Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-92 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-92
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-92
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning with the school year 2004-2005, the school boards of all school districts shall establish, maintain and operate, in connection with the regular programs of the school district, an alternative school program or behavior modification program as defined by the State Board of Education for, but not limited to, the following categories of compulsory-school-age students:

(a) Any compulsory-school-age child who has been suspended for more than ten (10) days or expelled from school, except for any student expelled for possession of a weapon or other felonious conduct;

(b) Any compulsory-school-age child referred to such alternative school based upon a documented need for placement in the alternative school program by the parent, legal guardian or custodian of such child due to disciplinary problems;

(c) Any compulsory-school-age child referred to such alternative school program by the dispositive order of a chancellor or youth court judge, with the consent of the superintendent of the child's school district;

(d) Any compulsory-school-age child whose presence in the classroom, in the determination of the school superintendent or principal, is a disruption to the educational environment of the school or a detriment to the interest and welfare of the students and teachers of such class as a whole; and

(e) No school district is required to place a child returning from out-of-home placement in the mental health, juvenile justice or foster care system in alternative school. Placement of a child in the alternative school shall be done consistently, and for students identified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), shall adhere to the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. If a school district chooses to place a child in alternative school the district will make an individual assessment and evaluation of that child in the following time periods:

(i) Five (5) days for a child transitioning from a group home, mental health care system, and/or the custody of the Department of Human Services, Division of Youth and Family Services;

(ii) Ten (10) days for a child transitioning from a dispositional placement order by a youth court pursuant to Section 43-21-605 ; and

(iii) An individualized assessment for youth transitioning from out-of-home placement to the alternative school shall include:

1. A strength needs assessment.

2. A determination of the child's academic strengths and deficiencies.

3. A proposed plan for transitioning the child to a regular education placement at the earliest possible date.

(2) The principal or program administrator of any such alternative school program shall require verification from the appropriate guidance counselor of any such child referred to the alternative school program regarding the suitability of such child for attendance at the alternative school program. Before a student may be removed to an alternative school education program, the superintendent of the student's school district must determine that the written and distributed disciplinary policy of the local district is being followed. The policy shall include standards for:

(a) The removal of a student to an alternative education program that will include a process of educational review to develop the student's individual instruction plan and the evaluation at regular intervals of the student's educational progress; the process shall include classroom teachers and/or other appropriate professional personnel, as defined in the district policy, to ensure a continuing educational program for the removed student;

(b) The duration of alternative placement; and

(c) The notification of parents or guardians, and their appropriate inclusion in the removal and evaluation process, as defined in the district policy. Nothing in this paragraph should be defined in a manner to circumvent the principal's or the superintendent's authority to remove a student to alternative education.

(3) The local school board or the superintendent shall provide for the continuing education of a student who has been removed to an alternative school program.

(4) A school district, in its discretion, may provide a program of High School Equivalency Diploma preparatory instruction in the alternative school program. However, any High School Equivalency Diploma preparation program offered in an alternative school program must be administered in compliance with the rules and regulations established for such programs under Sections 37-35-1 through 37-35-11 and by the Mississippi Community College Board. The school district may administer the High School Equivalency Diploma Testing Program under the policies and guidelines of the Testing Service of the American Council on Education in the alternative school program or may authorize the test to be administered through the community/junior college district in which the alternative school is situated.

(5) Any such alternative school program operated under the authority of this section shall meet all appropriate accreditation requirements of the State Department of Education.

(6) The alternative school program may be held within such school district or may be operated by two (2) or more adjacent school districts, pursuant to a contract approved by the State Board of Education. When two (2) or more school districts contract to operate an alternative school program, the school board of a district designated to be the lead district shall serve as the governing board of the alternative school program. Transportation for students attending the alternative school program shall be the responsibility of the local school district. The expense of establishing, maintaining and operating such alternative school program may be paid from funds contributed or otherwise made available to the school district for such purpose or from local district maintenance funds.

(7) The State Board of Education shall promulgate minimum guidelines for alternative school programs. The guidelines shall require, at a minimum, the formulation of an individual instruction plan for each student referred to the alternative school program and, upon a determination that it is in a student's best interest for that student to receive High School Equivalency Diploma preparatory instruction, that the local school board assign the student to a High School Equivalency Diploma preparatory program established under subsection (4) of this section. The minimum guidelines for alternative school programs shall also require the following components:

(a) Clear guidelines and procedures for placement of students into alternative education programs which at a minimum shall prescribe due process procedures for disciplinary and High School Equivalency Diploma placement;

(b) Clear and consistent goals for students and parents;

(c) Curricula addressing cultural and learning style differences;

(d) Direct supervision of all activities on a closed campus;

(e) Attendance requirements that allow for educational and workforce development opportunities;

(f) Selection of program from options provided by the local school district, Division of Youth Services or the youth court, including transfer to a community-based alternative school;

(g) Continual monitoring and evaluation and formalized passage from one (1) step or program to another;

(h) A motivated and culturally diverse staff;

(i) Counseling for parents and students;

(j) Administrative and community support for the program; and

(k) Clear procedures for annual alternative school program review and evaluation.

(8) On request of a school district, the State Department of Education shall provide the district informational material on developing an alternative school program that takes into consideration size, wealth and existing facilities in determining a program best suited to a district.

(9) Any compulsory-school-age child who becomes involved in any criminal or violent behavior shall be removed from such alternative school program and, if probable cause exists, a case shall be referred to the youth court.

(10) The State Board of Education shall promulgate guidelines for alternative school programs which provide broad authority to school boards of local school districts to establish alternative education programs to meet the specific needs of the school district.

(11) Each school district having an alternative school program shall submit a report by July 31 of each calendar year to the State Department of Education describing the results of its annual alternative school program review and evaluation undertaken pursuant to subsection (7)(k). The report shall include a detailed account of any actions taken by the school district during the previous year to comply with substantive guidelines promulgated by the State Board of Education under subsection (7)(a) through (j). In the report to be implemented under this section, the State Department of Education shall prescribe the appropriate measures on school districts that fail to file the annual report. The report should be made available online via the department's website to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 61-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-5
Status: in_force

If in any year there should remain a balance in the total funding formula funds of any school district on June 30 which amount is not to be used or is not needed in the payment of expenses for the preceding fiscal year properly payable out of such total funding formula funds, then such balance on hand to the credit of such funds of the school district shall be carried forward as a part of such total funding formula funds for the next succeeding fiscal year. The proper pro rata part of the amount so carried forward, to be determined by the percentage which the state total funding formula funds during the year bore to the entire amount of the school district's total funding formula funds, shall be charged against and deducted from the amount which the school district is allotted from state total funding formula funds for the succeeding fiscal year, in a manner prescribed by the State Auditor. The remainder of the amount so carried forward may be deducted from the amount which the school district is required to produce as its local minimum ad valorem tax effort for the support of the total funding formula for the succeeding fiscal year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 138-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-5
Status: in_force

(a) “Abatement” means removal, encapsulation, enclosure or repair of or an operations and maintenance program for asbestos-containing materials.

(b) “Air monitor” means person who collects airborne samples for analysis of asbestos fibers during an abatement project including baseline, area, personal and clearance samples.

(c) “Asbestos-containing materials” (ACM) means any material or product which contains more than one percent (1%) asbestos.

(d) “Asbestos project” means a project for the abatement of ACM in school buildings, public buildings and commercial buildings except for exclusions adopted by the commission in accordance with Section 37-138-9(a) and except for abatement of asbestos-containing resilient floor tile, sheet vinyl flooring and associated adhesives, provided there is a two-working-day advance notification to the commission of the abatement of asbestos-containing floor tile, sheet vinyl flooring and associated adhesives, unless sanding, grinding, burning or sawing occurs or such abatement is otherwise considered a “response action” or would cause the material to become “friable” as both those terms are defined under 40 C.F.R. Section 763.83 .

(e) “Certificate” means a document authorizing a person to perform certain specific activities related to the identification, evaluation or abatement of ACM in school buildings, public buildings and commercial buildings as described in this chapter.

(f) “Commercial building” means any privately owned building in which the public is invited or allowed access and any other privately owned building so located that the conduct of any asbestos abatement activities therein could reasonably expose any person or persons to ACM hazards, except that a commercial building shall not include any residence.

(g) “Commission” means the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality.

(h) “Contractor” means a person who enters into a contract for the performance of an asbestos project.

(i) “Director” means the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.

(j) “Inspector” means a person employed to inspect or reinspect for presence of ACM, collect samples of ACM confirmation and provide written assessment of ACM.

(k) “Management plan” is a plan for abatement of ACM.

(l) “Management planner” means a person employed to develop a management plan.

(m) “Model plan” means the Model Accreditation Plan for states promulgated at Section I of Appendix C to Title 40, Part 763 , Subpart E of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(n) “Operations and maintenance program” means a program of work practices to maintain ACM in good condition, ensure cleanup of asbestos fibers previously released, and prevent further release by minimizing and controlling ACM disturbance or damage.

(o) “Person” means the state or other agency or institution thereof, any municipality, political subdivision, public or private corporation, individual, partnership, association or other entity, and includes any officer or governing or managing body of any municipality, political subdivision, or public or private corporation, or the United States or any officer or employee thereof.

(p) “Project designer” means a person who specifies engineering methods and work practices to be used during asbestos projects.

(q) “Public building” means any building owned by the state, counties, municipalities, institutions of higher learning, community colleges or any political subdivision.

(r) “School” means any elementary or secondary school as defined in Section 198 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C.S. 2854 ).

(s) “School building” means:

(i) Any structure suitable for use as a classroom, including a school facility such as a laboratory, library, school eating facility, or facility used for the preparation of food.

(ii) Any gymnasium or other facility which is specially designed for athletic or recreational activities or for an academic course in physical education.

(iii) Any other facility used for the instruction or housing of students or for the administration of educational or research programs.

(iv) Any maintenance, storage or utility facility, including any hallway, essential to the operation of any facility described in this definition of “school building” under paragraphs (i), (ii) or (iii).

(v) Any portico or covered exterior hallway or walkway.

(vi) Any exterior portion of a mechanical system used to condition interior space.

(t) “Supervisor” means a person designated by a contractor to be responsible for direction of day-to-day activities of an asbestos project.

(u) “Worker” means a person who works on an asbestos project other than a project designer, contractor, supervisor or management planner.

(v) The commission is authorized to adopt by promulgated regulation any or all additional definitions necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-119-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 119-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-119-1
Status: in_force

The institution incorporated by an act of the legislature, approved March 30, 1910, and established in pursuance thereof, shall continue to exist as a body-politic and corporate by the name of University of Southern Mississippi, with all its property and franchises, rights, powers and privileges conferred on it by law, or properly incident to such body and necessary to accomplish the purpose of its creation; said university may receive and hold all real estate and personal property conveyed or given it, and wherever the term of Mississippi Southern College appears in the laws of the State of Mississippi the same shall be construed to refer to the University of Southern Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 33-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-13
Status: in_force

As used in the Vocational Rehabilitation Law:

(a) “ Competitive employment ” means work in the competitive labor market that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis in an integrated setting and for which an individual is compensated at or above the minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by individuals who are not disabled;

(b) “ Department ” or “ agency ” means the State Department of Rehabilitation Services;

(c) “ Director ” means the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation;

(d) “ Executive director ” means the Executive Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services;

(e) “ Employment outcome ” means, with respect to an individual entering or retaining full-time or, if appropriate part-time competitive employment in the integrated labor market to the greatest extent practicable; supported employment; or any other type of employment, including self-employment, telecommuting, or business ownership, that is consistent with an individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice;

(f) “ Individual with a disability ” means any individual who has a physical or mental impairment, whose impairment constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment, and who can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from the provision of vocational rehabilitation services;

(g) “ Maintenance ” means monetary support provided to an individual for expenses, such as food, shelter, and clothing, that are in excess of the normal expenses of the individual and that are necessitated by the individual's participation in an assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs or the individual's receipt of vocational rehabilitation services under an individualized plan for employment;

(h) “ Occupational license ” means any license, permit or other written authority required by any governmental unit to be obtained in order to engage in an occupation;

(i) “ Office ” means the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services;

(j) “ Personal assistance services ” means assistance in a range of services provided by one or more persons designed to assist an eligible individual with a disability to perform daily living activities on or off the job that the individual would typically perform without assistance. The services must be designed to increase the individual's control in life and ability to perform every day activities on or off the job. The services must be necessary to the achievement of an employment outcome and may be provided only while the individual is receiving other vocational rehabilitation services. The services may include training in managing, supervising, and directing personal assistance services;

(k) “ Physical restoration services ” means (i) corrective surgery or therapeutic treatment that is likely, within a reasonable period of time, to correct or modify substantially a stable or slowly progressive physical or mental impairment that constitutes a substantial impediment to employment; (ii) diagnosis of and treatment for mental or emotional disorders by qualified personnel in accordance with state licensure laws; (iii) dentistry; (iv) nursing services; (v) necessary hospitalization (either inpatient or outpatient care) in connection with surgery or treatment and clinic services; (vi) drugs and supplies; (vii) prosthetic and orthotic devices; (viii) eyeglasses and visual services, including visual training, and the examination and services necessary for the prescription and provision of eyeglasses, contact lenses, microscopic lenses, telescopic lenses, and other special visual aids prescribed by personnel that are qualified in accordance with state licensure laws; (ix) podiatry; (x) physical therapy; (xi) occupational therapy; (xii) speech or hearing therapy; (xiii) mental health services; (xiv) treatment of either acute or chronic medical restoration services, or that are inherent in the condition under treatment; (xv) special services for the treatment of individuals with end-stage renal disease; and (xvi) other medical or medically-related rehabilitation services;

(l) “ Prosthetic appliance ” means any artificial device necessary to support, to take the place of a part of the body, or to increase the acuity of a sense organ;

(m) “ Regulations ” means regulations made by the executive director with the approval of the state board.

(n) “ Rehabilitation engineering services ” means the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities in functional areas such as mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and in activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the community;

(o) “ Rehabilitation training ” means all necessary training provided to an eligible individual with a disability to enable him or her to overcome his or her employment handicap, including, but not limited to, manual, preconditioning, prevocational, vocational and supplementary training and training provided for the purpose of developing occupational skills and capacities;

(p) “ State board ” means the State Board of Rehabilitation Services;

(q) “ Substantial impediment to employment ” means that a physical or mental impairment (in light of attendant medical, psychological, vocational, educational, communication, and other related factors) hinders an individual from preparing for, entering into, engaging in, or retaining employment consistent with the individual's abilities and capabilities;

(r) “ Supported employment services ” means ongoing support services and other appropriate services needed to support and maintain an individual with a most significant disability in supported employment that are provided by the designated state unit (i) for a period of time not to exceed eighteen (18) months, unless under special circumstances the eligible individual and the rehabilitation counselor jointly agree to extend the time to achieve the employment outcome identified in the individualized plan for employment; and (ii) following transition, as post-employment services that are unavailable from an extended services provider and that are necessary to maintain or regain the job placement or advance in employment;

(s) “ Vocational rehabilitation ” and “ vocational rehabilitation services ” mean, for an eligible individual with a disability, services as appropriate and required to assist in preparing for, securing, retaining, or regaining an employment outcome that is consistent with the individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice, including, but not limited to, services in accordance with definitions in the most current amendment of the Rehabilitation Act: (i) assessment for determining eligibility and priority for services by qualified personnel, including, if appropriate, an assessment by personnel skilled in rehabilitation technology; (ii) assessment for determining vocational rehabilitation needs by qualified personnel, including, if appropriate, an assessment by personnel skilled in rehabilitation technology; (iii) vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance, including information and support services to assist an individual in exercising informed choice; (iv) referral and other services necessary to assist applicants and eligible individuals to secure needed services from other agencies, including other components of the statewide workforce investment system and to advise those individuals about client assistance programs; (v) physical and mental restoration services, to the extent that financial support is not readily available from a source other than the State Department of Rehabilitation Services (such as through health insurance or a comparable service or benefit); (vi) vocational and other training services, including personal and vocational adjustment training, books, tools, and other training materials, except that no training or training services in an institution of higher learning (universities, colleges, community or junior colleges, vocational schools, technical institutes, or hospital schools of nursing) may be paid for with funds under this law unless maximum efforts have been made by the state unit and the individual to secure grant assistance in whole or in part from other sources to pay for that training; (vii) maintenance; (viii) transportation in connection with the rendering of any vocational rehabilitation service; (ix) vocational rehabilitation services to family members of an applicant or eligible individual if necessary to enable the applicant or eligible individual to achieve an employment outcome; (x) interpreter services, including sign language and oral interpreter services, for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and tactile interpreting services for individuals who are deaf-blind provided by qualified personnel; (xi) reader services, rehabilitation teaching services, and orientation and mobility services for individuals who are blind; (xii) job-related services, including job search and placement assistance, job retention services, follow-up services, and follow-along services; (xiii) supported employment services: (xiv) personal assistance services; (xv) post-employment services; (xvi) occupational licenses, tools, equipment, initial stocks, and supplies; (xvii) rehabilitation technology including vehicular modification, telecommunications, sensory, and other technological aids and devices; (xviii) transition services; (xix) technical assistance and other consultation services to conduct market analyses, develop business plans, and otherwise provide resources, to the extent those resources are authorized to be provided through the statewide workforce investment system, to eligible individuals who are pursuing self-employment or telecommuting or establishing a small business operation as an employment outcome; (xx) other goods and services determined necessary for the individual with a disability to achieve an employment outcome.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 41-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-43
Status: in_force

(1) All publicly owned school district buses which are hereafter acquired, and all publicly owned school district buses which shall hereafter be repainted, whether presently owned or hereafter acquired, and all publicly owned school district buses which do not have the name of the county or school district owning same painted thereon, whether such buses be owned by the county or a school district, shall have painted on both sides thereof the name of the county or school district owning same. Such words shall be painted on each such bus in letters at least five (5) inches in height and in a color which is in contrast with the color of the vehicle.

(2) Any contract entered into by a school district for the operation, rental or leasing of school buses with private or public entities under the authority provided in Section 37-41-3 , or the purchase of school buses to be used by a school district under the authority provided in Sections 37-41-29 and 37-41-31 , shall stipulate in the contractual agreement that the entity from whom the school bus is rented, leased or purchased, or which is providing the transportation service, shall cause to be placed on the bus, the required district-identifying signage required under subsection (1), before delivery of the school bus into possession of the school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 61-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-29
Status: in_force

The State Department of Audit is hereby authorized and empowered to post-audit and investigate the financial affairs and all transactions involving the school funds of the school district including the total funding formula funds and supplementary district school funds, and to make separate and special audits thereof, as now provided by Sections 7-7-201 through 7-7-215 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-20 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 11-20
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-20
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person to intimidate, threaten or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten or coerce, whether by illegal force, threats of force or by the distribution of intimidating, threatening or coercive material, any person enrolled in any school for the purpose of interfering with the right of that person to attend school classes or of causing him not to attend such classes.

Upon conviction of violation of any provision of this section, such individual shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), imprisonment in jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or both. Any person under the age of seventeen (17) years who violates any provision of this section shall be treated as a delinquent within the jurisdiction of the youth court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 35-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-11
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Community College Board shall determine policies and procedures for administration of this program.

Funds provided under this section and Section 37-35-9 can be used for matching federal funds if such become available.

Funds provided under this section and Section 37-35-9 shall be allocated to schools and community/junior colleges on an average of twelve (12) to fifteen (15) adult students per class in average attendance, for one hundred fifty (150) hours maximum instruction per class. Funds will be allocated on a basis of target population by county for general educational development preparatory classes based on adults who have from nine (9) to eleven (11) years of schooling as indicated by the 1990 census. Schools and community/junior colleges will receive one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of general educational development preparatory classes. All classes funded under this section and Section 37-35-9 shall be considered temporary and shall be renewed only as long as participation is adequate for continued funding.

An annual report on program activities, adult participation and results shall be prepared by the Mississippi Community College Board and submitted to the Mississippi Legislature within the first month of regular legislative session each year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 103-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-11
Status: in_force

If the parents of a minor who is enrolled as a student in a junior college or in an institution of higher learning move their legal residence from the State of Mississippi, the minor shall be immediately classified as a nonresident student.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-345 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-345
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-345
Status: in_force

(1) A regional educational service agency (ESA) may be established in a region of the state when twelve (12) or more school districts determine there are benefits and services that can be derived from the collective and collaborative formation of an agency for the purpose of pooling and leveraging resources for the common benefit of students, teachers, administrators and taxpayers. An educational service agency shall be incorporated in the State of Mississippi and organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi as a nonprofit corporation. The educational service agency shall obtain 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service.

(2) The operation and management of the educational service agency shall be the responsibility of a public advisory board composed of the superintendents of schools or their designees from each participating school district.

(3) A board of directors shall be elected on an annual basis from the advisory board to oversee the day-to-day operations of the agency.

(4) The executive board shall hire an executive director to serve as the executive agent of the board of the regional educational service agency.

(5) The board of directors of a regional educational service agency shall have the authority to establish policies for the regional educational service to determine the programs and services to be provided, to employ staff, to prepare and expend the budget, to provide for financing programs and projects of the regional educational service agency, and to annually evaluate the performance of the agency. The board may purchase, hold, encumber and dispose of real property, in the name of the agency, for use as its office or for any educational service provided by the agency.

(6) The educational service agency is authorized and empowered to: develop, manage and provide support services and/or programs as determined by the needs of the local school district. Educational service agencies (ESAs) shall:

(a) Act primarily as service agencies in providing services and/or programs as identified and requested by member school districts (services may include, but are not limited to, professional development, instructional materials, educational technology, curriculum development and alternative educational programs);

(b) Provide for economy, efficiency and cost effectiveness in the cooperative delivery and purchase or lease of educational services, materials and products (services may include, but are not limited to, purchasing cooperatives, insurance cooperatives, business manager services, auditing and accounting services, school safety/risk prevention, and data processing and student records);

(c) Provide administrative services (services may include, but are not limited to, communications/public information, employee background checks, grants management, printing/publications and internships);

(d) Provide educational services through leadership, research and development in elementary and secondary education;

(e) Act in a cooperative and supportive role, including contracting, with the Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, Mississippi Community Colleges and other state educational organizations in the development and implementation of long-range plans, strategies and goals for the enhancement of educational opportunities in elementary and secondary education; and

(f) Serve, when appropriate and as funds become available, as a repository, clearinghouse and administrator of federal, state, local and private funds on behalf of school districts which choose to participate in special programs, projects or grants in order to enhance the quality of education in Mississippi schools.

(7) The State Board of Education shall have the authority to contract with and provide funds to regional educational service agencies for any education-related service.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 101-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-43
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 37-101-44 , and subject to the provisions of Section 37-101-42 , before entering into or awarding any such lease contract under the provisions of Section 37-101-41 , the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall cause the interested state-supported institution upon which a facility is proposed to be constructed or renovated to select and submit three (3) architects to the board. Thereupon, the board shall approve and employ an architect, who shall be paid by the interested institution from any funds available to the interested institution. The architect, under the direction of the interested institution, shall prepare complete plans and specifications for the facility or facilities desired to be constructed or renovated on the leased property.

Upon completion of the plans and specifications and the approval thereof by the board, and before entering into any lease contract, the board shall cause to be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks and not less than twenty-one (21) days in at least one (1) newspaper having a general circulation in the county in which the interested institution is located and in one (1) newspaper with a general statewide circulation, a notice inviting bids or proposals for the leasing, construction or renovation, including the furnishing, maintaining and equipping, if applicable, and leasing back, if applicable, of the land and constructed or renovated facility, including any applicable furnishings or equipment, of the facility to be constructed or renovated in accordance with the plans and specifications. The notice shall distinctly state the thing to be done, and invite sealed proposals, to be filed with the board, to do the thing to be done. The notice shall contain the following specific provisions, together with such others as the board in its discretion deems appropriate, to wit: bids shall be accompanied by a bid security evidenced by a certified or cashier's check or bid-bond payable to the board in a sum of not less than five percent (5%) of the gross construction cost of the facility to be constructed as estimated by the board and the bids shall contain proof satisfactory to the board of interim and permanent financing. The board shall state in the notice when construction shall commence. The bid shall contain the proposed contractor's certificate of responsibility number and bidder's license. In all cases, before the notice shall be published, the plans and specifications shall be filed with the board and also in the office of the president of the interested institution, there to remain.

The board shall award the lease contract to the lowest and best bidder, who will comply with the terms imposed by the contract documents. At the time of the awarding of the lease contract the successful bidder shall enter into bond with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the board, in such penalty as may be fixed by the board, but in no case to be less than the estimated gross construction or renovation cost of the facility to be constructed or renovated as estimated by the board, conditioned for the prompt, proper and efficient performance of the contract. The bond shall be made by an authorized corporate surety bonding company. The bid security herein provided for shall be forfeited if the successful bidder fails to enter into lease contract and commence construction or renovation within the time limitation set forth in the notice. At such time, and simultaneously with the signing of the contract, the successful bidder shall deposit a sum of money, in cash or certified or cashier's check, not less than the bid security previously deposited as bid security to reimburse the interested institution for all sums expended by it for architectural services and other expenditures of the board and interested institution connected with the bidded lease contract, of which such other anticipated expenditures notice is to be given to bidder in the notice. The bid security posted by an unsuccessful bidder shall be refunded to him.

(b) Under the authority granted under Section 37-101-44 , the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section shall not apply to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning's power to grant to universities the authority to contract with a single entity for privately financed design and construction or renovation, and if applicable, the furnishing, maintaining and equipping of facilities on university campuses, and if applicable, the furnishing, maintenance and equipping of facilities on university campuses.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-101 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 101-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-101
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(j) To vest in a trustee or trustees or the holder or holders of any specified amount or percentage of bonds the right to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for and have granted the appointment of a receiver or receivers of the income and revenue pledged and assigned to or for the benefit of the holder or holders of such bonds, which receiver or receivers may have and be granted such powers and duties as are usually granted under the laws of the State of Mississippi to a receiver or receivers appointed in connection with the foreclosure of a mortgage made by a private corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 101-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-71
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning of the State of Mississippi 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 37-101-61 , and to lease facilities from said corporations in the manner provided by law.

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 such corporation shall have been paid in full, then such facilities shall thereupon become the property of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning and title to the facilities shall thereupon immediately vest in the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-22-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 22-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-22-5
Status: in_force

There is created an Emergency Fund Loss Assistance Program to provide temporary grants to eligible school districts. The purpose of the program shall be to provide relief to school districts suffering losses of financial assistance under federal programs, such as the IMPACT Program, designed to serve the educational needs of children of government employees and Choctaw Indian children. Any school district which has sustained losses in direct payments from the federal government for the purpose of educating the children of federal government employees and Choctaw Indian children living on United States government owned reservation land shall be entitled to an Emergency Fund Loss Assistance Grant, in the amount of the reduction of the grant funds received from the federal government from prior years. This grant shall be limited to losses resulting from reductions in the level of federal funding allocated to school districts from prior years and not from reductions resulting from a loss of students served by the school districts. Losses incurred prior to July 1, 1987, shall not be considered for purposes of determining the amount of the grant. There is hereby established an Emergency Fund Loss Assistance Fund in the State Treasury which shall be used to distribute the emergency grants to school districts. Expenditures from this fund shall not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in any fiscal year. If the total of all grant entitlements from local school districts exceeds such sum, then the grants to the school districts shall be prorated accordingly.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 71-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-3
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed in this section, unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) “ Alternative learning course ” or “ alternative course, program or opportunity ” means a sequence of instruction over a period of time that meets reasonably equivalent requirements or competencies of a subject or subjects included in the career and technical education curriculum included in the College and Career Readiness Standards, which results in the granting of a credit leading to high school graduation.

(b) “ Apprenticeship ” means:

(i) A program that meets the federal guidelines set out in 29 CFR Part 29 , including Industry Programs; or

(ii) An apprenticeship program that already exists or created by a Mississippi statute, rule or licensing authority.

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

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

(e) “ Licensing ” means any required training, education, or fee to work in a specific profession.

(f) “ Licensing authority ” means an agency, examining board, credentialing board, or other office with the authority to impose occupational fees or licensing requirements on any profession.

(g) “ Sponsoring organization ” means any business, industry, whether public or private, nonprofit organization, for-profit organization or other appropriate entities that partner with a local school district or multiple districts to provide alternative learning courses through apprenticeships, internships or pre-apprenticeships, subject to guidelines prescribed by the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / 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. § 37-144-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 144-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program shall be administered by a commission to be known as the “Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Commission.” The commission shall be directed by a board composed of the following members:

(a) Two (2) generalist physicians appointed by and from the membership of the Mississippi State Medical Association, the term of which shall be three (3) years and may be reappointed for one (1) additional term;

(b) One (1) generalist physician appointed by and from the membership of each of the following organizations, the term of which shall be three (3) years and may be reappointed for one (1) additional term:

(i) Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians;

(ii) Mississippi Chapter, American College of Physicians;

(iii) Mississippi Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics;

(iv) Mississippi Chapter, American College of OB-GYN;

(v) Mississippi Psychiatric Association;

(vi) Mississippi Medical and Surgical Association;

(vii) Mississippi Osteopathic Association;

(c) Two (2) designees of the Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine whose terms are at the discretion of the dean, at least one (1) of whom is a member of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine Admissions Committee;

(d) Two (2) medical students, one (1) of whom shall be selected yearly through a process developed by the Dean of the School of Medicine in consultation with the Chairs of the Departments of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, OB-GYN and Pediatrics, and one (1) of whom shall be nominated for a one-year term by the Mississippi Chapter of the Student National Medical Association and approved by the Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine;

(e) A member of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning;

(f) The Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine; and

(g) A licensed psychiatrist appointed by the Mississippi Chapter of the American Psychiatric Association.

(2) The premedical advisors from the accredited four-year colleges and universities in the state and the directors or designees of the primary care generalist training programs in the State of Mississippi shall comprise an advisory committee to the commission to assist the commission in its administration of the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program.

(3) Vacancies on the commission must be filled in a manner consistent with the original appointments.

(4) All appointments to the commission must be made no later than September 1, 2024. After the members are appointed, the Chair of the Department of Family Medicine shall set a date for the organizational meeting that is mutually acceptable to the majority of the commission members. The organizational meeting shall be for the purposes of organizing the commission and establishing rules for transacting its business. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum at all commission meetings. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting shall be required in the adoption of rules, reports and in any other actions taken by the commission. At the organizational meeting, the commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from the members appointed according to paragraphs (a) through (d) of subsection (1). The chair shall serve for a term of two (2) years, upon the expiration of which the vice chair shall assume the office of chair.

(5) After the organizational meeting, the commission shall hold no less than two (2) meetings annually.

(6) The commission may form an executive committee for the purpose of transacting business that must be conducted before the next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission. All actions taken by the executive committee must be ratified by the commission at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

(7) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed, subject to the availability of funding, for mileage and actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the commission.

(8) Funding for the establishment and continued operation of the program and commission shall be appropriated out of any money in the General Fund not already appropriated to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 181-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-13
Status: in_force

(1) The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) shall prepare a biannual report, beginning in 2018 and every two (2) years thereafter, assessing efficacy of Education Scholarship Accounts, to include the sufficiency of funding, and recommending any suggested changes in state law or policy necessary to improve the ESA program.

(2) The report shall assess:

(a) The degree to which eligible schools are meeting the needs of participating students as defined by the participating students' IEPs;

(b) The level of participating students' satisfaction with the ESA program;

(c) The level of parental or guardian satisfaction with the ESA program;

(d) Participating students' performance, both pre-assessment and post-assessment, on the eligible school's current assessment used to demonstrate academic progress, a nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test, or a current state board-approved screener, as required in Section 37-181-15(f) ;

(e) Participating students' performance on Advanced Placement examinations or similar courses and any examinations related to college or university admission; provided that eligible schools must report participating students' performance on Advance Placement examinations and any examinations related to college or university admission;

(f) The four-year high school graduation rates and college acceptance rates of participating students; provided that eligible schools must report participating students' high school graduation rates and, if known, college acceptance rates;

(g) The percentage of funds used for each qualifying expense identified in Section 37-181-5(2) ; and

(h) The fiscal impact to the state and home school districts of the ESA program, which must consider both the impact on revenue and the impact on expenses. Furthermore, the fiscal savings associated with students departing public schools must be explicitly quantified, even if the public school losing the student(s) does not reduce its spending accordingly.

(3) The report shall:

(a) Apply appropriate analytical and behavioral science methodologies to ensure public confidence in the study; and

(b) Protect the identity of participating students and schools by, among other things, keeping anonymous all disaggregated data.

(4) PEER shall provide the Legislature with a final copy of the report of the ESA program before December 31 each year the report is due. At the same time, the study shall also be placed in a prominent location on the PEER website.

(5) PEER must make its data and methodology available for public review while complying with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( 20 USCS Section 1232(g) ).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 106-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-23
Status: in_force

The board shall use the funds available to make possible the implementation of a guaranteed student loan program as provided for by any act of congress.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 37-26-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 26-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-9
Status: in_force

(1) It shall be the duty of the clerk of any court to promptly collect the costs imposed pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-26-3 . In all cases the clerk shall monthly deposit all such costs so collected with the State Treasurer either directly or by other appropriate procedures. All such deposits shall be clearly marked for the State Court Education Fund and the State Prosecutor Education Fund. Upon receipt of such deposits, the State Treasurer shall credit seventy-five percent (75%) of any amounts so deposited to the State Court Education Fund created pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, and shall credit the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of any amounts so deposited to the State Prosecutor Education Fund created pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(2) Such assessments as are collected under Section 99-19-73 shall be deposited in a special fund hereby created in the State Treasury and designated the “State Court Education Fund.” Monies deposited in such fund shall be expended by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning as authorized and appropriated by the Legislature to defray the cost of providing: (i) education and training for the courts of Mississippi and related personnel; (ii) technical assistance for the courts of Mississippi and related personnel; and (iii) current and accurate information for the Mississippi Legislature pertaining to the needs of the courts of Mississippi and related personnel.

(3) Such assessments as are collected under Section 99-19-73 shall be deposited in a special fund hereby created in the State Treasury and designated the “State Prosecutor Education Fund.” Monies deposited in such fund shall be expended by the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi as authorized and appropriated by the Legislature to defray the cost of providing: (i) education and training for district attorneys, county prosecuting attorneys and municipal prosecuting attorneys; (ii) technical assistance for district attorneys, county prosecuting attorneys and municipal prosecuting attorneys; and (iii) current and accurate information for the Mississippi Legislature pertaining to the needs of district attorneys, county prosecuting attorneys and municipal prosecuting attorneys.

(4) A supplemental fund is hereby created in the State Treasury and designated the State Court Constituents Fund. Monies deposited in such fund shall be for the education and training of judges and related court personnel other than those specified in Section 37-26-1(b) . 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 supplemental court education and training cost in the amount of Fifty Cents (50¢), except in justice court cases where the amount sued for is less than Fifteen Dollars ($15.00); and in all criminal cases in the circuit, county, justice and municipal courts of this state, except in cases where the fine is less than Ten Dollars ($10.00). Such costs shall be charged and collected as provided by Sections 37-26-3 and 37-26-5 .

After the transfer to the State Prosecutor Education Fund of twenty-five percent (25%) of the money provided for in subsection (1) of this section, there shall then be transferred into the State Court Education Fund the money on deposit in the State Court Constituents Fund.

(5) A special fund is created in the State Treasury and designated the “State Court Security Systems Fund.” Monies deposited in such fund shall be expended for general courtroom security as well as the maintenance and operation of security surveillance and detection devices for the courtrooms of each court of the State of Mississippi specified in Section 37-26-1(2) . The Administrative Office of Courts shall conduct a study to assess and determine the security needs of the courts and is authorized to expend monies in the fund for the purposes of the fund as authorized and appropriated by the Legislature.

(6) From and after July 1, 2017, the expenses of the State Court Education Fund, the State Prosecutors Education Fund, the State Court Constituents Fund and the State Court Security Systems Fund 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.

(7) From and after July 1, 2016, 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. § 37-41-47 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 41-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-47
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for a driver of any school bus, whether a public or a contract bus, to drive said bus at a speed greater than forty-five (45) miles per hour while transporting children to and from school on regular routes; however, the maximum speed for interstate highways shall be sixty-five (65) miles per hour. However, any such driver, while operating a school bus on other authorized trips, shall not drive said school bus at a speed greater than fifty (50) miles per hour, except the maximum speed for interstate highways shall be sixty-five (65) miles per hour. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each such offense. In addition thereto, upon such conviction, such driver may be discharged from further employment as a school bus driver or carrier and his contract as such may be terminated.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 185-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-21
Status: repealed

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Independent Schools Infrastructure Grant Program Act of 2022.”

(2) There is established the Independent Schools Infrastructure Grant Program, to be administered by the Department of Finance and Administration. Under the program, eligible independent schools may apply for reimbursable grants to make necessary investments in water, wastewater, stormwater, broadband and other eligible infrastructure projects to be funded by the Legislature using Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds made available under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The program shall be funded from appropriations by the Legislature to the department from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund.

(3) The use of grants shall be subject to audit by the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. An eligible independent school found to be fully or partially noncompliant with grant requirements shall return to the state all or a portion of the grant monies received and used for unallowable expenditures. Applicants shall confirm their understanding of these terms.

(4) For purposes of this section, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings as defined in this subsection:

(a) “ Program ” means the Independent Schools Infrastructure Grant Program established under this section.

(b) “ ARPA ” means the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2 , which amends Title VI of the Social Security Act.

(c) “ ARPA funds ” means Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds awarded through Section 602 of Title VI of the Social Security Act amended by Section 9901 of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2.

(d) “ Department ” means the Department of Finance and Administration.

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

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

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

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

(5) On or before July 1, 2022, the department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer the program established under this section, including application procedures and deadlines.

(6) Funds under the program shall be awarded for ARPA eligible projects in the following order:

(a) Eligible water, wastewater and stormwater projects under the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) or Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and other eligible water projects allowable by ARPA;

(b) Broadband infrastructure projects;

(c) Capital investments for prevention, mitigation and ventilation in congregate living facilities and other key settings; and

(d) Any eligible project through ARPA guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury, excluding premium pay for employees.

(7) The governing board of any eligible independent school may submit an application for grant funds under this section. Applicants shall certify to the department that each expenditure of the funds awarded to them by the department under this section is in compliance with the ARPA guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, by the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund. Subsequent submissions will be due by the dates established by the department.

(8) An application for a grant under this section shall be submitted at such time, be in such form, and contain such information as the department prescribes. Each application shall include the following at a minimum: applicant contact information; project description and type of project; project map; estimate of the population served by the project; estimated project cost; estimated project schedule; and readiness to proceed. The department is authorized to accept additional rounds of grant proposals for application consideration as needed.

(9) Applications shall be reviewed, and the department shall certify that each project submitted is eligible under ARPA and all applicable guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury. For water, wastewater and stormwater projects, the department must also certify that it is a “necessary investment” in water, wastewater or stormwater infrastructure as defined in ARPA and all applicable guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury. Grant agreements shall be executed between the recipient and the department. All final awards shall be determined at the discretion of the executive director of the department. Funds shall be made available to a grantee upon the execution of a grant agreement between the department and the approved applicant, and the department obtains the necessary support for reimbursement.

(10) Grant funds shall be used prospectively, and grants are not available to cover the costs of debt incurred before July 1, 2022.

(11) The maximum amount of grant funds that may be awarded to any eligible independent school under the program is One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00).

(12) The department shall submit to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by October 1 of each year an annual report about the program. The reports shall contain the applications received, the amount of grant funds awarded to each applicant, the amount of grant funds expended by each applicant, and the status of each applicant's project.

(13) Grant funds received under this section must be obligated no later than December 31, 2024, and must be expended no later than December 31, 2026. Each grant recipient shall certify for any project for which a grant is awarded that if the project is not completed by December 31, 2026, and the United States Congress does not enact an extension of the deadline on the availability of ARPA funds, then the grant recipient will complete the project using any other funds available.

(14) The department may retain an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) of the total funds allocated to the program to defray its administrative costs.

(15) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2026.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-415 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 29-415
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-415
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District shall, on or before the fifteenth day of June each year, prepare and file the annual budget of the district. The said budget shall contain a detailed estimate of the revenues and expenses anticipated for the ensuing year for general operation and maintenance and shall set forth the reasonable requirements for anticipated needs for capital outlays for land, buildings, initial equipment for new buildings and major repairs, a reasonable accumulation for such purposes being hereby expressly authorized. Funds derived from the levy for capital outlay shall be kept in a separate account and expended for capital outlay purposes only.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 65-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-105
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any such school district may, in its discretion, pay all or any part of the salary of all superintendents, principals, teachers and other employees during or for the period when any of the said schools are closed in accordance with the terms of this article, and funds shall be drawn from the same source or sources as such funds would be drawn to pay such items if the school or schools had not been closed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 133-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-7
Status: in_force

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special fund to be known as the “technical institute fund.” All sums of money received by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning to carry out the provisions of the Mississippi Technical Institute Law of 1964 shall be maintained in said special fund. All expenditures therefrom shall be for the purposes of carrying out the intents and purposes of said law, including the payment of salaries for qualified instructors as well as the equipping and staffing of the institute. Such expenditures shall be paid therefrom by the state treasurer on warrant of the auditor of public accounts. Said auditor shall issue his warrant upon requisition signed by the proper person, officer or officers, as authorized by law. The board is authorized to accept gifts, bequests of money, or other property, real or personal, to be used for the purpose of establishing or maintaining any technical institute which may be authorized under the provisions of said law and in accordance with the law of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 103-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-1
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of each junior college in this state, the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, and the administrative authorities of each institution governed by said boards, in ascertaining and determining the legal residence of and tuition to be charged any student applying for admission to such institutions shall be governed by the definitions and conditions set forth in Sections 37-103-1 through 37-103-23 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-125 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 29-125
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-125
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any such junior college district borrowing money pursuant to the authority granted in Section 37-29-121 , is hereby authorized and empowered to fix, maintain and collect fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members and others using, housed in or being served by any building or other housing facility erected or established under the terms and provisions of said section. All such fees, rentals and other charges shall likewise be paid into the debt retirement fund specified in Section 37-29-123 , and shall be pledged for the prompt repayment of any and all indebtedness, whether of principal or interest, incurred under the provisions of said section. Nothing in Sections 37-29-121 through 37-29-127 shall be construed to authorize the levying or imposition of any taxes in excess of the limits and amounts which are now or may hereafter be provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 109-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-3
Status: in_force

There is hereby created the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program, to be administered by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board established under Section 37-106-9 . The board shall set the dates and deadlines for applying for funding for dual enrollment/dual credit courses of eligible Mississippi high school students under the provisions of this chapter and award scholarships to participating institutions for those who meet the eligibility requirements provided herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 31-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-39
Status: in_force

The state board of education shall cooperate with medical, health, nursing and welfare groups and organizations and with any other agencies in the state charged with administering state laws providing for vocational rehabilitation of physically handicapped children. Said state board is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to cooperate with the federal government in such manner as to obtain the benefits of the provisions of the federal social security act pertaining to crippled children.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-28 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 113-28
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-28
Status: in_force

Neither the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, nor any person acting on behalf thereof, shall lease or rent hunting rights on any land located in Washington County, Mississippi, under the jurisdiction, ownership or trusteeship of the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Delta Branch at Stoneville, but shall allow the public to hunt on such lands in accordance with the rules, regulations and permits as shall be adopted by the Delta Branch Experiment Station. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall assist in the enforcement of such rules, regulations and permits as adopted by the Delta Branch Experiment Station, as well as enforcing the general hunting statutes of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 155-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-25
Status: in_force

The state shall agree to meet the obligations of the board to beneficiaries if monies in the fund fail to offset the obligations of the board. If there is not enough money in the fund to pay the tuition and required fees of the institution of higher education in which a beneficiary enrolls as provided by the prepaid tuition contract, the Legislature shall appropriate to the fund the amount necessary for the board to pay the applicable amount of tuition and required fees of the institution.

In the event that the board determines the program to be financially infeasible, the board may discontinue the program. Any qualified beneficiary who has been accepted by and is enrolled or is within five (5) years of enrollment in an institution of higher learning or any in-state or out-of-state regionally accredited private four- or two-year college or an out-of-state regionally accredited, state-supported, nonprofit four- or two-year college or university shall be entitled to exercise the complete benefits for which he has contracted. All other contract holders shall receive a refund, pursuant to Section 37-155-9, of the amount paid in and an additional amount in the nature of interest at a rate that corresponds, at a minimum, to the prevailing interest rates for savings accounts provided by banks and savings and loan associations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 31-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-11
Status: in_force

The State of Mississippi shall appropriate sums of money for the support of vocational education from year to year, sufficient at least to equal the amounts allotted year by year to the State of Mississippi for vocational education by the federal government under the provisions of the “Smith-Hughes Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / 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. § 37-153-233 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 153-233
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-233
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature finds the following:

(a) The public health crisis related to COVID-19 resulted in a general disruption in the Mississippi economy and workforce, particularly in the healthcare industry.

(b) COVID-19 and the closing of or reduction in services at rural hospitals created an unprecedented demand on emergency medical response providers.

(c) Consequently, the number of paramedics decreased in the State of Mississippi by approximately nineteen percent (19%).

(d) The lack of paramedics directly impacts all Mississippians ability to rely on quality emergency care.

(2) Therefore, the intent of the Legislature is:

(a) To provide funding to the Office of Workforce Development to establish a scholarship program for the purposes outlined herein.

(b) To provide 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.

(c) To provide funding for grants to reimburse the cost of a qualified applicant's fee for the successful completion of the National Registry Paramedic cognitive and psychomotor examinations.

(d) To gauge the effectiveness of this program by gathering data related to the participation and employment outcomes in order to replicate successful efforts in future workforce development programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 113-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-39
Status: in_force

No public automobile for the transportation of passengers for hire shall be operated on any of the highways or streets on the campus or grounds of the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science without a license from said university to the owner thereof. No fee shall be charged for the issuance of such license and such license shall be subject to revocation by the university authorities at any time without notice. This section shall not apply to any common carrier of passengers who has duly qualified with the Mississippi public service commission.

Any person running or operating an automobile at any time in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction thereof, such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or by thirty days in jail or by both before any court of competent jurisdiction.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 27-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-21
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the legislature to make appropriations to meet the conditions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-209 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 153-209
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-209
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Mississippi Allied Health College and Career Navigator Grant Program, which shall be directed by the office for the purpose of hiring professionals, or navigators, to provide individual assistance and guidance to students to assist them in many areas, from maneuvering challenges while enrolled in college programs and understanding the job market to working through course challenges, and to help retain and graduate nursing and allied health students, at community and junior colleges. The Office of Workforce Development shall promulgate rules and regulations on the eligibility requirements to be a navigator. The grant program shall be funded from monies appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.

(2) The office shall prescribe the terms and conditions of the grant program. To be eligible to receive a grant from the office under the grant program, a community college shall provide the following information:

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

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

(c) Any other information that the office determines is necessary.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 51-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-21
Status: in_force

The amount of any loan made or granted to any applicant shall be reduced by a credit at the rate of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per annum for each year from and after five years from the initial date of the granting of said loan that applicant continues to reside in the State of Mississippi.

In addition, the amount of said loan shall be reduced by a credit at the rate of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per annum for each year that applicant continues his education at any junior college, college or university within the State of Mississippi after his graduation or termination from secondary school.

In addition, the amount of said loan shall be reduced by a credit at the rate of two hundred dollars ($200.00) per annum for each year that applicant resides within the state and teaches in any school system therein, beginning from the date of his certification or licensing by the state department of education to teach in any such system.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-221 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 33-221
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-221
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful, except for purposes directly connected with the administration of the Office of Special Disability Programs and in accordance with regulations, for any person or persons to solicit, disclose, receive, or make use of, or authorize, knowingly permit, participate in, or acquiesce in the use of any list of, or names of, or any information concerning persons applying for or receiving services under the Office of Special Disability Programs, directly or indirectly derived from the records, papers, files, or communications of the state or subdivisions or agencies thereof, or acquired in the course of the performance of official duties, except in response to summons, subpoena or other order of a court. Any violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor and punishable accordingly.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 173-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-17
Status: in_force

(1) To be eligible to participate in the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program, a nonpublic school must:

(a) Be a state accredited special purpose school;

(b) Provide to the department all documentation required for a student's participation, including the nonpublic school's and student's fee schedules, at least thirty (30) days before the first quarterly scholarship payment is made for the student.

(c) Be academically accountable to the parent or legal guardian for meeting the educational needs of the student by, at a minimum, annually providing to the parent or legal guardian a written explanation of the student's progress.

(d) Maintain in this state a physical location where a scholarship student regularly attends classes.

(2) The inability of a nonpublic school to meet the requirements of this subsection shall constitute a basis for the ineligibility of the nonpublic school to participate in the scholarship program as determined by the department.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-25
Status: in_force

Any individual applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation who is aggrieved by any action or inaction of the office shall be entitled, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the state board, to a fair hearing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-42 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-42
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-42
Status: in_force

There is created an advisory committee to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the lease of the property described in Sections 37-101-41 , 37-101-43 and 37-101-44 , which shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The respective Chairmen of the Public Property Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate;

(b) The respective Chairmen of the Universities and Colleges Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate;

(c) One (1) member of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

(d) One (1) member of the Senate, to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

Before selecting the private developer to which to lease the property described in Sections 37-101-41 , 37-101-43 and 37-101-44 , and while negotiating the terms of the lease with the private developer that has been selected, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall consult with the advisory committee and consider any suggestions and recommendations made by the advisory committee regarding the lease of the property.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 97-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-3
Status: in_force

A government entity, any licensing or accrediting organization, or any athletic association or organization shall not entertain a complaint, open an investigation, or take any other adverse action against a primary or secondary school or institution of higher education for maintaining separate interscholastic or intramural athletic teams or sports for students of the female sex.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-107 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 151-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-107
Status: in_force

Any superintendent of education, member of the local school board of any school district, superintendent, principal, teacher, carrier, bus driver or member or employee of the State Department of Education or State Board of Education, or any other person, who shall willfully violate any of the provisions of this chapter, or who shall willfully make any false report, list or record, or who shall willfully make use of any false report, list or record, concerning the number of school children in net enrollment 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, and, in the event such suit is 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. § 37-181-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 181-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-3
Status: in_force

The terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings ascribed herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ ESA program ” means the Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program created in this chapter.

(b) “ Eligible student ” means any student who has had an active Individualized Education Program (IEP) within the past three (3) years and has maintained eligibility.

(c) “ Participating student ” means any student who meets the qualifications of an eligible student as defined in paragraph (b) of this section and is participating in an ESA program at an eligible school.

(d) “ Parent ” means a resident of this state who is a parent, legal guardian, custodian or other person with the authority to act on behalf of the eligible student.

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

(f) “ Home school district ” means the public school district in which the student resides.

(g) “ Eligible school ” means a state-accredited special purpose school, a state-accredited nonpublic school, or a nonpublic school located in the state that has enrolled a participating student and is providing services for the participating student's disability or special education needs, or is providing services addressing a participating student's IEP. An eligible school does not include a home instruction program under Section 37-13-91, Mississippi Code of 1972 .

(h) “ Tutor ” means a person who is certified or licensed by a state, regional, or national certification, licensing, or accreditation organization or who has earned a valid teacher's license or who has experience teaching at an eligible postsecondary institution.

(i) “ Postsecondary institution ” means a community college, college, or university accredited by a state, regional or national accrediting organization.

(j) “ Educational service provider ” means an eligible school, tutor, or other person or organization that provides education-related services and products to participating students.

(k) “ Awarded ESA school year ” means the duration of the school year in which ESA program funds are deposited in a student's ESA.

(l) Nothing in this section shall negate federal law requiring public school districts to identify and provide services to students with disabilities who live within the public school district, including those enrolled in nonpublic schools or home instruction programs.

(m) An eligible school shall provide notice to a participating student's home school district when the eligible student enrolls in the eligible school with an ESA. Furthermore, a public school district providing special education services to a participating student enrolled in an eligible school shall be reimbursed by the eligible school, or parent or guardian who submitted the ESA application, fair market value for any special education services rendered to the eligible student in an amount not to exceed the amount of ESA funds reimbursed to the eligible student during the awarded ESA school year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 6-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Uniform School Law of 1986.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-20-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 20-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-20-7
Status: in_force

(1) To be eligible to receive funds under this chapter a school district shall describe in writing its remedial education program. The description shall include all special remedial and compensatory instruction to be provided by the district from all fund sources. The district description shall include a description of the program to be conducted at each separate school or location in the district and shall include the estimated number of students to participate in the program; the estimated number of teachers, volunteers and others to be utilized in the program; and the estimated budget for each such program.

(2) The programs provided by funds received under this chapter shall meet the following criteria:

(a) Each participating student must be determined by the school district, on the basis of the district's assessment tests, to need special educational assistance in order that the student's level of educational attainment in basic skills may be raised to that appropriate for children of the student's age.

(b) The program must be based on performance objectives related to educational achievement in the basic skills and provide supplementary services designed to meet the special educational needs of each participating student.

(c) The program must be evaluated in a manner consistent with the performance objectives and include a pretest and a post-test for each participating student. The evaluation may use local measures designed to measure the local instructional management plan.

(d) The state and local funds expended in the program must be accounted for separately from all other funds expended by the district.

(e) The program must establish a teacher support team in each building wherein the program is implemented to play a key role in determining the instructional services required by a child.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-311 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 101-311
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-311
Status: in_force

All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 shall be and are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and in exercising the powers granted by Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 , the State Bond Commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code. Such bonds and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation within the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 106-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

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

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

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

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

(2) The purpose of the Legislature in the passage of this chapter is to make manifest the belief that the continued growth and development of Mississippi requires that all Mississippi youth be assured ample opportunity for the fullest development of their abilities and to recognize that this opportunity will not fully materialize unless the State of Mississippi moves to encourage and financially assist our young people in their efforts. This chapter shall be broadly construed to accomplish that purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 27-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-71
Status: in_force

In any such case the board of trustees of such agricultural high school, by resolution or order, shall declare its intention to borrow any sum not in excess of the limitation fixed in Section 37-27-69 , and shall recite in said resolution or order with reasonable particulars the purpose for which said funds are to be borrowed, and shall fix a schedule of amounts and dates of maturities by which such loans shall be repaid. Such resolution or order shall be duly recorded in the permanent minutes of the board of trustees of such institution. All such loans shall be fully repaid within six (6) years, and they shall be evidenced by notes signed by the president and secretary of the board of trustees, which shall bear appropriate reference to the resolution or order of the board of trustees authorizing such loan. Such loan shall be retired in installments of not less than one-fifth (1/5) the amount thereof on the first day of April of the year next succeeding the date of such loan and an equal amount on the same date of each and every year thereafter until said loan is paid.

Notes issued in evidence of such loans shall bear interest at a rate of not to exceed four percent (4%) per annum, all interest payable semi-annually, and no such note shall be sold or negotiated by said institution for less than par and accrued interest. Funds received by such institution from the sale or negotiation of any such notes shall be paid into the treasury of the institution and disbursed as other funds thereof are disbursed, but for no other purpose than that authorized by Section 37-27-69 . Such notes shall be lithographed, or engraved, and printed in two (2) or more colors to prevent counterfeiting. Such notes shall bear the signature of the agricultural high school issuing the same, by the president and secretary of the board of trustees thereof. They shall be impressed with the seal of such institution. Interest coupons attached may bear the facsimile signatures of the aforesaid officers of the board of trustees. Before negotiation or sale and delivery thereof, said notes shall be registered in a book kept in the business office of such institution.

All indebtedness so created shall be paid from first funds derived from tax levies for maintenance and operation of said school coming into the treasury thereof and from fees, rentals and other charges as provided in Section 37-27-73 . In order to secure the prompt payment of any and all indebtedness, whether of principal or interest incurred hereunder, a special fund shall be established in the depository of the funds of said institution, the style of which shall be, “debt retirement fund of __________ agricultural high school,” and immediately upon receipt of the distribution of said first funds derived from such tax levies, annually hereafter in advance of the due date of each and every installment of said indebtedness, a sufficient sum from said taxes shall be paid into said special fund for the retirement of all principal and interest coming due within said year equal to the difference, if any, between such principal and interest and the amount collected from fees, rentals and other charges, as provided in Section 37-27-73 . Said debt retirement fund shall be used for no other purpose than for the payment of principal and interest of indebtedness incurred hereunder.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 173-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-21
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education in conjunction with each nonpublic school and local school board operating under the provisions of this chapter, may:

(a) Extend the school day or length of the scholastic year;

(b) Develop and establish a curriculum that is consistent with the Mississippi Curriculum Framework in the subject areas of mathematics, social studies, science, music, art and physical education; and

(c) Select, purchase and use textbooks, literature and other instructional materials that would improve educational attainment by students in the school, subject to the approval of the board.

(2) The qualified personnel to facilitate the educational process of learning and instruction for children with dyslexia who attend the schools shall consist of the following:

(a) An administrator or director with additional training in the characteristics of dyslexia;

(b) A dyslexia therapist licensed by the department in dyslexia therapy;

(c) Dyslexia therapists in training participating in a department approved dyslexia therapy graduate internship program; and

(d) Licensed elementary teachers under the supervision of a state department licensed dyslexia therapist.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-171-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 171-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-171-3
Status: in_force

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

(a) “ Recreation ” means any indoor or outdoor game or activity, either organized or unorganized, undertaken for exercise, relaxation, diversion, sport or pleasure.

(b) “ School property ” means all indoor or outdoor structures, facilities and land, whether owned, rented or leased by the school or school district.

(c) “ Sport ” means an activity requiring physical exertion and skill and which, by its nature and organization, is competitive and generally accepted as being a sport.

(d) “ Shared use agreement ” means a legal agreement that defines the rights and responsibilities of the school district and another organization or governmental agency for use of the school facilities for recreation or other purpose of importance to the community.

(e) “ Local government entity ” means any county, municipality, school district, public hospital or other political subdivision of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 59-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-17
Status: in_force

When the results of the election on the question of the issuance of such bonds shall have been canvassed by the election commissioners of such county or municipality, and certified by them to the school board of the school district, it shall be the duty of such school board to determine and adjudicate whether or not three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the qualified electors who voted in such election voted in favor of the issuance of such bonds. Unless three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the qualified electors who voted in such election shall have voted in favor of the issuance of such bonds, then such bonds shall not be issued. Should three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the qualified electors who vote in such election vote in favor of the issuance of such bonds, then the school board of such school district shall issue such bonds, either in whole or in part, within two (2) years from the date of such election, or within two (2) years after the final favorable termination of any litigation affecting the issuance of such bonds, as such school board shall deem best.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-601 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-601
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-601
Status: in_force

Whenever the Mississippi Community College Board shall, by a proper resolution, declare the necessity of the formation of nonprofit corporations for the purpose of acquiring or constructing facilities for community and junior colleges under its jurisdiction, any number of natural persons, not less than three (3), who are residents of the State of Mississippi may file with the Secretary of State an application in writing for authority to incorporate a public nonprofit corporation, known as an “educational building corporation.” If it shall be made to appear that each of the persons is a duly qualified resident of this state, then the persons filing such application shall be authorized, subject to the prior approval by the board of the form of the articles of incorporation and bylaws thereof, to proceed to form the corporation as provided by the general law of this state with respect to corporations organized not-for-profit except as provided in Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 . The Secretary of State, upon receipt of the application, shall forthwith issue a certificate of incorporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 11-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-33
Status: in_force

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

All such reports shall be preserved by each recipient thereof and a copy retained in the office or law enforcement department or agency, state, county or municipal, and in the office of any justice of the peace or circuit clerk, as the case may be, who or which made such report or reports.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 27-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-15
Status: in_force

The trustees of agricultural high schools shall have control of the property, elect and fix salaries of all teachers of the school, and shall have full power to do all things necessary to the successful operation of said school. When a common school is taught in connection with an agricultural high school, the election of teachers for the common school department shall be made by the common school trustees in the same manner as is required of other common school trustees.

The trustees may, where in their judgment it would be beneficial to the school, pay the traveling expenses, hotel bills, and other necessary expenses of the executive head of the school in promoting the school's general welfare, provided that such traveling expenses, hotel bills, and other necessary expenses shall not exceed Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00) annually.

Each member of the board of trustees, the county superintendent excepted, shall receive his actual expenses while on duty, provided that said expenses do not exceed Twelve Dollars and Fifty Cents ($12.50) per day, to be paid out of the county agricultural high school fund on receipt of an itemized statement issued to the county superintendent.

The board of trustees of a school established or maintained by the joint action of two or more counties, shall have all the power and discharge all the duties appertaining to boards of trustees of schools where only one county is interested.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 115-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-21
Status: in_force

Whenever used in Sections 37-115-21 through 37-115-33 , the term “medical school” shall mean the four-year, standard medical school provided for in Section 37-115-23 as a department of the University of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 41-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-27
Status: in_force

(1) The local school boards, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education, may permit the use of publicly owned school buses for the transportation of participating students, teachers, coaches and sponsors in connection with athletic events, events of boys' and girls' clubs, events of Future Farmers of America or 4-H Clubs and special events in connection with the schools which the boards may consider a part of the educational program. The local school boards, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education, may permit the use of publicly owned school buses for the transportation of citizens for grand jury and other jury functions upon order of the court or as considered necessary by the school board during natural or man-made emergencies, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other acts of God. The local school boards, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education, may permit the use of publicly owned school buses for the transportation of citizens attending an air show or historic commemorative event held on a military base or military park located in the school district; provided that such determination shall be made upon the minutes of the school board and shall include an agreement with the military base or military park that it will indemnify and hold the school district harmless in any action regarding such transportation.

(2)(a) Local school boards may regularly permit the use of motor vehicles other than school buses when the transportation is for trips to and from school sites or for school-related functions and activities; however, motor vehicles other than school buses may not be used for customary transportation between a student's residence and such sites.

(b) When the transportation of students is provided, as authorized in this subsection, in a vehicle other than a school bus that is owned, operated, rented, contracted, or leased by a school district or charter school, the following provisions shall apply:

(i) The vehicle must be a passenger car or multipurpose passenger vehicle or truck, as defined in 49 CFR Part 571 , designed to transport fewer than sixteen (16) students and which does not require a commercial driver's license with passenger endorsement. Students must be transported in designated seating positions and must use the occupant crash protection system provided by the manufacturer unless the student's physical condition prohibits such use.

(ii) An authorized vehicle may not be driven by a student on a public right-of-way. An authorized vehicle may be driven by a student on school or private property as part of the student's educational curriculum if no other student is in the vehicle.

(iii) The driver of an authorized vehicle transporting students must maintain a valid driver's license and must comply with the requirements of the school district's locally adopted safe driver plan, which includes review of driving records for disqualifying violations.

(iv) The local school board must adopt a policy that addresses procedures and liability for trips under this paragraph, including a provision that school buses are to be used whenever practical and specifying consequences for violation of the policy.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 16-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-3
Status: in_force

(1) The State Department of Education is directed to implement a program of statewide assessment testing which shall provide for the improvement of the operation and management of the public schools. The statewide program shall be timed, as far as possible, so as not to conflict with ongoing district assessment programs. As part of the program, the department shall:

(a) Establish, with the approval of the State Board of Education, minimum performance standards related to the goals for education contained in the state's plan including, but not limited to, basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics. The minimum performance standards shall be approved by April 1 in each year they are established.

(b) Conduct a uniform statewide testing program in grades deemed appropriate in the public schools, including charter schools, which shall include the administration of a career-readiness assessment, such as, but not limited to, the ACT WorkKeys Assessment, deemed appropriate by the Mississippi Department of Education working in coordination with the Office of Workforce Development, to any students electing to take the assessment. Each individual school district shall determine whether the assessment is administered in the tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade. The program may test skill areas, basic skills and high school course content.

(c) Monitor the results of the assessment program and, at any time the composite student performance of a school or basic program is found to be below the established minimum standards, notify the district superintendent or the governing board of the charter school, as the case may be, the school principal and the school advisory committee or other existing parent group of the situation within thirty (30) days of its determination. The department shall further provide technical assistance to a school district in the identification of the causes of this deficiency and shall recommend courses of action for its correction.

(d) Provide technical assistance to the school districts, when requested, in the development of student performance standards in addition to the established minimum statewide standards.

(e) Issue security procedure regulations providing for the security and integrity of the tests that are administered under the basic skills assessment program.

(f) In case of an allegation of a testing irregularity that prompts a need for an investigation by the Department of Education, the department may, in its discretion, take complete control of the statewide test administration in a school district or any part thereof, including, but not limited to, obtaining control of the test booklets and answer documents. In the case of any verified testing irregularity that jeopardized the security and integrity of the test(s), validity or the accuracy of the test results, the cost of the investigation and any other actual and necessary costs related to the investigation paid by the Department of Education shall be reimbursed by the local school district from funds other than federal funds, total funding formula funds provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , or any other state funds within six (6) months from the date of notice by the department to the school district to make reimbursement to the department.

(2) Uniform basic skills tests shall be completed by each student in the appropriate grade. These tests shall be administered in such a manner as to preserve the integrity and validity of the assessment. In the event of excused or unexcused student absences, make-up tests shall be given. The school superintendent of every school district in the state and the principal of each charter school shall annually certify to the State Department of Education that each student enrolled in the appropriate grade has completed the required basic skills assessment test for his or her grade in a valid test administration.

(3) Within five (5) days of completing the administration of a statewide test, the principal of the school where the test was administered shall certify under oath to the State Department of Education that the statewide test was administered in strict accordance with the Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System as adopted by the State Board of Education. The principal's sworn certification shall be set forth on a form developed and approved by the Department of Education. If, following the administration of a statewide test, the principal has reason to believe that the test was not administered in strict accordance with the Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System as adopted by the State Board of Education, the principal shall submit a sworn certification to the Department of Education setting forth all information known or believed by the principal about all potential violations of the Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System as adopted by the State Board of Education. The submission of false information or false certification to the Department of Education by any licensed educator may result in licensure disciplinary action pursuant to Section 37-3-2 and criminal prosecution pursuant to Section 37-16-4 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-567 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-567
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-567
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees of the Coahoma Community College District shall have the general borrowing and bonding authority provided in Sections 37-29-101 through 37-29-127 . The board of trustees shall have the taxation authority provided in Sections 37-29-141 through 37-29-145 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-104.3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.3
Status: in_force

(1) In Oktibbeha 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 countywide municipal separate school district to be designated as Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District which shall consist of the territory of the former Oktibbeha County School District and the Starkville School District, effective on July 1, 2015. Until June 30, 2015, preceding the effective date of the required administrative consolidation of school districts in the county, the Oktibbeha County School District shall remain in conservatorship, under the authority and control of the Mississippi Recovery School District of the State Department of Education. At such time that the administrative consolidation becomes effective, the central administrative office of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District shall be located in Starkville, Mississippi.

(2)(a) On or before July 1, 2014, the State Board of Education shall serve the local school board of the Starkville School District with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to comply with the administrative consolidation required in this section.

(b) In the new consolidated school district there shall be a countywide municipal separate school district board of trustees, which shall consist of the existing members of the Board of Trustees of the Starkville School District. However, upon the first occurrence of a vacancy on the board as a result of an expired term of an appointed board member, that vacancy shall become an elected position and shall be filled by the election of a board member as follows: the 2016 expiring term board member shall remain in office until January 1, 2017. In November 2016, an election will be held for a board member who resides outside of the incorporated municipal limits in the manner prescribed in Section 37-7-203 , and the elected board member will take office for a five-year term beginning January 1, 2017. Subsequent board members shall be selected in the manner prescribed in Section 37-7-203 . The Board of Supervisors of Oktibbeha County shall publish notice of the school board elections in some newspaper of general circulation in the county for at least three (3) consecutive weeks.

(c) Any school district affected by the required administrative consolidation in the county that does not voluntarily consolidate as ordered by the State Board of Education shall be administratively consolidated by the State Board of Education, to be effective immediately upon action of the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall promptly move on its own motion to administratively consolidate a school district which does not voluntarily consolidate in order to enable the affected school districts to reasonably accomplish the resulting administrative consolidation into one (1) consolidated school district by July 1 following the motion to consolidate. The affected school districts shall comply with any consolidation order issued by the State Board of Education.

(3) On July 1, 2015, following the motion of the State Board of Education to consolidate school districts in Oktibbeha County, the Oktibbeha County School District shall be abolished. All real and personal property which is owned or titled in the name of the school district located in such former school district shall be transferred to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District as of July 1, 2015. The Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District is authorized and directed to execute and record all documents and conveyances necessary to convey title to all real and personal property of the Oktibbeha County School District to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. The conservator is further authorized and directed to sign all documents and to take all actions necessary to assign contracts and other property, contract rights and obligations of the Oktibbeha County School District to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. The Board of Trustees of the Starkville School District shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for operations, teachers, principals, clerical and administrative staff personnel for the 2015-2016 school year prior to July 1, 2015, and shall consult with the conservator for the establishment of contracts for teachers, principals, clerical and administrative staff personnel located in the former Oktibbeha County School District for the 2015-2016 school year. In order to prepare for the efficient staffing of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District and the Superintendent of the Starkville School District shall have full authority to nonrenew the employment contract of any teacher, principal, clerical or administrative staff located within their respective school districts for the 2015-2016 school year. The superintendent and assistant superintendent(s) of schools of the former Starkville School District shall continue to serve in like administrative capacities of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, but in no instance shall the administrative leadership of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District exceed three (3) assistant superintendents to be appointed by the superintendent of the former Starkville School District. No superintendent serving in the former Oktibbeha County School District shall be eligible for appointment as a superintendent or assistant superintendent in the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. Likewise, no trustee serving in the former Oktibbeha County School District shall be eligible for election to the new Board of Trustees of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. It shall be the responsibility of the board of trustees to prepare and approve the budget of the respective new reorganized district, and the board of trustees may use staff from the former school district to prepare the budget. Any transfer of the assets, real or personal property of the Oktibbeha County School District mandated by this section shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of the transfer of property required by this section to effectuate the administrative consolidation.

(4) 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.

(5) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative consolidation of the school districts in Oktibbeha County pursuant to the requirements of this section. Beginning with the insurance cafeteria plan year of November 1, 2014, the consolidated districts shall fall under all insurance plans and policies elected by the Starkville Public School District, including the group term life insurance described in Section 25-15-9(7) .

(6) For the initial three (3) years following the administrative consolidation required by this section, the State Department of Education shall grant a waiver of accountability and state assessment requirements to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education.

(7) As soon as practicable after March 31, 2015, the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District shall initiate the issuance of notes or certificates of indebtedness of the Oktibbeha County School District for the purpose of purchasing school buses, textbooks, computers and software and other equipment and fixtures for school facilities, and for any purposes enumerated in Section 37-59-3, Mississippi Code of 1972 , and making repairs, alterations, utility upgrades and additions to two (2) elementary school buildings located in the Oktibbeha County School District in order to meet the same physical and educational standards as the elementary school buildings in Starkville, and to contribute funds to the Starkville School District for capital improvements to accommodate county school district students and increase capacity for the consolidation. The contribution of such funds to the Starkville School District is hereby authorized. Said notes or certificates of indebtedness shall be issued under the authority of Sections 37-59-101 through 37-59-115, Mississippi Code of 1972 , including all notice requirements, however, the resolution as to the necessity for the issuance of the notes and the execution of the documents shall be made by the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District. The term of any notes or certificates of indebtedness issued under this section may not exceed the useful life of the financed project as determined according to the upper limit of useful life and depreciation guidelines established under the United States Internal Revenue Code and regulations. The levying authority for the Oktibbeha County School District, and after July 1, 2015, the levying authority for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, shall annually levy a special tax on all taxable property of the former Oktibbeha County School District, and after July 1, 2015, on all taxable property of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such negotiable notes or certificates of indebtedness as the same shall respectively mature and accrue. Said tax shall be levied as provided in Section 37-59-107, Mississippi Code of 1972 , except that the levy shall not exceed three (3) mills on the dollar for the payment of all notes that are subject to the levy under Section 37-59-107 . Any notes or certificates of indebtedness issued pursuant to this subsection (7) shall become indebtedness of the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District from and after July 1, 2015, and the mandatory special ad valorem tax levied to pay the notes or certificates of indebtedness by the levying authority pursuant to Section 37-59-107, Mississippi Code of 1972 , shall be levied upon all of the taxable property within the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.

(8) For a period beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015, the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District shall issue negotiable bonds of the Oktibbeha County School District for the purpose of purchasing school buses, textbooks, computers and software and other equipment and fixtures for school facilities, and making repairs, alterations and additions and utility upgrades, and for any purposes allowed by Section 37-59-3, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to school facilities in the Oktibbeha County School District and in the Starkville School District to accommodate students in the former Oktibbeha County School District who will be attending school in the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and the increased capacity needs under the consolidation. Said bonds shall be issued under the authority of Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45 , however, any resolutions as to the necessity for the issuance of any bonds and execution of the documents may be made periodically by the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District. Provided further, that the conservator shall publish each resolution of necessity and intent to issue any bonds once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the Oktibbeha County School District, with the first publication thereof to be made not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date upon which the conservator is to take final action upon the question of authorizing the issuance of said bonds. If no petition requesting an election is filed prior to the date and time of the meeting at which the conservator is to take final action on the issuance of said bonds, then the conservator shall authorize the issuance of the bonds. If at any time prior to the date and time of the meeting at which the conservator is to take final action upon the question of issuing such bonds a petition signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the Oktibbeha County School District shall be filed with the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District requesting that an election be called on the question of issuing the bonds, then the conservator shall either rescind the applicable resolution of intent or adopt a resolution calling an election to be held within the territory of the Oktibbeha County School District upon such question. The election shall be called and held, and notice thereof shall be given, in the same manner for elections upon the question of bond issues under Sections 37-59-11 , 37-59-13 , 37-59-15 and 37-59-17 , and the results thereof shall be certified by the Oktibbeha County Election Commission to the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District. If three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the qualified electors of the Oktibbeha County School District who voted in such election vote in favor of the issuance of such bonds, then the conservator shall authorize the Oktibbeha County School District to issue such bonds. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Oktibbeha County School District may issue bonds pursuant to this subsection (8) in an amount which, when added to all of the Oktibbeha County School District's then outstanding bonded indebtedness, shall not result in the imposition on any of the property in said district of an indebtedness for school purposes of more than twenty percent (20%) of the assessed value of the taxable property within said district, according to the then last completed assessment for taxation. Any bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (8) shall become indebtedness of the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District from and after July 1, 2015, and the mandatory special ad valorem tax to be levied by the levying authority pursuant to Section 37-59-23, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to pay the bonds shall be levied upon all taxable property within the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.

(9) For a period beginning July 1, 2015, and ending July 1, 2027, the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees may periodically issue negotiable bonds in one or more series of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District for the purpose of purchasing school buses, textbooks, computers and software and other equipment and fixtures for school facilities and for any purposes enumerated in Section 37-59-3, Mississippi Code of 1972 . The term of any such bonds may not exceed the useful life of the financed project as determined according to the upper limit of useful life and depreciation guidelines established under the United States Internal Revenue Code and regulations. Said bonds shall be issued under the authority of Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45 , including all notice and publication requirements, however, the necessity for the issuance of the bonds shall be made pursuant to a reverse referendum procedure to be followed by the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees as follows: the board of trustees shall publish each resolution of necessity and intent to issue bonds once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, with the first publication thereof to be made not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the board of trustees is to take final action authorizing the issuance of the bonds. If no petition requesting an election is filed prior to the date and time of the meeting at which the board of trustees is to take final action on the issuance of the bonds, the board of trustees shall authorize the issuance of the bonds. If at any time prior to the date and time of the meeting at which the board of trustees is to take final action authorizing the issuance of the bonds a petition signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District shall be filed with the Board of Trustees of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District requesting that an election be called on the question of issuing the bonds, then the board of trustees shall, not later than its next regular meeting, adopt a resolution calling an election to be held within the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District upon such question. The election shall be called and held, and notice thereof shall be given, in the same manner for elections upon the question of bond issues under Sections 37-59-11 , 37-59-13 , 37-59-15 and 37-59-17 , and the results thereof shall be certified to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees, as the case may be. If three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the qualified electors of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District who voted in such election vote in favor of the issuance of such bonds, then the board of trustees shall issue such bonds. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District may issue bonds pursuant to this subsection (9) in an amount which, when added to all of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's then outstanding bonded indebtedness, shall not result in the imposition on any of the property in said district of an indebtedness for school purposes of more than twenty percent (20%) of the assessed value of the taxable property within said district, according to the then last completed assessment for taxation. Any bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (9) shall be indebtedness of the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. The mandatory special ad valorem tax to be levied by the levying authority pursuant to Section 37-59-23, Mississippi Code of 1972 , shall be levied on all taxable property of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.

(10) Notwithstanding any law or any provision of any law to the contrary, from and after July 1, 2015, all outstanding debt of the former Oktibbeha County School District and the former Starkville School District shall be assumed by and become the debt of the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. Any debt assumed by the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District secured by a special ad valorem tax shall become secured by and payable from a mandatory, special ad valorem tax which shall be levied on all taxable property in the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District by the levying authority of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. All debt secured by a pledge by either district of its education enhancement funds pursuant to Section 37-61-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, or by a pledge of its Mississippi Adequate Education Program funds will continue to be secured by and payable from the same funds after the debt is assumed by the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District as of July 1, 2015. It is the intent of the Legislature that any such pledges will remain in effect and that the pledged funds will be available to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District to pay its debt to which the funds are pledged.

(11) It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors of Oktibbeha County to provide office, furnishing and utilities for the administrative Office of the Superintendent of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.

(12) The new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is authorized and encouraged to develop a partnership with Mississippi State University to create a model rural education school to serve all sixth- and seventh-grade students from Oktibbeha County and a model prekindergarten program which shall also serve as a model for the education of teachers and administrators. The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and Mississippi State University are authorized and empowered, in each's discretion, to enter into an agreement for the purpose of designing, constructing, maintaining and operating a model rural education school to serve all sixth- and seventh-grade students from Oktibbeha County. The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and Mississippi State University are further authorized and empowered, in each's discretion, to transfer funds to the other and expend such funds on mutually agreeable terms and conditions for the construction, maintenance and operation of such school.

(13) The Board of Supervisors of Oktibbeha County shall be the “levying authority” for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-342 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-342
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-342
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature recognizes the necessity of school districts to provide reasonable accommodations to students and licensed employees of a school district who are diagnosed with debilitating illnesses or disabilities, including, but not limited to, diabetes and epilepsy.

(2) The school board of any school district shall authorize the use, in all district facilities and property, of service or assistance dogs which have been specifically trained to alert people of symptoms or conditions resulting from a debilitating illness or disability that threaten their health.

(3) In providing accommodations for students, the parent of a child with such illness or disability, the teacher or teachers of the student and the appropriate school administrator shall meet and develop a written 504 Plan consistent with the provisions of Chapter 23, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , that would permit the use of service dogs in the school facility. Also, in providing accommodations for students, the teacher or teachers of the student and the appropriate school administrator shall develop a plan designed to educate other students of the appropriate behavior in the presence of such dogs, as well as the proper handling of such dogs in the presence of those students who may have an allergic reaction to the dog and the reasonable care to be taken in efforts to prevent contact by students who are allergic with such dogs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-104.3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.3
Status: in_force

(1) In Oktibbeha 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 countywide municipal separate school district to be designated as Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District which shall consist of the territory of the former Oktibbeha County School District and the Starkville School District, effective on July 1, 2015. Until June 30, 2015, preceding the effective date of the required administrative consolidation of school districts in the county, the Oktibbeha County School District shall remain in conservatorship, under the authority and control of the Mississippi Recovery School District of the State Department of Education. At such time that the administrative consolidation becomes effective, the central administrative office of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District shall be located in Starkville, Mississippi.

(2)(a) On or before July 1, 2014, the State Board of Education shall serve the local school board of the Starkville School District with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to comply with the administrative consolidation required in this section.

(b) In the new consolidated school district there shall be a countywide municipal separate school district board of trustees, which shall consist of the existing members of the Board of Trustees of the Starkville School District. However, upon the first occurrence of a vacancy on the board as a result of an expired term of an appointed board member, that vacancy shall become an elected position and shall be filled by the election of a board member as follows: the 2016 expiring term board member shall remain in office until January 1, 2017. In November 2016, an election will be held for a board member who resides outside of the incorporated municipal limits in the manner prescribed in Section 37-7-203 , and the elected board member will take office for a five-year term beginning January 1, 2017. Subsequent board members shall be selected in the manner prescribed in Section 37-7-203 . The Board of Supervisors of Oktibbeha County shall publish notice of the school board elections in some newspaper of general circulation in the county for at least three (3) consecutive weeks.

(c) Any school district affected by the required administrative consolidation in the county that does not voluntarily consolidate as ordered by the State Board of Education shall be administratively consolidated by the State Board of Education, to be effective immediately upon action of the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall promptly move on its own motion to administratively consolidate a school district which does not voluntarily consolidate in order to enable the affected school districts to reasonably accomplish the resulting administrative consolidation into one (1) consolidated school district by July 1 following the motion to consolidate. The affected school districts shall comply with any consolidation order issued by the State Board of Education.

(3) On July 1, 2015, following the motion of the State Board of Education to consolidate school districts in Oktibbeha County, the Oktibbeha County School District shall be abolished. All real and personal property which is owned or titled in the name of the school district located in such former school district shall be transferred to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District as of July 1, 2015. The Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District is authorized and directed to execute and record all documents and conveyances necessary to convey title to all real and personal property of the Oktibbeha County School District to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. The conservator is further authorized and directed to sign all documents and to take all actions necessary to assign contracts and other property, contract rights and obligations of the Oktibbeha County School District to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. The Board of Trustees of the Starkville School District shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for operations, teachers, principals, clerical and administrative staff personnel for the 2015-2016 school year prior to July 1, 2015, and shall consult with the conservator for the establishment of contracts for teachers, principals, clerical and administrative staff personnel located in the former Oktibbeha County School District for the 2015-2016 school year. In order to prepare for the efficient staffing of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District and the Superintendent of the Starkville School District shall have full authority to nonrenew the employment contract of any teacher, principal, clerical or administrative staff located within their respective school districts for the 2015-2016 school year. The superintendent and assistant superintendent(s) of schools of the former Starkville School District shall continue to serve in like administrative capacities of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, but in no instance shall the administrative leadership of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District exceed three (3) assistant superintendents to be appointed by the superintendent of the former Starkville School District. No superintendent serving in the former Oktibbeha County School District shall be eligible for appointment as a superintendent or assistant superintendent in the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. Likewise, no trustee serving in the former Oktibbeha County School District shall be eligible for election to the new Board of Trustees of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. It shall be the responsibility of the board of trustees to prepare and approve the budget of the respective new reorganized district, and the board of trustees may use staff from the former school district to prepare the budget. Any transfer of the assets, real or personal property of the Oktibbeha County School District mandated by this section shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of the transfer of property required by this section to effectuate the administrative consolidation.

(4) 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.

(5) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative consolidation of the school districts in Oktibbeha County pursuant to the requirements of this section. Beginning with the insurance cafeteria plan year of November 1, 2014, the consolidated districts shall fall under all insurance plans and policies elected by the Starkville Public School District, including the group term life insurance described in Section 25-15-9(7) .

(6) For the initial three (3) years following the administrative consolidation required by this section, the State Department of Education shall grant a waiver of accountability and state assessment requirements to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education.

(7) As soon as practicable after March 31, 2015, the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District shall initiate the issuance of notes or certificates of indebtedness of the Oktibbeha County School District for the purpose of purchasing school buses, textbooks, computers and software and other equipment and fixtures for school facilities, and for any purposes enumerated in Section 37-59-3, Mississippi Code of 1972 , and making repairs, alterations, utility upgrades and additions to two (2) elementary school buildings located in the Oktibbeha County School District in order to meet the same physical and educational standards as the elementary school buildings in Starkville, and to contribute funds to the Starkville School District for capital improvements to accommodate county school district students and increase capacity for the consolidation. The contribution of such funds to the Starkville School District is hereby authorized. Said notes or certificates of indebtedness shall be issued under the authority of Sections 37-59-101 through 37-59-115, Mississippi Code of 1972 , including all notice requirements, however, the resolution as to the necessity for the issuance of the notes and the execution of the documents shall be made by the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District. The term of any notes or certificates of indebtedness issued under this section may not exceed the useful life of the financed project as determined according to the upper limit of useful life and depreciation guidelines established under the United States Internal Revenue Code and regulations. The levying authority for the Oktibbeha County School District, and after July 1, 2015, the levying authority for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, shall annually levy a special tax on all taxable property of the former Oktibbeha County School District, and after July 1, 2015, on all taxable property of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such negotiable notes or certificates of indebtedness as the same shall respectively mature and accrue. Said tax shall be levied as provided in Section 37-59-107, Mississippi Code of 1972 , except that the levy shall not exceed three (3) mills on the dollar for the payment of all notes that are subject to the levy under Section 37-59-107 . Any notes or certificates of indebtedness issued pursuant to this subsection (7) shall become indebtedness of the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District from and after July 1, 2015, and the mandatory special ad valorem tax levied to pay the notes or certificates of indebtedness by the levying authority pursuant to Section 37-59-107, Mississippi Code of 1972 , shall be levied upon all of the taxable property within the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.

(8) For a period beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015, the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District shall issue negotiable bonds of the Oktibbeha County School District for the purpose of purchasing school buses, textbooks, computers and software and other equipment and fixtures for school facilities, and making repairs, alterations and additions and utility upgrades, and for any purposes allowed by Section 37-59-3, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to school facilities in the Oktibbeha County School District and in the Starkville School District to accommodate students in the former Oktibbeha County School District who will be attending school in the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and the increased capacity needs under the consolidation. Said bonds shall be issued under the authority of Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45 , however, any resolutions as to the necessity for the issuance of any bonds and execution of the documents may be made periodically by the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District. Provided further, that the conservator shall publish each resolution of necessity and intent to issue any bonds once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the Oktibbeha County School District, with the first publication thereof to be made not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date upon which the conservator is to take final action upon the question of authorizing the issuance of said bonds. If no petition requesting an election is filed prior to the date and time of the meeting at which the conservator is to take final action on the issuance of said bonds, then the conservator shall authorize the issuance of the bonds. If at any time prior to the date and time of the meeting at which the conservator is to take final action upon the question of issuing such bonds a petition signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the Oktibbeha County School District shall be filed with the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District requesting that an election be called on the question of issuing the bonds, then the conservator shall either rescind the applicable resolution of intent or adopt a resolution calling an election to be held within the territory of the Oktibbeha County School District upon such question. The election shall be called and held, and notice thereof shall be given, in the same manner for elections upon the question of bond issues under Sections 37-59-11 , 37-59-13 , 37-59-15 and 37-59-17 , and the results thereof shall be certified by the Oktibbeha County Election Commission to the Conservator of the Oktibbeha County School District. If three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the qualified electors of the Oktibbeha County School District who voted in such election vote in favor of the issuance of such bonds, then the conservator shall authorize the Oktibbeha County School District to issue such bonds. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Oktibbeha County School District may issue bonds pursuant to this subsection (8) in an amount which, when added to all of the Oktibbeha County School District's then outstanding bonded indebtedness, shall not result in the imposition on any of the property in said district of an indebtedness for school purposes of more than twenty percent (20%) of the assessed value of the taxable property within said district, according to the then last completed assessment for taxation. Any bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (8) shall become indebtedness of the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District from and after July 1, 2015, and the mandatory special ad valorem tax to be levied by the levying authority pursuant to Section 37-59-23, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to pay the bonds shall be levied upon all taxable property within the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.

(9) For a period beginning July 1, 2015, and ending July 1, 2027, the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees may periodically issue negotiable bonds in one or more series of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District for the purpose of purchasing school buses, textbooks, computers and software and other equipment and fixtures for school facilities and for any purposes enumerated in Section 37-59-3, Mississippi Code of 1972 . The term of any such bonds may not exceed the useful life of the financed project as determined according to the upper limit of useful life and depreciation guidelines established under the United States Internal Revenue Code and regulations. Said bonds shall be issued under the authority of Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45 , including all notice and publication requirements, however, the necessity for the issuance of the bonds shall be made pursuant to a reverse referendum procedure to be followed by the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees as follows: the board of trustees shall publish each resolution of necessity and intent to issue bonds once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, with the first publication thereof to be made not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the board of trustees is to take final action authorizing the issuance of the bonds. If no petition requesting an election is filed prior to the date and time of the meeting at which the board of trustees is to take final action on the issuance of the bonds, the board of trustees shall authorize the issuance of the bonds. If at any time prior to the date and time of the meeting at which the board of trustees is to take final action authorizing the issuance of the bonds a petition signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District shall be filed with the Board of Trustees of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District requesting that an election be called on the question of issuing the bonds, then the board of trustees shall, not later than its next regular meeting, adopt a resolution calling an election to be held within the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District upon such question. The election shall be called and held, and notice thereof shall be given, in the same manner for elections upon the question of bond issues under Sections 37-59-11 , 37-59-13 , 37-59-15 and 37-59-17 , and the results thereof shall be certified to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees, as the case may be. If three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the qualified electors of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District who voted in such election vote in favor of the issuance of such bonds, then the board of trustees shall issue such bonds. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District may issue bonds pursuant to this subsection (9) in an amount which, when added to all of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's then outstanding bonded indebtedness, shall not result in the imposition on any of the property in said district of an indebtedness for school purposes of more than twenty percent (20%) of the assessed value of the taxable property within said district, according to the then last completed assessment for taxation. Any bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (9) shall be indebtedness of the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. The mandatory special ad valorem tax to be levied by the levying authority pursuant to Section 37-59-23, Mississippi Code of 1972 , shall be levied on all taxable property of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.

(10) Notwithstanding any law or any provision of any law to the contrary, from and after July 1, 2015, all outstanding debt of the former Oktibbeha County School District and the former Starkville School District shall be assumed by and become the debt of the new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. Any debt assumed by the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District secured by a special ad valorem tax shall become secured by and payable from a mandatory, special ad valorem tax which shall be levied on all taxable property in the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District by the levying authority of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. All debt secured by a pledge by either district of its education enhancement funds pursuant to Section 37-61-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, or by a pledge of its Mississippi Adequate Education Program funds will continue to be secured by and payable from the same funds after the debt is assumed by the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District as of July 1, 2015. It is the intent of the Legislature that any such pledges will remain in effect and that the pledged funds will be available to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District to pay its debt to which the funds are pledged.

(11) It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors of Oktibbeha County to provide office, furnishing and utilities for the administrative Office of the Superintendent of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.

(12) The new Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is authorized and encouraged to develop a partnership with Mississippi State University to create a model rural education school to serve all sixth- and seventh-grade students from Oktibbeha County and a model prekindergarten program which shall also serve as a model for the education of teachers and administrators. The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and Mississippi State University are authorized and empowered, in each's discretion, to enter into an agreement for the purpose of designing, constructing, maintaining and operating a model rural education school to serve all sixth- and seventh-grade students from Oktibbeha County. The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and Mississippi State University are further authorized and empowered, in each's discretion, to transfer funds to the other and expend such funds on mutually agreeable terms and conditions for the construction, maintenance and operation of such school.

(13) The Board of Supervisors of Oktibbeha County shall be the “levying authority” for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 101-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-41
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

(5) In addition to the above stated authority, the university, with the permission of the board, is authorized to enter into such marketing, support, management, operating, cooperating or other similar agreements as the university and board may deem advisable or prudent in connection with the ongoing operations of such auxiliary facilities for a period not to exceed the term of the lease relating to such auxiliary facilities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 173-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-29
Status: in_force

The inclusion of eligible nonpublic schools within options available to Mississippi public school students does not expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers, or any school district to impose any additional regulation of nonpublic schools beyond those reasonably necessary to enforce requirements expressly set forth in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 106-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-65
Status: in_force

The board, under such rules and regulations as it shall determine may provide forgivable loans for instruction in graduate and professional schools for qualified students, who are residents of Mississippi, in institutions outside the state boundaries, when such instruction is not available for them in the regularly supported Mississippi institutions of higher learning. The board shall, by its rules and regulations, determine the qualifications of such students as may be aided by this section, and the decision by the board as to the qualifications of such students shall be final. Subject to the availability of funding, the board shall provide forgivable loans for such graduate and professional instruction at a cost to students, not exceeding the cost, as estimated by the board, of such instruction, if it were available at a state supported institution of higher learning in the State of Mississippi. Repayment and conversion terms shall be the same as those outlined in Section 37-106-53 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 144-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-11
Status: in_force

(1) Students in the program may apply to any medical or osteopathic school that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

(2) Students in the program seeking admission to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine shall be eligible for a special admissions process pursuant to criteria established by the School of Medicine Admissions Committee which will include special consideration of the attributes of participation in the program.

(3) In carrying out the admissions process developed for the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program participants under this section, the goal is for the program to work with the School of Medicine to enhance the capability of participants to successfully enter and complete medical school, train in family medicine or other generalist primary care specialty and enter practice in rural or underserved areas in Mississippi. To the extent feasible, the early admissions process should be completed before November 1 of the year preceding a student's admission to medical school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-243 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 37-12-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 12-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-11
Status: in_force

This chapter shall not be construed to authorize this state or any of its political subdivisions to do either of the following:

(a) Require any person to participate in prayer or in any other religious activity.

(b) Violate the constitutional rights of any person.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-169-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 169-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-169-5
Status: in_force

(1) The advisory committee shall:

(a) Review the recommendations of the Caring for Individuals with Autism Task Force of 2007;

(b) Evaluate, study and identify any and all current relevant information and make legislative recommendations regarding the development and implementation of a continuum of educational and medical services for individuals with autism or ASD; and

(c) File a report with those standing committees of the Mississippi Legislature and present the report to those state agencies having jurisdiction over specific recommendations of the task force, not later than July 1 of each year.

(2) The advisory committee shall hold its first meeting not later than April 1, 2011, with the date, time and location of the meeting to be designated by the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health. At that first meeting, the advisory committee shall elect from among its membership a chairman, vice chairman and any other officers determined to be necessary, and shall set the date, time and location of its next meeting.

(3) The terms of advisory committee members shall run for two (2) years, concurrent with the term of members of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation elected to the United States House of Representatives.

(4) The State Department of Mental Health shall provide the staff and other support necessary for the Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee to perform its duties.

(5) Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation in the form of a per diem or any other expense for service on the committee.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 146-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-21
Status: in_force

This chapter may not be construed as granting the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program or its governing commission any governing or administrative authority over any program administered by any college, university, dental school or residency program in this state or any other program established by state law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 27-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-63
Status: in_force

The municipalities of Mississippi and the municipal separate school districts in Mississippi are hereby authorized and empowered to issue municipal bonds or municipal separate school district bonds to aid in procuring the establishment, location, and maintenance of agricultural high schools which have been or may hereafter be established. Such bonds shall be issued as provided by law. The proceeds of the sale of said bonds may be used for the purchase of lands, buildings or for erecting buildings, or in any way to aid in the establishment and maintenance of county agricultural high schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-119 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 155-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-119
Status: in_force

This article is not a promise or guarantee that the beneficiary will be:

(a) Admitted to any institution of higher education;

(b) Admitted to a particular institution of higher education after admission;

(c) Allowed to continue enrollment at an institution of higher education; or

(d) Graduated from an institution of higher education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-123 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-123
Status: in_force

In any such case the board of trustees of such junior college district by resolution or order, shall declare its intention to borrow any sum not in excess of the limitation fixed in Section 37-29-121 , and shall recite in said resolution or order with reasonable particulars the purpose for which said funds are to be borrowed, and shall fix a schedule of amounts and dates of maturities by which such loans shall be repaid. Such resolution or order shall be duly recorded in the permanent minutes of the board of trustees of such institution. All such loans shall be fully repaid within six years, and they shall be evidenced by notes signed by the president and secretary of the board of trustees, which shall bear appropriate reference to the resolution or order of the board of trustees authorizing such loan. Such loan shall be retired in installments of not less than one-fifth the amount thereof on the first day of April of the year next succeeding the date of such loan and an equal amount on the same date of each and every year thereafter until said loan is paid.

Notes issued in evidence of such loans shall bear interest at a rate of not to exceed four percent (4%) per annum, all interest payable semi-annually, and no such note shall be sold or negotiated by said institution for less than par and accrued interest. Funds received by such institution from the sale or negotiation of any such notes shall be paid into the treasury of the institution and disbursed as other funds thereof are disbursed, but for no other purpose than that authorized by Section 37-29-121 .

Such notes shall be lithographed, or engraved, and printed in two or more colors to prevent counterfeiting. Such notes shall bear the signature of the junior college issuing the same, by the president and secretary of the board of trustees thereof. They shall be impressed with the seal of such institution. Interest coupons attached may bear the facsimile signatures of the aforesaid officers of the board of trustees. Before negotiation or sale and delivery thereof, said notes shall be registered in a book kept in the business office of such institution.

All indebtedness so created shall be paid from first funds derived from tax levies for maintenance and operation of said school coming into the treasury thereof and from fees, rentals and other charges as provided in Section 37-29-125 . In order to secure the prompt payment of any and all indebtedness, whether of principal or interest incurred hereunder, a special fund shall be established in the depository of the funds of said institution, the style of which shall be, “debt retirement fund of __________ junior college district,” and immediately upon receipt of the distribution of said first funds derived from such tax levies, annually hereafter in advance of the due date of each and every installment of said indebtedness, a sufficient sum from said taxes shall be paid into said special fund for the retirement of all principal and interest coming due within said year equal to the difference, if any, between such principal and interest and the amount collected from fees, rentals and other charges, as provided in Section 37-29-125 . Said debt retirement fund shall be used for no other purpose than for the payment of principal and interest of indebtedness incurred hereunder.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-69 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 37-27-87 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 27-87
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-87
Status: in_force

In the event any such school is permanently discontinued, as provided for in Section 37-27-83 , the board of trustees of such school and the board of supervisors of the county in which such school is located, are further authorized to transfer to the county common school fund of the county all funds on hand in the county treasury or depository to the credit of such school, including all maintenance funds and other funds belonging to such school. In case the school thus discontinued shall be a joint school maintained by two counties, as now provided by law, the school funds belonging to such school and the proceeds derived from the sale of school property shall be divided between the counties interested in proportion to the amount of funds contributed by each county to the establishment and maintenance of such school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 16-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-17
Status: in_force

(1) Purpose.(a) The purpose of this section is to create a quality option in Mississippi's high schools for students not wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree, which shall consist of challenging academic courses and modern career-technical studies. The goal for students pursuing the career technical education pathways is to graduate from high school with a standard diploma and credit toward a community college certification in a career-technical field. These students also shall be encouraged to take the national assessment in the career-technical field in which they become certified.

(b) The State Board of Education shall develop and adopt course and curriculum requirements for career technical education pathways offered by local public school boards in accordance with this section. The Mississippi Community College Board and the State Board of Education jointly shall determine course and curriculum requirements for the career technical education pathways. The State Board of Education shall require school districts to provide notice to all incoming middle school students and junior high students of the career technical education pathways offered by local school boards. Such notice shall include the career technical education pathways available, the course requirements of each pathway, how to enroll in the pathway and any other necessary information as determined by the State Board of Education.

(2) Career technical education pathway; description; curriculum.(a) A career technical education pathway shall provide a student with greater technical skill and a strong academic core and shall be offered to each high school student enrolled in a public school district. The career technical education pathway shall be linked to postsecondary options and shall prepare students to pursue either a degree or certification from a postsecondary institution, an industry-based training or certification, an apprenticeship, the military, or immediate entrance into a career field. The career technical education pathway shall provide students with alternatives to entrance into a four-year university or college after high school graduation.

(b) Students pursuing a career technical education pathway shall be afforded the opportunity to dually enroll in a community or technical college or to participate in a business internship or work-study program, when such opportunities are available and appropriate.

(c) Each public school district shall offer a career technical education pathway approved by the State Board of Education.

(d) Students in a career technical education pathway shall complete an academic core of courses and a career and technical sequence of courses.

(e) Students pursuing a career technical education pathway must complete the twenty-four (24) course unit requirements for a regular high school diploma, which may include, but not be limited to the following course content:

(i) English I;

(ii) English II;

(iii) Technical writing;

(iv) Computer programming;

(v) Algebra I;

(vi) Personal Finance;

(vii) Advanced technical mathematics;

(viii) Computer Science;

(ix) Biology;

(x) Earth and Space Science;

(xi) U.S. History;

(xii) Mississippi Studies/U.S. Government;

(xiii) Health;

(xiv) Physical Education;

(xv) Soft skills, which include, but are not limited to, communication ability, language skills, time management, teamwork and leadership traits;

(xvi) Career technical education pathway courses; and

(xvii) Integrated technology.

Academic courses within the career technical education pathway of the standard diploma shall provide the knowledge and skill necessary for proficiency on the state subject area tests.

(f) The courses provided in paragraph (e) of this subsection may be tailored to the individual needs of the school district as long as the amendments align with the basic course requirements of paragraph (e).

(3) Nothing in this section shall disallow the development of a dual enrollment program with a technical college so long as an individual school district, with approval from the State Department of Education, agrees to implement such a program in connection with a technical college and the agreement is also approved by the proprietary school's commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-134.1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-134.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-134.1
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to available funding, the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Health, shall establish the school health grant pilot program to improve student health by assisting local school districts in implementing a school health program. In order to qualify for a school health grant, a school district shall submit a detailed implementation plan, developed in accordance with the guidelines for a school health program developed by the State Department of Education, and including the following components:

(a) A dedicated school health coordinator and technical and administrative support for collection of data and program evaluation.

(b) A description of how the school district currently addresses physical activity, nutrition, and other obesity prevention measures.

(c) A description of how the school district would use the state grant to augment what it is currently doing, including defining priorities based on the students' health need and meeting education performance indicators, developing an action plan for addressing those needs based on realistic goals and measurable objectives, establishing a timeline for implementation, and developing and maintaining a system to evaluate progress and outcomes for the program.

(d) All school districts receiving grants will report annually to the State Department of Education progress towards the achievement of state education performance indicators and standards and requirements relating to physical activity and nutrition.

(2) The amount in the school health grant pilot program shall be limited to the amount appropriated and shall be available to school districts based on the guidelines developed by the State Department of Education.

(3) Any grants made to school district shall be expended to supplement and not supplant any funds already expended as school health programs. For this purpose, expenditures of components enumerated in subsection (2) of this section for the current fiscal year shall be considered the base expenditure on school health and any school district receiving grant funds shall maintain this base.

(4) There is created in the State Treasury a fund into which any public or private funds from any source shall be deposited for the support of the activities of coordinated school health grant pilot program.

(5) State grants are only for coordination and improvement of school health programs to improve student health in accordance with the detailed plan submitted in accordance with subsection (2) of this section.

(6) The State Department of Education and the State Department of Health shall coordinate existing school health programs, grants and initiatives. To the extent possible, existing contracts and waiver requirements and funding, including Medicaid funding, shall also be coordinated.

(7) The use of grant funds shall be subject to audit by the Office of the State Auditor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-557 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 37-101-321 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-321
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-321
Status: in_force

The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided now or hereafter by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds. The notice to taxpayers required by the aforesaid statute shall be published in a newspaper published in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-47 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 28-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-47
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Charter schools must comply with applicable federal laws, rules and regulations regarding the qualification of teachers and other instructional staff. No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of teachers in a charter school may be exempt from state teacher licensure requirements. Administrators of charter schools are exempt from state administrator licensure requirements. However, teachers and administrators must have a bachelor's degree as a minimum requirement, and teachers must have demonstrated subject-matter competency. Within three (3) years of a teacher's employment by a charter school, the teacher must have, at a minimum, alternative licensure approved by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development.

(b) A charter school may not staff positions for teachers, administrators, ancillary support personnel or other employees by utilizing or otherwise relying on nonimmigrant foreign worker visa programs. However, a charter school may submit a request to the authorizer for an exception allowing the employment of a nonimmigrant foreign worker before the worker is employed. The authorizer may grant permission for the employment of the nonimmigrant foreign worker only if the charter school makes a satisfactory showing of efforts to recruit lawful permanent residents of the United States to fill the position and a lack of qualified applicants to fill the position.

(2) Employees in charter schools must have the same general rights and privileges as other public school employees, except such employees are not:

(a) Covered under the Education Employment Procedures Law ( Section 37-9-103 ); and

(b) Subject to the state salary requirements prescribed in Section 37-19-7 .

(3) For the purpose of eligibility for participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, a public charter school is considered to be a political subdivision of the state. Employees in public charter schools are eligible for participation in other benefits programs if the public charter school governing board chooses to participate.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-307 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 101-307
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-307
Status: in_force

The principal of and interest on such bonds shall be payable in the manner hereinafter set forth. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates, 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 resolution of the State Bond Commission.