Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-219 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 33-219
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-219
Status: in_force

The right of an individual to maintenance under the Office of Special Disability Programs shall not be transferable or assignable at law or in equity and shall be exempt from the claims of creditors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-81 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 101-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-81
Status: in_force

There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the “Institutions of Higher Learning Repair and Renovation Fund” which shall consist of monies appropriated or otherwise made available therefor by the Legislature. Interest earned on monies in the special fund shall be deposited to the credit of such fund and money shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year into the State General Fund. Money in the special fund shall be appropriated by the Legislature and allocated by the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, Department of Finance and Administration, for the repair, renovation and improvement of existing facilities under the control of the state institutions of higher learning, including utility infrastructure projects; heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; and the replacement of furniture and equipment. However, the cost of such repair, renovation and improvement for any one project shall not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00). For the purposes of this section, the term “furniture and equipment” shall be limited to the types of furniture and equipment items previously recorded in the institution's inventory.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 45-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-27
Status: in_force

In conducting any hearing, the commission shall not be required to follow common law or statutory rules of evidence or the technical or formal rules of procedure. Any such hearing may be conducted in such manner as the commission may deem best to ascertain and determine the physical, mental, moral, social and educational welfare of the educable children involved, the efficiency of the operation of the schools, and the economic and social welfare of the various school areas involved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 16-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-9
Status: in_force

(1) The state board shall, after a public hearing and consideration, make provision for appropriate accommodations for testing instruments and procedures for students with identified handicaps or disabilities in order to ensure that the results of the testing represent the student's achievement, rather than reflecting the student's impaired sensory, manual, speaking or psychological process skills, except when such skills are the factors the test purports to measure.

(2) The public hearing and consideration required hereunder shall not be construed to amend or nullify the requirements of security relating to the contents of examinations or assessment instruments and related materials or data.

(3) Children with disabilities shall be included in general statewide and district-wide assessments programs, with appropriate accommodations, where necessary. As appropriate, the State Department of Education and the local educational agency shall:

(a) Develop policies and procedures for the participation of children with disabilities in alternate assessments for those children who cannot participate in statewide and district-wide assessment programs; and

(b) Develop and, beginning not later than July 1, 2000, conduct those alternate assessments.

(4) The State Department of Education shall make available to the public, and report to the public with the same frequency and in the same detail as it reports on the assessment of nondisabled children, the following:

(a) The number of children with disabilities participating in regular assessments;

(b) The number of children participating in alternate assessments;

(c) The performance of those children on regular assessments, beginning not later than July 1, 1998, and on alternate assessments, not later than July 1, 2000, if doing so would be statistically sound and would not result in the disclosure of performance results identifiable to individual children; and

(d) Data relating to the performance of children with disabilities shall be disaggregated for assessments conducted after July 1, 1998.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-505 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-505
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-505
Status: in_force

The control and operation of the Meridian Junior College District shall be vested in a board of trustees appointed by the city council of the City of Meridian. The board of trustees of the Meridian Junior College District shall consist of five (5) members. When the initial appointments are made, the first appointee shall serve for a term of one (1) year, the second appointee for a term of two (2) years, the third appointee for a term of three (3) years, the fourth appointee for a term of four (4) years and the fifth appointee for a term of five (5) years; thereafter all appointments shall be for a term of five (5) years. Trustees of the Meridian Junior College District shall be appointed by a majority vote of the full membership of the city council of the City of Meridian at the first meeting of the council held in the month of February of each year, and the term of office of each trustee so appointed shall commence on the first Saturday of March following, except that the existing trustees of the Meridian Municipal Separate School District as of April 30, 1980, shall constitute the initial board of trustees of the Meridian Junior College District. As the terms of these individual trustees expire, trustees for the Meridian Junior College District shall be appointed as provided herein. All vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms by appointment by majority vote of the full membership of the city council.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-53 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 47-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-53
Status: in_force

All bonds and interim certificates issued under the provisions of this chapter and all interest thereon and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation, except gift, transfer, and inheritance taxes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 47-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-67
Status: in_force

Any county board of education or board of trustees of any school district, including a municipal separate school district, which may be aggrieved by any final rule, regulation, or order of the state educational finance commission adopted under the provisions of this chapter shall have the right to appeal therefrom to the chancery court of the county in which the school district involved or any part thereof is located in like manner, within the same time, with like effect, and subject in all other respects to appeals from orders, rules, and regulations of the state educational finance commission as provided in Chapter 45 of this Title, the provisions of which are hereby made applicable in all respects to appeals from orders, rules, and regulations of the commission under the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-481 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-481
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-481
Status: in_force

The authority conferred by Sections 37-7-471 through 37-7-483 may be exercised by the existing school board of any school district in which any such school building, land, property or other school facility is located or situated. Such school board may contract with any other school board, or any other governmental entity, to assign and transfer its rights and duties under this chapter, under such terms and conditions as the school board may determine, in its discretion, to further the public interest. The sections, without reference to any other statute, shall be deemed full, complete and exclusive power for the exercise of the authority conferred hereby.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 177-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-11
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(b) The principal shall review and discuss the recommendations with the teacher and parents and make a determination as to whether or not the student should be promoted based on requirements set forth in this chapter. If the principal determines that the student should be promoted, based on the documentation provided, the principal must make the recommendation in writing to the school district superintendent, who, in writing, may accept or reject the principal's recommendation. The parents of any student promoted may choose that the student be retained for one (1) year, even if the principal and district superintendent determines otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-91 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 151-91
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-91
Status: in_force

The school boards of all school districts may establish salary schedules based on training, experience and other such factors as may be incorporated therein, including student progress and performance as developed by the State Board of Education, paying teachers greater amounts than the scale provided in Section 37-19-7 , but no teacher may be paid less than the amount based upon the minimum scale of pay provided in Section 37-19-7 , and all supplements paid from local funds shall be based upon the salary schedules so established. The school boards may call upon the State Department of Education for aid and assistance in formulating and establishing such salary schedules, and it shall be the duty of the State Department of Education, when so called upon, to render such aid and assistance. The amount actually paid to each teacher shall be based upon and determined by the type of license held by such teacher.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-185 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-185
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-185
Status: in_force

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

If the proposed character education program is rejected, the State Board of Education shall set forth in writing the specific areas of objection. These objections must be based on and limited to the following criteria: the definition of the character traits chosen by the school district for implementation shall reflect and be in keeping with both the spirit and letter of our founding documents; no instruction shall promote or encourage participation in any conduct that would violate existing state or federal law; and no student shall be assessed or evaluated as to whether or not the student evidences a specific character trait in his or her own life.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-215 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-215
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-215
Status: in_force

The Office of Special Disability Programs shall provide services to any individual who is determined to meet the eligibility criteria for receiving services through one or more special disability programs. The services provided through the Office of Special Disability Programs shall be those defined as special disability services and independent living services.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-113 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-113
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-113
Status: in_force

For the purpose of refunding any bonds issued under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 , including refunding bonds, any board of trustees may make and issue refunding bonds in such amount as may be necessary to pay off and redeem the bonds to be refunded together with unpaid and past due interest thereon and any premium which may be due under the terms of such outstanding bonds, together also with the cost of issuing such refunding bonds. Said board may sell the same in like manner as provided for the initial issuance of bonds. With the proceeds of any such refunding bonds such board shall pay off, redeem and cancel such old bonds and interest coupons as may have matured, or such bonds as may have been called for payment and redemption together with the past due interest and premium, if any, due thereon; such bonds may be issued and delivered in exchange for a like par value amount of bonds to refund which the refunding bonds were issued. No refunding bonds issued hereunder shall be payable in more than twenty-five (25) years from the date thereof, nor shall any such refunding bonds bear interest at a rate in excess of that allowed in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972 , payable semiannually. All such refunding bonds shall be payable from the same source or sources as were pledged to the payment of the bonds refunded thereby and, in the discretion of such board of trustees, may be payable from any other source or sources which may be pledged to the payment of revenue bonds issued hereunder. Bonds of two (2) or more outstanding issues of the same board may be refunded in a single issue of refunding bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-241 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 29-241
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-241
Status: in_force

All boards of trustees of public junior college districts shall prohibit fraternities, sororities, or secret societies in all junior colleges under their respective jurisdiction. It shall be the duty of said boards of trustees to suspend or expel from said junior colleges under their control, any pupil or pupils who shall be or remain a member of, or shall join or promise to join, or who shall become pledged to become a member, or who shall solicit or encourage any other person to join, promise to join, or be pledged to become a member of, any such public junior college fraternity, sorority or secret society, as defined in Section 37-29-235 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-148-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 148-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-148-3
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) “ College ” means the state institutions of higher learning in Mississippi which are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

(b) “ Investor ” means a natural person, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation, business trust or other business entity, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the rebate offered, which is subject to Mississippi income tax. The term “investor” does not include any medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.

(c) “ Qualified research ” means the systematic investigative process that is undertaken for the purpose of discovering information. The term “ qualified research ” does not include research conducted outside the State of Mississippi or research expenses that are already being funded by any grant, contract or otherwise by another person or governmental entity.

(d) “ Research agreement ” means a written contract, grant or cooperative agreement entered into between a person and a college or research corporation for the performance of qualified research. All qualified research costs generating a SMART Business Rebate must be spent by the college or research corporation on qualified research undertaken according to a research agreement.

(e) “ Research corporation ” means any research corporation formed under Section 37-147-15 if the corporation is wholly owned by or affiliated with a college and all income and profits of the corporation inure to the benefit of the college.

(f) “ Qualified research costs ” means costs paid or incurred by an investor to a college or research corporation for qualified research undertaken according to a research agreement.

(g) “ State ” means the State of Mississippi or a governmental entity of the State of Mississippi.

(h) “ IHL ” means the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in Mississippi.

(i) “ SMART Business ” means Strengthening Mississippi Academic Research Through Business.

(j) “ Applicant ” means a college or research corporation applying for SMART Business Accelerate Initiative funds to develop state-owned intellectual property into products and services.

(k) “ Qualified validation expense ” includes, but is not limited to, services that accelerate the development of early product concepts, conducting proof-of-concept studies, and manufacturing prototypes to perform research validation. Qualified validation expense does not include salaries or wages associated with a licensee of state-owned intellectual property, legal fees or any payment in conflict with state law.

(l) “ Research validation ” means research intended to validate the commercial viability of state-owned intellectual property.

(m) “ Disbursement ” means a grant of funds to support research validation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-25-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 25-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-25-13
Status: in_force

The state superintendent of public education shall allow to each school district an amount per pupil to be determined by the state board of education, but in no case to exceed the actual cost per pupil completing the course in the driver education and training programs in that school district during the preceding fiscal year in accordance with the regulations set forth by the state board of education to the school districts for instructing pupils in driver education and training. All such funds made available for the purposes of this section shall be appropriated by the legislature in the same manner as general funds. In the event that the funds herein authorized by the legislature for the support of driver education shall exceed the funds which actually become available, each participating school district shall have its funds reduced on a pro rata basis.

No allowance shall be made under this section for the instruction of pupils in driver education and training unless the respective school district has complied with the rules and regulations as set forth by the state board of education governing the establishment, conduct and scope of driver education and training.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 155-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-21
Status: in_force

(1) The board shall furnish without charge to each purchaser an annual statement of:

(a) The amount paid by the purchaser under the prepaid tuition contract;

(b) The number of years originally covered by the contract;

(c) The number of years remaining under the contract; and

(d) Any other information the board determines by rule is necessary or appropriate.

(2) The board shall furnish a statement complying with subsection (1) to a purchaser or beneficiary on written request. The board may charge a reasonable fee for each statement furnished under this subsection.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-127 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 29-127
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-127
Status: in_force

Sections 37-29-121 through 37-29-125 shall be construed as cumulative and no restriction, limitation or prohibition of the general laws shall operate to curtail the authority or prescribe the procedure by which the purposes of said sections shall be effected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-425 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-425
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-425
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District may borrow money in anticipation of taxes not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the previous year's ad valorem tax receipts for the purpose of paying any expenses authorized by law for the operation, maintenance and support of the colleges. The loan shall be evidenced by note or notes bearing the signature of the president and of the secretary of the board of trustees and the seal of the college shall be thereon impressed. Said notes shall mature not later than the first day of April next thereafter and the same shall not bear interest in excess of that allowed in Section 75-17-105, Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-413 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-413
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-413
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section, the term “ state institutions of higher learning ” means those institutions identified in Section 37-101-1 and the University Research Center.

(2) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may establish an equipment leasing and purchase program for the use of the state institutions of higher learning. In establishing and administering the program, the board may perform the following actions:

(a) Adopt policies and procedures to implement the program;

(b) Establish offices or subordinate units as may be necessary for the administration of the program;

(c) Adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the program;

(d) Acquire by purchase, lease or lease-purchase contract and retain or transfer ownership or possession of instructional and other equipment;

(e) Contract for the leasing of such properties and for the financing of leases and purchases;

(f) Enter into contracts with others to provide any services deemed necessary and advisable by the board;

(g) Make purchases and enter into leases according to the requirements of the state public purchasing laws and the requirements of those laws establishing the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services;

(h) Enter into lease financing agreements in connection with purchases made under the authority of this section;

(i) Require the transfer of appropriations of general funds or self-generated funds from the state institutions to those funds that the board may determine are required in connection with any lease financing agreements;

(j) Develop administrative methods for determining age, useful life, replacement value, current use, condition and other characteristics of instructional and research equipment at the state institutions and research facilities;

(k) Determine obsolescence of the equipment and establish priorities for replacement or provision of the equipment or its transfer to another state institution that can continue to utilize it; and

(l) Develop long-range plans for the orderly and systematic acquisition and utilization of the instructional and research equipment in order to eliminate waste and duplication, provide the maximum efficiency of use for expenditures, and achieve equitable allocations of equipment funds to the state institutions consistent with the roles of the institutions and disciplines served.

(3) All institutions of higher learning desiring to purchase, lease or lease-purchase equipment involving an expenditure or expenditures of more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) must procure that equipment under the equipment leasing and purchase program unless funds for the procurement of the equipment under the program are unavailable or the equipment can be procured elsewhere at an overall cost lower than that for which the equipment can be procured under the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-162 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 33-162
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-162
Status: in_force

(1) If medical or rehabilitation assistance is provided to a client under this article for injury, loss or damage caused under circumstances creating a cause of action in favor of the client against any person, firm or corporation, then the department shall be entitled to recover the proceeds that may result from the exercise of any rights of recovery which the client may have against any such person, firm or corporation to the extent of the actual amount of the medical or rehabilitation assistance made by the department on behalf of the client. The client shall execute and deliver instruments and papers to do whatever is necessary to secure such rights and shall do nothing after said medical and/or rehabilitation assistance is provided to prejudice the subrogation rights of the department.

Pursuant to Section 31-19-29, Mississippi Code of 1972 , the department may compromise or settle any such claim and execute a release of any claim it has by virtue of this section.

(2) The acceptance of medical and/or rehabilitation assistance under this article or the making of a claim thereunder shall not affect the right of client or his legal representative to recover the medical and/or rehabilitation payments made by the department as an element of damages in any action at law; provided, however, that a copy of the pleadings shall be certified to the department at the time of the institution of suit, and proof of such notice shall be filed of record in such action. The department may, at any time before the trial on the facts, join in such action or may intervene therein. Any amount recovered by a client or his legal representative shall be applied as follows:

(a) The reasonable costs of the collection, including attorney's fees, as approved and allowed by the court in which such action is pending, or in case of settlement without suit, by the legal representative of the department;

(b) The actual amount of the medical and/or rehabilitation payments made by the department on behalf of the client; or such pro rata amount as may be arrived at by compromise settlement pursuant to Section 37-33-162(1) , or as set by the court having jurisdiction; and

(c) Any excess shall be awarded to the client.

(3) No compromise of any claim by the client or his legal representative shall be binding upon or affect the rights of the department against the third party unless, pursuant to Section 37-33-162(1) , the department has entered into the compromise. Any compromise effected by the client or his legal representative with the third party in the absence of advance notification to and approved by the department shall constitute conclusive evidence of the liability of the third party, and the department, in litigating its claim against said third party, shall be required only to prove the amount and correctness of its claim relating to such injury, loss or damage. It is further provided that should the client or his legal representative fail to notify the department of the institution of legal proceedings against a third party for which the department has a cause of action, the facts relating to negligence and the liability of the third party, if judgment is rendered for the client, shall constitute conclusive evidence of liability in a subsequent action maintained by the department and only the amount and correctness of the department's claim relating to injury, loss or damage shall be tried before the court. The department shall be authorized in bringing such action against the third party and his insurer jointly or against the insurer alone.

(4) By accepting medical and/or rehabilitation payments from the department, the client shall, to the extent of the payment of medical expenses by the department, be deemed to have made an assignment to the department of any and all rights and interests in any third-party benefits, hospitalization or indemnity contract or any cause of action, past, present or future, against any person, firm or corporation for benefits provided to the client by the department for loss, injury or damage caused or suffered under circumstances creating a cause of action in favor of the client against such person, firm or corporation as set out in Section 37-33-162(1) .

(5) Nothing herein shall be construed to diminish or otherwise restrict the subrogation rights of the department against a third party for medical and/or rehabilitation payment paid by the department in behalf of the client as a result of injury, loss or damage caused under circumstances creating a cause of action in favor of the client against such a third party.

(6) Any person, firm or corporation who fails or refuses to honor the subrogation rights of the department and specifically, without limitation, hospital insurance and indemnity benefits accruing to a client, shall be subject, should suit become necessary and liability be established, to an assessment of double the amount of medical/rehabilitation payments paid by the department, or double the amount of the insurance policy limits, whichever is the lesser, inclusive of the assessment of a reasonable attorney's fee and all costs of court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 21-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-51
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section:

(a) “ Preschool or prekindergarten children ” means any children who have not entered kindergarten but will have obtained four (4) years of age on or before September 1 of a school year.

(b) An “ early learning collaborative ” is a district or countywide council that writes and submits an application to participate in the voluntary prekindergarten program. An early learning collaborative is comprised, at a minimum, of a public school district and/or a local Head Start affiliate if in existence, private or parochial schools, or one or more licensed child care centers. Agencies or other organizations that work with young children and their families may also participate in the collaborative to provide resources and coordination even if those agencies or organizations are not prekindergarten providers.

(c) A “ prekindergarten provider ” is a public, private or parochial school, licensed child care center or Head Start center that serves prekindergarten children and participates in the voluntary prekindergarten program.

(d) A “ lead partner ” is a public school district or other nonprofit entity with the instructional expertise and operational capacity to manage the early learning collaborative's prekindergarten program as described in the collaborative's approved application for funds. The lead partner serves as the fiscal agent for the collaborative and shall disburse awarded funds in accordance with the collaborative's approved application. The lead partner must facilitate a professional learning community for the teachers in the prekindergarten program and lead the collaborative. The lead partner ensures that the collaborative adopts and implements curriculum and assessments that align with the comprehensive early learning standards. The public school district shall be the lead partner if no other qualifying lead partner is selected.

(e) “ Comprehensive early learning standards ” are standards adopted by the State Board of Education that address the highest level of fundamental domains of early learning to include, but not be limited to, physical well-being and motor development, social/emotional development, approaches toward learning, language development and cognition and general knowledge. The comprehensive early learning standards shall also include standards for emergent literacy skills, including oral communication, knowledge of print and letters, phonological and phonemic awareness, and vocabulary and comprehension development.

(f) An “ evidence-based curriculum ” is an age-appropriate curriculum that demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on:

(i) Strong evidence from at least one (1) well-designed and well-implemented experimental study;

(ii) Moderate evidence from at least one (1) well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study; or

(iii) Promising evidence from at least one (1) well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias.

(2) To ensure that all children have access to quality early childhood education and development services, the Legislature finds and declares the following:

(a) Parents have the primary duty to educate their young preschool children;

(b) The State of Mississippi can assist and educate parents in their role as the primary caregivers and educators of young preschool children;

(c) There is a need to explore innovative approaches and strategies for aiding parents and families in the education and development of young preschool children; and

(d) There exists a patchwork of prekindergarten entities but no coordination of services and there needs to be a coordination of these services.

(3)(a) This subsection shall be known and may be cited as the “Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013.”

(b) Effective with the 2013-2014 school year, the Mississippi State Department of Education shall establish a voluntary prekindergarten program, which shall be a collaboration among the entities providing prekindergarten programs including Head Start, licensed child care facilities and licensed public, parochial and private school prekindergarten programs. This program shall be implemented no later than the 2014-2015 school year. Enrollment in the prekindergarten program shall be coordinated with the Head Start agencies in the local areas and shall not be permitted to cause a reduction in children served by the Head Start program. Under this program, eligible entities may submit an application for funds to (i) defray the cost of additional and/or more qualified teaching staff, appropriate educational materials and equipment and to improve the quality of educational experiences offered to four-year-old children in early care and education programs, and/or to (ii) extend developmentally appropriate education services at such programs currently serving four-year-old children to include practices of high quality instruction, and to (iii) administer, implement, monitor and evaluate the programs, and to (iv) defray the cost of professional development and age-appropriate child assessment.

(c) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated therefor, the State Department of Education shall administer the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the voluntary prekindergarten program, including awards and the application process.

(i) The department shall establish a rigorous and transparent application process for the awarding of funds. Lead partners shall submit the applications on behalf of their early learning collaborative.

(ii) The department will establish monitoring policies and procedures that, at a minimum, will include at least one (1) site visit a year.

(iii) The department will provide technical assistance to collaboratives and their providers to improve the quality of prekindergarten programs. Technical assistance may include classroom-embedded support for teachers and assistant teachers.

(iv) The department will evaluate the effectiveness of each early childhood collaborative and each prekindergarten provider. If the State Department of Education adopts a statewide kindergarten screening that assesses the readiness of each student for kindergarten, the State Department of Education shall adopt a minimum rate of readiness that each prekindergarten provider must meet in order to remain eligible for prekindergarten program funds. Each parent who enrolls his or her child in the prekindergarten program must submit the child for the statewide kindergarten screening, regardless of whether the child is admitted to kindergarten in a public school.

(d) Prekindergarten program funds shall be awarded to early childhood collaboratives whose proposed programs meet the program criteria. The criteria shall include:

(i) Voluntary enrollment of children;

(ii) Collaboration among prekindergarten providers and other early childhood programs through the establishment of an early learning collaborative;

(iii) Qualifications of master teachers, teachers and assistants, which must conform to guidelines in Section 37-21-3 ;

(iv) At least fifteen (15) hours of annual professional development for program instructional staff, including professional development in early literacy, and individualized professional development plans for all teachers and teaching assistants supplemented by classroom-embedded support on an as-needed basis;

(v) The use of state-adopted comprehensive early learning standards;

(vi) The use of a curriculum based on strong evidence as defined in subsection (1)(f)(i) of this section and aligned with the comprehensive early learning standards;

(vii) The use of a curriculum based on moderate evidence as defined in subsection (1)(f)(ii) of this section and aligned with the comprehensive early learning standards if no strong-evidence curriculum is available;

(viii) The use of a curriculum based on promising evidence as defined in subsection (1)(f)(iii) of this section and aligned with the comprehensive early learning standards if no strong-evidence curriculum or moderate-evidence curriculum is available;

(ix) The use of age-appropriate assessments aligned to the comprehensive early learning standards;

(x) Teacher/child ratios of one (1) adult for every ten (10) children with a maximum of twenty (20) children per classroom and a minimum of five (5) children per classroom;

(xi) The provision of at least one (1) meal meeting state and federal nutrition guidelines for young children;

(xii) Plans to screen and/or refer children for vision, hearing and other health issues;

(xiii) Family engagement opportunities;

(xiv) Plans to serve children with disabilities as indicated under IDEA;

(xv) The number of instructional hours to be provided, which shall equal no less than five hundred forty (540) instructional hours per school year for half-day programs and one thousand eighty (1,080) instructional hours per school year for full-day programs; and

(xvi) A budget detailing the use of funds for allowed expenses.

Participating child care centers shall: (a) meet state child care facility licensure requirements unless exempted under Section 43-20-5, Mississippi Code of 1972 , and (b) select and utilize a nationally recognized assessment tool, approved by the State Department of Education, designed to document classroom quality, which must be in place not later than July 1, 2016, as certified by the State Department of Education.

Within the prekindergarten program, a prekindergarten provider must comply with the antidiscrimination requirements applicable to public schools. A prekindergarten provider may not discriminate against a parent or child, including the refusal to admit a child for enrollment in the prekindergarten program, in violation of these antidiscrimination requirements. However, a prekindergarten provider may refuse to admit a child based on the provider's standard eligibility guidelines, provided that these guidelines do not violate the antidiscrimination requirements. Consistent with the Legislature's recognition of the primacy of a parent's role in the education of a preschool-age child and the related recognition of the state in assisting and educating parents in that role, if the State Department of Education adopts a statewide kindergarten screening that assesses the readiness of each student for kindergarten, the State Department of Education shall recognize each child's unique pattern of development when adopting a minimum rate of readiness that prekindergarten providers must meet in order to remain eligible for prekindergarten program funds. Each parent who enrolls his or her child in the prekindergarten program may submit the child for the statewide kindergarten screening, regardless of whether the child is admitted to kindergarten in a public school.

The State Department of Education may add program criteria not inconsistent with these requirements and shall develop policies and procedures to implement and enforce these criteria.

(e) The State Department of Education shall ensure that early learning collaboratives provide each parent enrolling a child in the voluntary prekindergarten program with a profile of every prekindergarten provider participating in the collaborative's geographic catchment area. The State Department of Education shall prescribe the information to be included in each profile as well as the format of the profiles. At a minimum, the profiles must include the prekindergarten provider's services, curriculum, instructor credentials and instructor-to-student ratio.

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

(g) Funding shall be provided for this program beginning with the 2014 fiscal year subject to appropriation by the Legislature as provided in paragraph (h) of this subsection. The department shall make an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor regarding program operations and outcomes. Every three (3) years, with the first report due July 1, 2023, the department shall provide to the Legislature and the Governor a rigorous evaluation of program effectiveness using longitudinal data to measure short-term and long-term effects, including both achievement and nonachievement effects. After each three-year report, the PEER Committee shall review the three-year report and the intervening annual reports and submit an independent summary of its findings prior to the next legislative session. The short-term and long-term effects shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(i) Kindergarten readiness;

(ii) English Language arts proficiency in grades 3 through 8;

(iii) Math proficiency in grades 3 through 8;

(iv) Science proficiency in grades 5 and 8;

(v) Disciplinary incidents;

(vi) Chronic absenteeism;

(vii) On-time graduation rate;

(viii) College enrollment;

(ix) Grade retention; and

(x) Special education services/exits.

(h)(i) The Legislature shall appropriate funds to implement the Early Education Collaborative Act of 2013 on a phased-in basis as follows:

1. The first phase shall be based on an annual state appropriation of not more than Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000.00) and shall serve approximately three thousand five hundred (3,500) children through five (5) to eight (8) early learning collaboratives and their prekindergarten providers;

2. The second phase shall be based on an annual state appropriation of not more than Sixteen Million Dollars ($16,000,000.00) and shall serve approximately seven thousand (7,000) children through ten (10) to fifteen (15) early learning collaboratives and their prekindergarten providers;

3. The third phase shall be based on an annual state appropriation of not more than Thirty-three Million Nine Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($33,950,000.00) and shall serve approximately fifteen thousand (15,000) children through twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) early learning collaboratives and their prekindergarten providers.

(ii) Future phases shall be based on interest in the program and the effectiveness of the program as determined by the school readiness of participants. Each phase shall last for at least three (3) years, but no more than five (5) years. The State Department of Education shall determine when to move to a new phase of the program, within the timeline provided herein.

(iii) Funding shall be provided to early learning collaboratives on the basis of a minimum of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) per student in a full-day program and a minimum of One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,250.00) per student in a half-day program proposed in the collaborative's approved application. Once an early learning collaborative's plan is approved and funded, the collaborative and/or its prekindergarten providers shall receive funds on an ongoing basis unless the collaborative and/or its prekindergarten providers no longer meet the criteria to participate in the program.

(iv) Early learning collaboratives shall match state funds on a 1:1 basis. Local matching funds may include local tax dollars, federal dollars as allowed, parent tuition, philanthropic contributions, or in-kind donations of facilities, equipment and services required as part of the program such as food service or health screenings.

(v) The State Department of Education shall reserve no more than five percent (5%) of the appropriation in any year for administrative costs.

(vi) In the initial phase of implementation, the State Department of Education shall award state funds under the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 based on a community's capacity, commitment and need. To determine capacity, commitment and need, the State Department of Education shall require evidence of existing strong local collaborations of early education stakeholders. Such evidence shall include, but not be limited to, collaborations resulting from any of the following:

1. Participation in Excel By 5;

2. Participation in Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK);

3. Participation in the Gilmore Early Learning Initiative (GELI); or

4. Participation in the Mississippi Building Blocks.

In determining community need, the department shall consider low academic achievement within the public school districts participating in an applicant early learning collaborative and the number and percentage of children without quality prekindergarten options.

(vii) All authority granted to the State Department of Education to establish program rules is subject to the public processes established in the provisions of the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, including, but not limited to, filing notice of the proposed rules, public hearings and any economic impact statement with the Office of the Secretary of State before presenting such information to the State Board of Education for final approval.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-413 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 101-413
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-413
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section, the term “ state institutions of higher learning ” means those institutions identified in Section 37-101-1 and the University Research Center.

(2) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may establish an equipment leasing and purchase program for the use of the state institutions of higher learning. In establishing and administering the program, the board may perform the following actions:

(a) Adopt policies and procedures to implement the program;

(b) Establish offices or subordinate units as may be necessary for the administration of the program;

(c) Adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the program;

(d) Acquire by purchase, lease or lease-purchase contract and retain or transfer ownership or possession of instructional and other equipment;

(e) Contract for the leasing of such properties and for the financing of leases and purchases;

(f) Enter into contracts with others to provide any services deemed necessary and advisable by the board;

(g) Make purchases and enter into leases according to the requirements of the state public purchasing laws and the requirements of those laws establishing the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services;

(h) Enter into lease financing agreements in connection with purchases made under the authority of this section;

(i) Require the transfer of appropriations of general funds or self-generated funds from the state institutions to those funds that the board may determine are required in connection with any lease financing agreements;

(j) Develop administrative methods for determining age, useful life, replacement value, current use, condition and other characteristics of instructional and research equipment at the state institutions and research facilities;

(k) Determine obsolescence of the equipment and establish priorities for replacement or provision of the equipment or its transfer to another state institution that can continue to utilize it; and

(l) Develop long-range plans for the orderly and systematic acquisition and utilization of the instructional and research equipment in order to eliminate waste and duplication, provide the maximum efficiency of use for expenditures, and achieve equitable allocations of equipment funds to the state institutions consistent with the roles of the institutions and disciplines served.

(3) All institutions of higher learning desiring to purchase, lease or lease-purchase equipment involving an expenditure or expenditures of more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) must procure that equipment under the equipment leasing and purchase program unless funds for the procurement of the equipment under the program are unavailable or the equipment can be procured elsewhere at an overall cost lower than that for which the equipment can be procured under the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-129-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 129-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-129-1
Status: in_force

In addition to all other powers and duties now vested by law in the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi, said board is hereby empowered and required to:

(a) Establish by rules and regulations and promulgate uniform standards for accreditation of schools of nursing in the State of Mississippi (i) insofar as concerns the eligibility of graduates of such schools to take the examination prescribed by law to become registered nurses authorized to practice the profession of nursing as registered nurses in Mississippi, and (ii) insofar as concerns student nurses attending such schools being eligible to participate in any student nurse scholarship program or other program of assistance now existing or hereafter established by legislative enactment;

(b) Issue to such schools of nursing upon an annual basis certificates of accreditation as may be proper under such standards;

(c) Administer any scholarship program or other program of assistance heretofore or hereafter established by legislative enactment for the benefit of students attending accredited schools of nursing in this state;

(d) Administer any other funds available or which may be made available for the promotion of nursing education in the state, with the exception of nursing faculty supplement funds to the public junior colleges, which funds shall be appropriated to and administered by the Division of Junior Colleges of the State Department of Education;

(e) Adopt rules and regulations to provide that a nurse in training may, during the two-year period in an approved hospital, be allowed to transfer at any time with full credit after six (6) months in training, to any other hospital of her choice at which there is a vacancy; suitable provision shall be made to protect her against coercion or intimidation concerning such a contemplated transfer.

In addition to other powers now vested by law in the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, said board is hereby empowered to establish and maintain a nurse-midwifery education program that meets the accreditation standards of the American College of Nurse-Midwives at a state institution of higher learning under the jurisdiction of the board of trustees.

In order to implement paragraph (d) above, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning is hereby authorized and directed to arrange and contract with hospitals, senior colleges and hospital schools of nursing for the financial support of programs of nursing education. The said board is further authorized to adopt such terms for contracts, and such rules and regulations for reimbursing contracting agencies for costs of instruction in schools of nursing as may be feasible in accordance with appropriations made by the Legislature for this purpose. However, no reimbursement may be made to contracting agencies in excess of the actual cost of instruction in the schools of nursing.

In addition to the powers now vested by law in the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor, said board is hereby empowered and directed to conduct a one-year feasibility study and comprehensive plan for nursing schools in Mississippi which addresses the concept of shared utilization of clinical simulation laboratories for all Mississippi schools of nursing in order to provide computerized interactive learning capabilities for all schools, utilizing the pooled resources or mobile capability models from other states. The completed plan shall be developed and a report made to the 2009 Regular Session on or before December 1, 2008.

No provision of this section shall be construed to authorize any department, agency, officer or employee of the State of Mississippi to exercise any controls over the admissions policy of any private educational institution offering a baccalaureate degree in nursing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 23-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-111
Status: in_force

Any center created under the provisions of Sections 37-23-91 through 37-23-111 may be constructed at any location within the county either in or outside of a municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 41-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-13
Status: in_force

All routes shall be laid out so as to place all pupils entitled to transportation within a reasonable distance of same. No child entitled to transportation shall be required to walk a greater distance than one mile to reach the vehicle of transportation in the morning or to reach his home in the afternoon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 139-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-1
Status: in_force

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

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

(b) “School” means the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-605 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 29-605
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-605
Status: in_force

All bonds issued by an educational building corporation may be executed and delivered at any time and from time to time, may be in such form and denominations, may be of such tenor, may be payable in such installments and at such time or times not exceeding thirty (30) years from their date, may be payable at such place or places, may bear interest at such rate or rates payable at such place or places and evidenced in such manner, and may contain such provisions not inconsistent with Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 , all as may be provided by resolution of its board of directors. The bonds issued by any such corporation shall be signed by the chairman of its board of directors or other chief executive officer and attested by its secretary, and the seal of such corporation shall be affixed thereto. Any such bonds may be sold at public or private sale in such manner and from time to time as may be determined by the board of directors to be most advantageous, and the corporation may pay all expenses, premiums and commissions which its board of directors may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance of the bonds. All such bonds shall be construed to be negotiable instruments, despite the fact that they are payable solely from a specified source.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-85 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 41-85
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-85
Status: in_force

No school board shall purchase any school bus or pupil transportation service vehicle as authorized by Section 37-41-81 except in the manner prescribed in Section 37-41-101 . No school bus shall be purchased or otherwise acquired which does not conform to the specifications provided by the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-123 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 101-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-123
Status: in_force

When any such bonds or other direct obligations of the United States of America shall have been purchased with such excess funds as is provided for in Section 37-101-121 , such bonds or other obligations may be sold or surrendered for redemption at any time by order or resolution adopted by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, and approved by the state building commission. Any member or members thereof or any officers or employees thereof, or any other person or persons, when authorized by such order or resolution, shall have the power and authority to sell said bonds or other obligations or to surrender same for redemption and to execute all instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the sale or redemption thereof. When such bonds or other obligations shall be sold or redeemed, the proceeds thereof, including the accrued interest thereon, shall be paid into the proper fund and shall in all respects be dealt with and expended for the purpose for which said funds were originally derived or made available.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-13
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Each school district shall have a superintendent of schools, selected in the manner provided by law. No person shall be eligible to the office of superintendent of schools unless such person shall hold a valid administrator's license issued by the State Department of Education and shall have classroom or administrative experience of not less than six (6) years which shall include at least three (3) years of administrative experience as a school building principal (a) in a school with an “A” or “B” accountability rating, or (b) in a school that increased its accountability rating by a letter grade during the period in which the principal was employed as principal at the school, or (c) in a school with comparable accountability rating or improvement in another state which shall be verified by the Mississippi Department of Education.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, no person shall be eligible to the office of superintendent of schools if the person has pled guilty to or been convicted of any state or federal offense in which he or she unlawfully took, obtained or misappropriated funds received by or entrusted to the person by virtue of his or her public office or employment.

(2) From and after January 1, 2019, in all public school districts, the local school board shall appoint the superintendent of schools of such district. At the expiration of the term of any county superintendent of education elected at the November 2015 general election, the county superintendent of education of said county shall not be elected but shall thereafter be appointed by the local school board in the manner provided in Section 37-9-25 . However, in the event that a vacancy in the office of the superintendent of schools elected at the November 2015 general election shall occur before January 1, 2019, the office of superintendent of schools shall immediately become an appointed position, and the local school board shall appoint the superintendent of the school district. The superintendent of schools shall have the general powers and duties to administer the schools within his district as prescribed in Section 37-9-14 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972 .

(3) As an alternative to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (1)(a) of this section, the State Board of Education is authorized and directed to issue regulations by January 1, 2018, which include minimum credentials, educational prerequisites, and relevant best practice experience requirements that will qualify a person to serve as a superintendent without having the direct experience or certification as an educator specified in subsection (1)(a) of this section.

(4) The provisions of this section shall be applicable to any superintendent of schools selected on or after July 1, 2017, who has not previously served as a superintendent or assistant superintendent within the last five (5) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-187-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 187-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-187-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Pandemic Response Broadband Availability Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-251 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-251
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-251
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(7) The School Executive Management Institute shall be responsible for the regular and ongoing evaluation of the Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program and may contract for such evaluation. The institute shall report to the State Board of Education and the Legislature in the 2003 Regular Session on the desirability of extending this assistance program statewide.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-239 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 153-239
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-239
Status: in_force

(1) The Office of Workforce Development shall submit an annual report on the grant program to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chair of the House Workforce Development Committee and the Chair of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee. The report shall contain a detailed explanation of how the funds appropriated for the program were awarded and how many paramedics have participated in the grant program and their employment outcomes.

(2) The Office of Workforce Development is authorized to enter into a memorandum of agreement with any public or nonpublic school which provides secondary education to students enrolled therein, for the purpose of allowing students who are at least seventeen (17) years of age to be eligible for enrollment in any accredited paramedic training program without any cost to the students, through dual-credit or dual-enrollment class offerings through an accredited entity authorized by the office to provide such trainings for purposes of the program. However, such students shall not be eligible to take any examination for certification as a paramedic until the time that he or she attains the age of eighteen (18), at which time he or she would be allowed to take the certification examination to become a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-171 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 33-171
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-171
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby established an Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing within the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, hereinafter referred to as “ODHH.”

(2) The ODHH shall have the following responsibilities:

(a) To work to make interpreter services available to people who are deaf or hard of hearing;

(b) To work to increase the number of qualified interpreters in the state and to increase the certification level of interpreters in the state;

(c) To maintain a registry of available and qualified interpreters in the state;

(d) To provide community outreach, training and education to the public and private sectors, including business, governmental entities, schools and political subdivisions, on issues related to the deaf and hard of hearing;

(e) To serve as a collection point and clearinghouse for information and data related to deafness, including program and service options available for adults and children who are deaf and hard of hearing;

(f) To encourage, participate in and conduct studies and research on issues related to the deaf and hard of hearing;

(g) To provide advice and information to the Mississippi Legislature;

(h) To work with public and private entities, including community and four-year colleges and universities, to accomplish the responsibilities of the ODHH;

(i) To discharge such other duties, responsibilities and powers as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

(3) A service center for ODHH shall be established and operated according to policies established by the ODHH and approved by the State Board of Rehabilitation Services.

(4) The ODHH shall be staffed by an office director, an administrative assistant and full-time and part-time interpreters. These staff members shall be employees of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services. The ODHH shall also have the power to contract with free lance interpreters as needed.

(5) The ODHH shall establish and utilize an advisory council made up of a majority of members who are deaf or hard of hearing. The first members of the ODHH Advisory Council shall be appointed for a one-year term; subsequent appointments or reappointments shall be made for two-year terms.

(6) The ODHH is authorized to apply for and accept funds from any source and to receive contributions, gifts or any other funds from any private or public source.

(7) The ODHH shall be funded subject to appropriation by the Legislature and in operation by July 1, 1998.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 35-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-9
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Community College Board is authorized to develop and establish general educational development preparatory classes in secondary schools and community/junior colleges and to provide financial assistance from the state for the specific purpose of preparing persons sixteen (16) years of age and older, not enrolled in school or required to be enrolled in school by the Compulsory School Attendance Law ( Section 37-13-91 ) to successfully write the general educational development test and earn a certificate of equivalency which is equivalent to the high school diploma.

The Mississippi Community College Board is authorized to administer the High School Equivalency Diploma Testing Program in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the High School Equivalency Diploma Testing Service of the American Council on Education. Such administration shall include the approval of rules and regulations for the administration, scoring, issuing of transcripts and awarding of diplomas for the High School Equivalency Diploma Testing Program. The Mississippi Community College Board is hereby authorized to assess a fee in an amount not to exceed Five Dollars ($5.00) for issuing an additional copy of a High School Equivalency Diploma transcript.

This program shall be administered by the Mississippi Community College Board through the secondary schools and community/junior colleges as the local needs indicate and are practical.

Full and general supervision over the program by the Mississippi Community College Board shall insure that duplication of effort by secondary schools and community/junior colleges will be eliminated; however, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a school district from implementing a program of High School Equivalency Diploma preparatory instruction.

Adult students for general educational development preparatory classes may be accepted by schools and junior colleges from any area of the state provided students are bona fide residents of Mississippi.

Instructors, counselors and supervisors utilized in the teaching of general educational development preparatory classes shall be licensed in the appropriate area as required by the Mississippi Community College Board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 151-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-65
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the Legislature by the passage of Sections 37-151-63 through 37-151-75 to provide for the creation and development of a regionally based system in Mississippi for education and training which: responds to the needs of Mississippi's work force and employers; is driven by the demands of industry and a competitive economy; makes maximum use of limited resources; and provides for continuing improvement through constant assessment of the results of education and training for individual workers and employers. 1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 140-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-11
Status: in_force

The board shall prepare the annual budget for the school. For the operation and support of the school, the board may receive contributions, donations, gifts, bequests of money, other forms of financial assistance and property, equipment, materials or manpower from persons, foundations, trust funds, corporations, organizations and other sources, public or private, to be expended and utilized by the board in carrying out this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 115-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-61
Status: in_force

Any county of this state now or hereafter having a population of more than 100,000 according to the latest available census, acting by and through its board of supervisors, is hereby authorized and empowered to contribute the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00) toward the construction, erection and equipping of a teaching hospital and related facilities in the four year school of medicine of the University of Mississippi created and authorized by the terms and provisions of Sections 37-115-21 through 37-115-33 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-53 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 45-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-53
Status: in_force

The beneficiary in all appeal bonds shall be the State of Mississippi. Said bonds shall secure the payment of the cost accruing in the proceeding, including the cost of appeal and the performance of any other acts required by the chancellor in granting of supersedeas appeal from any final rule, regulation or order of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 106-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-67
Status: in_force

(1) There is established a health care professions' forgivable loan program. It is the intent of the Legislature that persons declaring an intention to work at certain state health institutions as nurses, nurse practitioners, speech pathologists, psychologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists shall be eligible for a loan for the purpose of acquiring an education in such professions. The board shall enter into contracts with applicants, providing that such loans may be discharged by working as a health care professional in a state health institution, as defined in this section. Repayment and conversion terms shall be the same as those outlined in Section 37-106-53 .

(2) “ State health institution ” shall mean any of the following: any facility or program operated by the Department of Mental Health; the State Board of Health; mental health/intellectual disability facilities under the administration of a regional commission as established under Section 41-19-31 which are certified by the Department of Mental Health; and health care facilities under the Department of Corrections.

(3) The board shall establish rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-101 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 115-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-101
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby directed and authorized to establish a school of dentistry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-483 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-483
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-483
Status: in_force

The Legislature hereby declares that it is its intention and purpose to authorize and permit each and every type of disposition of property permitted in Sections 37-7-471 through 37-7-481 and by each and every type of transfer mentioned, and by every combination possible thereunder.

Said sections shall be construed to be supplemental to Sections 37-7-451 through 37-7-457 and Sections 37-7-501 through 37-7-511 , and to all other statutes dealing with the subject matter thereof, and shall be deemed to provide a supplemental, additional and alternate method for the disposition of school buildings, land, property and other school facilities which are no longer to be used for school purposes and are not needed in the operation of the schools of the district or for the conveyance of a partial ownership interest or for exchange, sale or conveyance of an undivided interest in school buildings, land, property or other school facilities that may yield a long-term economic value to the district, in the discretion of the local school board, based on an objective cost/benefit analysis as to whether the proposal shall maximize the interest of the taxpayers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-419 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 29-419
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-419
Status: in_force

When any land or other property owned by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District shall cease to be used or needed by the district, the same may be sold by the board of trustees upon sealed bids after three weeks' advertisement in a newspaper in the county where the said property is located. Personal property having a value determined by the board of less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) may be sold without such advertisement; however, in such event notice shall be posted in at least three public places in the county where such property is situated or where it is to be sold, giving notice of the time and place of such sale, and such property shall be sold to the highest and best bidder for cash. Such notice shall be posted for ten days before the sale.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 115-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-111
Status: in_force

The state building commission is authorized and directed to provide suitable land presently state owned or received as a gift, and buildings to house the school of dentistry; and payment for the construction costs of such buildings shall be made from any money made available to carry out the provisions of Sections 37-115-101 through 37-115-111 . Any funds appropriated or granted from any source shall be put into a fund in the office of the state treasurer to be designated as the “School of Dentistry Fund.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 109-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-7
Status: in_force

(1)(a) For institutions to be eligible for participation in the program, the institution shall adhere to the guidelines prescribed in the procedures manual for the State of Mississippi Dual Enrollment and Accelerated Programs, hereinafter the “manual,” and the requirements established by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board for participating institutions set forth in this subsection.

(b) Eligibility for funding shall be incorporated into the manual, which shall outline the specific criteria for initial and continued eligibility for participation for institutions, dual enrollment students and dual credit students, respectively. The academic officers of both the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall evaluate and approve the contents of the manual each year.

(c) The board shall administer the Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program as outlined in the manual. Funds for the program shall be distributed by the board to the providing institution of higher education on behalf of each eligible student after the enrollment verification period. Funds shall not be distributed by the board directly to the student.

(d) Participation in the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program is optional for all institutions defined in Section 37-109-5(a) . However, in order to qualify for funding, all guidelines in the manual must be followed by each institution.

(e) All participating institutions shall be reimbursed at the rate of forty percent (40%) of the average community college credit hour tuition for the current academic year.

(f) Participating institutions may elect to exclude specific centers, branch campuses, collegiate academies and middle college's within their governance or purview from participating in the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program.

(2) For students to be eligible for participation in the program, the scholarship applicant shall satisfy the student eligibility requirements prescribed in Procedures Manual for the State of Mississippi Dual Enrollment and Accelerated Programs and the requirements established for student eligibility set forth in this subsection:

(a) Students in Grades 11 and 12 who are residents of the State of Mississippi shall be eligible to participate in the program, provided they meet minimum eligibility criteria in the manual. Resident status for the purpose of receiving assistance under this chapter shall be determined in the same manner as resident status for tuition purposes in Sections 37-103-1 through 37-103-29 , with the exception of Section 37-103-17 ;

(b) Each eligible student shall be qualified for funding under this chapter for up to six (6) dual enrollment/dual credit semester credit hours prior to high school graduation;

(c) All students who meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in the manual, regardless of participation method, whether online, at a participating institution's campus, at a high school campus, academic or career and technical education (CTE), shall meet the requirements for funding allocation to the participating institution;

(d) All Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program student recipients shall be required to participate in an advising component related to the Mississippi Articulation and Transfer Tool (MATT) to ensure their understanding of course transferability. Credits earned with a final grade of C or above on the eligible student's college transcript in courses offered through the program, whether academic or career and technical, shall transfer to any postsecondary institution in Mississippi;

(e) Books, course materials, tools, supplies, lab fees, transportation costs and other applicable course fees shall be the responsibility of the student or high school district; and

(f) Middle college students shall be qualified for the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program funding only if the institution complies with the requirements of the manual.

(3) To ensure appropriate articulation of college credits to other institutions, only the courses on the “Approved Academic Dual Credit Listing” shall be eligible for funding.

(4) Early college students are not eligible for the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program funding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-189-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 189-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-189-1
Status: in_force

The Governor is authorized and directed to execute the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact on behalf of this state with any other state or states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE

The purpose of this compact is to facilitate the mobility of teachers across the member states with the goal of supporting teachers through a new pathway to licensure. Through this compact, the member states seek to establish a collective regulatory framework which expedites and enhances the ability of teachers from a variety of backgrounds to move across state lines. This compact is intended to achieve the following objectives, as applied in the State of Mississippi, and shall be interpreted according to Mississippi law. The member states hereby ratify the same intentions by subscribing hereto:

A. Create a streamlined pathway to licensure mobility for teachers;

B. Support the relocation of eligible military spouses;

C. Facilitate and enhance the exchange of licensure information between the member states;

D. Enhance the power of state and district-level education officials to hire qualified, competent teachers by removing barriers to the employment of out-of-state teachers;

E. Support the retention of teachers in the profession by removing barriers to relicensure in a new state; and

F. Maintain state sovereignty in the regulation of the teaching profession.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

As used in this compact, and except as otherwise provided, the following definitions shall govern the terms herein:

A. “ Active military member ” means any person with full-time duty status in the Armed Forces of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve.

B. “ Adverse action ” means any limitation or restriction imposed by a member state's licensing authority, such as revocation, suspension, reprimand, probation or limitation on the licensee's ability to work as a teacher.

C. “ Bylaws ” means those bylaws established by the Commission.

D. “ Career and technical education license ” means a current, valid authorization issued by a member state's licensing authority allowing an individual to serve as a teacher in P-12 public educational settings in a specific career and technical education area.

E. “ Charter member states ” means a member state that has enacted legislation to adopt this compact where such legislation predates the initial meeting of the Commission after the effective date of the compact.

F. “ Commission ” means the interstate administrative body which membership consists of delegates of all states that have enacted this compact, and which is known as the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission.

G. “ Commissioner ” means the delegate of a member state.

H. “ Eligible license ” means a license to engage in the teaching profession which requires at least a bachelor's degree and the completion of a state-approved program for teacher licensure.

I. “ Eligible military spouse ” means the spouse of any individual in full-time duty status in the active Armed Forces of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve moving as a result of a military mission or military career progression requirements or are on their terminal move as a result of separation or retirement (to include surviving spouses of deceased military members).

J. “ Executive committee ” means a group of Commissioners elected or appointed to act on behalf of, and within the powers granted to them by, the Commission as provided for herein.

K. “ Licensing authority ” means an official, agency, board, or other entity of a state that is responsible for the licensing and regulation of teachers authorized to teach in P-12 public educational settings.

L. “ Member state ” means any state that has adopted this compact, including all agencies and officials of such a state.

M. “ Receiving state ” means any state where a teacher has applied for licensure under this compact.

N. “ Rule ” means any regulation promulgated by the Commission under this compact, which shall have the force of law in each member state. As applied in the State of Mississippi, such rules shall only be binding and have the force of law if consistent with Mississippi law.

O. “ State ” means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, and the District of Columbia.

P. “ State practice laws ” means a member state's laws, rules, and regulations that govern the teaching profession, define the scope of such profession, and create the methods and grounds for imposing discipline.

Q. “ State specific requirements ” means a requirement for licensure covered in coursework or examination that includes content of unique interest to the state.

R. “ Teacher ” means an individual who currently holds an authorization from a member state that forms the basis for employment in the P-12 public schools of the state to provide instruction in a specific subject area, grade level or student population.

S. “ Unencumbered license ” means a current, valid authorization issued by a member state's licensing authority allowing an individual to serve as a teacher in P-12 public educational settings. An unencumbered license is not a restricted, probationary, provisional, substitute or temporary credential.

ARTICLE III

LICENSURE UNDER THE COMPACT

A. Licensure under this compact pertains only to the initial grant of a license by the receiving state. Nothing herein applies to any subsequent or ongoing compliance requirements that a receiving state might require for teachers.

B. Each member state shall, in accordance with rules of the commission, define, compile and update, as necessary, a list of eligible licenses and career and technical education licenses that the member state is willing to consider for equivalency under this compact and provide the list to the commission. The list shall include those licenses that a receiving state is willing to grant teachers from other member states, pending a determination of equivalency by the receiving state's licensing authority.

C. Upon the receipt of an application for licensure by a teacher holding an unencumbered license, the receiving state shall determine which of the receiving state's eligible licenses the teacher is qualified to hold and shall grant such a license or licenses to the applicant. Such a determination shall be made in the sole discretion of the receiving state's licensing authority and may include a determination that the applicant is not eligible for any of the receiving state's licenses. For all teachers who hold an unencumbered license, the receiving state shall grant one or more unencumbered licenses that, in the receiving state's sole discretion, are equivalent to the license held by the teacher in any other member state.

D. For active duty military members and eligible military spouses who hold a license that is not unencumbered, the receiving state shall grant an equivalent license or licenses that, in the receiving state's sole discretion, is equivalent to the license or licenses held by the teacher in any other member state, except where the receiving state does not have an equivalent license.

E. For a teacher holding an unencumbered career and technical education license, the receiving state shall grant an unencumbered license equivalent to the career and technical education license held by the applying teacher and issued by another member state, as determined by the receiving state in its sole discretion, except where a career and technical education teacher does not hold a bachelor's degree and the receiving state requires a bachelor's degree for licenses to teach career and technical education. A receiving state may require career and technical education teachers to meet state industry recognized requirements, if required by law in the receiving state.

ARTICLE IV

LICENSURE NOT UNDER THE COMPACT

A. Except as provided in Article III, nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit or inhibit the power of a member state to regulate licensure or endorsements overseen by the member state's licensing authority.

B. When a teacher is required to renew a license received pursuant to this compact, the state granting such a license may require the teacher to complete state-specific requirements as a condition of licensure renewal or advancement in that state.

C. For purposes of determining compensation, a receiving state may require additional information from teachers receiving a license under the provisions of this compact.

D. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit the power of a member state to control and maintain ownership of its information pertaining to teachers or limit the application of a member state's laws or regulations governing the ownership, use or dissemination of information pertaining to teachers.

E. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to invalidate or alter any existing agreement or other cooperative arrangement which a member state may already be a party to or limit the ability of a member state to participate in any future agreement or other cooperative arrangement to:

1. Award teaching licenses or other benefits based on additional professional credentials, including, but not limited to, National Board Certification;

2. Participate in the exchange of names of teachers whose license has been subject to an adverse action by a member state; or

3. Participate in any agreement or cooperative arrangement with a nonmember state.

ARTICLE V

TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

FOR LICENSURE UNDER THE COMPACT

A. Except as provided for active military members or eligible military spouses under Article III D, a teacher may only be eligible to receive a license under this compact where that teacher holds an unencumbered license in a member state.

B. A teacher eligible to receive a license under this compact shall, unless otherwise provided herein:

1. As the compact is applied in Mississippi, upon their application to receive a license under this compact and receipt of an employment offer by a school district, undergo a criminal background check in the receiving state in accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving state; and

2. Provide the receiving state with information in addition to the information required for licensure for the purposes of determining compensation, if applicable.

ARTICLE VI

DISCIPLINE AND ADVERSE ACTIONS

A. Nothing in this compact shall be deemed or construed to limit the authority of a member state to investigate or impose disciplinary measures on teachers according to the state practice laws thereof.

B. Member states shall be authorized to receive, and shall provide, files and information regarding the investigation and discipline, if any, of teachers in other member states upon request. Any member state receiving such information or files shall protect and maintain the security and confidentiality thereof, in at least the same manner that it maintains its own investigatory or disciplinary files and information. Prior to disclosing any disciplinary or investigatory information received from another member state, the disclosing state shall communicate its intention and purpose for such disclosure to the member state which originally provided that information.

ARTICLE VII

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERSTATE TEACHER MOBILITY

COMPACT COMMISSION

A. The interstate compact member states hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission:

1. The Commission is a joint interstate governmental agency comprised of states that have enacted the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact; and

2. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to be a waiver of sovereign immunity.

B. Membership, Voting, and Meetings

1. Each member state shall have and be limited to one (1) delegate to the Commission, who shall be given the title of Commissioner.

2. The Commissioner shall be the primary administrative officer of the state licensing authority or their designee.

3. Any Commissioner may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state from which the Commissioner is appointed.

4. The member state shall fill any vacancy occurring in the Commission within ninety (90) days.

5. Each Commissioner shall be entitled to one (1) vote about the promulgation of rules and creation of bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the business and affairs of the Commission. A Commissioner shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for Commissioners' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication.

6. The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the bylaws.

7. The Commission shall establish, by rule, a term of office for Commissioners.

C. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

1. Establish a Code of Ethics for the Commission;

2. Establish the fiscal year of the Commission;

3. Establish bylaws for the Commission;

4. Maintain its financial records in accordance with the bylaws of the Commission;

5. Meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this interstate compact, the bylaws and rules of the Commission;

6. Promulgate uniform rules to implement and administer this interstate compact. The rules shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in all member states, except that in Mississippi, the rules shall only be binding if consistent with Mississippi law. In the event the Commission exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of the compact, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an action by the Commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect of law;

7. Bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the Commission, provided that the standing of any member state licensing authority to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected;

8. Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;

9. Borrow, accept or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a member state, or an associated nongovernmental organization that is open to membership by all states;

10. Hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, grant such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the compact, and establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other related personnel matters;

11. Lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise own, hold, improve, or use, any property, real, personal or mixed, provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety;

12. Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise dispose of any property real, personal or mixed;

13. Establish a budget and make expenditures;

14. Borrow money;

15. Appoint committees, including standing committees composed of members and such other interested persons as may be designated in this interstate compact, rules or bylaws;

16. Provide and receive information from, and cooperate with, law enforcement agencies;

17. Establish and elect an Executive Committee;

18. Establish and develop a charter for an Executive Information Governance Committee to advise on facilitating exchange of information, use of information, data privacy and technical support needs, and provide reports as needed;

19. Perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this interstate compact consistent with the state regulation of teacher licensure; and

20. Determine whether a state's adopted language is materially different from the model compact language such that the state would not qualify for participation in the compact.

D. The Executive Committee of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission

1. The Executive Committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Commission according to the terms of this interstate compact;

2. The Executive Committee shall be composed of eight (8) voting members:

a. The Commission chair, vice chair and treasurer; and

b. Five (5) members who are elected by the Commission from the current membership:

i. Four (4) voting members representing geographic regions in accordance with commission rules; and

ii. One (1) at-large voting member in accordance with commission rules;

3. The Commission may add or remove members of the Executive Committee as provided in commission rules;

4. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once annually;

5. The Executive Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

a. Recommend to the entire Commission changes to the rules or bylaws, changes to the compact legislation, fees paid by interstate compact member states such as annual dues, and any compact fee charged by the member states on behalf of the Commission. As applied in Mississippi, implementation of any recommendation or rules or bylaws related to annual dues shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature;

b. Ensure Commission administration services are appropriately provided, contractual or otherwise;

c. Prepare and recommend the budget;

d. Maintain financial records on behalf of the Commission;

e. Monitor compliance of member states and provide reports to the Commission; and

f. Perform other duties as provided in rules or bylaws.

6. Meetings of the Commission

a. All meetings shall be open to the public, and public notice of meetings shall be given in accordance with Commission bylaws;

b. The Commission or the Executive Committee or other committees of the Commission may convene in a closed, nonpublic meeting if the Commission or Executive Committee or other committees of the Commission must discuss:

i. Noncompliance of a member state with its obligations under the compact;

ii. The employment, compensation, discipline or other matters, practices or procedures related to specific employees or other matters related to the Commission's internal personnel practices and procedures;

iii. Current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated litigation;

iv. Negotiation of contracts for the purchase, lease or sale of goods, services or real estate;

v. Accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person;

vi. Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential;

vii. Disclosure of information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

viii. Disclosure of investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes;

ix. Disclosure of information related to any investigative reports prepared by or on behalf of or for use of the Commission or other committee charged with responsibility of investigation or determination of compliance issues pursuant to the compact;

x. Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or member state statute; and

xi. Others matters as set forth by Commission bylaws and rules;

c. If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed pursuant to this provision, the Commission's legal counsel or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and shall reference each relevant exempting provision; and

d. The Commission shall keep minutes of Commission meetings and shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons therefore, including a description of the views expressed. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the Commission or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

7. Financing of the Commission

a. The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of, the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization and ongoing activities;

b. The Commission may accept all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, and receive, utilize and dispose of the same, provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest;

c. The Commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on other parties to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Commission, in accordance with the commission rules, but the requirement to pay the assessment in Mississippi, shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature;

d. The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the Commission pledge the credit of any of the member states, except by and with the authority of the member state; and

e. The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Commission shall be subject to accounting procedures established under Commission bylaws. All receipts and disbursements of funds of the Commission shall be reviewed annually in accordance with Commission bylaws, and a report of the review shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Commission.

8. Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification

a. The members, officers, executive director, employees and representatives of the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person.

b. The Commission shall defend any member, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining his or her own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from that person's intentional or willful or wanton misconduct.

c. The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person.

ARTICLE VIII

RULEMAKING

A. The Commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers pursuant to the criteria set forth in this interstate compact and the rules adopted thereunder. Rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment, provided that as applied in the State of Mississippi, the rules shall only be binding if consistent with Mississippi law.

B. The Commission shall promulgate reasonable rules to achieve the intent and purpose of this interstate compact. In the event the Commission exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond purpose and intent of this interstate compact, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an action by the Commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect of law in the member states.

C. If a majority of the legislatures of the member states rejects a rule, by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact within four (4) years of the date of adoption of the rule, then such rule shall have no further force and effect in any member state.

D. Rules or amendments to the rules shall be adopted or ratified at a regular or special meeting of the Commission in accordance with commission rules and bylaws.

E. Upon determination that an emergency exists, the Commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule with forty-eight (48) hours' notice, with opportunity to comment, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures shall be retroactively applied to the rule as soon as reasonably possible, in no event later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of the rule. For the purposes of this provision, an emergency rule is one that must be adopted immediately in order to:

1. Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare;

2. Prevent a loss of Commission or member state funds;

3. Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative rule that is established by federal law or rule; or

4. Protect public health and safety.

F. As applied in the State of Mississippi, if a rule or amendment promulgated by the Commission conflicts with Mississippi law, Mississippi law shall control and the rule or amendment promulgated by the Commission shall have no effect.

ARTICLE IX

FACILITATING INFORMATION EXCHANGE

A. The Commission shall provide for facilitating the exchange of information to administer and implement the provisions of this compact in accordance with the rules of the Commission, consistent with generally accepted data protection principles and federal and state law.

B. Nothing in this compact shall be deemed or construed to alter, limit or inhibit the power of a member state to control and maintain ownership of its licensee information or alter, limit or inhibit the laws or regulations governing licensee information in the member state.

ARTICLE X

OVERSIGHT, DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ENFORCEMENT

A. Oversight

1. The executive and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce this compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent, provided that as applied in the State of Mississippi, the compact shall only be binding if consistent with Mississippi law. The provisions of this compact shall have standing as statutory law, provided that as applied in the State of Mississippi, the compact shall only be binding if consistent with Mississippi law.

2. Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the Commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to participate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Nothing herein shall affect or limit the selection or propriety of venue in any action against a licensee for professional malpractice, misconduct or any such similar matter.

3. All courts and all administrative agencies shall take judicial notice of the compact, the rules of the Commission, and any information provided to a member state pursuant thereto in any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding in a member state pertaining to the subject matter of this compact, or which may affect the powers, responsibilities or actions of the Commission.

4. The Commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any proceeding regarding the enforcement or interpretation of the compact and shall have standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide the Commission service of process shall render a judgment or order void as to the Commission, this compact or promulgated rules.

B. Default, Technical Assistance and Termination

1. If the Commission determines that a member state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact or the promulgated rules, the Commission shall:

a. Provide written notice to the defaulting state and other member states of the nature of the default, the proposed means of curing the default or any other action to be taken by the Commission; and

b. Provide remedial training and specific technical assistance regarding the default.

2. If a state in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting state may be terminated from the compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the Commissioners of the member states, and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred on that state by this compact may be terminated on the effective date of termination.

3. Termination of membership in the compact shall be imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the Commission to the Governor, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's Legislature, the state licensing authority and each of the member states.

4. A state that has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination.

5. The Commission shall not bear any costs related to a state that is found to be in default or that has been terminated from the compact, unless agreed upon in writing between the Commission and the defaulting state.

6. The defaulting state may appeal the action of the Commission by petitioning the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its principal offices.

C. Dispute Resolution

1. Upon request by a member state, the Commission shall attempt to resolve disputes related to the compact that arise among member states and between member and nonmember states.

2. The Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for nonbinding alternative dispute resolution for disputes as appropriate.

D. Enforcement

1. The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this compact.

2. By majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact and its promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief sought may include injunctive relief.

ARTICLE XI

EFFECTUATION, WITHDRAWAL, AND AMENDMENT

A. The compact shall come into effect on the date on which the compact statute is enacted into law in the tenth member state.

1. On or after the effective date of the compact, the Commission shall convene and review the enactment of each of the charter member states to determine if the statute enacted by each such charter member state is materially different from the model compact statute.

2. A charter member state whose enactment is found to be materially different from the model compact statute shall be entitled to the default process set forth in Article X.

3. Member states enacting the compact subsequent to the charter member states shall be subject to the process set forth in Article VII.C.20 to determine if their enactments are materially different from the model compact statute and whether they qualify for participation in the compact.

B. If any member state is later found to be in default, or is terminated or withdraws from the compact, the Commission shall remain in existence and the compact shall remain in effect even if the number of member states should be less than ten (10).

C. Any state that joins the compact after the Commission's initial adoption of the rules and bylaws shall be subject to the rules and bylaws as they exist on the date on which the compact becomes law in that state, provided that as applied in the State of Mississippi, the compact shall only be binding if consistent with Mississippi law. Any rule that has been previously adopted by the Commission shall have the full force and effect of law on the day the compact becomes law in that state, provided that as applied in the State of Mississippi, the compact shall only be binding if consistent with Mississippi law, as the rules and bylaws may be amended as provided in this compact.

D. Any member state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same. A member state's withdrawal shall not take effect until six (6) months after enactment of the repealing statute.

E. This compact may be amended by the member states. No amendment to this compact shall become effective and binding upon any other member state until it is enacted into the laws of all member states.

ARTICLE XII

CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY

The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any member state or a state seeking membership in the compact, contrary to Mississippi law, or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any other government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any member state, or as applicable in the State of Mississippi, with Mississippi law, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining member states and in full force and effect as to the member state affected as to all severable matters.

ARTICLE XIII

CONSISTENT EFFECT AND CONFLICT WITH OTHER STATE LAWS

A. Nothing herein shall prevent or inhibit the enforcement of Mississippi law that is not inconsistent with the compact.

B. Any laws, statutes, regulations or other legal requirements in a member state in conflict with the compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict, provided that as applied in the State of Mississippi, the compact shall only be binding if consistent with Mississippi law.

C. All permissible agreements between the Commission and the member states are binding in accordance with their terms, provided that as applied in the State of Mississippi, the agreements shall only be binding if consistent with Mississippi law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-4 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-4
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-4
Status: in_force

The compensation of any attorney employed by a school board who is a member of the Legislature shall be paid only from funds available to the school district that are not appropriated by the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-18.1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 11-18.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-18.1
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section:

(a) The term “ disruptive behavior ” means conduct of a student that is so unruly, disruptive or abusive that it seriously interferes with a schoolteacher's or school administrator's ability to communicate with the students in a classroom, with a student's ability to learn, or with the operation of a school or school-related activity, and which is not covered by other laws related to violence or possession of weapons or controlled substances on school property, school vehicles or at school-related activities. Such behaviors include, but are not limited to: foul, profane, obscene, threatening, defiant or abusive language or action toward teachers or other school employees; defiance, ridicule or verbal attack of a teacher; and willful, deliberate and overt acts of disobedience of the directions of a teacher; and

(b) The term “ habitually disruptive ” refers to such actions of a student which cause disruption in a classroom, on school property or vehicles or at a school-related activity on more than two (2) occasions during a school year, and to disruptive behavior that was initiated, willful and overt on the part of the student and which required the attention of school personnel to deal with the disruption. However, no student shall be considered to be habitually disruptive before the development of a behavior modification plan for the student in accordance with the code of student conduct and discipline plans of the school district.

(2) Every behavior modification plan written pursuant to this section must be developed by utilizing evidence-based practices and positive behavioral intervention supports. The plan must be implemented no later than two (2) weeks after the occurrence of the disruptive behavior.

(3) Any student who is thirteen (13) years of age or older for whom a behavior modification plan is developed by the school principal, reporting teacher and student's parent and which student does not comply with the plan shall be deemed habitually disruptive and subject to expulsion on the occurrence of the third act of disruptive behavior during a school year. After the second act of disruptive behavior during a school year by a student, a psychological evaluation shall be performed upon the child.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 33-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-33
Status: in_force

Budget estimates of the amount of appropriations needed each fiscal year for vocational rehabilitation services and for the administration of said program shall be submitted in such manner as may be provided by law, and sufficient funds for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Vocational Rehabilitation Law shall be appropriated by the legislature. In the event federal funds are available to the State of Mississippi for vocational rehabilitation purposes, the division of vocational rehabilitation is authorized to comply with such requirements as may be necessary to obtain said federal funds in the maximum amount and most advantageous proportion possible insofar as this may be done without violating other provisions of the state law and constitution. In the event the national congress fails in any year to appropriate funds for grants-in-aid to the state for vocational rehabilitation purposes, the state legislature shall appropriate such funds as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of said law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-87 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-87
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-87
Status: in_force

(1) The Director of the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement shall employ three (3) school attendance officer supervisors, each to maintain an office within a different Supreme Court district. Each supervisor shall be responsible for the enforcement of the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law within his district and shall exercise direct supervision over the school attendance officers in the district. The supervisors, who shall report to the director of the office, shall assist the school attendance officers in the performance of their duties as established by law or otherwise.

(2) No person having less than eight (8) years combined actual experience as a school attendance officer, school teacher, school administrator, law enforcement officer possessing a college degree with a major in a behavioral science or a related field, and/or social worker in the state shall be employed as a school attendance officer supervisor. Further, a school attendance officer supervisor shall possess a college degree with a major in a behavioral science or a related field or shall have actual experience as a school teacher, school administrator, law enforcement officer possessing such degree or social worker; however, these requirements shall not apply to persons employed as school attendance officers before January 1, 1987. School attendance officers shall meet any additional qualifications established by the State Personnel Board for school attendance officers or school attendance officer supervisors. The school attendance officer supervisors shall receive an annual salary to be set by the State Superintendent of Public Education, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-309 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 101-309
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-309
Status: in_force

Such bonds shall be signed by the Chairman of the State Bond Commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the State Bond Commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the Secretary of the State Bond Commission. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials herein designated to sign the bonds, who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers prior to the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear. Provided, however, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-159 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 101-159
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-159
Status: in_force

The consideration and proceeds derived or received from all oil, gas and mineral leases provided for in Section 37-101-153 , including, but not limited to bonuses, rentals, royalties and delay rentals, shall be paid to the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning for the use and benefit of the institution owning or having the use and benefit of the land from which said money was derived. All such money or funds shall be allocated to or used for the benefit of such institution or institutions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-177 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-177
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-177
Status: in_force

Specialized programs in vocational and vocational-technical education which are not available to students in their home districts, but which are offered in other districts, shall be available to such students on a non-out-of-district fee basis.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-183-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 183-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-183-5
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Postsecondary Education COVID-19 Mitigation Relief Program for public and private postsecondary educational institutions to be administered by the department, which shall set the dates and deadlines for applying for an award under this section. The program is established for the purpose of providing reimbursement to eligible postsecondary educational institutions for unreimbursed expenses directly related to COVID-19. The department shall establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.

(2) The department shall approve applications for reimbursement from each eligible postsecondary educational institution. For each eligible postsecondary educational institution, the department shall only award funds equivalent to the lesser of the total of itemized eligible COVID-19-related expenses or the maximum allowable for each institution based on the total number of students enrolled during the 2019-2020 scholastic year, who were actively enrolled as a part-time or full-time student on March 1, 2020, as determined by the student allocation formulas specified in subsections (3) and (4) of this section. To qualify for reimbursement, each postsecondary educational institution's application for reimbursement must, in addition to specifying the amount of reimbursement requested, also include an itemized expense report that evidences the eligible expenses incurred by the eligible postsecondary educational institution.

(3)(a) Each four-year postsecondary educational institution shall be eligible to be reimbursed at an amount equivalent to Five Hundred Sixty-eight Dollars ($568.00) per student actively enrolled as a part-time or full-time student on March 1, 2020. Each four-year postsecondary educational institution's reimbursement shall be determined upon the submission of the itemized expense report, required under subsection (2) of this section. Failure of a four-year postsecondary educational institution to submit the itemized expense report will subject the institution to forfeiture of any allotted funds designated for the specific institution's eligible maximum reimbursement amount.

(b) Upon a showing of itemized eligible COVID-19-related expenses, the eligible maximum reimbursement amount allowed for each four-year postsecondary educational institution, as determined by the student allocation formula prescribed in paragraph (a) of this subsection, shall be as follows:

(i)

Alcorn State University․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 1,854,520.00

(ii)

Delta State University․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 1,946,536.00

(iii)

Jackson State University․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 3,603,960.00

(iv)

Mississippi State University․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 11,704,776.00

(v)

Mississippi University for Women․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 1,523,944.00

(vi)

Mississippi Valley State University․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 1,147,928.00

(vii)

University of Mississippi․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 11,981,392.00

(viii)

University of Southern Mississippi․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 7,320,384.00

(ix)

Belhaven University․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 2,272,000.00

(x)

Blue Mountain College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 340,800.00

(xi)

Millsaps College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 433,952.00

(xii)

Mississippi College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 2,465,688.00

(xiii)

Rust College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 364,088.00

(xiv)

Tougaloo College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 397,600.00

(xv)

William Carey University․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․$ 2,433,312.00.

(c) The department shall directly allocate to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning the amount of One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars ($130,000.00) to be used for COVID-19-related expenses.

(d) The total allocating authority provided to the Department of Finance and Administration under the provisions of this subsection (3) shall not exceed Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00).

(4)(a) Each two-year postsecondary educational institution, upon a showing of itemized eligible COVID-19-related expenses, shall be eligible to be awarded funds equivalent to the lesser of the total of its itemized eligible expenses or the base amount of Three Hundred Fifty-one Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Dollars and Seventy-one Cents ($351,550.71) available to each respective institution, as determined by calculating the total amount of unreimbursed expenses incurred by all two-year postsecondary educational institutions multiplied by the full-time equivalent (FTE) rate of fifteen percent (15%), and divided by the total number of two-year postsecondary educational institutions based on a thirty-seven percent (37%) reduction. The total of the base amount actually awarded to each institution under this paragraph (a) shall be deducted from the eligible maximum reimbursement amount allowed for each institution under paragraph (c) of this subsection.

(b) The remaining eighty-five percent (85%) of the unreimbursed expenses incurred by all two-year postsecondary educational institutions shall then be divided by the total number of FTE students enrolled in all two-year postsecondary educational institutions to be reimbursed at an amount equivalent to Five Hundred Forty-five Dollars and Forty-two Cents ($545.42) per FTE student at each respective two-year postsecondary educational institution as of March 1, 2020, based on a thirty-seven percent (37%) reduction. Each postsecondary educational institution's reimbursement shall be determined upon the submission of the itemized expense report, required under subsection (2) of this section. Failure of a postsecondary educational institution to submit the itemized expense report will subject the institution to forfeiture of any allotted funds designated for the specific institution's eligible maximum reimbursement amount.

(c) Upon a showing of itemized eligible COVID-19-related expenses, the eligible maximum reimbursement amount allowed for each institution, as determined by the student allocation formulas prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, shall be as follows:

(i)

Coahoma Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 1,104,018.54

(ii)

Copiah-Lincoln Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 1,641,377.19

(iii)

East Central Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 1,429,800.67

(iv)

East Mississippi Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 1,943,536.14

(v)

Hinds Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 4,900,064.29

(vi)

Holmes Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 2,908,719.58

(vii)

Itawamba Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 2,511,704.35

(viii)

Jones County Junior College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 2,359,313.34

(ix)

Meridian Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 1,697,113.29

(x)

Mississippi Delta Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 1,453,472.11

(xi)

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 4,220,356.11

(xii)

Northeast Mississippi Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 1,866,958.52

(xiii)

Northwest Mississippi Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 3,372,657.14

(xiv)

Pearl River Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․$ 2,497,523.94

(xv)

Southwest Mississippi Community College․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․$ 1,248,446.98.

(d) The department shall directly allocate:

(i) To the Mississippi Community College Board the amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00); and

(ii) To the individual two-year postsecondary educational institutions, based on full-time enrolled students for all COVID-19-related education expenses, including, but not limited to, PPE and hardened technology infrastructure, the amount of Thirteen Million Eight Hundred Forty-four Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-seven Dollars and Eighty-one Cents ($13,844,937.81).

Funds allocated under this paragraph (d), at the discretion of the individual two-year postsecondary educational institutions, may be transferred to the Community College Board for consortium distance learning purchases. The Community College Board shall provide the department with the number of full-time enrolled students at the two-year postsecondary educational institutions. Funds allocated under this paragraph (d) shall be for all COVID-19-related education expenses, including, but not limited to, PPE and hardened technology infrastructure at all two-year postsecondary educational institutions.

(e) The total allocating authority provided to the department under the provisions of this subsection (4) shall not exceed Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00).

(5) The department may retain One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) for administrative expenses of the program.

(6) The total allocating authority provided to the department under the provisions of subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall not exceed One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00).

(7) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the department shall develop regulations, procedures and application forms to govern the administration of the program, which at a minimum, shall require eligible postsecondary educational institutions to:

(a) Submit an application for a grant for reimbursement;

(b) Demonstrate the need and purpose of the grant funds received to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the operation of the school and its delivery of instruction; and

(c) Provide an itemized list of reimbursable-eligible expenses, as defined in Section 37-183-3 , which the eligible postsecondary educational institution has previously incurred, is presently incurring or will incur in the future, as such expenses relate to mitigation of the impact of COVID-19.

(8) The department shall report on the utilization of the program to the Chairs of the Universities and Colleges Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House and the Governor by October 1, 2020. At a minimum, the report shall contain:

(a) The name of each educational institution;

(b) The total amount of reimbursement requested by each educational institution; and

(c) The total amount of reimbursement received by each educational institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-67-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 67-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-67-1
Status: in_force

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

(2) As used in this section:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Acquire instructional programming for distance learning programs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(d) Curriculum standards for online courses.

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

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

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

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

(9) The lead partner of a distance learning collaborative and the local school district shall compile information about online learning programs for high school students to earn college credit and place the information on its website. Examples of information to be compiled and placed on the website include links to providers of approved online learning programs, comparisons among various types of online programs regarding awarding of credit, advantages and disadvantages of online learning programs, and other general assistance and guidance for students, teachers and counselors in selecting and considering online learning programs. Public high schools shall ensure that teachers and counselors have information about online learning programs for high school students to earn college or university credit and are able to assist parents and students in accessing the information. Distance learning collaboratives shall ensure that parents and students have opportunities to learn about online learning programs under this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-9
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, no child shall be enrolled or admitted to any kindergarten which is a part of a public school during any school year unless such child will reach his fifth birthday on or before September 1 of said school year, and no child shall be enrolled or admitted to the first grade in any public school during any school year unless such child will reach his sixth birthday on or before September 1 of said school year. No pupil shall be permanently enrolled in a public school in the State of Mississippi who formerly was enrolled in another public or private school within the state until the cumulative record of the pupil shall have been received from the school from which he transferred. Should such record have become lost or destroyed, then it shall be the duty of the superintendent or principal of the school where the pupil last attended school to initiate a new record.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, any child who transfers from an out-of-state public or private school in which that state's law provides for a first-grade or kindergarten enrollment date subsequent to September 1, shall be allowed to enroll in the public schools of Mississippi, at the same grade level as their prior out-of-state enrollment, if:

(a) The parent, legal guardian or custodian of such child was a legal resident of the state from which the child is transferring;

(b) The out-of-state school from which the child is transferring is duly accredited by that state's appropriate accrediting authority;

(c) Such child was legally enrolled in a public or private school for a minimum of four (4) weeks in the previous state; and

(d) The superintendent of schools in the applicable Mississippi school district or the principal of a charter school, as the case may be, has determined that the child was making satisfactory educational progress in the previous state.

(3) When any child applies for admission or enrollment in any public school in the state, the parent, guardian or child, in the absence of an accompanying parent or guardian, shall indicate on the school registration form if the enrolling child has been expelled from any public or private school or is currently a party to an expulsion proceeding. If it is determined from the child's cumulative record or application for admission or enrollment that the child has been expelled, the school district or charter school may deny the student admission and enrollment until the superintendent of the school, or his designee, or principal of the charter school, as the case may be, has reviewed the child's cumulative record and determined that the child has participated in successful rehabilitative efforts including, but not limited to, progress in an alternative school or similar program. If the child is a party to an expulsion proceeding, the child may be admitted to a public school pending final disposition of the expulsion proceeding. If the expulsion proceeding results in the expulsion of the child, the public school may revoke such admission to school. If the child was expelled or is a party to an expulsion proceeding for an act involving violence, weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs or other activity that may result in expulsion, the school district or charter school shall not be required to grant admission or enrollment to the child before one (1) calendar year after the date of the expulsion.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 41-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-31
Status: in_force

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

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

(3) Contracts shall be made for four (4) years, at the discretion of the local school board and shall include the stipulation for the placement of district-identifying signage on all buses under contract, as required under Section 37-41-43 . Any and all bids may be rejected. At the expiration of any transportation contract, if the school board believes a route should remain substantially as established and finds that the carrier thereon has rendered efficient and satisfactory services it may extend the contract for not more than four (4) years, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 37-41-29 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 51-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-17
Status: in_force

Each applicant, if an adult, or his parent or legal guardian in his behalf, if a minor, before being granted a loan shall enter into a contract with the State of Mississippi agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the loan shall be made. Said contract shall include such terms and conditions as are necessary to carry out the full purpose and intent of this chapter. The form of said contract shall be prepared and approved by the attorney general of this state, and said contract shall be signed by the executive secretary of the commission.

The commission is hereby vested with full and complete authority to sue in its own name any applicant for any balance due the state on any such contract. Such suit shall be filed and conducted by the attorney general of the State of Mississippi, or by private counsel, which the commission is hereby authorized to employ for such purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 101-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-15
Status: repealed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(n) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (“board”) shall require all on-campus faculty and staff employed by, and all students attending, any of the state institutions of higher learning identified in Section 37-101-1 to be issued an identification badge in physical or electronic format. Any identification card issued or renewed pursuant to this section, whether physical or in an electronic format, shall include the words “Crisis Lifeline--Dial or Text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org” or like language for formatting purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 144-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-5
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Developing the administrative policy for the commission and the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program;

(b) Promulgating rules and regulations, with the advice and consent of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, pertaining to the implementation and operation of the Rural Physicians Scholarship Program;

(c) Developing and implementing strategies and activities for the identification and recruitment of students and for marketing the program and for the implementation of the program. In developing these strategies, the board shall seek the input of various organizations and entities, including the Mississippi State Medical Association, the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians, the Mississippi Chapters of the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of OB-GYN, Mississippi Psychiatric Association, the Mississippi Medical and Surgical Association, the Mississippi Osteopathic Medicine Association and the American Psychiatric Association;

(d) Establishing a budget, with the advice and consent of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, to support the activities of the program and periodically reviewing and if appropriate, revising, the scholarship and other stipends offered through the program;

(e) Advising the University of Mississippi Medical Center regarding hiring an executive director and support staff necessary for the commission's work. The commission shall nominate at least two (2) individuals to serve as executive director;

(f) Reviewing participants progress in the program and mentoring students and physicians participating in the program;

(g) Developing and participating in programs that provide initial practice support in collaboration with other interested professional organizations;

(h) The commission shall have the authority through use of generally applicable definitions, to designate an area of the state as underserved or rural. The method by which these designations shall be made shall be contained in rules and regulations promulgated by the commission.

(i) The commission shall produce an annual report to the Legislature showing certain information relating to the program for the previous fiscal year, including the following:

(i) Budget, including funds provided in addition to legislative appropriations;

(ii) Number of participants enrolled in medical or osteopathic school along with their matriculation status;

(iii) The status of, to include location of practice, participants who have entered a medicine or other generalist residency program;

(iv) The number and cause of participants who breached their obligation(s) to the program; and

(v) The status of, to include location of practice, participants who have entered into the practice of medicine in a rural or medically underserved area in Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 106-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-63
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created the state dental forgivable loan program. The purpose of the program shall be to enable eligible applicants who desire to become dentists to obtain a standard four-year education in the study of dentistry in the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, which will qualify them to become licensed, practicing dentists.

(2) The board shall establish, by rule and regulation, the maximum annual award which may be made under this program at an amount not to exceed the cost of tuition and other expenses, and shall establish the maximum number of awards, which may be made not to exceed the length of time required to complete the degree requirements.

(3) Repayment and conversion terms shall be the same as those outlined in Section 37-106-53 and shall include the following:

(a) Payment in full of principal and interest must be made in sixty (60) or less equal monthly installments;

(b) In lieu of payment in full of both principal and interest, a loan recipient may elect to repay by entry into public health work at a state health institution as defined in Section 37-106-67(2) , or community health centers that are grantees under Section 330 of the United States Public Health Service Act;

(c) In lieu of payment in full of both principal and interest, a loan recipient may elect to repay by entry into the practice of dentistry in an area outside of a metropolitan statistical area, as defined and established by the United States Census Bureau, and within a region ranking between 1 and 54, inclusively, on the Relative Needs Index of Four Factors for Dentists, as annually determined by the State Board of Health, for a period of five (5) years.

(4) The board shall establish the rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-551 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 29-551
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-551
Status: in_force

There is hereby created the Coahoma Community College District comprised of the territory lying within Coahoma County, Tunica County, Quitman County, Bolivar County and Tallahatchie County, and having boundaries coinciding with the external boundaries thereof. The district shall be, and is hereby constituted, a legal political governmental subdivision and a body corporate.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-35 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-35
Status: in_force

A reduction in the net enrollment during a current year from that existing in the preceding year shall not authorize the discharge or release of a teacher or teachers during such current year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 43-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-51
Status: in_force

The management of all public, private, parochial or denominational schools wherein the board is furnishing to the students thereof free school textbooks and said free school textbooks are used by the students in said school, shall file annually with the State Board of Education any and all reports as may be required by the board.

Any person who shall refuse, neglect or fail to file any report required by the board shall be denied a new allocation of funds until such reports have been completed and filed with the board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-119 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 57-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-119
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors of any county which imposes the tax authorized by Sections 37-57-111 through 37-57-119 may adopt rules and regulations governing the time and method of payment of the taxes, and may provide by rule or regulation for the withholding of any final or other inspection of the property otherwise required by local building or zoning ordinance until such tax is paid or satisfactory security given for such payment, and may provide for the payment of interest and penalties up to fifty percent (50%) for late payment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-37-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 37-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-37-21
Status: in_force

When, as a result of any audits performed under the terms of this chapter, the State Auditor has reason to believe that any false or erroneous report or violation of law presents ample evidence therefor, he shall report the same to the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall thereupon institute suit in the name of the State of Mississippi and prosecute to a conclusion such actions as may be necessary to make recovery from any and all persons civilly liable. The Attorney General shall also refer the matter to the proper district attorney for the institution of any appropriate criminal proceedings. Any funds recovered by such suits shall be paid into the appropriate school district fund in accordance with the loss such fund or funds may have sustained.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 115-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-67
Status: in_force

If any such county makes the contribution or donation as provided for in Section 37-115-61 , neither such donation nor any provisions of Sections 37-115-61 through 37-115-67 shall be held to give rise to any right of title, lien, encumbrance or other right in the buildings, facilities or equipment so constructed or acquired and installed by means of or with the aid of such contribution or donation or upon the site on which they are located. Neither shall such donation nor any provisions of said sections give rise to any right or obligation on the part of such county with respect to the operation or maintenance of said hospital, facilities or equipment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 155-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-15
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created a Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program Trust Fund (hereinafter referred to as the trust fund or the fund) to be administered by the State of Mississippi Treasury Department until and unless the Legislature shall determine otherwise.

(2) The official location of the trust fund shall be the State of Mississippi Treasury Department, and the facilities of the State of Mississippi Treasury Department shall be used and employed in the administration of the fund, including, but without limitations thereto, the keeping of records, the management of bank accounts and other investments, the transfer of funds and the safekeeping of securities evidencing investments.

(3) Payments received by the board from purchasers on behalf of beneficiaries or from any other source, public or private, shall be placed in the trust fund, and the fund may be divided into separate accounts as may be determined by the board.

(4) The trust fund, through the Treasurer, is hereby specifically authorized to receive and deposit into the trust fund any gift of any nature, real or personal property, made by an individual by testamentary disposition, including, without limitation, any specific gift or bequeath made by will, trust or other disposition.

(5) The board shall obtain appropriate actuarial assistance to establish, maintain and certify a fund sufficient to meet the obligation of the trust fund, and shall annually evaluate or cause to be evaluated, the actuarial soundness of the trust fund. If the board perceives a need for additional assets in order to preserve actuarial soundness, it may adjust the terms of subsequent prepaid tuition contracts to ensure such soundness.

(6) The trust fund shall constitute a fund of an agency of the state, and its property and income shall be exempt from all taxation by the state and by all of its political subdivisions.

(7) In order to provide funds to enable the trust to pay all amounts that shall be due under prepaid tuition contracts, there is hereby irrevocably pledged to that purpose from the trust fund such monies as shall be necessary to pay all amounts that shall be due under prepaid tuition contracts at any time. In order to carry out the said pledge, in each fiscal year the board shall determine the amount of the future obligations of the trust fund under prepaid tuition contracts by any appropriate actuarial method. After that determination has been made, all monies on deposit in the trust fund up to and including the amount of such future obligations shall remain on deposit in the trust fund and shall be subject to the aforesaid pledge and appropriation by the Legislature.

(8) There is hereby created a separate account with the State of Mississippi Treasury Department to be known as the “Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Administrative Account” for the purposes of implementing and maintaining prepaid college tuition accounts pursuant to this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 113-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-25
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized to establish and maintain a system of retirement for the employees of the agricultural and forestry experimental station and extension service, out of any federal funds available under the provisions of the act of congress, approved March 4, 1940, and out of contributions made by the employees of such experimental station and extension service.

In the establishment of such special retirement system, the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning shall have full authority to make all needful rules and regulations, to carry into effect the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-165 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 29-165
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-165
Status: in_force

There is hereby created within the state building commission a fund for the stimulation of the vocational and technical training programs of the junior colleges of the State of Mississippi. All sums of money received by the state building commission to carry out the provisions of the Mississippi Junior College Vocational and Technical Training Law of 1964 shall be maintained in the state treasury and shall constitute a fund to be known as the “junior college vocational and technical training fund”. All expenditures therefrom shall be authorized by the State Building Commission in the manner set forth in Section 37-29-171 . Such expenditures shall be paid therefrom by the state treasurer on warrants issued by the auditor of public accounts. Said auditor shall issue his warrant upon requisition signed by the chairman and secretary of said commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-91 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-91
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-91
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be referred to as the “Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law.”

(2) The following terms as used in this section are defined as follows:

(a) “ Parent ” means the father or mother to whom a child has been born, or the father or mother by whom a child has been legally adopted.

(b) “ Guardian ” means a guardian of the person of a child, other than a parent, who is legally appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(c) “ Custodian ” means any person having the present care or custody of a child, other than a parent or guardian of the child.

(d) “ School day ” means not less than five and one-half (5- 1 / 2 ) and not more than eight (8) hours of actual teaching in which both teachers and pupils are in regular attendance for scheduled schoolwork.

(e) “ School ” means any public school, including a charter school, in this state or any nonpublic school in this state which is in session each school year for at least one hundred eighty (180) school days, except that the “nonpublic” school term shall be the number of days that each school shall require for promotion from grade to grade.

(f) “ Compulsory-school-age child ” means a child who has attained or will attain the age of six (6) years on or before September 1 of the calendar year and who has not attained the age of seventeen (17) years on or before September 1 of the calendar year; and shall include any child who has attained or will attain the age of five (5) years on or before September 1 and has enrolled in a full-day public school kindergarten program.

(g) “ School attendance officer ” means a person employed by the State Department of Education pursuant to Section 37-13-89 .

(h) “ Appropriate school official ” means the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, or, in the case of a nonpublic school, the principal or the headmaster.

(i) “ Nonpublic school ” means an institution for the teaching of children, consisting of a physical plant, whether owned or leased, including a home, instructional staff members and students, and which is in session each school year. This definition shall include, but not be limited to, private, church, parochial and home instruction programs.

(3) A parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child in this state shall cause the child to enroll in and attend a public school or legitimate nonpublic school for the period of time that the child is of compulsory school age, except under the following circumstances:

(a) When a compulsory-school-age child is physically, mentally or emotionally incapable of attending school as determined by the appropriate school official based upon sufficient medical documentation.

(b) When a compulsory-school-age child is enrolled in and pursuing a course of special education, remedial education or education for children with physical or mental disadvantages or disabilities.

(c) When a compulsory-school-age child is being educated in a legitimate home instruction program.

The parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child described in this subsection, or the parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child attending any charter school or nonpublic school, or the appropriate school official for any or all children attending a charter school or nonpublic school shall complete a “certificate of enrollment” in order to facilitate the administration of this section.

The form of the certificate of enrollment shall be prepared by the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement of the State Department of Education and shall be designed to obtain the following information only:

(i) The name, address, telephone number and date of birth of the compulsory-school-age child;

(ii) The name, address and telephone number of the parent, guardian or custodian of the compulsory-school-age child;

(iii) A simple description of the type of education the compulsory-school-age child is receiving and, if the child is enrolled in a nonpublic school, the name and address of the school; and

(iv) The signature of the parent, guardian or custodian of the compulsory-school-age child or, for any or all compulsory-school-age child or children attending a charter school or nonpublic school, the signature of the appropriate school official and the date signed.

The certificate of enrollment shall be returned to the school attendance officer where the child resides on or before September 15 of each year. Any parent, guardian or custodian found by the school attendance officer to be in noncompliance with this section shall comply, after written notice of the noncompliance by the school attendance officer, with this subsection within ten (10) days after the notice or be in violation of this section. However, in the event the child has been enrolled in a public school within fifteen (15) calendar days after the first day of the school year as required in subsection (6), the parent or custodian may, at a later date, enroll the child in a legitimate nonpublic school or legitimate home instruction program and send the certificate of enrollment to the school attendance officer and be in compliance with this subsection.

For the purposes of this subsection, a legitimate nonpublic school or legitimate home instruction program shall be those not operated or instituted for the purpose of avoiding or circumventing the compulsory attendance law.

(4) An “ unlawful absence ” is an absence for an entire school day or during part of a school day by a compulsory-school-age child, which absence is not due to a valid excuse for temporary nonattendance. For purposes of reporting absenteeism under subsection (6) of this section, if a compulsory-school-age child has an absence that is more than thirty-seven percent (37%) of the instructional day, as fixed by the school board for the school at which the compulsory-school-age child is enrolled, the child must be considered absent the entire school day. Days missed from school due to disciplinary suspension shall not be considered an “excused” absence under this section. This subsection shall not apply to children enrolled in a nonpublic school.

Each of the following shall constitute a valid excuse for temporary nonattendance of a compulsory-school-age child enrolled in a noncharter public school, provided satisfactory evidence of the excuse is provided to the superintendent of the school district, or his designee:

(a) An absence is excused when the absence results from the compulsory-school-age child's attendance at an authorized school activity with the prior approval of the superintendent of the school district, or his designee. These activities may include field trips, athletic contests, student conventions, musical festivals and any similar activity.

(b) An absence is excused when the absence results from illness or injury which prevents the compulsory-school-age child from being physically able to attend school.

(c) An absence is excused when isolation of a compulsory-school-age child is ordered by the county health officer, by the State Board of Health or appropriate school official.

(d) An absence is excused when it results from the death or serious illness of a member of the immediate family of a compulsory-school-age child. The immediate family members of a compulsory-school-age child shall include children, spouse, grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, including stepbrothers and stepsisters.

(e) An absence is excused when it results from a medical or dental appointment of a compulsory-school-age child.

(f) An absence is excused when it results from the attendance of a compulsory-school-age child at the proceedings of a court or an administrative tribunal if the child is a party to the action or under subpoena as a witness.

(g) An absence may be excused if the religion to which the compulsory-school-age child or the child's parents adheres, requires or suggests the observance of a religious event. The approval of the absence is within the discretion of the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, but approval should be granted unless the religion's observance is of such duration as to interfere with the education of the child.

(h) An absence may be excused when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, that the purpose of the absence is to take advantage of a valid educational opportunity such as travel, including vacations or other family travel. Approval of the absence must be gained from the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, before the absence, but the approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(i) An absence may be excused when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, that conditions are sufficient to warrant the compulsory-school-age child's nonattendance. However, no absences shall be excused by the school district superintendent, or his designee, when any student suspensions or expulsions circumvent the intent and spirit of the compulsory attendance law.

(j) An absence is excused when it results from the attendance of a compulsory-school-age child participating in official organized events sponsored by the 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA). The excuse for the 4-H or FFA event must be provided in writing to the appropriate school superintendent by the Extension Agent or High School Agricultural Instructor/FFA Advisor.

(k) An absence is excused when it results from the compulsory-school-age child officially being employed to serve as a page at the State Capitol for the Mississippi House of Representatives or Senate.

(5) Any parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child subject to this section who refuses or willfully fails to perform any of the duties imposed upon him or her under this section or who intentionally falsifies any information required to be contained in a certificate of enrollment, shall be guilty of contributing to the neglect of a child and, upon conviction, shall be punished in accordance with Section 97-5-39 .

Upon prosecution of a parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child for violation of this section, the presentation of evidence by the prosecutor that shows that the child has not been enrolled in school within eighteen (18) calendar days after the first day of the school year of the public school which the child is eligible to attend, or that the child has accumulated twelve (12) unlawful absences during the school year at the public school in which the child has been enrolled, shall establish a prima facie case that the child's parent, guardian or custodian is responsible for the absences and has refused or willfully failed to perform the duties imposed upon him or her under this section. However, no proceedings under this section shall be brought against a parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child unless the school attendance officer has contacted promptly the home of the child and has provided written notice to the parent, guardian or custodian of the requirement for the child's enrollment or attendance.

(6) If a compulsory-school-age child has not been enrolled in a school within fifteen (15) calendar days after the first day of the school year of the school which the child is eligible to attend or the child has accumulated five (5) unlawful absences during the school year of the public school in which the child is enrolled, the school district superintendent, or his designee, shall report, within two (2) school days or within five (5) calendar days, whichever is less, the absences to the school attendance officer. The State Department of Education shall prescribe a uniform method for schools to utilize in reporting the unlawful absences to the school attendance officer. The superintendent, or his designee, also shall report any student suspensions or student expulsions to the school attendance officer when they occur.

(7) When a school attendance officer has made all attempts to secure enrollment and/or attendance of a compulsory-school-age child and is unable to effect the enrollment and/or attendance, the attendance officer shall file a petition with the youth court under Section 43-21-451 or shall file a petition in a court of competent jurisdiction as it pertains to parent or child. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and municipal law enforcement officers shall be fully authorized to investigate all cases of nonattendance and unlawful absences by compulsory-school-age children, and shall be authorized to file a petition with the youth court under Section 43-21-451 or file a petition or information in the court of competent jurisdiction as it pertains to parent or child for violation of this section. The youth court shall expedite a hearing to make an appropriate adjudication and a disposition to ensure compliance with the Compulsory School Attendance Law, and may order the child to enroll or re-enroll in school. The superintendent of the school district to which the child is ordered may assign, in his discretion, the child to the alternative school program of the school established pursuant to Section 37-13-92 .

(8) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations for the purpose of reprimanding any school superintendents who fail to timely report unexcused absences under the provisions of this section.

(9) Notwithstanding any provision or implication herein to the contrary, it is not the intention of this section to impair the primary right and the obligation of the parent or parents, or person or persons in loco parentis to a child, to choose the proper education and training for such child, and nothing in this section shall ever be construed to grant, by implication or otherwise, to the State of Mississippi, any of its officers, agencies or subdivisions any right or authority to control, manage, supervise or make any suggestion as to the control, management or supervision of any private or parochial school or institution for the education or training of children, of any kind whatsoever that is not a public school according to the laws of this state; and this section shall never be construed so as to grant, by implication or otherwise, any right or authority to any state agency or other entity to control, manage, supervise, provide for or affect the operation, management, program, curriculum, admissions policy or discipline of any such school or home instruction program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 15-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-13
Status: in_force

When any child qualified under the requirements of Section 37-15-9 shall apply or present himself for enrollment in or admission to the public schools of any school district of this state, the school board of such school district shall have the power and authority to designate the particular school or attendance center of the district in which such child shall be enrolled and which he shall attend; no enrollment of a child in a school shall be final or permanent until such designation shall be made by said school board. No child shall be entitled to attend any school or attendance center except that to which he has been assigned by the school board; however, the principal of a school or superintendent of the district may, in proper cases, permit a child to attend a school temporarily until a permanent assignment is made by the school board.