Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 115-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-105
Status: in_force

The school of dentistry created and authorized by Sections 37-115-101 through 37-115-111 shall be in operation within three (3) years from the date the legislature makes funds available for the construction of a building to house said school; provided, however, that no staff may be employed and no construction may begin until one million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,250,000.00) from the City of Jackson and one million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,250,000.00) from Hinds County has been deposited in the state treasury for use by the building commission in construction and furnishing of the dental school. The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is authorized and directed to take any and all necessary and proper actions for the implementation of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 153-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-11
Status: in_force

(1) There are created workforce development centers to provide assessment, training and placement services to individuals needing retraining, training and upgrading for small business and local industry. Each workforce development center shall be affiliated with a separate public community or junior college district and shall coordinate with the Office of Workforce Development.

(2) Each workforce development center shall be staffed and organized locally by the affiliated community college. The workforce development center shall serve as staff to the affiliated district council.

(3) Each workforce development center, working in concert with its affiliated district council, shall offer and arrange services to accomplish the purposes of this article, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) For individuals needing training and retraining:

(i) Recruiting, assessing, counseling and referring to training or jobs;

(ii) Preemployment training for those with no experience in the private enterprise system;

(iii) Basic literacy skills training and high school equivalency education;

(iv) Vocational and technical training, full-time or part-time; and

(v) Short-term skills training for educationally and economically disadvantaged adults in cooperation with federally established employment and training programs;

(b) For specific small businesses, industries or firms within the district:

(i) Job analysis, testing and curriculum development;

(ii) Development of specific long-range training plans;

(iii) Industry or firm-related preemployment training;

(iv) Workplace basic skills and literacy training;

(v) Customized skills training;

(vi) Assistance in developing the capacity for total quality management training;

(vii) Technology transfer information and referral services to business of local applications of new research in cooperation with the University Research Center, the state's universities and other laboratories; and

(viii) Development of business plans;

(c) For public schools within the district technical assistance to secondary schools in curriculum coordination, development of tech prep programs, instructional development and resource coordination; and

(d) For economic development, a local forum and resource center for all local industrial development groups to meet and promote regional economic development.

(4) Each workforce development center shall compile and make accessible to the Office of Workforce Development and Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board necessary information for use in evaluating outcomes of its efforts and in improving the quality of programs at each community college, and shall include information on literacy initiatives. Each workforce development center shall, through an interagency management information system, maintain records on new small businesses, placement, length of time on the job after placement and wage rates of those placed in a form containing such information as established by the state council.

(5) The Mississippi Community College Board is authorized to designate one or more workforce development centers at the request of affiliated community or junior colleges to provide skills training to individuals to enhance their ability to be employed in the motion picture industry in this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 18-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-1
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education shall establish, design and implement a Superior-Performing Schools Program and an Exemplary Schools Program for identifying and rewarding public schools, including charter schools, that improve. The State Board of Education shall develop rules and regulations for the program, establish criteria and establish a process through which Superior-Performing and Exemplary Schools will be identified and rewarded. Upon full implementation of the statewide testing program, Superior-Performing, Exemplary or School At-Risk designation shall be made by the State Board of Education in accordance with the following:

(a) A growth expectation will be established by testing students annually and, using a psychometrically approved formula, by tracking their progress. This growth expectation will result in a composite score each year for each school.

(b) A determination will be made as to the percentage of students proficient in each school. This measurement will define what a student must know in order to be deemed proficient at each grade level and will clearly show how well a student is performing. The definition of proficiency shall be developed for each grade, based on a demonstrated range of performance in relation to content as reflected in the Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks. This range of performance must be established through a formal procedure including educators, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders.

(c) A school has the following two (2) methods for designation as either a Superior-Performing or an Exemplary School, to be determined on an annual basis:

(i) A school exceeds its growth expectation by a percentage established by the State Board of Education; or

(ii) A school achieves the grade level proficiency standard established by the State Board of Education.

Any school designated as a School At-Risk which exceeds its growth expectation by a percentage established by the State Board of Education shall no longer be considered a School At-Risk and shall be eligible for monetary awards under this section.

(2) Superior-Performing and Exemplary Schools may apply to the State Board of Education for monetary incentives to be used for selected school needs, as identified by a vote of all licensed and instructional personnel employed at the school. These incentive funds may be used for specific school needs, including, but not limited to:

(a) Funding for professional development activities. Staff participating in such activities will report to the school and school district or, in the case of a charter school, the governing board of the school about the benefits and lessons learned from such training;

(b) Technology needs;

(c) Sabbaticals for teachers or administrators, or both, to pursue additional professional development or educational enrichment;

(d) Paid professional leave;

(e) Training for parents, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) Curriculum;

(ii) Chapter 1;

(iii) Special need students;

(iv) Student rights and responsibility;

(v) School and community relations;

(vi) Effective parenting.

All funds awarded under this subsection shall be subject to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature.

(3) The State Board of Education shall provide special recognition to all schools receiving Superior-Performing or Exemplary designation and, in the case of noncharter public schools, their school districts. Examples of such recognition include, but are not limited to: public announcements and events; special recognition of student progress and effort; certificates of recognition and plaques for teachers, principals, superintendents, support and classified personnel and parents; and media announcements utilizing the services of Mississippi Educational Television.

(4) The State Department of Education may benefit from the use of growth expectation measurements under this section in making evaluations under Section 37-19-9 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 106-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-15
Status: in_force

The earned interest paid into the post-secondary education assistance fund as provided in Section 37-106-13 shall be utilized to finance the cost of administration of this chapter. All remaining interest after payment of such administrative expenses shall be utilized to provide additional loans.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 47-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-39
Status: in_force

For the purpose of paying the principal of and interest upon all state school bonds issued under the authority of this chapter, there shall be and there is hereby pledged the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 104-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-41
Status: in_force

All monies received by the Authority pursuant to this chapter, from any source whatever, shall be deemed to be trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 27-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-39
Status: in_force

The boards of trustees of any agricultural high school in the state, with the approval of the board of supervisors and the county board of education, are hereby authorized and empowered to exchange the lands belonging to said schools, except the lands on which the school buildings are located, for other lands. The deed or deeds of conveyance shall be executed by the president or chairman and the secretary of the board of trustees pursuant to an order of the board of trustees entered on its minutes, and pursuant to an order of approval by the board of supervisors and county board of education entered on their minutes, and which, when so executed, shall be fully effective to convey title to said property. The orders of the respective boards shall fully describe the property to be conveyed by said school and also, the property to be received in exchange for same.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 63-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-1
Status: in_force

It is declared to be the legislative purpose of this chapter, and the public policy of the State of Mississippi, that there be established and developed in the public interest an educational television and radio system which shall provide educational and instructional, professional growth, and public service programs for the students and citizens of Mississippi, such system to be known as Mississippi Educational Television. The legislature therefore declares and determines that for these and other related purposes there is hereby established an agency of state government to be known as the Mississippi authority for educational television which shall have the responsibility for the administration, operation, control and supervision of educational television and radio in Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 133-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-7
Status: in_force

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special fund to be known as the “technical institute fund.” All sums of money received by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning to carry out the provisions of the Mississippi Technical Institute Law of 1964 shall be maintained in said special fund. All expenditures therefrom shall be for the purposes of carrying out the intents and purposes of said law, including the payment of salaries for qualified instructors as well as the equipping and staffing of the institute. Such expenditures shall be paid therefrom by the state treasurer on warrant of the auditor of public accounts. Said auditor shall issue his warrant upon requisition signed by the proper person, officer or officers, as authorized by law. The board is authorized to accept gifts, bequests of money, or other property, real or personal, to be used for the purpose of establishing or maintaining any technical institute which may be authorized under the provisions of said law and in accordance with the law of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-145 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 101-145
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-145
Status: in_force

Before any timber, trees, dead wood, or stumps, standing, growing or being upon lands shall be sold from said lands as is authorized in Section 37-101-141 , and before any lands shall be leased for oil, gas and mineral purposes, or other purposes as is authorized in Section 37-101-143 , the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning shall advertise its intention to do so by publication in a newspaper in the City of Jackson, and also in a newspaper published in each county where such lands are situated, such notice to be published once a week for three consecutive weeks preceding such sale or lease, and by posting one notice at the courthouse in the county or counties where the lands are situated. In any county having no paper published therein, the publication shall be placed in some paper having a general circulation in said county. Said board shall sell or lease at public auction, or by sealed bids, at the place designated in said notices, to the highest and best bidder for cash. The board shall have the right to reject any or all of such bids.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 141-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-15
Status: in_force

With the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the center may establish and staff branch operations at various universities within the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 37-115-50.1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 115-50.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-50.1
Status: in_force

Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (hereafter known as the “academic medical center”) is authorized to directly or indirectly enter into joint-purchasing arrangements, however structured, on terms customary in the market or required by the organization and to enter into joint ventures, joint-operating agreements, or similar arrangements with community hospitals or other public or private health-related organizations, or with for-profit or nonprofit corporations or other organizations, to establish arrangements for the academic medical center to participate in financial integration and/or clinical integration or clinically integrated networks with a joint venture, with community hospitals or other public or private health-related organizations, or with other for-profit or nonprofit corporations or other organizations, or through a joint-operating agreement, and to provide for contracts of employment or contracts for services and ownership of property on terms that will protect the public interest.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 121-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-9
Status: in_force

The Marks Vegetable Processing Facility located at 1300 Killebrew Road in Marks, Mississippi, and operated by Alcorn State University, shall be named the Clayton P. Henderson Vegetable Processing Facility. Alcorn State University shall prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place within the Clayton P. Henderson Vegetable Processing Facility, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the state of the Honorable Clayton P. Henderson.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 103-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-21
Status: in_force

A military person on active duty stationed in Mississippi who wishes to avail himself or his dependents of the provisions of Section 37-103-17 , must submit a certificate from his military organization showing the name of the military member; the name of the dependent, if for a dependent; the name of the organization of assignment and its address (may be in the letterhead); that the military member will be on active duty stationed in Mississippi on the date of registration at the state-supported institution of higher learning or junior college of the State of Mississippi; that the military member is not on transfer orders; and the signature of the commanding officer, the adjutant, or the personnel officer of the unit of assignment with signer's rank and title. A military certificate must be presented to the registrar of the state-supported institution of higher learning or junior college of the State of Mississippi each semester or tri-semester at (or within ten days prior to) registration each semester for the provisions of said section to be effective.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-505 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-505
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-505
Status: in_force

When any school district now existing or hereafter created shall be dissolved, abolished or discontinued, either as the result of the consolidation, reorganization or reconstitution of school districts under the provisions of Article 1 of this chapter, or otherwise, and such school district shall, at the time of the dissolution or discontinuance thereof, have outstanding bonds or other indebtedness, the territory formerly composing and comprising such dissolved school district shall remain liable for such bonds or other indebtedness, and the board of supervisors of the county shall continue to levy taxes upon such territory until such bonds or other indebtedness shall be fully paid according to the terms thereof. However, in the event a school building or other school facilities shall have been acquired, erected, equipped, repaired or remodeled with the proceeds of any such bonds or other indebtedness outstanding, and such school building or other school facility shall be utilized by the school district to which all or any part of the territory of the dissolved district is annexed, and shall be approved as an attendance center by the school board, and the State Board of Education, then the school district so utilizing such school building or other school facility shall become liable for and assume the payment of such outstanding bonds or other indebtedness, or such portion thereof as was used in the acquisition, erection, equipping, repairing or remodeling of the school building or other school facility involved. Taxes shall be levied upon all of the taxable property of the school district so utilizing such school building or other school facility to pay the balance of the principal and interest upon such outstanding bonds or other indebtedness in the same manner as if such bonds had originally been issued or such indebtedness originally incurred by such district, and, in such case, the title to the school building or other school facility and the land upon which it is located shall be vested in the school district so utilizing same. Nothing herein shall be construed, however, to affect adversely the rights of the holders of any such outstanding bonds or other indebtedness, and no school district shall be required to assume liability for the payment of any bonds or other indebtedness incurred by a former school district unless the school building or other school facility acquired, erected, equipped, repaired or remodeled with the proceeds of such bonds or other indebtedness shall be utilized by such school district, with the approval of the school board, and the State Board of Education, as a part of the long range school program of such district. In the event the outstanding bonds or other indebtedness of a dissolved school district are assumed by another school district as provided in this section, then the remaining property, assets and funds of the dissolved district which do not become the property of the school district assuming such indebtedness shall be disposed of in the manner provided in Section 37-7-501 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-201 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 13-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-201
Status: in_force

Sections 37-13-201 through 37-13-213 shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Computer Science and Cyber Education Equality Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-19
Status: in_force

In addition to the curriculum otherwise required by law or the State Board of Education to be taught in the public schools of this state, the school board of a local school district may allow course credit to any high school student, who is a member of the National Guard and attends basic training camp during the summer between the end of the student's junior year and the start of the student's senior year of academic instruction. At the conclusion of the student's basic training, the commanding officer of the National Guard unit of which the student is a reserve member shall provide evidence of the student's completion of training to the local school district where the student is in attendance. Upon receipt of the evidence provided by the National Guard, the school district may award one (1) Carnegie unit of elective credit to the student. This elective credit may be applied along with the total number of Carnegie units required for the student to graduate.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 151-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-105
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall have the authority to make such regulations not inconsistent with law which it deems necessary for the administration of this chapter. The State Board of Education, if it deems such practice necessary, may use reports of the first six (6) months of school for the purpose of determining net enrollment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 101-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-7
Status: in_force

Within ten (10) days after the beginning of the terms of office of its members, upon call of the Governor, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall meet in the City of Jackson and organize by electing one (1) of its number as president, whose term of office shall be for one (1) year or until a successor shall be elected, and shall transact such other business as may come before the meeting. When the presiding officer has voted and the result is a tie, he cannot vote again to break the tie.

The trustees shall have authority to appoint a nonmember as Commissioner of Higher Education, who shall possess the highest qualifications as an administrator and research worker. The Commissioner of Higher Education shall maintain an office and be responsible to the board for the efficient functioning of the staff which the board may from time to time establish. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Higher Education to make constant inquiry into the problems of higher education, to survey and study carefully the organization, management and all other affairs of each institution under the control of said trustees, to make report of all findings and recommend such changes as will increase efficiency and economy in the operation of each institution, and to perform such other duties as the board may prescribe. The Commissioner of Higher Education shall be responsible for compiling all laws and all rules and regulations of a general nature adopted by the board for the governance of the various institutions of higher learning in pamphlet or loose-leaf form. Current copies of such compilations shall be furnished to all officials directly responsible for the carrying out of such laws, rules and regulations. The expenses for such compilation and publication shall be paid by the board out of any funds available for the operation of said board.

The trustees shall authorize the employment of such other personnel as may be required from time to time to carry out the functions of the board and may assign to the personnel so employed such functions and duties and may delegate to the commissioner or other personnel such powers of the board as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes for which the board was established. All such personnel shall be employed by the commissioner with the approval of the board and shall hold office at the pleasure of the commissioner. The board shall also have the authority to employ on a fee basis such technical and professional assistance as may be necessary to carry out the powers, duties and purposes of the board.

The Commissioner of Higher Education and other personnel employed by the board shall receive reasonable salaries commensurate with their duties and functions, the amount of which shall be fixed by the board. The reasonable traveling expenses and other authorized expenses incurred by the commissioner and other personnel in the performance of their duties, together with other expenses of the operation of the executive office, shall be prorated and deducted from the appropriations for the current expenses of the several institutions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-205 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 153-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-205
Status: reserved

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(6) The office shall:

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

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

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

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

(7) Seventy-five percent (75%) of the funds provided through the appropriations process for this program shall be reserved for community and junior colleges. A maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the funds provided through the appropriations process for this program may be awarded to recipients other than a community or junior college which facilitate healthcare-focused training programs as determined by the office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-413 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-413
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-413
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District is hereby authorized and empowered to operate junior college attendance centers at Perkinston, Mississippi, in the vicinity of Gulfport and Biloxi and in the vicinity of Pascagoula and Moss Point and at such other places within the district, subject to the approval of the Mississippi Community College Board, as the board of trustees shall determine to be in the best interest of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-75 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 27-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-75
Status: in_force

Sections 37-27-69 through 37-27-73 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. § 37-148-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 37-13-183 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-183
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-183
Status: in_force

Assessment of the students' understanding of the character traits chosen to be taught in public school shall be limited to and must reflect the material taught in the classroom. Students shall not be evaluated in any way as to whether or not the students evidence a specific character trait in their own lives.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 47-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-33
Status: in_force

For the purpose of: (a) providing funds to enable the State Board of Education to make loans or advances to school districts as provided by Section 37-47-25 ; (b) providing funds for the payment and redemption of certificates of credit issued to school districts under Section 37-47-23 , when such funds are not otherwise available; or (c) providing funds in an amount not exceeding Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) for the payment of allocations of total funding formula funds to school districts for capital expenditures approved under Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 by the State Board of Education which have not been pledged for debt by the school district, when such funds are not otherwise available, the State Bond Commission is authorized and empowered to issue state school bonds under the conditions prescribed in this chapter. The aggregate principal amount of such bonds outstanding at any one (1) time, after deducting the amount of the sinking fund provided for the retirement of bonds issued for such purposes, shall never exceed the sum of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00). Within such limits, however, state school bonds may be issued from time to time under the conditions prescribed in this chapter. None of such bonds so issued shall have a maturity date later than July 1, 2021.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 51-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-15
Status: in_force

Applicants who are granted loans may receive a loan in any amount, not exceeding two thousand four hundred dollars ($2,400.00) to any one applicant. Said amount is to be paid in annual, semiannual or quarterly installments not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) per school year, and shall be used to defray part of the applicant's tuition and other costs of attending said schools. The loans herein provided shall not exceed the limitations set out above, but they may be for any such lesser amounts as may be required.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-55 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 28-55
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-55
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The State Department of Education shall make payments to charter schools for each student in net enrollment at the charter school, as determined under Section 37-151-207 , equal to the state share of total funding formula payments for each student, as determined under Section 37-151-211 .

(b) Payments made pursuant to this subsection by the State Department of Education must be made at the same time and in the same manner as total funding formula payments are made to school districts under Sections 37-151-101 and 37-151-103 . Amounts payable to a charter school must be determined by the State Department of Education pursuant to this section and the total funding formula. Enrollment projections made under Section 37-151-207 to determine the net enrollment of a charter school for calculating the state share payment must be reconciled with a charter school's net enrollment using months two (2) and three (3) for the year for which total funding formula funds are being appropriated, and any necessary adjustments must be made to payments during the school's following year of operation. Any necessary adjustment must be based on the state share of the per pupil amount in effect for the year for which net membership did not meet enrollment projections and not any new amount appropriated for the year in which the adjustment will be made. If a charter school is closed by the authorizer before the following year, it must pay to the state any amounts due before completion of the closure.

(2)(a) For students attending a charter school located in the school district in which the student resides, the school district in which the charter school is located shall pay directly to the charter school an amount as follows: the sum of the local pro rata amount, as calculated by the State Department of Education in accordance with Section 37-151-211(2)(b) (local contribution), and the local pro rata amount, as calculated by the State Department of Education in accordance with Section 37-57-105 (school district operational levy), multiplied by the number of resident students enrolled in the charter school, based on the charter school's months two (2) and three (3) net enrollment of resident students for the current school year. However, the amount to the charter school may not include any taxes levied for the retirement of the local school district's bonded indebtedness or short-term notes or any taxes levied for the support of vocational-technical education programs.

(b) The amount must be paid by the school district to the charter school before January 16 of the current fiscal year. If the local school district does not pay the required amount to the charter school before January 16, the State Department of Education shall reduce the local school district's January transfer of total funding formula funds by the amount owed to the charter school and shall redirect that amount to the charter school. Any such payments made under this paragraph by the State Department of Education to a charter school must be made at the same time and in the same manner as total funding formula payments are made to school districts under Sections 37-151-101 and 37-151-103 .

(3)(a) For students attending a charter school located in a school district in which the student does not reside, the State Department of Education shall pay to the charter school in which the students are enrolled an amount as follows: the sum of the local pro rata amount, as calculated by the State Department of Education in accordance with Section 37-151-211(2)(b) (local contribution), and the local pro rata amount, as calculated by the State Department of Education in accordance with Section 37-57-105 (school district operational levy), multiplied by the number of students enrolled in the charter school but residing in that district, based on the charter school's months two (2) and three (3) net enrollment of these students for the current school year. However, the amount to the charter school may not include any taxes levied for the retirement of the local school district's bonded indebtedness or short-term notes or any taxes levied for the support of vocational-technical education programs.

(b) The State Department of Education shall reduce the school district's January transfer of total funding formula funds by the amount owed to the charter school and shall redirect that amount to the charter school. Any such payments made under this subsection (3) by the State Department of Education to a charter school must be made at the same time and in the same manner as total funding formula payments are made to school districts under Sections 37-151-101 and 37-151-103 .

(4)(a) The State Department of Education shall direct the proportionate share of monies generated under federal programs, including, but not limited to, special education, vocational, English Language Learner, and other programs, to charter schools serving students eligible for such funding. The department shall ensure that charter schools with rapidly expanding enrollments are treated equitably in the calculation and disbursement of all federal program dollars. Each charter school that serves students who may be eligible to receive services provided through such programs shall comply with all reporting requirements to receive the aid.

(b) A charter school shall pay to a local school district any federal or state aid attributable to a student with a disability attending the charter school in proportion to the level of services for that student which the local school district provides directly or indirectly.

(c) Subject to the approval of the authorizer, a charter school and a local school district may negotiate and enter into a contract for the provision of and payment for special education services, including, but not necessarily limited to, a reasonable reserve not to exceed five percent (5%) of the local school district's total budget for providing special education services. The reserve may be used by the local school district only to offset excess costs of providing services to students with disabilities enrolled in the charter school.

(5)(a) The State Department of Education shall disburse state transportation funding to a charter school on the same basis and in the same manner as it is paid to school districts.

(b) A charter school may enter into a contract with a school district or private provider to provide transportation to the school's students.

(6) The State Department of Education shall disburse Education Enhancement Funds for classroom supplies, instructional materials and equipment, including computers and computer software to all eligible charter school teachers on the same basis and in the same manner as it is paid to school districts under Section 37-61-33(3)(a)(iii) for the purpose of issuing procurement cards or credentials for a digital solution to eligible teachers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-193 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 23-193
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-193
Status: in_force

For purposes of Sections 37-23-191 through 37-23-203 , the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Blind student ” means an individual who is eligible for special education services or 504 services and who has an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects the student's educational performance. This includes a student who:

(i) Has a visual acuity of 20 / 200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses or has a limited field of vision such that the widest diameter subtends an angular distance of less than twenty-one (21) degrees;

(ii) Has a medically indicated expectation of visual deterioration; or

(iii) Is functionally blind due to visual problems affecting reading and writing skills.

(b) “ Braille ” means the system of reading and writing through touch and includes literary code, designated commonly as the Unified English Braille Code or the Standard English Braille Code, Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, Music Braille Code and Computer Braille Code.

(c) “ Individualized educational program ” (IEP) means a statement developed for a student eligible for special education services under Section 602(a)(20) of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

(d) “ Assistive technology service ” means any service or provision of devices which directly assists the functional capabilities of a blind or visually impaired student.

(e) “ Compensatory skills ” or “ alternative techniques ” means those skills or techniques needed by blind or visually impaired students to access all areas of the Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks. These skills include, but are not limited to: the use of Braille, large print, optical devices, tactile symbols, calendar systems and abacus; study and organizational skills; listening skills; concept development; the use of assistive technology and recorded materials; social interaction; independent living; recreation and leisure skills; and career education.

(f) “ 504 Plan ” means a legal document under the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which is designed to plan a program of instructional services to assist a student with specialized needs who is in a general education setting.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-73 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 27-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-73
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any such agricultural high school borrowing money pursuant to the authority granted in Section 37-27-69 , is hereby authorized and empowered to fix, maintain and collect fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members and others using, housed in or being served by any building or other housing facility erected or established under the terms and provisions of said section. All such fees, rentals and other charges shall be paid into the debt retirement fund specified in Section 37-27-71 and shall be pledged for the prompt repayment of any and all indebtedness, whether of principal or interest, incurred under the provisions of said section. Nothing in Sections 37-27-69 through 37-27-75 shall be construed to authorize the levying or imposition of any taxes in excess of the limits and amounts which are now or may hereafter be provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-346 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-346
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-346
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education and the Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs) shall prepare jointly a report, to be submitted before December 15, 2006, for consideration of the Legislature and Governor, detailing the plans that shall be enacted by State Board of Education policy of how RESAs will work in partnership with the State Department of Education to increase their function as a local provider of educational services and purchasing consortia as provided in Section 37-7-345(6) . These services must be prescribed by policies and standards of the State Department of Education and must include, but not necessarily be limited to, professional development, instructional materials, educational technology, curriculum development, alternative educational programs, purchasing cooperatives, insurance cooperatives, business manager services, auditing and accounting services, school safety/risk prevention, data processing and student records, communications/public information, employee background checks, grants management, printing/publications and internships.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 24-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-3
Status: in_force

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

(a) “ Health care provider ” means a licensed physician or a licensed nurse practitioner, licensed physician assistant or licensed health care professional working within the person's scope of practice and under the direct supervision or written consultation of a physician. All health care providers referred to in this chapter also must be trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

(b) “ School athletic event ” means activities sanctioned by the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) or the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), and school-sponsored activities in Grades 7 through 12 of schools that are not members of the MHSAA or the MAIS which activities are organized and conducted in a manner substantially similar to activities that are sanctioned by the MHSAA or the MAIS.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-135-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 135-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-135-1
Status: in_force

The following compact of the southern states for the purpose of operating regional educational institutions in the southern states be, and the same is, hereby ratified and approved:

Whereas, the states who are parties hereto have during the past several years conducted careful investigation looking toward the establishment and maintenance of jointly owned and operated regional educational institutions in the southern states in the professional, technological, scientific, literary and other fields, so as to provide greater educational advantages and facilities for the citizens of the several states who reside within such region, and

Whereas, Meharry Medical College of Nashville, Tennessee, has proposed that its lands, buildings, equipment, and the net income from its endowment be turned over to the southern states, or to an agency acting in their behalf, to be operated as a regional institution for medical, dental and nursing education upon terms and conditions to be hereafter agreed upon between the southern states and Meharry Medical College, which proposal, because of the present financial condition of the institution, has been approved by the said states who are parties, hereto, and

Whereas, the said states desire to enter into a compact with each other providing for the planning and establishment of regional educational facilities;

Now therefore, in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants and obligations assumed by the respective states who are parties hereto (hereinafter referred to as “states”), the said several states do hereby form a geographical district or region consisting of the areas lying within the boundaries of the contracting states which, for the purposes of this compact, shall constitute an area for regional education supported by public funds derived from taxation by the constituent states for the establishment, acquisition, operation and maintenance of regional educational schools and institutions for the benefit of citizens of the respective states residing within the region so established as may be determined from time to time in accordance with the terms and provisions of this compact.

(a) The states do further hereby establish and create a joint agency which shall be known as the Board of Control for Southern Regional Education (hereinafter referred to as the “board”), the members of which board shall consist of the governor of each state, ex officio, and four (4) additional citizens of each state to be appointed by the governor thereof, at least one (1) of whom shall be selected from the field of education, and at least one (1) of whom shall be a member of the legislature of that state. In making his appointments, the governor shall appoint persons as broadly representative as possible of the variety of higher education at institutions in the state. The governor shall continue as a member of the board during his tenure of office as governor of the state but the members of the board appointed by the governor shall hold office for a period of four (4) years, except that in the original appointment one (1) board member so appointed by the governor shall be designated at the time of his appointment to serve an initial term of three (3) years, but thereafter his successor shall serve the full term of four (4) years. Vacancies on the board caused by death, resignation, refusal or inability to serve, shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the unexpired portion of the term. The officers of the board shall be a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary, a treasurer and such additional officers as may be created by the board from time to time.

(b) It shall be the duty of the board to submit plans and recommendations to the states from time to time for their approval and adoption by appropriate legislative action for the development, establishment, acquisition, operation and maintenance of educational schools and institutions within the geographical limits of the regional area of the states, of such character and type and for such educational purposes, professional, technological, scientific, literary or otherwise, as they may deem and determine to be proper, necessary or advisable. Title to all such educational institutions when so established by appropriate legislative actions of the states and to all properties and facilities used in connection therewith shall be vested in said board as the agency of and for the use and benefit of the said states and the citizens thereof, and all such educational institutions shall be operated, maintained and financed in the manner herein set out, subject to any provisions or limitations which may be contained in the legislative acts of the states authorizing the creation, establishment and operation of such educational institutions.

(c) In addition to the power and authority heretofore granted, the board shall have the power to enter into such agreements or arrangements with any of the states and with educational institutions or agencies, as may be required in the judgment of the board, to provide adequate services and facilities for the graduate, professional, and technical education for the benefit of the citizens of the respective states residing within the region.

(d) The board shall have such additional and general power and authority as may be vested in it by the states from time to time by legislative enactments of the said states.

(e) Any two (2) or more states who are parties of this compact shall have the right to enter into supplemental agreements providing for the establishment, financing and operation of regional educational institutions for the benefit of citizens residing within an area which constitutes a portion of the general region herein created, such institutions to be financed exclusively by such states and to be controlled exclusively by the members of the board representing such states, provided such agreement is submitted to and approved by the board prior to the establishment of such institutions.

Each state agrees that, when authorized by the legislature, it will from time to time make available and pay over to said board such funds as may be required for the establishment, acquisition, operation and maintenance of such regional educational institutions as may be authorized by the states under the terms of this compact, the contribution of each state at all times to be in the proportion that its population bears to the total combined population of the states who are parties hereto as shown from time to time by the most recent official published report of the bureau of census of the United States of America or upon such other basis as may be agreed upon.

(f) This compact shall not take effect or be binding upon any state unless and until it shall be approved by proper legislative action of as many as six (6) or more of the states whose governors have subscribed hereto within a period of eighteen (18) months from the date hereof. When and if six (6) or more states shall have given legislative approval to this compact within said eighteen (18) months period, it shall be and become binding upon such six (6) or more states sixty (60) days after the date of legislative approval by the sixth state and the governors of such six (6) or more states shall forthwith name the members of the board from their states as hereinabove set out, and the board shall then meet on call of the governor of any state approving this compact, at which time the board shall elect officers, adopt bylaws, appoint committees and otherwise fully organize. Other states whose names are subscribed hereto shall thereafter become parties hereto upon approval of this compact by legislative action within two (2) years from the date hereof, upon such conditions as may be agreed upon at the time.

(g) After becoming effective this compact shall thereafter continue without limitation of time, provided, however, that it may be terminated at any time by unanimous action of the states and provided, further, that any state may withdraw from this compact if such withdrawal is approved by its legislature, such withdrawal to become effective two (2) years after written notice thereof to the board accompanied by a certified copy of the requisite legislative action, but such withdrawal shall not relieve the withdrawing state from its obligations hereunder accruing up to the effective date of such withdrawal. Any state so withdrawing shall ipso facto cease to have any claim to or ownership of any of the property held or vested in the board or to any of the funds of the board held under the terms of this compact.

If any state shall at any time become in default in the performance of any of its obligations assumed herein or with respect to any obligation imposed upon said state as authorized by and in compliance with the terms and provisions of this compact, all rights, privileges and benefits of such defaulting state, its members on the board and its citizens shall ipso facto be and become suspended from and after the date of such default. Unless such default shall be remedied and made good within a period of one (1) year immediately following the date of such default this compact may be terminated with respect to such defaulting state by an affirmative vote of three-fourths ( 3 / 4 ) of the members of the board (exclusive of the members representing the state in default), from and after which time such state shall cease to be a party to this compact and shall have no further claim to or ownership of any of the property held by or vested in the board or to any of the funds of the board held under the terms of this compact, but such termination shall in no manner release such defaulting state from any accrued obligation or otherwise affect this compact or the rights, duties, privileges or obligations of the remaining states thereunder.

(h) In witness whereof this compact has been approved and signed by the governors of the several states, subject to the approval of their respective legislatures in the manner hereinabove set out, as of the __________ day of __________, 1948.

State of Florida,

State of Tennessee,

By __________________________________________

By __________________________________________

Governor

Governor

State of Maryland,

Commonwealth of Virginia,

By __________________________________________

By __________________________________________

Governor

Governor

State of Georgia,

State of Arkansas,

By __________________________________________

By __________________________________________

Governor

Governor

State of Louisiana,

State of North Carolina,

By __________________________________________

By __________________________________________

Governor

Governor

State of Alabama,

State of South Carolina,

By __________________________________________

By __________________________________________

Governor

Governor

State of Mississippi,

State of Texas,

By __________________________________________

By __________________________________________

Governor

Governor

Commonwealth of Kentucky,

State of Oklahoma,

By __________________________________________

By __________________________________________

Governor

Governor

State of West Virginia,

By ________________________________

Governor
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-175 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 13-175
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-175
Status: in_force

Nothing in Sections 37-13-171 and 37-13-173 shall apply to any biological science course or curriculum.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-331 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 101-331
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-331
Status: in_force

It is the express intent of the Legislature that the capital renovation and repair needs of state community and junior colleges be comprehensively addressed by appropriate legislation during the 1989 Regular Legislative Session; and, to that end, the Mississippi Community College Board is hereby directed to prepare a complete report detailing:

(a) Repair and renovation needs;

(b) The financing capabilities of each community and junior college district; and

(c) The total millage levied in each community and junior college district for the support of the district, the amount of revenue generated in each district by the millage imposed, and an assessment of what capital renovation and repair needs can be financed under existing levying authority.

The board shall submit such report to the Legislature on or before January 3, 1989, in order that the Legislature be made fully cognizant of such needs and capabilities. The Governor's Office of General Services is directed to provide the fullest degree of reasonable cooperation to the Mississippi Community College Board in the preparation of this report.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-179-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 179-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-179-3
Status: in_force

(1) A district which is an applicant to be designated as a district of innovation under Section 37-179-1 shall:

(a) Establish goals and performance targets for the district of innovation proposal, which may include:

(i) Reducing achievement gaps among groups of public school students by expanding learning experiences for students who are identified as academically low-achieving;

(ii) Increasing pupil learning through the implementation of high, rigorous standards for pupil performance;

(iii) Increasing the participation of students in various curriculum components and instructional components within selected schools to enhance at each grade level;

(iv) Increasing the number of students who are college and career-ready;

(v) Motivating students at different grade levels by offering more curriculum choices and student learning opportunities to parents and students within the district;

(b) Identify changes needed in the district and schools to lead to better prepared students for success in life and work;

(c) Have a district wide plan of innovation that describes and justifies which schools and innovative practices will be incorporated;

(d) Provide documentation of community, educator, parental, and the local board's support of the proposed innovations;

(e) Provide detailed information regarding the rationale of requests for waivers from Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , which relate to the elementary and secondary education of public school students, and administrative regulations, and exemptions for selected schools regarding waivers of local school board policies;

(f) Document the fiscal and human resources the board will provide throughout the term of the implementation of the innovations within its plan; and

(g) Provide other materials as required by the department in compliance with the board's administrative regulations and application procedures.

(2) The district and all schools participating in a district's innovation plan shall:

(a) Ensure the same health, safety, civil rights, and disability rights requirements as are applied to all public schools;

(b) Ensure students meet compulsory attendance requirements under Sections 37-13-91 and 37-13-92 ;

(c) Ensure that high school course offerings meet or exceed the minimum required under Sections 37-16-7 and 37-3-49 , for high school graduation or meet early graduation requirements that may be enacted by the Mississippi Legislature;

(d) Ensure the student performance standards meet or exceed those adopted by the State Board of Education as required by Sections 37-3-49 , 37-16-3 and 37-17-6 , including compliance with the statewide assessment system specified in Chapter 16, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(e) Adhere to the same financial audits, audit procedures, and audit requirements as are applied under Section 7-7-211(e) ;

(f) Require state and criminal background checks for staff and volunteers as required of all public school employees and volunteers within the public schools and specified in Section 37-9-17 ;

(g) Comply with open records and open meeting requirements under Sections 25-41-1 et seq. and 25-61-1 et seq. ;

(h) Comply with purchasing requirements and limitations under Chapter 39, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(i) Provide overall instructional time that is equivalent to or greater than that required under Sections 37-1-11 and 37-13-67 , but which may include on-site instruction, distance learning, online courses, and work-based learning on nontraditional school days or hours; and

(j) Provide data to the department as deemed necessary to generate school and district reports.

(3)(a) Only schools that choose to be designated as schools of innovation shall be included in a district's application;

(b) As used in this paragraph, “ eligible employees ” means employees that are regularly employed at the school and those employees whose primary job duties will be affected by the plan; and

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection, a local school board may require a school that has been identified as a persistently low-achieving school under provisions of Section 37-17-6 to participate in the district's plan of innovation.

(4) Notwithstanding any statutes to the contrary, the board may approve the requests of districts of innovation to:

(a) Use capital outlay funds for operational costs;

(b) Hire persons for classified positions in nontraditional school and district assignments who have bachelors and advanced degrees from postsecondary education institutions accredited by a regional accrediting association (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) or by an organization affiliated with the National Commission on Accrediting;

(c) Employ teachers on extended employment contracts or extra duty contracts and compensate them on a salary schedule other than the single salary schedule;

(d) Extend the school days as is appropriate within the district with compensation for the employees as determined locally;

(e) Establish alternative education programs and services that are delivered in nontraditional hours and which may be jointly provided in cooperation with another school district or consortia of districts;

(f) Establish online classes within the district for delivering alternative classes in a blended environment to meet high school graduation requirements;

(g) Use a flexible school calendar;

(h) Convert existing schools into schools of innovation; and

(i) Modify the formula under Chapter 151, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for distributing total funding formula funds for students in net enrollment in nontraditional programming time, including alternative programs and virtual programs. Funds granted to a district shall not exceed those that would have otherwise been distributed based on net enrollment during regular instructional days.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-93 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 151-93
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-93
Status: in_force

(1) Legally transferred students going from one school district to another shall be counted for total funding formula allotments by the school district wherein the pupils attend school, but shall be counted for transportation allotment purposes in the school district which furnishes or provides the transportation. The school boards of the school districts which approve the transfer of a student under the provisions of Section 37-15-31 shall enter into an agreement and contract for the payment or nonpayment of any portion of their local maintenance funds which they deem fair and equitable in support of any transferred student. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, local maintenance funds shall be transferred only to the extent specified in the agreement and contract entered into by the affected school districts. The terms of any local maintenance fund payment transfer contract shall be spread upon the minutes of both of the affected school district school boards. The school district accepting any transfer students shall be authorized to accept tuition from such students under the provisions of Section 37-15-31(1) and such agreement may remain in effect for any length of time designated in the contract. The terms of such student transfer contracts and the amounts of any tuition charged any transfer student shall be spread upon the minutes of both of the affected school boards. No school district accepting any transfer students under the provisions of Section 37-15-31(2) , which provides for the transfer of certain school district employee dependents, shall be authorized to charge such transfer students any tuition fees.

(2) Local maintenance funds shall be paid by the home school district to the transferee school district for students granted transfers under the provisions of Sections 37-15-29(3) and 37-15-31(3) , not to exceed the student base amount, as defined in Section 37-151-201 , multiplied by the number of such legally transferred students.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-191 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-191
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-191
Status: in_force

Sections 37-23-191 through 37-23-203 may be cited as the “Blind Persons' Literacy Rights and Education Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 115-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-103
Status: in_force

The object and purpose of the establishment of a school of dentistry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center shall be the encouragement of the study of dentistry toward the doctor of dental medicine degree, as well as the continued education of the state's dental health professions; and the encouragement of dental research and the improvement of dental health.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 19-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-9
Status: in_force

(1) There is established a Pilot-Performance-Based Compensation System for school years 2013-2015.

(a) Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, a pilot study will be conducted in Lamar County, Clarksdale, Gulfport and Rankin County School Districts as outlined in subsection (2) of this section. Measures of effective instruction, instrumentation, student learning growth and performance evaluation results will be collected. Reporting data from the pilot study will be disseminated to all school districts.

(b) The results of the pilot study in the four (4) districts in combination with Teacher Improvement Fund (TIF), School Improvement Grant (SIG), and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Districts will be collected and analyzed by the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit and reported to the Department of Education for policy recommendations.

Effective with the 2014-2015 school year, the school districts participating in the Pilot Performance-Based Compensation System pursuant to this section may award additional teacher and administrator pay based thereon.

(c) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the Department of Education will develop proposed legislation based on pilot results for statewide implementation of a Performance-Based Compensation System.

(d) Recommended legislation will be reported to the Chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees and the Governor by November 30, 2015, for consideration during the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature.

(2) The statewide performance compensation system for instructional personnel and school administrators must:

(a) Contain a qualitative measure of teacher effectiveness, a quantitative measure of student performance and a quantitative measure of student learning growth.

(b) Be designed by districts to support achievement of district goals in line with realization of the district's vision.

(c) Include individual, school and district achievement goals and measures.

(d) Be designed to support effective instruction and student learning growth and use performance evaluation results when developing district and school level improvement plans.

(e) Provide appropriate instruments, procedures and criteria for continuous quality improvement of the professional skills of instructional personnel and school administrators and use performance evaluation results when identifying professional development.

(f) Include a mechanism to examine performance data from multiple sources, including opportunities for parents to provide input into employee performance evaluations when appropriate.

(g) Identify those teaching fields for which special evaluation procedures and criteria are necessary.

(h) Differentiate among four (4) levels of performance as follows:

(i) Highly effective.

(ii) Effective.

(iii) Needs improvement or, for instructional personnel in the first three (3) years of employment who need improvement, developing.

(iv) Unsatisfactory.

(i) Provide for training programs that are based upon guidelines provided by the department to ensure that all individuals with evaluation responsibilities understand the proper use of the evaluation criteria and procedures.

(j) Include a process for monitoring and evaluating the effective and consistent use of the evaluation criteria by employees with evaluation responsibilities.

(k) Include a process for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the system itself in improving instruction and student learning. In addition, each district school board may establish a peer assistance process. This process may be a part of the regular evaluation system or used to assist employees placed on performance probation, newly hired classroom teachers, or employees who request assistance.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 115-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-65
Status: in_force

The proceeds of any contribution made by any county under the provisions of Section 37-115-61 , including the proceeds of any bonds issued for such purpose, shall be paid by the board of supervisors of such county into the state treasury into a special fund in the state treasury to the credit of the state building commission and shall thereafter be utilized and expended by said building commission for the construction, erection and equipping of a teaching hospital and related facilities in the manner and under the terms, provisions and conditions of Sections 37-115-21 through 37-115-33 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-55 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 141-55
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-55
Status: in_force

(1) No request for funds shall be granted unless the project will have a positive economic impact on at least an entire county.

(2) No funding provided by the University Research Center shall be used to fund operating costs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 26-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-3
Status: in_force

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

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

(3) From and after July 1, 2017, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 138-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-29
Status: in_force

The commission may establish requirements for reciprocity for accreditation and certification of management planners, project designers, contractors, supervisors, inspectors and workers with other states that have established accreditation and certification programs that meet or exceed the Model Plan and the accreditation and certification requirements of this chapter. The commission shall have the authority to issue orders and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 115-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-45
Status: in_force

(1) The University of Mississippi Medical Center shall establish a separate unit at the medical center for the treatment of burn victims, which shall be known as the Mississippi Burn Center. The opening and operation of the Mississippi Burn Center shall be conditioned upon the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning making a written determination, spread upon their minutes, that adequate funds are available from public and/or private sources for the annual operating cost of the facility.

(2) The Legislature may appropriate funds for the construction of the Mississippi Burn Center, and may appropriate sufficient funds annually to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for the operation of the Mississippi Burn Center.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 37-7-104.7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 7-104.7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.7
Status: in_force

(1) In Holmes County, Mississippi, in which are located, as of January 1, 2016, two (2) school districts, there shall be an administrative consolidation of all of those school districts in the county into one (1) new countywide school district to be designated as Holmes County Consolidated School District which shall consist of the territory of the former Holmes County School District and the Durant Public School District, effective on July 1, 2018. At such time that the administrative consolidation becomes effective, the central administrative office of the Holmes County Consolidated School District shall be located in Lexington, Mississippi.

(2) Within two (2) years prior to the date of consolidation, or as soon as practicable after July 1, 2016, a financial advisor and/or other facilitator with school district experience may be assigned by the Mississippi Department of Education to oversee the budgeting and financial matters relating to the consolidation of the districts slated for consolidation. The financial advisor and/or facilitator may, at the discretion of the Mississippi Department of Education, continue duties for one (1) year after the consolidation to ensure that all financial matters are in place. All financial expenditures of districts that are closing must be approved by the financial advisor and/or facilitator. If the superintendent and/or school board approves expenditures outside of this approval, they shall be personally liable for the excess expenditures. The State Board of Education shall determine the compensation to be paid to the financial advisor and/or facilitator which shall be paid by the local school district to which the financial advisor and/or facilitator is assigned.

(3)(a) On or before July 1, 2017, the State Board of Education shall serve the local school boards of the Holmes County School District and the Durant Public School District with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to comply with the administrative consolidation required in this section. The State Board of Education shall provide for the administrative consolidation of Holmes County School District and the Durant Public School District on or before July 1, 2018. In the new Holmes County Consolidated School District, there shall be a new county board of education elected in a November 2017 special election, which shall be called by the Governor for that purpose. The new county board of education shall be elected and the terms of office established as provided in Section 37-5-7(3) . The State Board of Education shall declare that the territory embraced by Holmes County, Mississippi, shall be the boundary lines for the territory of the new Holmes County Consolidated School District and shall spread a legal description of the new school district on the minutes of its August 2017 meeting and shall serve the applicable school boards and the board of supervisors with an adequate legal description of these new boundaries. It shall be the responsibility of the board of supervisors of such county to apportion the newly consolidated school district into five (5) new single member board of education election districts, which shall be consistent with the supervisors district lines in the county. The board of supervisors of the county shall thereafter publish the same in some newspaper of general circulation in the county for at least three (3) consecutive weeks and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the school boards of each appropriate school district in the county, the new district lines will thereafter be effective for the November 2017 special election.

(b) Any school district affected by the required administrative consolidation in Holmes County that does not voluntarily consolidate as ordered by the State Board of Education shall be administratively consolidated by the State Board of Education, to be effective on July 1 following the November 2017 special election of the new school board members. The State Board of Education shall promptly move on its own motion to administratively consolidate a school district which does not voluntarily consolidate in order to enable the affected school districts to reasonably accomplish the resulting administrative consolidation into the Holmes County Consolidated School District by July 1, 2018, following the election of the new board of trustees. The affected school districts shall comply with any consolidation order issued by the State Board of Education on or before July 1 following the election of the new board of trustees.

(4)(a) On July 1, 2018, following the election of the new board of trustees of the Holmes County Consolidated School District, the former county board of education for Holmes County and the former board of trustees of the Durant Public School Districts shall be abolished. All real and personal property which is owned or titled in the name of the school district located in such former school districts shall be transferred to the new Holmes County Consolidated School District.

(b) The new board of trustees of the Holmes County Consolidated School District shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for teachers, principals, clerical and administrative staff personnel for the 2018-2019 school year and each school year thereafter.

(c) The new board of trustees for the Holmes County Consolidated School District shall appoint the superintendent of schools for the school district. The superintendent of schools for the Holmes County Consolidated School District may appoint an assistant superintendent of schools for the district, but in no instance shall the administrative leadership of the Holmes County Consolidated School District have more than one (1) assistant superintendent of education. The subsequent superintendent of schools of the consolidated school district shall not be elected, but shall thereafter be appointed by the successor board of trustees in the manner provided in Section 37-9-25 . It shall be the responsibility of the successor board of trustees to prepare and approve the budget of the new consolidated district, and the successor board of trustees may use staff from the former school districts to prepare the budget. Any proposed order of the State Board of Education directing the transfer of the assets, real or personal property of an affected school district in the county, shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation.

(d) Any person or school district aggrieved by an order of the successor newly selected board of trustees of the Holmes County Consolidated School District pursuant to the required administrative consolidation may appeal therefrom within ten (10) days from the date of the adjournment of the meeting at which such order is entered. The appeal shall be taken in the same manner as appeals are taken from judgments or decisions of the board of supervisors as provided in Section 11-51-75 , the provisions of which shall be fully applicable to appeals taken hereunder. The board of trustees of the Holmes County Consolidated School District shall not pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order until the time for an appeal therefrom has expired, nor shall the board pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order from which an appeal is taken until said appeal has been finally determined.

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

(6) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative consolidation of the school districts in Holmes County pursuant to this section. The consolidated districts shall make an election within one (1) year of consolidation concerning the group term life insurance described in subsection (6) of Section 25-15-9 .

(7) The County Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education of the former Holmes County School District and the local school board and Superintendent of Schools of the Durant Public School District shall cooperate with the State Department of Education, as soon as practicable after July 1, 2016, for the planning and transition of programs, services and alignment of curriculum for the administratively consolidated school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 181-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-15
Status: in_force

(1) To ensure that students are treated fairly and kept safe, all eligible schools shall:

(a) Comply with the nondiscrimination policies set forth in 42 USCS 1981 ;

(b) Prior to a participating student's application for enrollment, provide parents or guardians with details of the school's programs, record of student achievement, qualifications, experience, capacities to serve students with special needs, and capacity to serve the participating student within the scope of their IEP;

(c) Comply with all health and safety laws or codes that apply to nonpublic schools;

(d) Hold a valid occupancy permit if required by their municipality;

(e) Have no public record of fraud or malfeasance;

(f) Require participating students to take a pre-assessment at the beginning of the school year and a post-assessment at the end of the school year. The eligible school shall have the option to select their current assessment used to demonstrate academic progress, a nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test, or a current state board-approved screener;

(g) Notify a parent or guardian applying for the ESA program that the parent or guardian waives the right of the participating student to an individual entitlement to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) from their home school district, including special education and related services, for as long as the student is participating in the ESA program;

(h) Conduct criminal background checks on employees and:

(i) Exclude from employment any person not permitted by state law to work in a nonpublic school; and

(ii) Exclude from employment any person who might reasonably pose a threat to the safety of students; and

(i) An eligible school shall certify to the department upon enrollment of a participating student that the eligible school shall provide services for the participating student's disability or special education needs, or shall provide services addressing a participating student's IEP. Such certification must be received by the department before the ESA is reimbursed to an eligible student.

(2) Failure to comply with these requirements shall deem the eligible school ineligible to participate in the ESA program the following year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-193 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 23-193
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-193
Status: in_force

For purposes of Sections 37-23-191 through 37-23-203 , the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Blind student ” means an individual who is eligible for special education services or 504 services and who has an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects the student's educational performance. This includes a student who:

(i) Has a visual acuity of 20 / 200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses or has a limited field of vision such that the widest diameter subtends an angular distance of less than twenty-one (21) degrees;

(ii) Has a medically indicated expectation of visual deterioration; or

(iii) Is functionally blind due to visual problems affecting reading and writing skills.

(b) “ Braille ” means the system of reading and writing through touch and includes literary code, designated commonly as the Unified English Braille Code or the Standard English Braille Code, Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, Music Braille Code and Computer Braille Code.

(c) “ Individualized educational program ” (IEP) means a statement developed for a student eligible for special education services under Section 602(a)(20) of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

(d) “ Assistive technology service ” means any service or provision of devices which directly assists the functional capabilities of a blind or visually impaired student.

(e) “ Compensatory skills ” or “ alternative techniques ” means those skills or techniques needed by blind or visually impaired students to access all areas of the Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks. These skills include, but are not limited to: the use of Braille, large print, optical devices, tactile symbols, calendar systems and abacus; study and organizational skills; listening skills; concept development; the use of assistive technology and recorded materials; social interaction; independent living; recreation and leisure skills; and career education.

(f) “ 504 Plan ” means a legal document under the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which is designed to plan a program of instructional services to assist a student with specialized needs who is in a general education setting.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-36 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 106-36
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-36
Status: repealed

(1) There is established the “William F. Winter and Jack Reed, Sr., Teacher Loan Repayment Program.”

(2) Subject to the availability of funds, an eligible applicant for an initial award must have:

(a) Graduated from a baccalaureate degree-granting institution of higher learning which is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) or a comparable accreditation body;

(b) Signed a contract as a full-time teacher in a public school district in Mississippi;

(c) Obtained a standard five-year license or a nontraditional five-year alternate route license. Persons with provisional emergency licenses shall not be eligible applicants; and

(d) Outstanding qualifying undergraduate or graduate educational loans, which may include the principal, interest and related expenses such as the required interest premium on the unpaid balances of government and commercial loans obtained by the recipient for undergraduate educational expense.

(3) Persons who have received funds from other forgivable loan programs established for teachers under Mississippi law, or who are presently in default or delinquent on any federal, state, local or commercial qualifying educational loan, shall not be eligible for this program.

(4) Provided that initial recipients remain eligible under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, they may retain eligibility for two (2) additional awards, subject to the availability of funds.

(5) Initial recipients shall be selected on a first-come, first-served basis of all eligible applicants, subject to the availability of funds. In the second and third years of an applicant's continued eligibility, priority consideration shall first be given to renewal applicants. The State Financial Aid Board shall develop rules for ensuring that expenses of the program in a fiscal year do not exceed funding for the program in that fiscal year. For that purpose, and any other provision of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, the State Financial Aid Board may limit the acceptance of applications and may limit the number of awards.

(6) Among teacher recipients, priority consideration shall be given to persons who are teaching in a public school district designated as a geographical critical teacher shortage area by the State Board of Education.

(7) Awards for recipients who have signed a contract to teach in a public school district that is not designated as a geographical critical teacher shortage area shall be as follows:

(a) One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) for the initial award;

(b) Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for the second award; and

(c) Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500.00) for the third award.

(8) Awards for recipients who have signed a contract to teach in a public school district that is designated as a geographical critical teacher shortage area shall be as follows:

(a) Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) for the initial award;

(b) Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for the second award, provided the recipient continues to teach in the same public school district or another public school district designated a geographical shortage area by the State Board of Education; and

(c) Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) for the third award, provided the recipient continues to teach in the same public school district or another public school district designated a geographical shortage area by the State Board of Education.

(9) An initial recipient who moves to another public school district shall be eligible to receive an award based on the amount allowed under the program in the new district where the teacher is employed.

(10) Awards shall be granted on a year-to-year basis, and recipients shall have no obligation to seek a future award.

(11) Awards shall be paid annually, after the expiration of the one-year teaching contract for which the award was granted, to the recipient's lender or loan service provider, and shall be applied to the outstanding balance. Monies paid on the recipient's behalf toward qualifying undergraduate or graduate educational loans prior to receiving payment of the award shall not be eligible for repayment through the program.

(12) During the teaching year for which the award is granted, a recipient must at all times keep the State Financial Aid Board informed of any changes to the recipient's current contact information and employment status.

(13) Recipients who fail to maintain a standard or nontraditional license or fail to fulfill the one-year teaching contract on which the award was based shall forfeit any right to the award.

(14) The State Financial Aid Board, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, shall track recipients of an award under this program through the fourth year after receiving their initial award, unless the recipient shall leave teaching in a public school district at an earlier date. Data collected shall include recipients' undergraduate or graduate institution, school district, subject area/grade level in teaching and any other pertinent information necessary to determine the efficacy of the program in retaining teachers.

(15) The State Financial Aid Board shall promulgate regulations necessary for the proper administration of this section, including rules for ensuring that expenses of the program in a fiscal year do not exceed funding for the program in that fiscal year.

(16) There is established in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated the “William F. Winter and Jack Reed, Sr., Loan Repayment Program Fund,” into which shall be deposited those funds appropriated by the Legislature, and any other funds that may be made available, for the purpose of implementing the loan repayment program established herein. Money in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the General Fund, and interest earned on any amounts deposited into the fund shall be credited to the special fund.

(17) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2028.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 27-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-65
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors of any county which has resolved and determined to accept the terms of the law relative to the locating and establishment of agricultural schools or agricultural high school-junior colleges or which may hereafter so determine, may issue bonds upon the property of said county to aid in the building, equipment, and in any other way, the establishment and development of agricultural high schools or agricultural high school-junior colleges. Said bonds may be issued to an amount which, added to all its bonded indebtedness shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the assessed value of the taxable property of the county appearing upon the assessment roll of the preceding year. Said bonds shall mature not later than twenty-five (25) years from the date of their issuance, and shall bear interest at such rate or rates as determined by the board of supervisors, provided that the bonds of any issue shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that allowed in Section 75-17-101 , payable annually. Such bonds shall be payable after five (5) years, at the option of the county. Said bonds shall be lithographed or engraved, and printed in two (2) or more colors, to prevent counterfeiting, and shall be in sums of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) each. Said bonds shall be registered as they are issued, be numbered in regular series from one (1) upwards, and be signed by the president of the board of supervisors and countersigned by the clerk, who shall impress the seal upon each bond as it is issued. Every bond shall specify on its face the purpose for which it was issued, the total amount authorized to be issued, and each shall be made payable to bearer, and the bonds so issued shall not be sold for less than their face value.

When bonds are issued as provided in this section, the board of trustees of the agricultural high school or agricultural high school-junior college are hereby authorized and empowered to use such funds in repairing and equipping buildings already erected and used by such agricultural high school or agricultural high school-junior college, and also to use such funds in erecting and equipping new buildings for such institutions.

The supervisors shall levy annually a special tax to be used exclusively in paying the interest on such bonds, and in providing a sinking fund for their redemption. When a sufficient amount of such sinking fund shall have accumulated, the board of supervisors may loan such accumulation at a rate of interest of not less than six percent (6%) and on such terms and for such time not longer than within the date fixed for the maturity of such bonds, such loan to be secured on improved real estate at not exceeding one-half ( 1 / 2 ) its assessed value, and upon abstract of such real estate, as provided for the loan of funds arising from the sale or lease of sixteenth section land.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, bonds referred to hereinabove may be issued pursuant to the supplemental powers and authorizations conferred by the provisions of the Registered Bond Act, being Sections 31-21-1 through 31-21-7 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-109 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-109
Status: in_force

An employee who has received notice under Section 37-9-105 , upon written request from the employee received by the district within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice by the employee, shall be entitled to:

(a) Written notice of the specific reasons for nonreemployment, together with a summary of the factual basis therefor, a list of witnesses and a copy of documentary evidence substantiating the reasons intended to be presented at the hearing, which notice shall be given at least fourteen (14) days prior to any hearing; if the district fails to provide this information to the employee, then the recommendation for nonreemployment shall be null and void, and the board shall order the execution of a contract with the employee for an additional period of one (1) year;

(b) An opportunity for a hearing at which to present matters relevant to the reasons given for the proposed nonreemployment, including any reasons alleged by the employee to be the reason for nonreemployment; provided, however, that any school superintendent whose employment has been terminated by the school board under Section 37-9-59 , or whose employment contract has not been renewed by the school board shall not have the right to request a hearing before the school board or a hearing officer;

(c) Receive a fair and impartial hearing before the board or hearing officer; provided, however, that any school superintendent whose employment has been terminated by the school board under Section 37-9-59 , or whose employment contract has not been renewed by the school board shall not have the right to request a hearing before the school board or a hearing officer;

(d) Be represented by legal counsel, at his own expense.

Any employee requesting a hearing shall provide the district, not less than five (5) days before the scheduled date for the hearing, a response to the specific reasons for nonreemployment, a list of witnesses and a copy of documentary evidence in support of the response intended to be presented at the hearing. If the employee fails to provide this information, then the recommendation of nonreemployment shall be final without the necessity of a hearing.

If the employee does not request a hearing, the recommendation regarding the nonreemployment of the employee shall be final.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-603 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-603
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-603
Status: in_force

Each corporation formed under the provisions of Section 37-29-601 shall have the following powers, together with all powers incidental thereto or necessary to the discharge thereof in corporate form:

(a) To have succession by its corporate name for the duration of time, which may be in perpetuity, specified in its certificate of incorporation;

(b) To sue and be sued and to defend suits against it;

(c) To make use of a corporate seal and to alter it at pleasure;

(d) To acquire, whether by purchase, construction or gift, facilities for one or more community or junior college and land therefor;

(e) To equip, maintain, enlarge or improve such facilities;

(f) To lease under such terms and conditions as its board of directors may deem advisable and as shall not conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 to the Mississippi Community College Board or to such other entity as may be approved by the board subject to prior approval by the board of each issue of bonds;

(g) To issue its bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of acquiring, constructing, maintaining, enlarging, improving or equipping any of such facilities or land in the manner provided in Section 37-29-601 ;

(h) To secure the payment of such bonds through the pledge of and lien on such revenues or other sources of income, including lease payments, entering into trust agreements, and the making of such covenants as are provided in Section 37-101-101 ;

(i) To refund bonds previously issued;

(j) To enter into contracts and agreements or do any act necessary for or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 ;

(k) To accept gifts from any source whatsoever;

(l) To appoint and employ such officers and agents, including attorneys, as its business may require; and

(m) To provide for such insurance as its board of directors may deem advisable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 138-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-7
Status: in_force

The commission is authorized and directed to adopt regulations for certification of contractors, inspectors, management planners, project designers, air monitors, supervisors and workers. The regulations shall include an accreditation plan which shall be equivalent to paragraphs 1 through 3 of the Model Plan. The accreditation plan shall be no more stringent than the Model Plan, except as provided herein. The regulations and accreditation plan shall include the requirements for all training courses for accreditation of contractors, inspectors, management planners, project designers, air monitors, supervisors and workers. All regulations promulgated by the commission pursuant to this chapter shall not be effective until November 1, 1990. By October 1, 1989, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall designate a university which may offer all training courses set forth in the regulations and accreditation plan and such university may charge reasonable fees to offset costs of the courses offered. The commission shall not approve any training courses offered in Mississippi other than those courses offered at the designated university and those certified abatement worker courses that have received Environmental Protection Agency approval pursuant to Section III of Appendix C to Title 40, Part 763 , Subpart E, of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 51-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-3
Status: in_force

The terms and provisions of this chapter shall be administered and executed by the state educational finance commission. For the purpose of this chapter, the term “commission” shall mean “state educational finance commission” except where the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-48 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 115-48
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-48
Status: in_force

(1) The University of Mississippi Medical Center is authorized, in its discretion, to rearrange or disinter, remove or reinter, where applicable, human remains reposing in the potter's field located on the University of Mississippi Medical Center's property to a different location on the medical center's property when the disinterment, removal or reinterment, where applicable, is necessary for proper and efficient maintenance and management.

(2) Markers, headstones, or other identification shall accompany the remains whenever identification exists, and a record of the removal and reinterment, where applicable, shall be maintained in the files of the Chancery Clerk of Hinds County, Mississippi.

(3) Before taking any action authorized under this section, the University of Mississippi Medical Center shall first advertise its intent to rearrange, disinter, remove or reinter, where applicable, remains from the property by publishing notice in a newspaper of the county once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks.

(4) The University of Mississippi Medical Center and its officers and employees shall be immune from any action or suit arising from the maintenance or attempted maintenance of the potter's field and the rearrangement, removal or reinterment, where applicable, of remains, when performed in good faith under authority of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 47-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-63
Status: in_force

In consideration of the acceptance and purchase of the bonds authorized under the provisions of this chapter, by those who shall hold the same from time to time, this chapter shall be deemed and shall constitute a contract between the State of Mississippi and such holders and shall be irrepealable until such time as all bonds and interim certificates issued under the provisions of this chapter shall have been fully paid.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 173-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-9
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The parent or legal guardian is not required to accept the offer of enrolling in another public school in lieu of requesting a Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship to a nonpublic school. However, if the parent or legal guardian chooses the public school option, the student may continue attending a public school chosen by the parent or legal guardian until the student completes Grade 12.

(b) If the parent or legal guardian chooses a public school within the district, the school district shall provide transportation to the public school selected by the parent or legal guardian. However, if the parent or legal guardian chooses a public school in another district, the parent or legal guardian is responsible to provide transportation to the school of choice.

These provisions do not prohibit a parent or legal guardian of a student diagnosed with dyslexia, at any time, from choosing the option of a Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship which would allow the student to attend another public school or nonpublic special purpose school.

(2) If the parent or legal guardian chooses the nonpublic school option and the student is accepted by the nonpublic school pending the availability of a space for the student, the parent or legal guardian of the student must notify the department thirty (30) days before the first scholarship payment and before entering the nonpublic school in order to be eligible for the scholarship when a space becomes available for the student in the nonpublic school.

(3) The parent or legal guardian of a student may choose, as an alternative, to enroll the student in and transport the student to a public school in an adjacent school district which has available space and has a program with dyslexia services that provide daily dyslexia therapy sessions delivered by a department licensed dyslexia therapist, and that school district shall accept the student and report the student for purposes of the district's funding under the total funding formula provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 31-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-13
Status: in_force

(1) Any appropriation that may be made under the provisions of Sections 37-31-1 through 37-31-15 shall be used by the board for the promotion of vocational education as provided for in the “Smith-Hughes Act” and for the purpose set forth in Sections 37-31-1 through 37-31-15 . The state appropriation shall not be used for payments to high schools which are now receiving other state funds, except in lieu of not more than one-half ( 1 / 2 ) the amount that may be due such high schools from federal funds. Only such portion of the state appropriation shall be used as may be absolutely necessary to carry out the provisions of Sections 37-31-1 through 37-31-15 , and to meet the federal requirements. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the state appropriation shall not be used for payments to high schools for conducting vocational programs for more than ten (10) months in any school year, and only funds other than total funding formula funds may be expended for such purpose.

(2) Subject to annual approval by the State Board of Education, extended contracts for vocational agriculture education services and other related vocational education services which contribute to economic development may be conducted by local school districts, and state appropriations may be used for payments to school districts providing such services. The board of trustees of each school district shall determine whether any proposed services contribute to the economic development of the area. Local districts may apply to the Division of Vocational and Technical Education of the State Department of Education for any state funds available for these extended contracts. The State Board of Education shall establish the application process and the selection criteria for this program. The number of state funded extended contracts approved by the State Board of Education will be determined by the availability of funds specified for this purpose. The State Board of Education's decision shall be final. Payments under this subsection shall only be available to those high schools whose teachers of vocational programs are responsible for the following programs of instruction during those months between the academic years: (a) supervision and instruction of students in agricultural or other vocational experience programs; (b) group and individual instruction of farmers and agribusinessmen; (c) supervision of student members of youth groups who are involved in leadership training or other activity required by state or federal law; or (d) any program of vocational agriculture or other vocational-related services established by the Division of Vocational and Technical Education of the State Department of Education that contribute to the economic development of the geographic area.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-160-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 160-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-160-3
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) “ Grantee ” means the Mississippi office of Teach For America, Inc., known as “Teach For America Delta.”

(b) “ High need school district ” means a school district experiencing a shortage of highly qualified teachers and includes, but is not necessarily limited to, those school districts in a geographical area of the state designated by the State Board of Education as having a critical shortage of teachers under the Mississippi Critical Teacher Shortage Act of 1998 ( Sections 37-159-1 through 37-159-17 ).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 47-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-45
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under the authority of this chapter shall mature annually. None of such bonds shall have a final maturity date of more than twenty (20) years from the date of the issuance thereof, and in no event shall the final maturity date of any such bonds be later than July 1, 2004. In issuing such bonds, the state bond commission shall be authorized and empowered to provide maturities therefor in such amounts and at such times as the state bond commission shall deem appropriate, proper and feasible. No bonds shall be issued and sold under the provisions of this chapter for less than par and accrued interest.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-137 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-137
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-137
Status: in_force

(1) Consent shall be obtained:

(a) Prior to initial evaluation;

(b) Prior to implementation of the initial individualized educational program for a child with a disability;

(c) Prior to reevaluation, except that such consent is not required, if the local educational agency can demonstrate that it had taken reasonable measures to obtain such consent and the parent failed to respond; and

(d) Prior to the release of educational records as required under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and IDEA.

(2) If the parent of a child with a disability refuses consent for the evaluation, the local educational agency may continue to pursue an evaluation by utilizing the due process hearing procedures under IDEA, except to the extent these are not in conflict with Mississippi law relating to parental consent.

(3) Written prior notice shall be provided to the parents of the child whenever a local educational agency proposes to initiate or change or refuses to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child, or the provision of a free appropriate public education to that child.

(4) Written prior notice shall be provided in the native language of the parents, unless it clearly is not feasible to do so.

(5) Written prior notice shall include:

(a) A description of the action proposed or refused by the local educational agency;

(b) An explanation of why the local educational agency proposes or refuses to take the action;

(c) A description of any other options that the local educational agency considered and the reasons why those options were rejected;

(d) A description of any other factors that are relevant to the local educational agency's proposal or refusal;

(e) A description of each evaluation procedure, test, record, or report the local educational agency used as a basis for the proposed or refused action;

(f) A description of any factors that are relevant to the local educational agency's proposal or refusal;

(g) A statement that the parents of a child with a disability have protection under the procedural safeguards under IDEA and, if the notice is not an initial referral for evaluation, notification of an individualized educational program meeting or notice for reevaluation, the means by which a copy of a description of procedural safeguards can be obtained; and

(h) Sources for parents to contact to obtain assistance in understanding the provisions under IDEA.

(6) A copy of the procedural safeguards established by the State Department of Education shall be given to the parents upon:

(a) Initial referral for evaluation, reevaluation or parent request for evaluation;

(b) The child's initial IEP meeting;

(c) Registration of a complaint under IDEA to the State Department of Education;

(d) Upon a request by a parent; and

(e) If there is no circumstance giving rise to the purpose of parents receiving a copy of the procedural safeguards under paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection, then the parents shall be provided with a copy of the procedural safeguards at least once on an annual basis.

The procedural safeguards shall include provisions which allow parents to be informed of the parental right to record IEP meetings by means of an audio or visual recording device or written transcript at the parent's own expense if they so desire a record of the meeting.

(7) The State Department of Education and each local educational agency shall establish procedures to ensure parents of children with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in meetings with respect to the identification, evaluation, and education placement of the child, and the provision of a free appropriate public education of such child. Local educational agencies shall provide parents of children with disabilities an opportunity to provide input in the development of the agencies' application for funding, as required under IDEA.

(8) The parent or guardian or local educational agency shall have the right to audio record the proceedings of individualized education program team meetings. The parent or guardian or local educational agency shall notify the members of the individualized education program team of his, her, or its intent to audio record a meeting at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting.

(9) In conducting the evaluation, the local educational agency shall:

(a) Use a variety of assessment tools and strategies to gather relevant functional and developmental information, including information provided by the parent, that may assist in determining whether the child is a child with a disability and the content of the child's individualized education program including information related to enabling the child to be involved in and progress in the general curriculum or, for preschool children, to participate in appropriate activities;

(b) Not use any single procedure as the sole criterion for determining whether a child is a child with a disability or determining an appropriate educational program for the child; and

(c) Use technically sound instruments that may assess the relative contribution of cognitive and behavioral factors, in addition to physical or developmental factors.

(10) Each local educational agency shall ensure that:

(a) Tests and other evaluation materials used to assess a child are:

(i) Selected and administered so as not to be discriminatory on a racial or cultural basis; and

(ii) Provided and administered in the child's native language or other mode of communication, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so;

(b) Any standardized tests that are given to the child:

(i) Have been validated for the specific purpose for which they are used;

(ii) Are administered by trained and knowledgeable personnel; and

(iii) Are administered in accordance with any instructions provided by the producer of such tests;

(c) The child is assessed in all areas of suspected disability; and

(d) Assessment tools and strategies that provide relevant information that directly assist persons in determining the educational needs of the child are provided.

(11) Upon completion of administration of tests and other evaluation materials:

(a) The determination of whether the child is a child with a disability as defined under IDEA and state regulations established by the State Board of Education shall be made by a team of qualified professionals and the parent of the child and certified by a Screening Team as defined by the State Board of Education;

(b) In making such a determination of eligibility, a child shall not be determined to be a child with a disability if the determinant factor for such determination is lack of instruction in reading or math or limited English proficiency; and

(c) A copy of the evaluation report and the documentation of determination of eligibility will be given to the parent.

(12) Parents shall have an opportunity to obtain an independent educational evaluation of their child in accordance with the requirements under IDEA.

(13) An outside individual or entity contracting with a local educational agency for the purpose of performing an observation in order to make recommendations of possible changes in a child's IEP, or any outside individual or entity making an observation of a child which results in such recommendations, shall submit a report of the observation to the local educational agency. The local educational agency shall notify the parent upon receipt of this report.

(14) Parents and guardians shall have the right of review or to receive copies of all educational records, as such records are defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, pertaining to their child. The local educational agency shall be responsible for making the educational records available to the parent or guardian. The cost of providing a copy of any information contained in a student's educational record to the parents or guardians shall be established by the local school board in accordance with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 123-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-5
Status: in_force

No person shall be eligible to admission to the Delta State College, who shall not have completed the studies of course prescribed by law for the common or public schools of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 43-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-17
Status: in_force

If any person related within the third degree by blood or marriage, as computed by civil law, to any member of the board, or if any person that is associated in any business or partnership with any member of said board, shall be employed in good faith by any school book company, firm, corporation or agent in connection with the adoption of textbooks within this state, the said member of the board so related by blood or marriage, or so associated in business or partnership with such person, shall not vote in the rating and adoption of any school book or books offered by such school book company, firm, corporation or agent for adoption.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-20-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 20-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-20-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Remedial Education Act of 1988.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 26-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-11
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Children's Advocacy Centers Fund, which shall be administered by the Office of the Attorney General. The purpose of the fund shall be for training forensic interviewers in child abuse and child sexual abuse cases, training law enforcement officers and prosecutors about child abuse cases, expanding the number of Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi to underserved areas, and other related purposes. Monies in the fund shall be expended by the Attorney General, upon appropriation by the Legislature. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of:

(a) Monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of funding the Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi;

(b) The interest accruing to the fund;

(c) Monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73 ;

(d) Monies received from the federal government;

(e) Donations; and

(f) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.

(2) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Mississippi Foster Care Fund, which shall be administered by the Administrative Office of Courts. The purpose of the fund shall be for supporting the services directly provided to foster families and foster children by programs, persons or entities pursuant to contracts and grants that comply with Mississippi law, and for other related purposes. Monies in the fund shall be expended by the office, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only for the purposes stated in this subsection, and only in such amounts as then exist in the fund. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of:

(a) Monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of funding the Mississippi Foster Care Fund;

(b) The interest accruing to the fund;

(c) Monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73 for the Mississippi Foster Care Fund, ninety percent (90%) of which shall be used directly for supporting the services directly provided to foster families and foster children by programs, persons or entities pursuant to contracts and grants that comply with Mississippi law, and no more than ten percent (10%) of which shall be used for administrative purposes;

(d) Monies received from the federal government;

(e) Donations; and

(f) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.

(3) From and after July 1, 2016, the expenses of the Children's Advocacy Centers Fund Program shall be defrayed by appropriation from the State General Fund and all user charges and fees authorized under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund as authorized by law and as determined by the State Fiscal Officer.

(4) From and after July 1, 2016, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 11-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-51
Status: in_force

(1) Test questions and answers in the possession of a public body, as defined by paragraph (a) of Section 25-61-3 , which are to be used in future academic examinations, shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983. 1

(2) Letters of recommendation in the possession of a public body, as defined by paragraph (a) of Section 25-61-3 , respecting admission to any educational agency or institution, shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.

(3)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, documents, records, papers, data, protocols, information or materials in the possession of a community college or state institution of higher learning that are created, collected, developed, generated, ascertained or discovered during the course of academic research, shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.

(b) The exemption under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not apply to a public record that has been published, copyrighted, trademarked or patented.

(4) Unpublished manuscripts, preliminary analyses, drafts of scientific or academic papers, plans or proposals for future research and prepublication peer reviews in the possession of a community college or state institution of higher learning, or submitted and accepted for publication by publishers shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.

(5) Nothing in this section shall otherwise create a public record right over, or shall impede or infringe upon, the copyright in any work.

(6) School safety plan documents containing preventive services listed in Section 37-3-83 shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 17-6
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on School Accreditation, shall establish and implement a permanent performance-based accreditation system, and all noncharter public elementary and secondary schools shall be accredited under this system.

(2) School districts shall be required to provide school classroom space that is air-conditioned as a minimum requirement for accreditation.

(3)(a) The State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on School Accreditation, shall require that school districts employ certified school librarians according to the following formula:

Number of Students

Number of Certified

Per School Library

School Librarians

0--499 Students 1 / 2

Full-time Equivalent

Certified Librarian

500 or More Students

1 Full-time Certified

Librarian

(b) The State Board of Education, however, may increase the number of positions beyond the above requirements.

(c) The assignment of certified school librarians to the particular schools shall be at the discretion of the local school district. No individual shall be employed as a certified school librarian without appropriate training and certification as a school librarian by the State Department of Education.

(d) School librarians in the district shall spend at least fifty percent (50%) of direct work time in a school library and shall devote no more than one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) of the workday to administrative activities that are library related.

(e) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit any school district from employing more certified school librarians than are provided for in this section.

(f) Any additional millage levied to fund school librarians required for accreditation under this subsection shall be included in the tax increase limitation set forth in Sections 37-57-105 and 37-57-107 and shall not be deemed a new program for purposes of the limitation.

(4) [Deleted]

(5)(a) The State Department of Education, acting through the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation, shall implement a single “A” through “F” school and school district accountability system complying with applicable federal and state requirements in order to reach the following educational goals:

(i) To mobilize resources and supplies to ensure that all students exit third grade reading on grade level;

(ii) To reduce the student dropout rate to ten percent (10%) by 2015; and

(iii) To have sixty percent (60%) of students scoring proficient and advanced on assessments.

(b) The State Department of Education shall combine the state school and school district accountability system with the federal system in order to have a single system.

(c) The State Department of Education shall establish five (5) performance categories (“A,” “B,” “C,” “D” and “F”) for the accountability system based on the following criteria:

(i) Student Achievement: the percent of students proficient and advanced on the current state assessments;

(ii) Individual student growth: the percent of students making one (1) year's progress in one (1) year's time on the state assessment, with an emphasis on the progress of the lowest twenty-five percent (25%) of students in the school or district;

(iii) Four-year graduation rate: the percent of students graduating with a standard high school diploma in four (4) years, as defined by federal regulations;

(iv) The system shall include the federally compliant four-year graduation rate in school and school district accountability system calculations. Graduation rate will apply to high school and school district accountability ratings as a compensatory component. The system shall discontinue the use of the High School Completer Index (HSCI);

(v) The school and school district accountability system shall incorporate a standards-based growth model, in order to support improvement of individual student learning;

(vi) The State Department of Education shall determine feeder patterns of schools that do not earn a school grade because the grades and subjects taught at the school do not have statewide standardized assessments needed to calculate a school grade. Upon determination of the feeder pattern, the department shall notify schools and school districts prior to the release of the school grades. Feeder schools will be assigned the accountability designation of the school to which they provide students;

(vii) Standards for student, school and school district performance will be increased when student proficiency is at a seventy-five percent (75%) and/or when sixty-five percent (65%) of the schools and/or school districts are earning a grade of “B” or higher, in order to raise the standard on performance after targets are met; and

(viii) The system shall include student performance on the administration of a career-readiness assessment, such as, but not limited to, the ACT WorkKeys Assessment, deemed appropriate by the State Department of Education working in coordination with the Office of Workforce Development.

(6) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require a nonpublic school that receives no local, state or federal funds for support to become accredited by the State Board of Education.

(7) The State Board of Education shall create an accreditation audit unit under the Commission on School Accreditation to determine whether schools are complying with accreditation standards.

(8) The State Board of Education shall be specifically authorized and empowered to withhold allocations from the total funding formula funds as provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 to any public school district for failure to timely report student, school personnel and fiscal data necessary to meet state and/or federal requirements.

(9) [Deleted]

(10) The State Board of Education shall establish, for those school districts failing to meet accreditation standards, a program of development to be complied with in order to receive state funds, except as otherwise provided in subsection (15) of this section when the Governor has declared a state of emergency in a school district or as otherwise provided in Section 206, Mississippi Constitution of 1890 . The state board, in establishing these standards, shall provide for notice to schools and sufficient time and aid to enable schools to attempt to meet these standards, unless procedures under subsection (15) of this section have been invoked.

(11) The State Board of Education shall be charged with the implementation of the program of development in each applicable school district as follows:

(a) Develop an impairment report for each district failing to meet accreditation standards in conjunction with school district officials;

(b) Notify any applicable school district failing to meet accreditation standards that it is on probation until corrective actions are taken or until the deficiencies have been removed. The local school district shall develop a corrective action plan to improve its deficiencies. For district academic deficiencies, the corrective action plan for each such school district shall be based upon a complete analysis of the following: student test data, student grades, student attendance reports, student dropout data, existence and other relevant data. The corrective action plan shall describe the specific measures to be taken by the particular school district and school to improve: (i) instruction; (ii) curriculum; (iii) professional development; (iv) personnel and classroom organization; (v) student incentives for performance; (vi) process deficiencies; and (vii) reporting to the local school board, parents and the community. The corrective action plan shall describe the specific individuals responsible for implementing each component of the recommendation and how each will be evaluated. All corrective action plans shall be provided to the State Board of Education as may be required. The decision of the State Board of Education establishing the probationary period of time shall be final;

(c) Offer, during the probationary period, technical assistance to the school district in making corrective actions. Subject to appropriations, the State Department of Education shall provide technical and/or financial assistance to all such school districts in order to implement each measure identified in that district's corrective action plan through professional development and on-site assistance. Each such school district shall apply for and utilize all available federal funding in order to support its corrective action plan in addition to state funds made available under this paragraph;

(d) Assign department personnel or contract, in its discretion, with the institutions of higher learning or other appropriate private entities with experience in the academic, finance and other operational functions of schools to assist school districts;

(e) Provide for publication of public notice at least one time during the probationary period, in a newspaper published within the jurisdiction of the school district failing to meet accreditation standards, or if no newspaper is published therein, then in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The publication shall include the following: declaration of school system's status as being on probation; all details relating to the impairment report; and other information as the State Board of Education deems appropriate. Public notices issued under this section shall be subject to Section 13-3-31 and not contrary to other laws regarding newspaper publication.

(12)(a) If the recommendations for corrective action are not taken by the local school district or if the deficiencies are not removed by the end of the probationary period, the Commission on School Accreditation shall conduct a hearing to allow the affected school district to present evidence or other reasons why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. Additionally, if the local school district violates accreditation standards that have been determined by the policies and procedures of the State Board of Education to be a basis for withdrawal of school district's accreditation without a probationary period, the Commission on School Accreditation shall conduct a hearing to allow the affected school district to present evidence or other reasons why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. After its consideration of the results of the hearing, the Commission on School Accreditation shall be authorized, with the approval of the State Board of Education, to withdraw the accreditation of a public school district, and issue a request to the Governor that a state of emergency be declared in that district.

(b)(i) If the State Board of Education and the Commission on School Accreditation determine that an extreme emergency situation exists in a school district that jeopardizes the safety, security or educational interests of the children enrolled in the schools in that district and that emergency situation is believed to be related to a serious violation or violations of accreditation standards or state or federal law, the State Board of Education may request the Governor to declare a state of emergency in that school district. For purposes of this paragraph, the declarations of a state of emergency district's impairments are related to a lack of financial may include the school district's serious failure to meet minimum academic standards, as evidenced by a continued pattern of poor student performance, or impairments related to a lack of financial resources.

(ii) If the State Board of Education determines that a public school or district in the state which, during each of two (2) consecutive school years or during two (2) of three (3) consecutive school years, receives an “F” designation by the State Board of Education under the accountability rating system or has been persistently failing as defined by the State Board of Education; or if the State Board of Education determines that a public school or district in the state which, during each of four (4) consecutive school years, receives a “D” or “F” designation by the State Board of Education under the accountability rating system or has been persistently failing as defined by the State Board of Education; or if more than fifty percent (50%) of the schools within a school district are designated as Schools-At-Risk in any one (1) year, then the board may place such school or district into a District of Transformation. The State Board of Education shall take over only the number of schools and districts for which it has the capacity to serve. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations governing any additional requirements for placement into a District of Transformation and the operation thereof. School districts or schools that are eligible to be placed into a District of Transformation due to poor academic performance but are not absorbed due to the capacity of the State Board of Education, shall develop and implement a district improvement plan with prescriptive guidance and support from the Mississippi Department of Education, with the goal of helping the district improve student achievement. Failure of the school board, superintendent and school district staff to implement the plan with fidelity and participate in the activities provided as support by the department shall result in the school district retaining its eligibility for placement into a District of Transformation.

(iii) If the State Board of Education determined that a school district is impaired with a serious lack of financial resources, the State Board of Education may place the school district into a District of Transformation. If a school district is placed into a District of Transformation for financial reasons, the school district shall be required to reimburse the state for any costs incurred by the state on behalf of the school district.

(c) Whenever the Governor declares a state of emergency in a school district in response to a request made under paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection, or when the State Board of Education places a school district into a District of Transformation due to poor academic performance or financial reasons, the State Board of Education may take one or more of the following actions:

(i) Declare a state of emergency, under which some or all of state funds can be escrowed except as otherwise provided in Section 206, Constitution of 1890 , until the board determines corrective actions are being taken or the deficiencies have been removed, or that the needs of students warrant the release of funds. The funds may be released from escrow for any program which the board determines to have been restored to standard even though the state of emergency may not as yet be terminated for the district as a whole;

(ii) Override any decision of the local school board or superintendent of education, or both, concerning the management and operation of the school district, or initiate and make decisions concerning the management and operation of the school district;

(iii) Assign an interim superintendent, or in its discretion, contract with a private entity with experience in the academic, finance and other operational functions of schools and school districts, who will have those powers and duties prescribed in subsection (15) of this section;

(iv) Grant transfers to students who attend this school district so that they may attend other accredited schools or districts in a manner that is not in violation of state or federal law;

(v) For states of emergency declared under paragraph (a) only, if the accreditation deficiencies are related to the fact that the school district is too small, with too few resources, to meet the required standards and if another school district is willing to accept those students, abolish that district and assign that territory to another school district or districts. If the school district has proposed a voluntary consolidation with another school district or districts, then if the State Board of Education finds that it is in the best interest of the pupils of the district for the consolidation to proceed, the voluntary consolidation shall have priority over any such assignment of territory by the State Board of Education;

(vi) For actions taken pursuant to paragraph (b) only, reduce local supplements paid to school district employees, including, but not limited to, instructional personnel, assistant teachers and extracurricular activities personnel, if the district's impairment is related to a lack of financial resources, but only to an extent that will result in the salaries being comparable to districts similarly situated, as determined by the State Board of Education;

(vii) For actions taken pursuant to paragraph (b) only, the State Board of Education may take any action as prescribed in Section 37-17-13 .

(d) At the time that satisfactory corrective action has been taken in a school district in which a state of emergency has been declared, the State Board of Education may request the Governor to declare that the state of emergency no longer exists in the district.

(e) The parent or legal guardian of a school-age child who is enrolled in a school district whose accreditation has been withdrawn by the Commission on School Accreditation and without approval of that school district may file a petition in writing to a school district accredited by the Commission on School Accreditation for a legal transfer. The school district accredited by the Commission on School Accreditation may grant the transfer according to the procedures of Section 37-15-31(1)(b) . In the event the accreditation of the student's home district is restored after a transfer has been approved, the student may continue to attend the transferee school district. The per pupil amount of the total funding formula allotment for the student's home school district shall be transferred monthly to the school district accredited by the Commission on School Accreditation that has granted the transfer of the school-age child.

(f) Upon the declaration of a state of emergency for any school district in which the Governor has previously declared a state of emergency, the State Board of Education may either:

(i) Place the school district into district transformation, in which the school district shall remain until it has fulfilled all conditions related to district transformation. If the district was assigned an accreditation rating of “D” or “F” when placed into district transformation, the district shall be eligible to return to local control when the school district has attained a “C” rating or higher for three (3) consecutive years;

(ii) Abolish the school district and administratively consolidate the school district with one or more existing school districts;

(iii) Reduce the size of the district and administratively consolidate parts of the district, as determined by the State Board of Education. However, no school district which is not in district transformation shall be required to accept additional territory over the objection of the district; or

(iv) Require the school district to develop and implement a district improvement plan with prescriptive guidance and support from the State Department of Education, with the goal of helping the district improve student achievement. Failure of the school board, superintendent and school district staff to implement the plan with fidelity and participate in the activities provided as support by the department shall result in the school district retaining its eligibility for district transformation.

(13) Upon the declaration of a state of emergency in a school district under subsection (12) of this section, or upon the State Board of Education's placement of a school district into a District of Transformation for academic or financial reasons, the Commission on School Accreditation shall be responsible for public notice at least once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published within the jurisdiction of the school district failing to meet accreditation standards, or if no newspaper is published therein, then in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The size of the notice shall be no smaller than one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) of a standard newspaper page and shall be printed in bold print. If an interim superintendent has been appointed for the school district, the notice shall begin as follows: “By authority of Section 37-17-6, Mississippi Code of 1972 , as amended, adopted by the Mississippi Legislature during the 1991 Regular Session, this school district (name of school district) is hereby placed under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Education acting through its appointed interim superintendent (name of interim superintendent).”

The notice also shall include, in the discretion of the State Board of Education, any or all details relating to the school district's emergency status, including the declaration of a state of emergency in the school district and a description of the district's impairment deficiencies, conditions of any district transformation status and corrective actions recommended and being taken. Public notices issued under this section shall be subject to Section 13-3-31 and not contrary to other laws regarding newspaper publication.

Upon termination of a school district in a District of Transformation, the Commission on School Accreditation shall cause notice to be published in the school district in the same manner provided in this section, to include any or all details relating to the corrective action taken in the school district that resulted in the termination of the state of emergency.

(14) The State Board of Education or the Commission on School Accreditation shall have the authority to require school districts to produce the necessary reports, correspondence, financial statements, and any other documents and information necessary to fulfill the requirements of this section.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant any individual, corporation, board or interim superintendent the authority to levy taxes except in accordance with presently existing statutory provisions.

(15)(a) Whenever the Governor declares a state of emergency in a school district in response to a request made under subsection (12) of this section, or when the State Board of Education places a school district into a District of Transformation for academic or financial reasons, the State Board of Education, in its discretion, may assign an interim superintendent to the school district, or in its discretion, may contract with an appropriate private entity with experience in the academic, finance and other operational functions of schools and school districts, who will be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the school district, including, but not limited to, the following activities:

(i) Approving or disapproving all financial obligations of the district, including, but not limited to, the employment, termination, nonrenewal and reassignment of all licensed and nonlicensed personnel, contractual agreements and purchase orders, and approving or disapproving all claim dockets and the issuance of checks; in approving or disapproving employment contracts of superintendents, assistant superintendents or principals, the interim superintendent shall not be required to comply with the time limitations prescribed in Sections 37-9-15 and 37-9-105 ;

(ii) Supervising the day-to-day activities of the district's staff, including reassigning the duties and responsibilities of personnel in a manner which, in the determination of the interim superintendent, will best suit the needs of the district;

(iii) Reviewing the district's total financial obligations and operations and making recommendations to the district for cost savings, including, but not limited to, reassigning the duties and responsibilities of staff;

(iv) Attending all meetings of the district's school board and administrative staff;

(v) Approving or disapproving all athletic, band and other extracurricular activities and any matters related to those activities;

(vi) Maintaining a detailed account of recommendations made to the district and actions taken in response to those recommendations;

(vii) Reporting periodically to the State Board of Education on the progress or lack of progress being made in the district to improve the district's impairments during the state of emergency; and

(viii) Appointing a parent advisory committee, comprised of parents of students in the school district that may make recommendations to the interim superintendent concerning the administration, management and operation of the school district.

The cost of the salary of the interim superintendent and any other actual and necessary costs related to district transformation status paid by the State Department of Education shall be reimbursed by the local school district from funds other than total funding formula funds as provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 . In the alternative, the local school district may pay the cost of the salary of the interim superintendent. The department shall submit an itemized statement to the superintendent of the local school district for reimbursement purposes, and any unpaid balance may be withheld from the district's funding formula funds.

At the time that the Governor, in accordance with the request of the State Board of Education, declares that the state of emergency no longer exists in a school district, the interim superintendent assigned to the district shall remain in place for a period of two (2) years and shall work alongside the newly reconstituted school board. A new superintendent may be hired by the newly reconstituted board after the one (1) year state of emergency no longer exists, but he or she shall serve as deputy to the interim superintendent while the interim superintendent is assigned to the district.

(b) In order to provide loans to school districts under a state of emergency or in district transformation status that have impairments related to a lack of financial resources, the School District Emergency Assistance Fund is created as a special fund in the State Treasury into which monies may be transferred or appropriated by the Legislature from any available public education funds. Funds in the School District Emergency Assistance Fund up to a maximum balance of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) annually shall not lapse but shall be available for expenditure in subsequent years subject to approval of the State Board of Education. Any amount in the fund in excess of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) at the end of the fiscal year shall lapse into the State General Fund or the Education Enhancement Fund, depending on the source of the fund.

The State Board of Education may loan monies from the School District Emergency Assistance Fund to a school district that is under a state of emergency or in district transformation status, in those amounts, as determined by the board, that are necessary to correct the district's impairments related to a lack of financial resources. The loans shall be evidenced by an agreement between the school district and the State Board of Education and shall be repayable in principal, without necessity of interest, to the School District Emergency Assistance Fund by the school district from any allowable funds that are available. The total amount loaned to the district shall be due and payable within five (5) years after the impairments related to a lack of financial resources are corrected. If a school district fails to make payments on the loan in accordance with the terms of the agreement between the district and the State Board of Education, the State Department of Education, in accordance with rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education, may withhold that district's total funding formula funds in an amount and manner that will effectuate repayment consistent with the terms of the agreement; the funds withheld by the department shall be deposited into the School District Emergency Assistance Fund.

The State Board of Education shall develop a protocol that will outline the performance standards and requisite timeline deemed necessary for extreme emergency measures. If the State Board of Education determines that an extreme emergency exists, simultaneous with the powers exercised in this subsection, it shall take immediate action against all parties responsible for the affected school districts having been determined to be in an extreme emergency. The action shall include, but not be limited to, initiating civil actions to recover funds and criminal actions to account for criminal activity. Any funds recovered by the State Auditor or the State Board of Education from the surety bonds of school officials or from any civil action brought under this subsection shall be applied toward the repayment of any loan made to a school district hereunder.

(16) [Deleted]

(17) [Deleted]

(18) The State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on School Accreditation, shall require each school district to comply with standards established by the State Department of Audit for the verification of fixed assets and the auditing of fixed assets records as a minimum requirement for accreditation.

(19) [Deleted]

(20) [Deleted]

(21) If a local school district is determined as failing and placed into district transformation status for reasons authorized by the provisions of this section, the interim superintendent appointed to the district shall, within forty-five (45) days after being appointed, present a detailed and structured corrective action plan to move the local school district out of district transformation status to the deputy superintendent. A copy of the interim superintendent's corrective action plan shall also be filed with the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-195 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 23-195
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-195
Status: in_force

(1) Each appropriate educational entity shall provide for the development of an IEP or 504 Plan for each blind or visually impaired student eligible for educational services or equipment, or both, under Sections 37-23-1 through 37-23-157 . In developing the written IEP or 504 Plan for each blind or visually impaired student, there shall be a presumption that proficiency in Braille reading and writing is essential for the student to achieve satisfactory educational progress.

(2) Each appropriate educational entity, in compliance with 20 USCS Section 1414(d)(3)(B)(iii) , the Individuals with Disability Education Act, as reauthorized in 2004, shall provide for instruction in Braille and the use of Braille unless the IEP Committee determines, after an evaluation of the child's reading and writing skills, needs, and appropriate reading and writing media, including an evaluation of the child's future needs for instruction in Braille or the use of Braille, that instruction in Braille or the use of Braille is not appropriate for the child.

(3) The assessment required for each student shall be conducted by a TVI and shall include, at a minimum, a research based learning media assessment and functional vision assessment, and if necessary in the determination of the IEP Committee, a comprehensive assistive technology evaluation. The assessment shall include a statement of the student's academic and functional strengths, deficits and future needs. If, in the course of developing a student's IEP or 504 Plan or in the review of the research based assessment and consideration of a student's future needs, the majority of the members of the team concur that the student's visual impairment and future needs do not affect reading and writing performance commensurate with ability, then Braille instruction and its use shall not be required by this section for that student. Nothing in this section shall require the exclusive use of Braille when other specialized educational services and assistive technology devices are determined more appropriate by the IEP Committee for the student's educational needs.

(4) No student shall be denied the opportunity for instruction in Braille reading and writing only because the student has some residual vision.

(5) The parent or guardian or local educational agency shall have the right to audio record the proceedings of individualized education program team meetings. The parent or guardian or local educational agency shall notify the members of the individualized education program team of his, her, or its intent to audio record a meeting at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 113-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-11
Status: in_force

The apportionment of students to be admitted to the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science shall be made and announced by the president of the university annually, on or before the first day of July, and communicated to the superintendent of education of the counties. The total attendance at any session shall not exceed the entire allotment to the several counties for such session.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-159 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 33-159
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-159
Status: in_force

The State Board of Rehabilitation Services shall appoint an Executive Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, in accordance with standards established by the State Personnel Board and on the basis of his education, training, experience and demonstrated ability. The executive director shall serve as secretary and executive officer of the board, and he shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board. The salary of the executive director shall be set by the board, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board, and shall be provided for out of any funds made available for such purpose by the Legislature, the federal government or other gifts or grants. The executive director shall be responsible to the board for the proper administration of the programs of rehabilitation provided under this chapter in conformity with the policies adopted by the board and shall be responsible for appointing directors of offices and any necessary supervisors, assistants and employees. The salary and compensation of such employees shall be subject to the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the State Personnel Board as created under Section 25-9-101 et seq.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 43-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-1
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

(6) In addition to the authority granted in this chapter, local school boards shall make available to the parents or legal guardians of any children of school age who reside in the school district administered by the school board, upon request, any textbooks on the state surplus inventory list. The parent or legal guardian is responsible for the return of the textbook(s) to the local school district upon completion of the textbook(s) use. Failure to return the textbook(s) to the school district will result in the parents or legal guardians being responsible for compensating the school district for the fair market value of the textbook(s).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 59-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-29
Status: in_force

The proceeds of any bonds issued by a school district shall be placed in the county or municipal treasury or depository, as the case may be, if there be one, as a special fund, and shall be used for no other purpose than that for which such bonds were authorized to be issued. If the school board of the school district or any member thereof, or any other officer, shall wilfully divert or aid or assist in diverting any such fund, or any part thereof, to any purpose other than that for which such bonds were authorized to be issued, then such person shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a term not exceeding five (5) years. In addition, he shall be liable personally and on his official bond for the amount so diverted. Any member of such school board may escape the penalty provided for above by requesting and having his vote recorded in the negative on any illegal diversion of the proceeds of such bonds. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent the payment or rebate of a portion of the earnings derived from the investment of the bond proceeds to the federal government to the extent required by the federal laws applicable to such bonds or the interest income thereon in order to maintain their tax exempt status.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 15-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-33
Status: in_force

All students seeking to transfer from any school, public, private or homeschool within or outside of the boundaries of the State of Mississippi, to a public school within the state may be required to take a test to determine the grade and class to which the pupil shall be assigned at the time of pupil transfer.

The administrative head of each public school shall administer the test or tests to such pupil or pupils as shall apply for transfer to such public school. Such test or tests shall be administered within thirty (30) days after the filing of each such application for transfer. Notice of the giving of such test shall be given the applicant not less than five (5) days prior to the date of the administration of such test.

No transfer of a pupil shall be effected until the test has been given and the pupil is assigned according to the grade and class for which the test shows he is best suited. No pupil shall be assigned to a grade and class more than three (3) grades above or below the grade or class that the pupil would have been assigned to had the pupil remained in the school from which the transfer is being made. Pending the administration of the test herein provided for and its grading and an assignment based thereon the superintendent of the school district or the attendance center principal to which the pupil seeks admission may assign the pupil temporarily to a grade and class comparable to that in which the pupil would have been had the pupil continued in the school from which the transfer was being made.

If any student is transferred or reassigned within the school district by order of the board of trustees of that school district as designated by law of the State of Mississippi and not at his own request, the requirement of that pupil's taking the standardized test shall be waived. Likewise, if a pupil shall transfer from one school district to another school district in the manner provided and required by the laws of the State of Mississippi, the requirement of such pupil taking the standardized test shall be waived.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-501 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-501
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-501
Status: in_force

There is hereby created a junior college district comprised of the territory lying within the Meridian Municipal Separate School District and having boundaries coinciding with the external boundaries thereof. The name of the said junior college district shall be the Meridian Junior College District and the said district shall be and the same is hereby constituted a legal political governmental subdivision and a body corporate.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 106-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-11
Status: in_force

(1) The members of the board shall serve without pay.

(2) The board is hereby vested with full and complete authority and power to sue in its own name any person for any balance, including principal, interest and reasonable collection costs or attorney's fees, due and owing the state on any uncompleted contract.

(3) The board shall promulgate rules and regulations to govern the state grant and forgivable loan programs authorized in this chapter.

(4) When appropriate, the board shall administer the Nissan Scholarship Program.

(5) All funds administered by the board shall be accounted for in an annual report that shall be submitted to the Legislature within ten (10) days after the convening thereof each year. The report should detail for each grant or forgivable loan program the number of recipients, the total amount of awards made, and the average award amount. The report shall include the number of students at each institution receiving financial assistance and the amount of the assistance. For forgivable loan programs, the report shall also include a summary of the repayment status and method of repayment for student cohorts as well as an accounting of the receipt of funds in repayment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-37 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-37
Status: in_force

The amount of the salary to be paid any superintendent, principal or licensed employee shall be fixed by the school board, provided that the requirements of this title are met as to superintendents, principals and licensed employees paid, in whole or in part, from total funding formula funds as provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 . In employing such superintendents, principals and licensed employees and in fixing their salaries, the school boards shall take into consideration the character, professional training, experience, executive ability and teaching capacity of the licensed employee, superintendent or principal. It is the intent of the Legislature that whenever the salary of the school district superintendent is set by a school board, the board shall take into consideration the amount of money that the district spends per pupil, and shall attempt to insure that the administrative cost of the district and the amount of the salary of the superintendent are not excessive in comparison to the per pupil expenditure of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 115-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-23
Status: in_force

There is hereby created a four-year, standard medical school as a department of the University of Mississippi, which school shall be equipped and operated as a standard medical school in accordance with the recommended standards of the Council on Medical Education and hospitals of the American Medical Association and the council of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 173-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-25
Status: in_force

(1) Each school providing instruction to children with dyslexia shall certify to the State Department of Education its student enrollment in the same manner as local school districts.

(2) The department shall direct the proportionate share of monies generated under federal and state categorical aid programs to the participating school for serving students eligible for the aid. The state shall ensure that each school is treated equitably in the calculation and disbursement of all federal and state categorical aid program dollars. Each school participating in the scholarship program shall comply with all reporting requirements to receive the aid.

(3)(a) Each school shall adhere to generally accepted accounting principles as promulgated by nationally recognized professional organizations.

(b) Each school shall have its financial records audited annually, at the end of each fiscal year, by the State Auditor and shall file a copy of each audit report and accompanying management letter with the board by July 30.

(4) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any person or organization from providing funding or other assistance to the establishment or operation of any school authorized under this chapter, except religious or sectarian organizations. The State Board of Education, acting on behalf of the participating schools, is authorized to accept gifts, donations, and grants of any kind made to a participating school and to expend or use such gifts, donations, and grants in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the donor; however, no gift, donation, or grant may be accepted if subject to a condition that is contrary to any provision of state law or board rule.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 177-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-1
Status: in_force

(1) There is established an act prohibiting social promotion to be known as the “Literacy-Based Promotion Act,” the purpose of which is to improve the reading skills of Kindergarten and First- through Third-Grade students enrolled in the public schools so that every student completing the Third Grade is able to read at or above grade level. It is the intent of the Legislature, in establishing this act, to ensure that: each Kindergarten and First- through Third-Grade student's progression is determined, in part, upon the student's proficiency in reading; the policies of local school boards facilitate this proficiency; and each student and the student's parent or legal guardian is informed of the student's academic progress.

(2) Each public school student who exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading at any time, as demonstrated through performance on a reading screener approved or developed by the State Department of Education or through locally determined assessments and teacher observations conducted in Kindergarten and Grades 1 through 3 or through statewide end-of-year assessments or approved alternate yearly assessments in Grade 3, must be given intensive reading instruction and intervention immediately following the identification of the reading deficiency. The intensive reading instruction and intervention must be documented for each student in an individual reading plan, which includes, at a minimum, the following:

(a) The student's specific, diagnosed reading skill deficiencies as determined (or identified) by diagnostic assessment data;

(b) The goals and benchmarks for growth;

(c) How progress will be monitored and evaluated;

(d) The type of additional instructional services and interventions the student will receive;

(e) The research-based reading instructional programming the teacher will use to provide reading instruction, addressing the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension;

(f) The strategies the student's parent is encouraged to use in assisting the student to achieve reading competency; and

(g) Any additional services the teacher deems available and appropriate to accelerate the student's reading skill development.

(3) The universal reading screener or locally determined reading assessment may be given in the first thirty (30) days of the school year and repeated if indicated at midyear and at the end of the school year to determine student progression in reading in Kindergarten through Third Grade. If it is determined that the student continues to have a reading deficiency, the student must be provided with continued intensive reading instruction and intervention by the school district until the reading deficiency is remedied. A student exhibiting continued reading deficiency with continued intensive interventions should be considered for exceptional criteria evaluation.

(4) A Kindergarten or First-, Second- or Third-Grade student identified with a deficiency in reading must be provided intensive interventions in reading to ameliorate the student's specific reading deficiency, as identified by a valid and reliable diagnostic assessment. The intensive intervention must include effective instructional strategies, and appropriate teaching methodologies necessary to assist the student in becoming a successful reader, able to read at or above grade level, and ready for promotion to the next grade. A Kindergarten, First-, Second- or Third-Grade student identified with a reading deficiency or not promoted may be placed in a transition class.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-135 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-135
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-135
Status: in_force

The board of trustees is authorized to lease land and/or buildings owned by the college to any governmental agency, political subdivision, corporation, partnership, joint venture, or individual for the purpose of enabling such persons to construct thereon or repair, renovate and rehabilitate any buildings or facilities the board may determine as necessary and beneficial for additional facilities, services or educational opportunities to the college, students, faculty or the community, and to lease such building and facilities to the college.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.4 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-104.4
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.4
Status: in_force

(1) In Montgomery County, Mississippi, in which are located, as of January 1, 2016, two (2) school districts, there shall be an administrative consolidation of all of those school districts in the county into one (1) new countywide municipal separate school district to be designated as Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District which shall consist of the territory of the former Montgomery County School District and the Winona Municipal Separate School District, effective on July 1, 2018. At such time that the administrative consolidation becomes effective, the central administrative office of the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District shall be located in Winona, Mississippi.

(2) As soon as practicable, a financial advisor and/or other facilitator with school district experience may be assigned by the Mississippi Department of Education to oversee the budgeting and financial matters relating to the consolidation of the districts slated for consolidation. The financial advisor and/or facilitator may, at the discretion of the Mississippi Department of Education, continue duties for one (1) year after the consolidation to ensure that all financial matters are in place. All financial expenditures of districts that are closing must be approved by the financial advisor and/or facilitator. If the superintendent and/or school board approves expenditures outside of this approval, they shall be personally liable for the excess expenditures. The State Board of Education shall determine the compensation to be paid to the financial advisor and/or facilitator which shall be paid by the local school district to which the financial advisor and/or facilitator is assigned.

(3)(a) On or before September 1, 2017, the State Board of Education shall serve the local school board of the Winona Municipal Separate School District and the local school board of the Montgomery County School District with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to comply with the administrative consolidation required in this section.

(b) The members of the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District Board of Trustees serving on July 1, 2020, shall continue to serve until January 1, 2021, when the membership shall be reconstituted as follows: On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2020, a special election shall be held in Montgomery County for the purpose of electing a new board of trustees of such district, which shall be elected from the Supervisors Districts of Montgomery County. At said election the member of the said board from District One shall be elected for a term of one (1) year, the member from District Two shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, the member from District Three shall be elected for a term of three (3) years, the member from District Four shall be elected for a term of four (4) years, and the member from District Five shall be elected for a term of five (5) years. Thereafter, members shall be elected at special elections as vacancies occur for terms of five (5) years each. All members shall reside in the supervisors district which the member represents, and shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election. All trustees of said school district shall otherwise be elected as provided for in Sections 37-7-223 through 37-7-229, Mississippi Code of 1972 . All vacancies which may occur during a term shall be filled by appointment of the consolidated school district trustees from the qualified electors of the district in which the vacancy occurs. However, the person so appointed shall serve only until the next general election following such appointment, at which time a person shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term at the same time and in the same manner as a trustee is elected for the full term then expiring and the person so elected to the unexpired term shall take office immediately. Any school board member of the former school districts residing in the proper territory shall be eligible for appointment or election to the new Board of Trustees for Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District.

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

(4)(a) On July 1, 2018, following the motion of the State Board of Education to consolidate school districts in Montgomery County, the Montgomery County School District shall be abolished. All real and personal property which is owned or titled in the name of the school district located in such former school district shall be transferred to the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District as of July 1, 2018.

(b) The new board of trustees of the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for operations, teachers, principals, clerical and administrative staff personnel for the 2018-2019 school year and each school year thereafter.

(c) The Superintendent of the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District shall be appointed by the board and is authorized to appoint an assistant superintendent, but in no instance shall the administrative leadership of the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District exceed three (3) assistant superintendents to be appointed by the Superintendent of the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District.

(d) It shall be the responsibility of the board of trustees to prepare and approve the budget of the respective new reorganized district, and the board of trustees may use staff from the former school district to prepare the budget. Any transfer of the assets, real or personal property of the Montgomery County School District mandated by this section shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of the transfer of property required by this section to effectuate the administrative consolidation.

(e) Any person or school district aggrieved by an order of the successor newly selected Board of Trustees of the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District pursuant to the required administrative consolidation may appeal therefrom within ten (10) days from the date of the adjournment of the meeting at which such order is entered. The appeal shall be taken in the same manner as appeals are taken from judgments or decisions of the board of supervisors as provided in Section 11-51-75 , the provisions of which shall be fully applicable to appeals taken hereunder. The Board of Trustees of the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District shall not pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order until the time for an appeal therefrom has expired, nor shall the board pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order from which an appeal is taken until said appeal has been finally determined.

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

(6) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative consolidation of the school districts in Montgomery County pursuant to the requirements of this section. Beginning with the insurance cafeteria plan year of November 1, 2018, the consolidated districts shall fall under all insurance plans and policies elected by the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District, including the group term life insurance described in Section 25-15-9(7) .

(7) The County Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education of the former Montgomery County School District and the local school board and Superintendent of Schools of the Winona Municipal Separate School District shall cooperate with the State Department of Education, as soon as practicable after July 1, 2016, for the planning and transition of programs, services and alignment of curriculum for the administratively consolidated school districts.

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

(9) One (1) year prior to the date of consolidation, a financial advisor and/or other facilitator with school district experience may be assigned by the Mississippi Department of Education to oversee the budgeting and financial matters relating to the consolidation of the districts slated for consolidation. The financial advisor and/or facilitator may, at the discretion of the Mississippi Department of Education, continue duties for one (1) year after the consolidation to ensure that all financial matters are in place. All financial expenditures of districts that are closing must be approved by the financial advisor and/or facilitator. If the superintendent and/or school board approves expenditures outside of this approval, they shall be personally liable for the excess expenditures. The State Board of Education shall determine the compensation to be paid to the financial advisor and/or facilitator which shall be paid by the local school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-159-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 159-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-159-19
Status: repealed

Sections 37-159-1 through 37-159-17 shall stand repealed on July 1, 2027.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 65-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-105
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any such school district may, in its discretion, pay all or any part of the salary of all superintendents, principals, teachers and other employees during or for the period when any of the said schools are closed in accordance with the terms of this article, and funds shall be drawn from the same source or sources as such funds would be drawn to pay such items if the school or schools had not been closed.