 , the percentage of applicable students in the school district is multiplied by fifteen one-hundredths ( 15 / 100 ), and then multiplied by net enrollment.

(4) The following weights are applied to students who are identified as entitled to and receiving services in a special education program:

(a) Tier I: For students diagnosed with a specific learning disability, speech and language impairment, or developmental delay, the percentage of applicable students in the school district is multiplied by sixty one-hundredths ( 60 / 100 ), and then multiplied by net enrollment.

(b) Tier II: For students diagnosed with autism, hearing impairment, emotional disability, orthopedic impairment, intellectual disability, or other health impairment, the percentage of applicable students in the school district is multiplied by one hundred ten one-hundredths (1 10 / 100 ), and then multiplied by net enrollment.

(c) Tier III: For students diagnosed with visual impairment, deaf-blindness, multiple disabilities, or traumatic brain injury, the percentage of applicable students in the school district is multiplied by one hundred thirty one-hundredths (1 30 / 100 ), and then multiplied by net enrollment.

For the purpose of student counts, a student entitled to and receiving special education services may not be included under more than one (1) tier prescribed in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection. A student having multiple diagnoses must be counted under the highest tier applicable to that student.

(5) A weight of five percent (5%) is applied to five percent (5%) of a school district or charter school's net enrollment for the purpose of providing gifted education, regardless of the number of students in a school district or charter school that have been identified as gifted students: the total number of students in net enrollment in a school district or charter school, as determined by Section 37-151-207 , is multiplied by five one-hundredths ( 5 / 100 ), which is again multiplied by five one-hundredths ( 5 / 100 ).

(6) For Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade students enrolled in a career and technical education course, as defined in Section 37-151-201 , the percentage of applicable students in the school district is multiplied by ten one-hundredths ( 10 / 100 ), and then multiplied by net enrollment. Students enrolled in multiple career and technical education courses are counted once.

(7) In each school district or charter school where the number of students identified as low income, as defined in Section 37-151-201 , exceeds thirty-five percent (35%) of the school district or charter school's net enrollment, a weight of ten percent (10%) is applied only to the number of low income students in excess of the number of low income students which constitute thirty-five percent (35%) of net enrollment. The number of students eligible for this weight is calculated by subtracting the number of students equivalent to thirty-five percent (35%) of the net enrollment of that school district or charter school from the total number of students in that school district or charter school identified as low income: if the total percentage of applicable students identified in subsection (2) exceeds thirty-five percent (35%) of the school district or charter school's total net enrollment, as determined in Section 37-151-207 , the difference between the total percentage of applicable students identified in subsection (2) and thirty-five percent (35%) of the school district or charter school's total net enrollment is multiplied by ten one-hundredths ( 10 / 100 ), and then multiplied by net enrollment.

(8) The final weighted enrollment of each school district and charter school under the total funding formula as provided for in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 is determined as follows:

(a) The final weighted enrollment for each school district or charter school that is not classified as a sparsely populated district or charter school, as defined in Section 37-151-201 , is equivalent to the preliminary weighted enrollment of that school district or charter school, as determined in subsections (1) through (7) of this section: the State Department of Education shall add to the school district or charter school's net enrollment, as determined under Section 37-151-207 , each of the additional figures calculated in accordance with subsections (2) through (7), and this total is the final weighted enrollment.

(b) The final weighted enrollment for each sparsely populated district or charter school, as defined in Section 37-151-201 , is determined by multiplying the sparsity weight by the preliminary weighted enrollment, as determined in subsections (1) through (7) of this section, and then adding that figure to the preliminary weighted enrollment. To calculate the final weighted enrollment, the State Department of Education shall add to the school district or charter school's net enrollment, each of the additional figures calculated in accordance with subsections (2) through (7) to determine the preliminary weighted enrollment, multiply this figure by the sparsity weight as determined below, and add this resulting number to the preliminary weighted enrollment to find the final weighted enrollment. To calculate the sparsity weight, the State Department of Education shall find the difference between the number of students per square mile in that district or charter school and a sparsity threshold of eight (8) students per square mile, and then shall divide the resulting figure by one hundred (100) to create a percentage: for example, if the number of students per square mile in a district is three (3), the difference is five (5) (eight (8) minus three (3)), and the sparsity weight is five percent (5%), or five one-hundredths ( 5 / 100 ).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-8 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 63-8
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-8
Status: in_force

The Authority shall have the authority, with the assistance and approval of the State Personnel Board, to implement extern training programs for its employees and contract with private sector businesses for such training. The training programs shall be available, at the discretion of the Authority and the Executive Director, to employees who have served with the agency for one (1) year or more. The salary of the employees may be paid by the Authority while the employee is receiving such training. No training shall be in excess of three (3) months and forty (40) hours per week. Any employee participating in such extern training program shall be required to remain employed with the Authority for a period of one (1) year following completion of the training period. Any person leaving the employment of the Authority prior to the completion of the required one (1) year period shall be liable for the salary and fringe benefits expended for the employee during the training period.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 145-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-19
Status: in_force

The receipt of a loan under this chapter by an eligible borrower is subject to the availability of lending capital and Mississippi Opportunity Loan Fund balances.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-557 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-557
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-557
Status: in_force

The operation and control of the Coahoma Community College District shall be vested in a board of trustees representing the counties lying within the district. The board shall consist of fourteen (14) trustees selected in the manner provided in Section 37-29-65(4), Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 146-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-17
Status: in_force

(1) Upon completion of dental school and/or a dental residency program approved by the commission, a participant in the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program must proceed to enter the full-time practice of dentistry in a rural or underserved area in Mississippi, as defined by the commission and consistent with generally acceptable designations. If an area experiences significant changes in its dental or general community which are not reflected by dental health professional shortage area (HPSA), the commission may receive testimony and, in its discretion, may qualify the area as a dentally underserved or rural area to allow the program participant to fulfill his or her practice obligation.

(2) Upon entering the practice of dentistry, a participant in the program must serve in a dental health professional shortage area (HPSA) or rural area otherwise approved for practice under subsection (1) of this section for a number of years which corresponds to the number of years, not to exceed five (5), for which the participant received funding through the program. Any participant who fails to complete the period of practice for which he or she is obligated to provide services in a dental health professional shortage area (HPSA) or rural area in exchange for financial assistance received through the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program shall be liable for the repayment of all financial assistance provided to the participant through the program, along with other penalties that may be prescribed by the commission, an amount which shall be reduced on a pro rata basis for actual years of practice by the dentist in the area designated by the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 155-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-1
Status: in_force

This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-50.3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 115-50.3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-50.3
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to all powers granted in Section 37-115-50.1 , subject to any required approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the academic medical center and its health care collaboratives (acting individually or collectively) shall be empowered under this section:

(a) To acquire hospitals, health care facilities and other health care-related operations and assets, through direct purchase, merger, consolidation, lease or other means;

(b) To form, establish, fund and operate nonprofit corporations, nonprofit limited liability companies, state-sponsored entities or other similar organizations, either directly or through a nonprofit corporation formed by the academic medical center and its health care collaboratives (acting individually or collectively), which are jointly owned with other public or private hospitals, for-profit or nonprofit corporations, or other health care-related organizations, for the purpose of conducting activities within or outside of the service area the academic medical center or its health care collaboratives for the benefit of the academic medical center and its health care collaboratives including, but not limited to, joint hospital acquisitions, group purchasing, clinically integrated networks, payor contracting, and joint requests for federal and state grants and funding;

(c) To make capital contributions, loans, debt or equity financing to or for any joint venture or similar arrangement in which the academic medical center and its health care collaboratives (acting individually or collectively), or any nonprofit corporation formed or owned by the academic medical center or one of its health care collaboratives, has or acquires an ownership interest, and to guarantee loans and any other obligations for such purposes;

(d) To have an ownership interest in, make capital contributions to, and assume financial risk under, accountable care organizations or similar organizations;

(e) To enter into any contract for a term of any length, regardless of whether the length or term of the contract exceeds the term of the board of trustees of a health care collaborative;

(f) To create, establish, acquire, operate or support subsidiaries and affiliates, either for-profit or nonprofit, to assist the academic medical center and its health care collaboratives (acting individually or collectively) in fulfilling its purposes;

(g) To create, establish or support nonaffiliated for-profit or nonprofit corporations or other lawful business organizations that operate and have as their purposes the furtherance of the purposes of the academic medical center and its health care collaboratives (acting individually or collectively);

(h) Without limiting the generality of any provisions of this section, to accomplish and facilitate the creation, establishment, acquisition, operation or support of any such subsidiary, affiliate, nonaffiliated corporation or other lawful business organization, by means of loans of funds, acquisition or transfer of assets, leases of real or personal property, gifts and grants of funds or guarantees of indebtedness of such subsidiaries, affiliates and nonaffiliated corporations; and

(i) Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (where applicable), to exercise all powers granted under this section in such a manner as the academic medical center and its health care collaboratives (acting individually or collectively) may determine to be consistent with the purposes of Sections 37-115-50 through 37-115-50.3 , including the state action immunity provided by Section 37-115-50.2 from state and federal antitrust laws to the fullest extent possible, notwithstanding that as a consequence of such exercise of such powers it engages in activities that may be deemed “ anticompetitive ” or which displace competition within the meaning or contemplation of the antitrust laws of this state or of the United States.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-149-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 149-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-149-1
Status: in_force

(1) There is established within the State Department of Education, the Mississippi Teacher Center for the purpose of insuring that the children of our state are taught by quality professionals. The center shall serve as an interagency center focused on teacher recruitment, enhanced training and initial instructional support.

(2) The center shall have a staff which shall consist of one (1) director, one (1) administrative assistant and professional teacher recruiters. A steering committee shall be established which shall consist of one (1) member from each of the following: the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Community College Board, the State Board of Education, the Board of the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges, the Board of the Mississippi Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, trustees of the local school boards, teachers and the private sector. The members of the steering committee shall be appointed by the State Superintendent with the approval of the board. The steering committee shall direct the work and establish policies for the purpose of operating the center.

(3) The center shall provide leadership for the following initiatives:

(a) The initiation and monitoring of high school programs for teacher recruitment;

(b) The initiation and monitoring of college level programs for teacher recruitment;

(c) The establishment of a Beginning Teacher/Mentoring program, as authorized in Sections 37-9-201 through 37-9-213 ;

(d) The sponsorship of a teacher renewal institute;

(e) The continuation of the Teacher Corps program;

(f) The enhancement of the William Winter Scholarship program;

(g) Research for the development of professional teaching standards;

(h) Provide additional scholarships for any targeted populations needing potential teachers; and

(i) Provide assistance to local school districts in identifying and locating specific teacher needs.

(4)(a) The Legislature recognizes that a highly qualified teacher in every public classroom in this state is fundamental to a quality education. The Legislature also recognizes that Mississippi has a serious shortage of qualified teachers to serve in the public schools of this state and that it has a responsibility to enact public policy in an effort to remedy that shortage of qualified teachers.

(b) There is hereby established a Mississippi “Troops to Teachers” pilot program in the State Department of Education to assist in the recruitment, licensure, referral, placement and compensation of military personnel interested in beginning a second career in public education as a teacher. The Teacher Center in the State Department of Education shall collaborate with the national “Troops to Teachers” program to establish the criteria and procedures for allocation of funds provided by the federal government to administer the pilot program to ensure the most effective placement of such teachers around the state taking into consideration the degree of teacher shortage in each school district.

(c) The Legislature shall appropriate funds necessary for the support of this pilot program which will not supplant federal funds provided for that purpose. The Office of the Governor shall transfer any federal funds provided for the Mississippi “Troops to Teachers” program to the State Department of Education for the administration of this program.

(d) The Department of Education shall report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2009, on the status of the implementation of the Mississippi “Troops to Teachers” program and the need for its continuation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-93 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 41-93
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-93
Status: in_force

All notes or bonds issued under the authority of Section 37-41-89 shall mature in approximately equal annual installments over a period of not exceeding six (6) years from the date of the issuance of such notes or bonds. Such notes or bonds may bear interest at a rate not exceeding that allowed in Section 75-17-105 , and such interest may be payable annually or semiannually.

In the event the funds borrowed under the authority of Section 37-41-89 are to be expended for the purchase of used transportation equipment, then all notes or bonds evidencing such loans shall be made to mature within two (2) years from the date of the issuance of such notes or bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 105-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-9
Status: in_force

Any act which, if committed within the limits of a city, town or village, or in any public place, would be a violation of the general laws of this state, shall be criminal and punishable if done on the campus, grounds or roads of any of the state institutions of higher learning. The peace officers duly appointed by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning are vested with the powers and subjected to the duties of a constable for the purpose of preventing and punishing all violations of law on university or college grounds, and for preserving order and decorum thereon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 28-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-25
Status: in_force

If a student previously enrolled in a charter school enrolls in another public school in this state, the student's new school must accept credits earned by the student in courses or instructional programs at the charter school in a uniform and consistent manner and according to the same criteria that are used to accept academic credits from other public schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-117 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 29-117
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-117
Status: in_force

The holder of any bond or any interest coupon issued under the provisions of Sections 37-29-107 through 37-29-115 may, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceedings at law or in equity, enforce and compel performance by the appropriate official or officials of the said boards of trustees of any or all acts and duties to be performed by such boards or such officials under the provisions of said sections and under the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bond or interest coupon. If there be any default in the payment of the interest on and principal of any of such bonds, any court having jurisdiction in the proper action may, upon petition of the holder of any such bonds, appoint a receiver to administer and operate the facilities, the revenues of which were pledged to the payment of such bonds, with power to fix and collect fees, rentals and other charges sufficient to provide for the payment of all bonds outstanding, to the payment of which the revenues of such facilities were pledged and to pay the expenses of operating and maintaining such facilities and to apply the revenues thereof in conformity with the provisions of said sections and of the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 113-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-27
Status: in_force

In order to provide for a more comprehensive method of improvement, promotion and development of agricultural research at the Delta Branch Experiment Station, the tax collector of each county of the State of Mississippi located in whole or in part in a levee district, shall deduct annually from all state ad valorem taxes collected by him a sum equal to the avails of a levy of one mill on the dollar of the assessed valuation of taxable property within such county upon which state ad valorem taxes are levied and collected, provided that such county in its discretion levies the one-fourth mill provided for in the third paragraph of this section. Said tax collector is hereby authorized and directed to pay same to Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science.

Any funds so paid to said university shall be used for agricultural research at the Delta Branch Experiment Station, with primary attention being given to a cotton research program and for providing needed laboratories and other facilities and equipment for agricultural research.

The board of supervisors of any county coming within the provisions of this section shall be authorized to levy, at the time and in the manner other county tax levies are made, and such levy shall be made as a condition precedent to the operation of this section in such county, an ad valorem tax of one-fourth mill against all of the taxable property of such county. Said ad valorem tax levy shall be collected as other taxes are collected, and shall be paid into a special fund of such county and shall be paid over to the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science and shall be used at the Delta Branch Experiment Station for agricultural research, with primary attention being given to a cotton research program and for providing laboratories and other facilities and equipment for agricultural research. Such tax levy shall be in addition to all other levies now authorized by law, and no limitation or inhibition now in the statute against the levying of such a tax shall be effective against such levy. Such one-fourth mill ad valorem levies shall not be reimbursed under the Mississippi homestead exemption laws.

In the event similar diversions are already made from the avails of the state ad valorem tax levy in such a county, then this section shall be considered as supplemental thereto, and such laws authorizing such diversions shall not apply to the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-241 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-241
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-241
Status: in_force

All boards of trustees of public junior college districts shall prohibit fraternities, sororities, or secret societies in all junior colleges under their respective jurisdiction. It shall be the duty of said boards of trustees to suspend or expel from said junior colleges under their control, any pupil or pupils who shall be or remain a member of, or shall join or promise to join, or who shall become pledged to become a member, or who shall solicit or encourage any other person to join, promise to join, or be pledged to become a member of, any such public junior college fraternity, sorority or secret society, as defined in Section 37-29-235 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-135-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 135-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-135-11
Status: in_force

The Compact for Education is hereby entered into and enacted into law with all jurisdictions legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows:

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE AND POLICY

A. It is the purpose of this compact to:

1. Establish and maintain close cooperation and understanding among executive, legislative, professional educational and lay leadership on a nationwide basis at the state and local levels.

2. Provide a forum for the discussion, development, crystallization and recommendation of public policy alternatives in the field of education.

3. Provide a clearinghouse of information on matters relating to education problems and how they are being met in different places throughout the nation, so that the executive and legislative branches of state government and of local communities may have ready access to the experience and record of the entire country, and so that both lay and professional groups in the field of education may have additional avenues for the sharing of experience and the interchange of ideas in the formation of public policy in education.

4. Facilitate the improvement of state and local education systems so that all of them will be able to meet adequate and desirable goals in a society that requires continuous qualitative and quantitative advance in educational opportunities, methods and facilities.

B. It is the policy of this compact to encourage and promote local and state initiative in the development, maintenance, improvement and administration of education systems and institutions in a manner that will accord with the needs and advantages of diversity among localities and states.

C. The party states recognize that each of them has an interest in the quality and quantity of education furnished in each of the other states, as well as in the excellence of its own education systems and institutions, because of the highly mobile character of individuals within the nation, and because the products and services contributing to the health, welfare and economic advancement of each state are supplied in significant part by persons educated in other states.

ARTICLE II

STATE DEFINED

As used in this compact, “ state ” means a state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

ARTICLE III

THE COMMISSION

A. The Education Commission of the States, hereinafter called “the commission,” is hereby established. The commission shall consist of seven (7) members representing each party state. One (1) of such members shall be the Governor of Mississippi; One (1) shall be the Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of Mississippi, or his designee; one (1) shall be the State Superintendent of Public Education, or his designee; and four (4) shall be members of the Mississippi State Legislature, consisting of the Chairman of the Education Committee of the Senate, and the Chairman of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee of the Senate and the Chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee of the House of Representatives. In addition to any other principles or requirements which a state may establish for the appointment and service of its members of the commission, the guiding principle for the composition of the membership on the commission from each party state shall be that the members representing such state shall, by virtue of their training, experience, knowledge or affiliations, be in a position collectively to reflect broadly the interests of the state government, higher education, the state education system, local education, lay and professional, public and nonpublic educational leadership. Of those appointees, one (1) shall be the head of a state agency or institution, designated by the Governor, having responsibility for one or more programs of public education. In addition to the members of the commission representing the party states, there may be not to exceed ten (10) nonvoting commissioners selected by the steering committee for terms of one (1) year. Such commissioners shall represent leading national organizations of professional educators or persons concerned with educational administration.

B. The members of the commission shall be entitled to one (1) vote each on the commission. No action of the commission shall be binding unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of the total number of votes on the commission are cast in favor thereof. Action of the commission shall be only at a meeting at which a majority of the commissioners are present. The commission shall meet at least once a year. In its bylaws, and subject to such directions and limitations as may be contained therein, the commission may delegate the exercise of any of its powers to the steering committee or the executive director, except for the power to approve budgets or requests for appropriations, the power to make policy recommendations pursuant to Article IV and adoption of the annual report pursuant to Article III(J).

C. The commission shall have a seal.

D. The commission shall elect annually, from among its members, a chairman, who shall be a governor; a vice chairman; and a treasurer. The commission shall provide for the appointment of an executive director. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, and together with the treasurer and such other personnel as the commission may deem appropriate shall be bonded in such amount as the commission shall determine. The executive director shall be secretary.

E. Irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit system laws of any of the party states, the executive director, subject to the approval of the steering committee, shall appoint, remove or discharge such personnel as may be necessary for the performance of the functions of the commission, and shall fix the duties and compensation of such personnel. The commission in its bylaws shall provide for the personnel policies and programs of the commission.

F. The commission may borrow, accept or contract for the services of personnel from any party jurisdiction, the United States or any subdivision or agency of the aforementioned governments, or from any agency of two (2) or more of the party jurisdictions or their subdivisions.

G. The commission may accept for any of its purposes and functions under this compact any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, conditional or otherwise, from any state, the United States or any other governmental agency, or from any person, firm, association, foundation or corporation, and may receive, utilize and dispose of the same. Any donation or grant accepted by the commission pursuant to this paragraph or services borrowed pursuant to paragraph F of this article shall be reported in the annual report of the commission. Such report shall include the nature, amount and conditions, if any, of the donation, grant or services borrowed, and the identity of the donor or lender.

H. The commission may establish and maintain such facilities as may be necessary for the transacting of its business. The commission may acquire, hold and convey real and personal property and any interest therein.

I. The commission shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business and shall have the power to amend and rescind these bylaws. The commission shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the party states.

J. The commission annually shall make to the governor and legislature of each party state a report covering the activities of the commission for the preceding year. The commission may make such additional reports as it may deem desirable.

ARTICLE IV

POWERS

In addition to authority conferred on the commission by other provisions of the compact, the commission shall have authority to:

A. Collect, correlate, analyze and interpret information and data concerning educational needs and resources.

B. Encourage and foster research in all aspects of education, but with special reference to the desirable scope of instruction, organization, administration and instructional methods and standards employed or suitable for employment in public education systems.

C. Develop proposals for adequate financing of education as a whole and at each of its many levels.

D. Conduct or participate in research of the types referred to in this Article in any instance where the commission finds that such research is necessary for the advancement of the purposes and policies of this compact, using fully the resources of national associations, regional compact organizations for higher education, and other agencies and institutions, both public and private.

E. Formulate suggested policies and plans for the improvement of public education as a whole, or for any segment thereof, and make recommendations with respect thereto available to the appropriate governmental units, agencies and public officials.

F. Do such other things as may be necessary or incidental to the administration of any of its authority or functions pursuant to this compact.

ARTICLE V

COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

A. If the laws of the United States specifically so provide, or if administrative provision is made therefore within the federal government, the United States may be represented on the commission by no more than ten (10) representatives. Any such representative or representatives of the United States shall be appointed and serve in such manner as may be provided by or pursuant to federal law, and may be drawn from any one or more branches of the federal government, but no such representative shall have a vote on the commission.

B. The commission may provide information and make recommendations to any executive or legislative agency or officer of the federal government concerning the common education policies of the states, and may advise with any such agencies or officers concerning any matter of mutual interest.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

A. To assist in the expeditious conduct of its business when the full commission is not meeting, the commission shall elect a steering committee of thirty-two (32) members which, subject to the provisions of this compact and consistent with the policies of the commission, shall be constituted and function as provided in the bylaws of the commission. One-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) of the voting membership of the steering committee shall consist of governors, one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) shall consist of legislators, and the remainder shall consist of other members of the commission. A federal representative on the commission may serve with the steering committee, but without vote. The voting members of the steering committee shall serve for terms of two (2) years, except that members elected to the first steering committee of the commission shall be elected as follows: sixteen (16) for one (1) year and sixteen (16) for two (2) years. The chairman, vice chairman and treasurer of the commission shall be members of the steering committee and, anything in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, shall serve during their continuance in these offices. Vacancies in the steering committee shall not affect its authority to act, but the commission at its next regularly ensuing meeting following the occurrence of any vacancy shall fill it for the unexpired term. No person shall serve more than two (2) terms as a member of the steering committee, provided that service for a partial term of one (1) year or less shall not be counted toward the two-term limitation.

B. The commission may establish advisory and technical committees composed of state, local and federal officials, and private persons to advise it with respect to any one (1) or more of its functions. Any advisory or technical committee may, on request of the states concerned, be established to consider any matter of special concern to two (2) or more of the party states.

C. The commission may establish such additional committees as its bylaws may provide.

ARTICLE VII

FINANCE

A. The commission shall advise the governor or designated officer or officers of each party state of its budget and estimated expenditures for such period as may be required by the laws of that party state. Each of the commission's budgets of estimated expenditures shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or amounts to be appropriated by each of the party states.

B. The total amount of appropriation requests under any budget shall be apportioned among the party states. In making such apportionment, the commission shall devise and employ a formula which takes equitable account of the populations and per-capita income levels of the party states.

C. The commission shall not pledge the credit of any party states. The commission may meet any of its obligations, in whole or in part, with funds available to it pursuant to Article III(G) of this compact, provided that the commission takes specific action setting aside such funds prior to incurring an obligation to be met, in whole or in part, in such manner. Except where the commission makes funds available to it pursuant to Article III(G) thereof, the commission shall not incur any obligation prior to the allotment of funds by the party states adequate to meet the same.

D. The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established by its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the commission shall be audited yearly by a qualified public accountant, and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual reports of the commission.

E. The accounts of the commission shall be open at any reasonable time for inspection by duly constituted officers of the party states and by any persons authorized by the commission.

F. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent commission compliance with laws relating to audit or inspection of accounts by or on behalf of any government contributing to the support of the commission.

ARTICLE VIII

ELIGIBLE PARTIES; ENTRY INTO AND WITHDRAWAL

A. This compact shall have as eligible parties all states, territories and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In respect of any such jurisdiction not having a governor, the term “ governor ,” as used in this compact, shall mean the closest equivalent official of such jurisdiction.

B. Any state or other eligible jurisdiction may enter into this compact, and it shall become binding thereon when it has adopted the same, provided that in order to enter into initial effect, adoption by at least ten (10) eligible party jurisdictions shall be required.

C. Adoption of the compact may be either by enactment thereof or by adherence thereto by the governor. During any period when a state is participating in this compact through gubernatorial action, the governor shall appoint those persons who, in addition to himself, shall serve as the members of the commission from his state, and shall provide to the commission an equitable share of the financial support of the commission from any source available to him.

D. Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one (1) year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of the withdrawal to the governors of all other party states. No withdrawal shall affect any liability already incurred by or chargeable to a party state prior to the time of such withdrawal.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPACT

This compact may be amended by a vote of two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) of the members of the commission present and voting when ratified by the legislatures of two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) of the party states.

ARTICLE X

CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY

This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any state or of the United States, or the application thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / 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. § 37-121-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 121-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-19
Status: in_force

The lands and property of Alcorn State University shall not be subject to state, county or municipal taxation. The buildings and improvements that are or may be erected on any land belonging to the university that has been or may be leased to private entities for the purpose of affording affordable board to the students attending the institution shall not be subject to taxation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 59-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-33
Status: in_force

Whenever a balance shall remain of the proceeds of any bond issue after the purpose for which such bonds were issued shall have been accomplished, such balance shall forthwith be transferred to the bond and interest fund applicable to such bond issue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-9
Status: in_force

The state board of education is hereby authorized to appoint a curriculum committee, composed of professional and lay members, not to exceed seven in number, to make a continuous study of the curriculum of the public schools and to make recommendations to the state board of education from time to time as to changes which should be made in the curriculum in the grammar school grades and in the high school grades. The members of such committee as of July 1, 1954, shall continue to serve until the expiration of the terms for which they were appointed; thereafter the members of such committee shall be appointed and serve for a term of two years and until their successors are appointed. Each member of said committee shall receive a per diem of Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) for each day actually spent attending the meetings of the committee and, in addition, each member shall be reimbursed for actual travel expenses at the rate of six cents ($.06) per mile for each mile traveled in attending the meetings of the committee. However, the total amount paid to any member of the committee for per diem shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) in any one year. The per diem and travel expenses provided for herein shall be paid out of such appropriation as may be made for such purpose by the legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-211 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 13-211
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-211
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to appropriations made by the Legislature, the State Department of Education shall provide annual training for teachers, counselors, administrators and paraprofessionals in order to phase in the K-12 computer science curriculum. Preference should be given to districts who have the fewest number of teachers and paraprofessionals trained in computer science. The State Department of Education shall work with the Center for Cyber Education at Mississippi State University to develop and coordinate the training. The State Department of Education may contract with private and nonprofit providers for educator training and for student instruction, and is encouraged to utilize available cost-free computer training, instruction and resources. Teachers and paraprofessionals may receive computer science instruction training through an online platform.

(2) The State Department of Education shall provide a report by January 1, 2022, to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and the Chairman of the House Education Committee. The report shall include a strategic plan for statewide computer science education initiatives including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) A summary of the current state landscape for K-12 computer science education;

(ii) A plan for expanding computer science education opportunities to every school in the state by the 2024-2025 school year;

(iii) A plan for the development of preservice and in-service teachers seeking a computer science endorsement or course specific license, in order to meet the timeline for course requirements;

(iv) The development of a vetted list of approved vendors in computer science education that are recognized as high quality computer science courses or instruction, which should weigh preference on cost and ease of implementation; and

(v) The identification of approved computer science courses that may fulfill at least four (4) units of academic credit for high school graduation. The State Department of Education shall work with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board to approve these courses once identified.

(3) The State Department of Education shall submit a report by December 31 of each year through 2025 to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and the Chairman of the House Education Committee. The report shall include a list of schools in each district teaching computer science and the number of computer science teachers trained in each district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-97 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 151-97
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-97
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education shall develop an annual reporting process to inform the Legislature, local district personnel and the general public as to the ongoing and future plans for the state's educational programs. The annual reporting process will include those vital statistics that are commonly reported by schools and districts and that can provide clear demographic, strategic and educational information to constituencies such as, but not limited to, the following information:

(a) Student enrollment and attendance reported in the aggregate and specifically for each student population that is subject to weighting under Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , and drop-out and graduation data;

(b) Overall student and district achievement;

(c) Budget, administrative costs and other pertinent fiscal information, including:

(i) The receipts and disbursements of all school funds handled by the board;

(ii) Reports of expenditures for public schools, which, upon request must be made available on an individual district basis by the State Department of Education;

1. Total Student Expenditures:

a. Instruction (1000s);

b. Other Student Instructional Expenditures (2100s, 2200s);

2. General Administration (2300s and 2500s);

3. School Administration (2400s);

4. Other Expenditures (2600s, 2700s, 2800s, 3100s, 3200s); and

5. Nonoperational Expenditures (4000s, 5000s, 6000s);

(iii) The number of school districts, school teachers employed, school administrators employed, pupils taught and the attendance record of pupils therein;

(iv) County and district levies for each school district and agricultural high school;

(v) The condition of vocational education, a list of schools to which federal and state aid has been given, and a detailed statement of the expenditures of federal funds and the state funds that may be provided, and the ranking of subjects taught as compared with the state's needs.

(d) Other as directed by the State Board of Education.

Further, the reporting process will include an annual report developed specifically to relate the mission and goals of the State Board of Education, state superintendent and departments. This document will become the method through which the strategic planning and management process of the department is articulated to the public. It will explain and inform the public of the major initiatives of the department and clearly identify rationale for program development and/or elimination. The report will establish benchmarks, future plans and discuss the effectiveness of educational programs.

In addition to the information specified herein, the State Board of Education shall have full and plenary authority and power to require the furnishing of such further, additional and supplementary information as it may deem necessary for the purpose of determining the cost of the total funding formula in such school district for the succeeding fiscal year, the amount of the total funding formula funds to be allotted to each school district for the succeeding fiscal year, and for any other purpose authorized by law or deemed necessary by said State Board of Education.

It shall be the duty of the State Department of Education to prescribe the forms for the reports provided for in this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 177-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-11
Status: in_force

(1) A Third-Grade student who does not meet the academic requirements for promotion to the Fourth Grade may be promoted by the school district only for good cause. Good cause exemptions for promotion are limited to the following students:

(a) Limited English proficient students who have had less than two (2) years of instruction in an English Language Learner program;

(b) Students with disabilities whose individual education plan (IEP) indicates that participation in the statewide accountability assessment program is not appropriate, as authorized under state law;

(c) Students with a disability who participate in the state annual accountability assessment and who have an IEP or a Section 504 plan that reflects that the individual student has received intensive remediation in reading for more than two (2) years but still demonstrates a deficiency in reading or previously was retained in Kindergarten or First, Second or Third Grade;

(d) Students who demonstrate an acceptable level of reading proficiency on an alternative standardized assessment approved by the State Board of Education; and

(e) Students who have received intensive intervention in reading for two (2) or more years but still demonstrate a deficiency in reading and who previously were retained in Kindergarten or First, Second or Third Grade for a total of two (2) years and have not met exceptional education criteria. A student who is promoted to Fourth Grade with a good cause exemption shall be provided an individual reading plan as described in Section 37-177-1(2) , which outlines intensive reading instruction and intervention informed by specialized diagnostic information and delivered through specific reading strategies to meet the needs of each student so promoted. The school district shall assist schools and teachers in implementing reading strategies that research has shown to be successful in improving reading among students with persistent reading difficulties.

(2) A request for good cause exemptions for a Third-Grade student from the academic requirements established for promotion to Fourth Grade must be made consistent with the following:

(a) Documentation must be submitted from the student's teacher to the school principal which indicates that the promotion of the student is appropriate and is based upon the student's record. The documentation must consist of the good cause exemption being requested and must clearly prove that the student is covered by one (1) of the good cause exemptions listed in subsection (1)(a) through (e) of this section.

(b) The principal shall review and discuss the recommendations with the teacher and parents and make a determination as to whether or not the student should be promoted based on requirements set forth in this chapter. If the principal determines that the student should be promoted, based on the documentation provided, the principal must make the recommendation in writing to the school district superintendent, who, in writing, may accept or reject the principal's recommendation. The parents of any student promoted may choose that the student be retained for one (1) year, even if the principal and district superintendent determines otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 51-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-5
Status: in_force

There shall be, and there is hereby, created in the state treasury, a special fund to be known as the “state educational loan fund.” The said fund shall consist of such amounts as may be paid into said fund by appropriation and also such amounts as may be returned to said fund as repayments, both principal and interest, from loans provided for in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 41-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-15
Status: in_force

The school boards are hereby authorized to make necessary alterations in transportation routes, or to establish supplementary transportation routes in order to meet emergencies which may arise during the school year, such as the destruction of a school building by fire or other causes, an unanticipated increase in the number of school children in the school district during the school year, or any other emergency. Such emergency transportation shall be continued only so long as is necessary by reason of the emergency conditions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-37-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 37-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-37-7
Status: in_force

(1) In making audits under the provisions of this chapter, the examiners may call the attendance rolls at the schools, make field investigations and surveys, make checks of the number of students being transported upon publicly or privately owned buses, and make other and further examinations and investigations as may be necessary to determine whether or not the students reported are actually enrolled in and attending the public schools or are actually being transported or entitled to transportation to such public schools.

(2) In addition to the powers and duties of examiners in subsection (1), the State Auditor may establish policies and procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of student data used to determine state funding for local school districts, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) On-site audits;

(b) An auditing process that ensures the timeliness and accuracy of reports generated by school districts of this state regarding all student transactions;

(c) An auditing process that provides for the timeliness, process and accuracy of the electronic transmission of all student data to the Mississippi Department of Education, including, but not limited to, student enrollment, attendance, transportation, absenteeism, graduation and dropouts and other student data and administrative functions as deemed necessary;

(d) An audit of the accuracy and validity of all student transactions using the Mississippi Student Information System; and

(e) An audit process that ensures the timeliness and accuracy of reports, other than student data, required for submission in accordance with state law and/or State Board of Education policies.

Reviews and audits shall be conducted with advance notice, except that unannounced audits may be made upon the determination of the State Auditor when they are necessary due to complaints or valid concerns. Examiners shall make every effort to work with school districts in scheduling audits in consideration of instructional activities such as statewide student testing days. The Department of Education and the school district shall cooperate fully with examiners in providing any related information requested in order to properly conduct the review or audit.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-235 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-235
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-235
Status: in_force

A public junior college fraternity, sorority or secret society, as contemplated by Sections 37-29-235 through 37-29-243 is hereby defined to be any organization composed wholly, or in part, of public junior college pupils, which seeks to perpetuate itself by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in such junior college on the basis of the decision of the membership of such fraternity, sorority or secret society, rather than upon the free choice of any pupil in the junior college. However, this does not apply to the Order of DeMolay or a similar organization sponsored by any branch of the Masonic Orders or like adult fraternal organization.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-87 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 151-87
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-87
Status: in_force

No school district shall pay any teacher less than the state minimum salary. However, school districts are authorized to reduce the state minimum salary by a pro rata daily amount in order to comply with the school district employee furlough provisions of Section 37-7-308 . From and after July 1, 2012, no school district shall receive any funds under the provisions of this chapter for any school year during which the aggregate amount of local supplement is reduced below such amount for the previous year. However, (a) where there has been a reduction in total funding formula allocations for such district in such year, (b) where there has been a reduction in the amount of federal funds to such district below the previous year, or (c) where there has been a reduction in ad valorem taxes to such school district for the 1986-1987 school year below the amount for the previous year due to the exemption of nuclear generating plants from ad valorem taxation pursuant to Section 27-35-309 , the aggregate amount of local supplement in such district may be reduced in the discretion of the local school board without loss of funds under this chapter. No school district may receive any funds under the provisions of this chapter for any school year if the aggregate amount of support from ad valorem taxation shall be reduced during such school year below such amount for the previous year; however, where there is a loss in total funding formula allocations, or where there is or heretofore has been a decrease in the total assessed value of taxable property within a school district, the aggregate amount of such support may be reduced proportionately. Nothing herein contained shall prohibit any school district from adopting or continuing a program or plan whereby teachers are paid varying salaries according to the teaching ability, classroom performance and other similar standards.

For purposes of this section, the term “ local supplement ” means the additional amount paid to an individual teacher over and above the salary schedule prescribed in Section 37-19-7 for the performance of regular teaching duties by that teacher.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 21-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-7
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be referred to as the “Mississippi Elementary Schools Assistant Teacher Program,” the purpose of which shall be to provide an early childhood education program that assists in the instruction of basic skills. The State Board of Education is authorized, empowered and directed to implement a statewide system of assistant teachers in kindergarten classes and in the first, second and third grades. The assistant teacher shall assist pupils in actual instruction under the strict supervision of a licensed teacher.

(2)(a) Except as otherwise authorized under subsection (7), each school district shall employ the total number of assistant teachers funded under subsection (6) of this section. The superintendent of each district shall assign the assistant teachers to the kindergarten, first-, second- and third-grade classes in the district in a manner that will promote the maximum efficiency, as determined by the superintendent, in the instruction of skills such as verbal and linguistic skills, logical and mathematical skills, and social skills.

(b) If a licensed teacher to whom an assistant teacher has been assigned is required to be absent from the classroom, the assistant teacher may assume responsibility for the classroom in lieu of a substitute teacher. However, no assistant teacher shall assume sole responsibility of the classroom for more than three (3) consecutive school days. Further, in no event shall any assistant teacher be assigned to serve as a substitute teacher for any teacher other than the licensed teacher to whom that assistant teacher has been assigned.

(3) Assistant teachers shall have, at a minimum, a high school diploma or a High School Equivalency Diploma equivalent, and shall show demonstratable proficiency in reading and writing skills. The State Department of Education shall develop a testing procedure for assistant teacher applicants to be used in all school districts in the state.

(4)(a) In order to receive funding, each school district shall:

(i) Submit a plan on the implementation of a reading improvement program to the State Department of Education; and

(ii) Develop a plan of educational accountability and assessment of performance, including pretests and posttests, for reading in Grades 1 through 6.

(b) Additionally, each school district shall:

(i) Provide annually a mandatory preservice orientation session, using an existing in-school service day, for administrators and teachers on the effective use of assistant teachers as part of a team in the classroom setting and on the role of assistant teachers, with emphasis on program goals;

(ii) Hold periodic workshops for administrators and teachers on the effective use and supervision of assistant teachers;

(iii) Provide training annually on specific instructional skills for assistant teachers;

(iv) Annually evaluate their program in accordance with their educational accountability and assessment of performance plan; and

(v) Designate the necessary personnel to supervise and report on their program.

(5) The State Department of Education shall:

(a) Develop and assist in the implementation of a statewide uniform training module, subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, which shall be used in all school districts for training administrators, teachers and assistant teachers. The module shall provide for the consolidated training of each assistant teacher and teacher to whom the assistant teacher is assigned, working together as a team, and shall require further periodic training for administrators, teachers and assistant teachers regarding the role of assistant teachers;

(b) Annually evaluate the program on the district and state level. Subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, the department shall develop: (i) uniform evaluation reports, to be performed by the principal or assistant principal, to collect data for the annual overall program evaluation conducted by the department; or (ii) a program evaluation model that, at a minimum, addresses process evaluation; and

(c) Promulgate rules, regulations and such other standards deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. Noncompliance with the provisions of this section and any rules, regulations or standards adopted by the department may result in a violation of compulsory accreditation standards as established by the State Board of Education and the Commission on School Accreditation.

(6) Each school district shall be allotted sufficient funding under the total funding formula provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 for the purpose of employing assistant teachers. No assistant teacher shall be paid less than the amount he or she received in the prior school year. No school district shall receive any funds under this section for any school year during which the aggregate amount of the local contribution to the salaries of assistant teachers by the district shall have been reduced below such amount for the previous year.

For assistant teachers, the minimum annual salary shall be as follows:

2022-2023 and Subsequent Years Minimum Salary․․․․․․․․․․ $17,000.00

In addition, for each one percent (1%) that the Sine Die General Fund Revenue Estimate Growth exceeds five percent (5%) in fiscal year 2006, as certified by the Legislative Budget Office to the State Board of Education and subject to the specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature, the State Board of Education shall revise the salary scale in the appropriate year to provide an additional one percent (1%) across-the-board increase in the base salaries for assistant teachers. The State Board of Education shall revise the salaries prescribed above for assistant teachers to conform to any adjustments made in prior fiscal years due to revenue growth over and above five percent (5%). The assistant teachers shall not be restricted to working only in the grades for which the funds were allotted, but may be assigned to other classes as provided in subsection (2)(a) of this section.

(7)(a) As an alternative to employing assistant teachers, any school district may use the funding provided under subsection (6) of this section for the purpose of employing licensed teachers for kindergarten, first-, second- and third-grade classes; however, no school district shall be authorized to use the funding for assistant teachers for the purpose of employing licensed teachers unless the district has established that the employment of licensed teachers using such funds will reduce the teacher:student ratio in the kindergarten, first-, second- and third-grade classes. All state funds for assistant teachers shall be applied to reducing teacher:student ratio in Grades K-3.

It is the intent of the Legislature that no school district shall dismiss any assistant teacher for the purpose of using the assistant teacher funding to employ licensed teachers. School districts may rely only upon normal attrition to reduce the number of assistant teachers employed in that district.

(b) Districts meeting the highest levels of accreditation standards, as defined by the State Board of Education, shall be exempted from the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 21-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-5
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education of the State of Mississippi is vested with the authority to enforce the provisions of Sections 37-21-1 through 37-21-5 . The department shall have the authority to make investigations and to require such proof of qualification as may be necessary for the enforcement of Sections 37-21-1 through 37-21-5 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 17-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-5
Status: in_force

It shall be the purpose of the Commission on School Accreditation to continually review the standards on accreditation and the enforcement thereof and to make recommendations thereon to the State Board of Education. All controversies involving the accreditation of schools shall be initially heard by a duly authorized representative of the commission before whom a complete record shall be made. After the conclusion of the hearing, the duly authorized representative of the commission shall make a recommendation to the commission as to the resolution of the controversies, and the commission, after considering the transcribed record and the recommendation of its representative, shall make its decision which becomes final unless the local school board of the school district involved shall appeal to the State Board of Education, which appeal shall be on the record previously made before the commission's representative except as may be provided by rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education. Such rules and regulations may provide for the submission of new factual evidence. All appeals from the State Board of Education shall be on the record and shall be filed in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi. The commission shall select a competent and qualified court reporter to record and transcribe all hearings held before its duly authorized representative whose fees and costs of transcription shall be paid by the school district involved within forty-five (45) days after having been notified of such costs and fees by the commission. An appropriate member of the staff of the State Department of Education shall be designated by the State Superintendent of Public Education to serve as executive secretary of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-15
Status: repealed

(a) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall succeed to and continue to exercise control of all records, books, papers, equipment, and supplies, and all lands, buildings, and other real and personal property belonging to or assigned to the use and benefit of the board of trustees formerly supervising and controlling the institutions of higher learning named in Section 37-101-1 . The board shall have and exercise control of the use, distribution and disbursement of all funds, appropriations and taxes, now and hereafter in possession, levied and collected, received, or appropriated for the use, benefit, support, and maintenance or capital outlay expenditures of the institutions of higher learning, including the authorization of employees to sign vouchers for the disbursement of funds for the various institutions, except where otherwise specifically provided by law.

(b) The board shall have general supervision of the affairs of all the institutions of higher learning, including the departments and the schools thereof. The board shall have the power in its discretion to determine who shall be privileged to enter, to remain in, or to graduate therefrom. The board shall have general supervision of the conduct of libraries and laboratories, the care of dormitories, buildings, and grounds; the business methods and arrangement of accounts and records; the organization of the administrative plan of each institution; and all other matters incident to the proper functioning of the institutions. The board shall have the authority to establish minimum standards of achievement as a prerequisite for entrance into any of the institutions under its jurisdiction, which standards need not be uniform between the various institutions and which may be based upon such criteria as the board may establish.

(c) The board shall exercise all the powers and prerogatives conferred upon it under the laws establishing and providing for the operation of the several institutions herein specified. The board shall adopt such bylaws and regulations from time to time as it deems expedient for the proper supervision and control of the several institutions of higher learning, insofar as such bylaws and regulations are not repugnant to the Constitution and laws, and not inconsistent with the object for which these institutions were established. The board shall have power and authority to prescribe rules and regulations for policing the campuses and all buildings of the respective institutions, to authorize the arrest of all persons violating on any campus any criminal law of the state, and to have such law violators turned over to the civil authorities.

(d) For all institutions specified herein, the board shall provide a uniform system of recording and of accounting approved by the State Department of Audit. The board shall annually prepare, or cause to be prepared, a budget for each institution of higher learning for the succeeding year which must be prepared and in readiness for at least thirty (30) days before the convening of the regular session of the Legislature. All relationships and negotiations between the State Legislature and its various committees and the institutions named herein shall be carried on through the board of trustees. No official, employee or agent representing any of the separate institutions shall appear before the Legislature or any committee thereof except upon the written order of the board or upon the request of the Legislature or a committee thereof.

(e) For all institutions specified herein, the board shall prepare an annual report to the Legislature setting forth the disbursements of all monies appropriated to the respective institutions. Each report to the Legislature shall show how the money appropriated to the several institutions has been expended, beginning and ending with the fiscal years of the institutions, showing the name of each teacher, officer, and employee, and the salary paid each, and an itemized statement of each and every item of receipts and expenditures. Each report must be balanced, and must begin with the former balance. If any property belonging to the state or the institution is used for profit, the reports shall show the expense incurred in managing the property and the amount received therefrom. The reports shall also show a summary of the gross receipts and gross disbursements for each year and shall show the money on hand at the beginning of the fiscal period of the institution next preceding each session of the Legislature and the necessary amount of expense to be incurred from said date to January 1 following. The board shall keep the annual expenditures of each institution herein mentioned within the income derived from legislative appropriations and other sources, but in case of emergency arising from acts of providence, epidemics, fire or storm with the written approval of the Governor and by written consent of a majority of the senators and of the representatives it may exceed the income. The board shall require a surety bond in a surety company authorized to do business in this state of every employee who is the custodian of funds belonging to one or more of the institutions mentioned herein, which bond shall be in a sum to be fixed by the board in an amount that will properly safeguard the said funds, the premium for which shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for said institutions.

(f) The board shall have the power and authority to elect the heads of the various institutions of higher learning and to contract with all deans, professors, and other members of the teaching staff, and all administrative employees of said institutions for a term not exceeding four (4) years. The board shall have the power and authority to terminate any such contract at any time for malfeasance, inefficiency, or contumacious conduct, but never for political reasons. It shall be the policy of the board to permit the executive head of each institution to nominate for election by the board all subordinate employees of the institution over which he presides. It shall be the policy of the board to elect all officials for a definite tenure of service and to reelect during the period of satisfactory service. The board shall have the power to make any adjustments it thinks necessary between the various departments and schools of any institution or between the different institutions.

(g) The board shall keep complete minutes and records of all proceedings which shall be open for inspection by any citizen of the state.

(h) The board shall have the power to enter into an energy performance contract, energy services contract, on a shared-savings, lease or lease-purchase basis, for energy efficiency services and/or equipment as prescribed in Section 31-7-14 .

(i) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, for and on behalf of Jackson State University, is hereby authorized to convey by donation or otherwise easements across portions of certain real estate located in the City of Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, for right-of-way required for the Metro Parkway Project.

(j) In connection with any international contract between the board or one (1) of the state's institutions of higher learning and any party outside of the United States, the board or institution that is the party to the international contract is hereby authorized and empowered to include in the contract a provision for the resolution by arbitration of any controversy between the parties to the contract relating to such contract or the failure or refusal to perform any part of the contract. Such provision shall be valid, enforceable and irrevocable without regard to the justiciable character of the controversy. Provided, however, that in the event either party to such contract initiates litigation against the other with respect to the contract, the arbitration provision shall be deemed waived unless asserted as a defense on or before the responding party is required to answer such litigation.

(k) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (“board”), on behalf of any institution under its jurisdiction, shall purchase and maintain business property insurance and business personal property insurance on all university-owned buildings and/or contents as required by federal law and regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as is necessary for receiving public assistance or reimbursement for repair, reconstruction, replacement or other damage to those buildings and/or contents caused by the Hurricane Katrina Disaster of 2005 or subsequent disasters. The board is authorized to expend funds from any available source for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining that property insurance. The board is authorized to enter into agreements with the Department of Finance and Administration, local school districts, community/junior college districts, community hospitals and/or other state agencies to pool their liabilities to participate in a group business property and/or business personal property insurance program, subject to uniform rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Department of Finance and Administration.

(l) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, or its designee, may approve the payment or reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses incurred by candidates for open positions at the board's executive office or at any of the state institutions of higher learning, when the job candidate has incurred expenses in traveling to a job interview at the request of the board, the Commissioner of Higher Education or a state institution of higher learning administrator.

(m)(i) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning is authorized to administer and approve contracts for the construction and maintenance of buildings and other facilities of the state institutions of higher learning, including related contracts for architectural and engineering services, which are paid for with self-generated funds.

(ii) Additionally, the board is authorized to oversee, administer and approve contracts for the construction and maintenance of buildings and other facilities of the state institutions of higher learning, including related contracts for architectural and engineering services, which are funded in whole or in part by general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi at institutions designated annually by the board as being capable to procure and administer all such contracts. Prior to the disbursement of funds, an agreement for each project between the institution and the Department of Finance and Administration shall be executed. The approval and execution of the agreement shall not be withheld by either party unless the withholding party provides a written, detailed explanation of the basis for withholding to the other party. The agreement shall stipulate the responsibilities of each party, applicable procurement regulations, documentation and reporting requirements, conditions prior to, and schedule of, disbursement of general obligation bond funds to the institution and provisions concerning handling any remaining general obligation bonds at the completion of the project. Such agreement shall not include provisions that constitute additional qualifications or criteria that act to invalidate the designation of an institution as capable of procuring and administering such project. Inclusion of any such provisions may be appealed to the Public Procurement Review Board. This paragraph (ii) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2025.

(n) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (“board”) shall require all on-campus faculty and staff employed by, and all students attending, any of the state institutions of higher learning identified in Section 37-101-1 to be issued an identification badge in physical or electronic format. Any identification card issued or renewed pursuant to this section, whether physical or in an electronic format, shall include the words “Crisis Lifeline--Dial or Text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org” or like language for formatting purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-235 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 153-235
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-235
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program (“the program”). The scholarship program shall be used by the Office of Workforce Development, with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security acting as the fiscal agent, for the purpose of providing funding for grants to cover the full cost of tuition, fees, books and any required uniforms for qualified applicants to attend an accredited paramedic program and to reimburse the cost of a qualified applicant's fee for the successful completion of the National Registry Paramedic cognitive and psychomotor examinations. The scholarship program shall be funded from monies appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.

(2) For the purposes of this article, a “ paramedic ” means a certified healthcare professional who specializes in providing emergency medical treatment to people who are injured or ill, typically in a setting outside of a hospital.

(3) The Office of Workforce Development shall prescribe the terms and conditions of grants awarded under the program. To qualify for a grant under this program, an applicant must:

(a) Be a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT);

(b) Have the necessary requisites for an accredited paramedic program;

(c) Commit to locate in the State of Mississippi for a minimum of three (3) years; and

(d) Meet any other conditions for receipt as prescribed by the Office of Workforce Development.

(4) The Office of Workforce Development may use a maximum of five percent (5%) of funds appropriated for the program for the administration of the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 21-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-9
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education shall:

(a) Conduct a total needs assessment of the state to determine what areas currently lack pre-kindergarten programs and services, and conduct a cost-benefit analysis of establishing pre-kindergarten programs on a statewide basis. Any expected costs, whether federal, state or local, associated with implementing this requirement shall be clearly outlined; and

(b) Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of implementing mandatory kindergarten on a statewide basis. Any expected costs, whether federal, state or local, associated with implementing this requirement shall be clearly outlined; and

(c) Study the feasibility of developing an optional graduation diploma, to be known as an occupational diploma, that would include course requirements to ensure that students have mastered skills and employment competencies. The study shall include proposed procedures for ensuring that students may select and move between courses of study leading to a standard high school diploma or an occupational diploma. The study shall include options for continued skills training through community colleges, which shall include agreements between school districts and community colleges to minimize the circumstances under which students must repeat successfully completed high school coursework in community college. Any expected costs, both federal and state, associated in implementing these requirements shall be clearly outlined; and

(d) Report annually to the Mississippi Legislature on the graduation and dropout rates based on Grades 7 through 12 and Grades 9 through 12 cohort groups, statewide and by district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-73 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 113-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-73
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 37-113-71 through 37-113-81 , the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless context of use clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Veterinary student ” means a student enrolled in the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

(b) “ Dean ” means the Dean of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

(c) “ Food supply animal ” includes cattle, hogs, sheep, goats and poultry.

(d) “ Food supply animal veterinarian ” means a veterinarian who is engaged in general or food supply animal practice as his or her primary focus of practice and who has thirty percent (30%) of his or her practice devoted to food supply animal veterinary medicine.

(e) “ Large animal veterinarian ” means a veterinarian whose practice is focused primarily on the health and safety of farm animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses, who must spend sixty percent (60%) of their time providing care for large animals.

(f) “ Program ” means the Dr. Elton Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinarian Scholarship Program administered by the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

(g) “ Rural community ” means an area of the state with a population density less than five hundred (500) people per square mile as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.

(h) “ Rural mixed animal veterinarian ” means a veterinarian who practices in a rural community with provision of care to both small animals, i.e., dogs or cats, and large animals, i.e., cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or horses, within which the veterinarian must spend a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of his or her time providing care to large animals.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-102-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 102-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-102-15
Status: in_force

(1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Bureau of Buildings, Grounds and Real Property Management shall not make any expenditure for capital improvements for off-campus sites unless specifically authorized by the Mississippi Legislature. However, this shall not preclude such capital improvements from being made by county or municipal governments locally or regionally involved.

(2) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Bureau of Buildings, Grounds and Real Property Management is specifically authorized to expend any funds available to it from private sources, from the proceeds of the sale of any property and improvements currently on the site of Mississippi State University off-campus instructional program at Meridian and from the proceeds of funds designated to the Mississippi State University system for “repair, renovation and new construction” in Chapter 2, Section 2, General Laws, First Extraordinary Session of 1989, for the construction, equipping and furnishing and new building, and/or for the repair, renovation, equipping and furnishing of any existing building at the Mississippi State University off-campus instructional program site at Meridian, Mississippi. The board of trustees is hereby authorized to receive and expend matching funds from the local, county and municipal governments for such construction, equipping, furnishing, repair or renovation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-6 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 15-6
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-6
Status: in_force

For the purpose of providing notice to public and private school officials, both within and outside the boundaries of the state, of the expulsion of any public school student, the State Department of Education may develop a central reporting system for maintaining information concerning each expulsion from a public school. In establishing and maintaining the reporting system, the department may require each school district and charter school to report, within a certain period of time after an expulsion, as established by the department, information such as the following:

(a) The name of the student expelled;

(b) The date the student was expelled;

(c) The age of the student at the time of the expulsion;

(d) The school from which the student was expelled;

(e) The reason for the expulsion, including a detailed description of the student's act or acts;

(f) The duration of the period of expulsion, if not indefinite; and

(g) Any other information that the department deems necessary for school officials in a public or private school, where a student is seeking enrollment, to determine whether or not a student should be denied enrollment based upon a previous expulsion.

Any information maintained by the department under the authority of this section shall be strictly confidential. The information shall be available to school officials at a public or private school only upon their request and only when a student seeks enrollment or admission to that school. In no case shall the information be available to the general public; however, aggregate reporting by the department which does not disclose any personally identifiable information is permitted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-2 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 101-2
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-2
Status: in_force

There is hereby established within the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning a Welfare Policy Institute at a campus location to be designated by the board of trustees. The purpose of the institute shall be to research and gather empirical information regarding the social and welfare programs authorized under Sections 37-101-2 , 43-1-8 , 43-1-10 , 43-1-30 , 43-13-115 , 43-17-1 , 43-17-5 , and 43-49-1 through 43-49-15 and to write grant proposals regarding the policy implications of such program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-8 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 63-8
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-8
Status: in_force

The Authority shall have the authority, with the assistance and approval of the State Personnel Board, to implement extern training programs for its employees and contract with private sector businesses for such training. The training programs shall be available, at the discretion of the Authority and the Executive Director, to employees who have served with the agency for one (1) year or more. The salary of the employees may be paid by the Authority while the employee is receiving such training. No training shall be in excess of three (3) months and forty (40) hours per week. Any employee participating in such extern training program shall be required to remain employed with the Authority for a period of one (1) year following completion of the training period. Any person leaving the employment of the Authority prior to the completion of the required one (1) year period shall be liable for the salary and fringe benefits expended for the employee during the training period.