Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 19-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-7
Status: in_force

(1) Teachers' salaries in each public school district shall be determined and paid in accordance with the scale for teachers' salaries as provided in this subsection. For teachers holding the following types of licenses or the equivalent as determined by the State Board of Education, and the following number of years of teaching experience, the scale shall be as follows:

2022-2023 AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEARS MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE

Exp.

AAAA

AAA

AA

A

0

45,500.00

44,000.00

43,000.00

41,500.00

1

46,100.00

44,550.00

43,525.00

41,900.00

2

46,700.00

45,100.00

44,050.00

42,300.00

3

47,300.00

45,650.00

44,575.00

42,700.00

4

47,900.00

46,200.00

45,100.00

43,100.00

5

49,250.00

47,500.00

46,350.00

44,300.00

6

49,850.00

48,050.00

46,875.00

44,700.00

7

50,450.00

48,600.00

47,400.00

45,100.00

8

51,050.00

49,150.00

47,925.00

45,500.00

9

51,650.00

49,700.00

48,450.00

45,900.00

10

53,000.00

51,000.00

49,700.00

47,100.00

11

53,600.00

51,550.00

50,225.00

47,500.00

12

54,200.00

52,100.00

50,750.00

47,900.00

13

54,800.00

52,650.00

51,275.00

48,300.00

14

55,400.00

53,200.00

51,800.00

48,700.00

15

56,750.00

54,500.00

53,050.00

49,900.00

16

57,350.00

55,050.00

53,575.00

50,300.00

17

57,950.00

55,600.00

54,100.00

50,700.00

18

58,550.00

56,150.00

54,625.00

51,100.00

19

59,150.00

56,700.00

55,150.00

51,500.00

20

60,500.00

58,000.00

56,400.00

52,700.00

21

61,100.00

58,550.00

56,925.00

53,100.00

22

61,700.00

59,100.00

57,450.00

53,500.00

23

62,300.00

59,650.00

57,975.00

53,900.00

24

62,900.00

60,200.00

58,500.00

54,300.00

25

65,400.00

62,700.00

61,000.00

56,800.00

26

66,000.00

63,250.00

61,525.00

57,200.00

27

66,600.00

63,800.00

62,050.00

57,600.00

28

67,200.00

64,350.00

62,575.00

58,000.00

29

67,800.00

64,900.00

63,100.00

58,400.00

30

68,400.00

65,450.00

63,625.00

58,800.00

31

69,000.00

66,000.00

64,150.00

59,200.00

32

69,600.00

66,550.00

64,675.00

59,600.00

33

70,200.00

67,100.00

65,200.00

60,000.00

34

70,800.00

67,650.00

65,725.00

60,400.00

35

& above

71,400.00

68,200.00

66,250.00

60,800.00

2024-2025 AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEARS MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE

The school district, with assistance from the Department of Education, shall consider the teacher's years of service and license type and determine the corresponding salary for the retired teacher. After determining the retired teacher's corresponding salary, the school district may allocate up to one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the amount provided under the salary schedule for such teacher, as applicable, as salary and assessment under the program.

After determining the retired teacher's salary, the school district may pay no more than fifty percent (50%) of the retired teacher's compensation as salary to the retired teacher. The remaining fifty percent (50%) of the retired teacher's compensation as salary shall be paid by the school district to PERS as a pension liability participation assessment.

It is the intent of the Legislature that any state funds made available for salaries of licensed personnel in excess of the funds paid for such salaries for the 1986-1987 school year shall be paid to licensed personnel pursuant to a personnel appraisal and compensation system implemented by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall have the authority to adopt and amend rules and regulations as are necessary to establish, administer and maintain the system.

All teachers employed on a full-time basis shall be paid a minimum salary in accordance with the above scale. However, no school district shall receive any funds under this section for any school year during which the local supplement paid to any individual teacher shall have been reduced to a sum less than that paid to that individual teacher for performing the same duties from local supplement during the immediately preceding school year. The amount actually spent for the purposes of group health and/or life insurance shall be considered as a part of the aggregate amount of local supplement but shall not be considered a part of the amount of individual local supplement.

The level of professional training of each teacher to be used in establishing the salary for the teacher for each year shall be determined by the type of valid teacher's license issued to that teacher on or before October 1 of the current school year. However, school districts are authorized, in their discretion, to negotiate the salary levels applicable to licensed employees who are receiving retirement benefits from the retirement system of another state.

(2)(a) The following employees shall receive an annual salary supplement in the amount of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00), plus fringe benefits, in addition to any other compensation to which the employee may be entitled:

(i) Any licensed teacher or retired teacher employed by a school district under the authority of Section 25-11-126 who has met the requirements and acquired a Master Teacher certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a teacher and not as an administrator. Such teacher shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate was received prior to October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the teacher shall submit such documentation to the State Department of Education prior to February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.

(ii) A licensed nurse who has met the requirements and acquired a certificate from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses, Inc., and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a school nurse and not as an administrator. The licensed school nurse shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate was received before October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed school nurse shall submit the documentation to the State Department of Education before February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.

(iii) Any licensed school counselor who has met the requirements and acquired a National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) endorsement from the National Board of Certified Counselors and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a counselor and not as an administrator. Such licensed school counselor shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the endorsement was received prior to October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed school counselor shall submit such documentation to the State Department of Education prior to February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year. However, any school counselor who started the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards process for school counselors between June 1, 2003, and June 30, 2004, and completes the requirements and acquires the Master Teacher certificate shall be entitled to the master teacher supplement, and those counselors who complete the process shall be entitled to a one-time reimbursement for the actual cost of the process as outlined in paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(iv) Any licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist who has met the requirements and acquired a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and any certified academic language therapist (CALT) who has met the certification requirements of the Academic Language Therapy Association and who is employed by a local school board. The licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist and certified academic language therapist shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate or endorsement was received before October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist and certified academic language therapist shall submit the documentation to the State Department of Education before February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.

(v) Any licensed athletic trainer who has met the requirements and acquired Board Certification for the Athletic Trainer from the Board of Certification, Inc., and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as an athletic trainer and not as an administrator. The licensed athletic trainer shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate was received before October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed athletic trainer shall submit the documentation to the State Department of Education before February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.

(b) An employee shall be reimbursed for the actual cost of completing each component of acquiring the certificate or endorsement, excluding any costs incurred for postgraduate courses, not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each component, not to exceed four (4) components, for a teacher, school counselor or speech-language pathologist and audiologist, regardless of whether or not the process resulted in the award of the certificate or endorsement. A local school district or any private individual or entity may pay the cost of completing the process of acquiring the certificate or endorsement for any employee of the school district described under paragraph (a), and the State Department of Education shall reimburse the school district for such cost, regardless of whether or not the process resulted in the award of the certificate or endorsement. If a private individual or entity has paid the cost of completing the process of acquiring the certificate or endorsement for an employee, the local school district may agree to directly reimburse the individual or entity for such cost on behalf of the employee.

(c) All salary supplements, fringe benefits and process reimbursement authorized under this subsection shall be paid directly by the State Department of Education to the local school district and shall be in addition to its allotments from the total funding formula provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 and not a part thereof in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. Local school districts shall not reduce the local supplement paid to any employee receiving such salary supplement, and the employee shall receive any local supplement to which employees with similar training and experience otherwise are entitled. However, an educational employee shall receive the salary supplement in the amount of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) for only one (1) of the qualifying certifications authorized under paragraph (a) of this subsection. No school district shall provide more than one (1) annual salary supplement under the provisions of this subsection to any one (1) individual employee holding multiple qualifying national certifications.

(d) If an employee for whom such cost has been paid, in full or in part, by a local school district or private individual or entity fails to complete the certification or endorsement process, the employee shall be liable to the school district or individual or entity for all amounts paid by the school district or individual or entity on behalf of that employee toward his or her certificate or endorsement.

(3) The following employees shall receive an annual salary supplement in the amount of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00), plus fringe benefits, in addition to any other compensation to which the employee may be entitled:

Effective July 1, 2016, if funds are available for that purpose, any licensed teacher or retired teacher employed by a local school district under the authority of Section 25-11-126 who has met the requirements and acquired a Master Teacher Certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who is employed in a public school district located in one (1) of the following counties: Claiborne, Adams, Jefferson, Wilkinson, Amite, Bolivar, Coahoma, Leflore, Quitman, Sharkey, Issaquena, Sunflower, Washington, Holmes, Yazoo and Tallahatchie. The salary supplement awarded under the provisions of this subsection (3) shall be in addition to the salary supplement awarded under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.

Teachers who meet the qualifications for a salary supplement under this subsection (3) who are assigned for less than one (1) full year or less than full time for the school year shall receive the salary supplement in a prorated manner, with the portion of the teacher's assignment to the critical geographic area to be determined as of June 15th of the school year.

(4)(a) This subsection shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Performance-Based Pay (MPBP)” plan. In addition to the minimum base pay described in this section, only if funds are available for that purpose, the State of Mississippi may provide monies from state funds to school districts for the purposes of rewarding licensed teachers, administrators and nonlicensed personnel at individual schools showing improvement in student test scores. The MPBP plan shall be developed by the State Department of Education based on the following criteria:

(i) It is the express intent of this legislation that the MPBP plan shall utilize only existing standards of accreditation and assessment as established by the State Board of Education.

(ii) To ensure that all of Mississippi's teachers, administrators and nonlicensed personnel at all schools have equal access to the monies set aside in this section, the MPBP program shall be designed to calculate each school's performance as determined by the school's increase in scores from the prior school year. The MPBP program shall be based on a standardized scores rating where all levels of schools can be judged in a statistically fair and reasonable way upon implementation. At the end of each year, after all student achievement scores have been standardized, the State Department of Education shall implement the MPBP plan.

(iii) To ensure all teachers cooperate in the spirit of teamwork, individual schools shall submit a plan to the local school district to be approved before the beginning of each school year. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, how all teachers, regardless of subject area, and administrators will be responsible for improving student achievement for their individual school.

(b) The State Board of Education shall develop the processes and procedures for designating schools eligible to participate in the MPBP. State assessment results, growth in student achievement at individual schools and other measures deemed appropriate in designating successful student achievement shall be used in establishing MPBP criteria.

(5)(a) If funds are available for that purpose, each school in Mississippi shall have mentor teachers, as defined by Sections 37-9-201 through 37-9-213 , who shall receive additional base compensation provided for by the State Legislature in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per each beginning teacher that is being mentored. The additional state compensation shall be limited to those mentor teachers that provide mentoring services to beginning teachers. For the purposes of such funding, a beginning teacher shall be defined as any teacher in any school in Mississippi that has less than one (1) year of classroom experience teaching in a public school. For the purposes of such funding, no full-time academic teacher shall mentor more than two (2) beginning teachers.

(b) To be eligible for this state funding, the individual school must have a classroom management program approved by the local school board.

(6) Effective with the 2014-2015 school year, the school districts participating in the Pilot Performance-Based Compensation System pursuant to Section 37-19-9 may award additional teacher and administrator pay based thereon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.8 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-104.8
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.8
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(11) For the initial two (2) years following the administrative consolidation required by this section, conditioned on approval by the U.S. Department of Education, the State Department of Education shall grant a waiver of accountability and state assessment requirements to the new Chickasaw County School District for the student population enrolled therein from the former Chickasaw County School District and the Houston Municipal Separate School District, when determining the new consolidated school district accreditation level based on the performance and accountability rating model.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 115-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-41
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section:

(a) “ Applicant ” means any person who is applying to become an employee of UMMC.

(b) “ Employee ” means an employee, contractor, temporary worker or consultant.

(c) “ UMMC ” means the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

(2) The University of Mississippi Medical Center shall fingerprint and perform a criminal history record check on all new employees that work in or provide direct patient care. In addition, UMMC shall perform a disciplinary check with the professional licensing agency of the employee, if any, to determine if any disciplinary action has been taken against the employee by that agency. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no employee of UMMC hired on or after July 1, 2004, shall be permitted to provide direct patient care until the results of the criminal history record check have revealed no disqualifying record or the employee has been granted a waiver. In order to determine the applicant's suitability for employment, the applicant shall be fingerprinted. Fingerprints shall be submitted to the Department of Public Safety by UMMC via scanning or other electronic method, with the results processed through the Department of Public Safety's Criminal Information Center. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the applicant's fingerprints shall be forwarded by the Department of Public Safety to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. If the criminal history record check discloses a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23(h) , child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust or aggravated assault, or felonious abuse and/or battery of a vulnerable adult that has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the applicant shall not be eligible to be employed at UMMC.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, any such applicant may be employed on a temporary basis pending the results of the criminal history record check. Any employment contract with an applicant during the application process shall be voidable upon receipt of a disqualifying criminal history record check if no waiver is granted under subsection (4) of this section.

(4) UMMC may, in its discretion, allow any applicant aggrieved by an employment decision under this section to appear before the UMMC hiring officer, or his or her designee, to show mitigating circumstances that may exist and allow the applicant to be employed at UMMC. UMMC, upon report and recommendation of the hiring officer, may grant waivers for those mitigating circumstances, which shall include, but not be limited to: (a) age at which the crime was committed; (b) circumstances surrounding the crime; (c) length of time since the conviction and criminal history since the conviction; (d) work history; (e) current employment and character references; and (f) other evidence demonstrating the ability of the individual to perform the employment responsibilities competently and that the individual does not pose a threat to the health or safety of the patients admitted to UMMC.

(5) Upon the receipt of an applicant's criminal history record check that reveals no disqualifying event, UMMC shall, within two (2) weeks of the notification of no disqualifying event, provide the applicant with a notarized letter signed by the vice chancellor, or his or her authorized designee, confirming the applicant's suitability for employment based on his or her criminal history record check. An applicant or employee may use that letter for a period of two (2) years from the date of the letter to seek employment at any covered entity, as defined in Section 43-11-13(5) , without the necessity of an additional criminal history record check under Section 43-11-13(5) . Any covered entity presented with the letter may rely on the letter for a period of two (2) years from the date of the letter without having to conduct or have conducted a criminal history record check on the applicant or employee.

(6) UMMC may charge a fee not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for fingerprinting applicants, students, employees, contractors, consultants, outside agency personnel, visiting faculty, researchers or any other individual(s) that may provide direct services to UMMC.

(7) UMMC and its agents, officers, employees, attorneys and representatives shall be presumed to be acting in good faith for any employment decision or action taken under this section. The presumption of good faith may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence in any civil action. UMMC or its agents, officers, employees, attorneys and representatives shall not be held liable in any employment decision or action based in whole or in part on compliance with or attempts to comply in good faith with the requirements of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-169 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 33-169
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-169
Status: in_force

(1) The State Treasurer is designated as the custodian of all monies received by the state from appropriations made by the federal government or from other sources for the purpose of carrying out disability determination functions under the federal Social Security Act, and he shall establish such special funds and accounts as may be necessary. He shall make disbursements therefrom for disability determination purposes upon requisition by the executive director or, when so authorized, by the director on behalf of the executive director, and upon the issuance of warrants thereunder by the State Fiscal Officer.

(2) If federal funds are no longer available for the purpose of funding programs under the provisions of this chapter, the State of Mississippi shall not be obligated to appropriate funds for the continuance of such programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 37-35-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 35-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-11
Status: in_force

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

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

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

An annual report on program activities, adult participation and results shall be prepared by the Mississippi Community College Board and submitted to the Mississippi Legislature within the first month of regular legislative session each year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 113-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-21
Status: in_force

(1) Agriculture is the primary industry of Mississippi and it is to the interest of said state agriculture that research in the fields of livestock products, pastures and forage crops, poultry, herd and flock management, horticulture, farm mechanization, soil conservation, forestry, disease and insect and parasite control, the testing of plants and livestock under different conditions, farm enterprises for different sized farms under different soil and climatic conditions and market locations, and other important phases of Mississippi's agricultural economy, be expanded in the manner provided for in this section.

(2) There is hereby authorized a branch experiment station to be known as the Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station, which is to be located on a part of that tract of land owned by the State of Mississippi and formerly operated as the Oakley Penitentiary and known as the Oakley Youth Development Center, same to be selected in accordance with Laws, 1954, Chapter 159, Section 3, and used as an agricultural experiment station. This property is to be supplied with necessary buildings, equipment, and other facilities; and title to such Oakley Penitentiary Farm, now known as the Oakley Youth Development Center, is to be transferred to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the use of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station as the site of, and to be used for said Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station in accordance with Laws, 1954, Chapter 159, Section 3.

There is hereby authorized a branch experiment station to be known as the Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station to be located on a suitable tract of approximately nine hundred (900) acres to be purchased in the upper coastal plain or short leaf pine area of east central Mississippi and to be supplied with necessary buildings, equipment, and other facilities.

The enlargement of the Holly Springs Branch Experiment Station, hereafter to be known as the North Mississippi Branch Experiment Station, is hereby authorized, by the purchase of approximately five hundred (500) acres of additional land adjacent to or in the vicinity of either of the two (2) farms now operated by said branch stations, and by the provision of the necessary buildings, equipment, and other facilities, and the sale as, hereinafter provided, of that farm of said branch station which is not adjacent to the additional land to be purchased.

There is hereby authorized the reactivation of the former McNeil Branch Experiment Station to be operated as a part of the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station at Poplarville, and to be supplied with necessary buildings, equipment, and other facilities.

There is hereby authorized a branch experiment station to be known as the Black Belt Branch Experiment Station to be located on a suitable tract of approximately six hundred forty (640) acres of land to be purchased in Noxubee County, Mississippi, and to be supplied with the necessary buildings, equipment, and other facilities.

There is hereby authorized a branch experiment station to be known as the Northeast Mississippi Branch Experiment Station to be located on a suitable tract of approximately two hundred (200) acres of land to be purchased in Lee County, Mississippi. Said station shall be primarily devoted to the development of the dairy industry and shall be supplied with necessary buildings, equipment, and other facilities.

There is hereby authorized the expansion of the office and laboratory building at the Delta Branch Experiment Station at Stoneville and of the office and laboratory and dwellings for station workers at the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station at Crystal Springs.

(3) The governing authorities of any municipality, town, or county in the state may, in their discretion, donate land, money or other property to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in furtherance of the purposes of this section.

For the purpose of securing funds to carry out this subsection, the governing authorities of such municipality, town, or county are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to issue bonds or negotiate notes for the purpose of acquiring by purchase, gift, or lease real estate for the purpose herein authorized. Such issuance of bonds or notes shall be issued in an amount not to exceed the limitation now or hereafter imposed by law on counties, municipalities and towns, and shall be issued in all respects including interest rate, maturities and other details as is now or may hereafter be provided by general law regulating the issuance of bonds or notes by the governing authorities of such municipality, town, or county.

(4) Any person, firm or corporation may contribute or donate real or other property to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in furtherance of the purpose of this section.

(5) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning is hereby authorized, upon recommendation of the Director of the Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station at the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, which recommendation is approved by and transmitted to said board by the president of said university, to carry out the provisions of this section with particular reference to the establishment, reactivation, expansion, and the discontinuance of branch stations as herein provided, to receive and accept title to any land or property or money herein authorized, to buy or sell and dispose of any real or personal property herein authorized, to make available for carrying into effect the provisions of this section all money received from such sale or sales, and to do any and all things necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. One-half ( 1 / 2 ) interest in and to all oil, gas and other minerals shall be retained under any lands sold hereunder.

(6) A gift of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), authorized by the general education board of the Rockefeller Foundation for the development of agricultural research, with particular reference to expanding the branch experiment stations and conditioned upon a general program of expansion substantially, as herein provided, is hereby accepted. The Director of the Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station at the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science is authorized and instructed to control and expend such fund in the same manner as other funds appropriated to carry out the provisions of this section.

(7) The experiment station in Clay County, Mississippi, shall not be affected by this section.

(8) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning is hereby authorized, upon recommendation of the Director of the Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station at the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science or the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Alcorn State University, which recommendation is approved by and transmitted to said board by the president of said university, to enter into contracts, leases and other arrangements for terms not to exceed thirty (30) years, with the option for two (2) ten-year lease extensions, with any persons or business entity for the development of a solar installation at any branch research station operated by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station or Alcorn State University College of Agriculture Extension and Research Centers.

(9) If all or any portion of the property described in subsection (8) of this section is leased, Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences or Alcorn State University, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, is authorized to negotiate all aspects of any lease or sublease and any terms and ancillary agreements pertaining to any lease or sublease as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate the intent and purposes of subsection (8) of this section and to ensure a fair and equitable return to the state. All proceeds derived or received from the agreements and leases entered into under subsection (8) of this section shall be deposited into a special fund to be expended only for the use and benefit of Mississippi State University or into a special fund to be expended only for the use and benefit of Alcorn State University, respectively. At the end of the lease term provided in subsection (8) of this section, the property leased under the authority provided herein shall revert to Mississippi State University or Alcorn State University, respectively. The State of Mississippi shall retain all mineral rights to the real property leased under subsection (8) of this section.

(10) The lease provided for in subsection (8) of this section shall include a provision that requires that at the expiration or termination of the lease, and/or abandonment of the project, as applicable, the lessee shall:

(a) Remove all leasehold improvements from the property; and

(b) Be obligated to pay all costs to return the property to its same or similar condition at the time of lease execution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-357 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-357
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-357
Status: in_force

Sections 37-7-351 through 37-7-359 are intended to be and shall be construed as being supplemental to all existing laws covering the acquisition, use and maintenance of school buildings by school districts. It is further provided that, as to school buildings constructed or leased pursuant to the provisions of Sections 37-7-351 through 37-7-359 , it shall not be necessary to comply with the provisions of other laws concerning acquisition, use and maintenance of school buildings by school districts except as herein specifically required.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 9-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-23
Status: in_force

The superintendent shall enter into a contract with each assistant superintendent, principal, licensed employee and person anticipating graduation from an approved teacher education program or the issuance of a proper license before October 15 or February 15, as the case may be, who is elected and approved for employment by the school board. Such contracts shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the State Board of Education and shall be executed in duplicate with one (1) copy to be retained by the appropriate superintendent and one (1) copy to be retained by the principal, licensed employee or person recommended for a licensed position contracted with. The contract shall show the name of the district, the length of the school term, the position held (whether an assistant superintendent, principal or licensed employee), the scholastic years which it covers, the total amount of the annual salary and how same is payable. The amount of salary to be shown in such contract shall be the amount which shall have been fixed and determined by the school board, but, as to the licensed employees paid, in whole or in part, with total funding formula funds as provided for in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , such salary shall not be less than that required under the provisions of Chapter 19 of this title. Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, the contract shall include a provision allowing the school district to reduce the state minimum salary by a pro rata daily amount in order to comply with the school district employee furlough provisions of Section 37-7-308 , and shall include a provision which conditions the payment of such salary upon the availability of uniform total funding formula funds. The contract entered into with any person recommended for a licensed position who is anticipating either graduation from an approved teacher education program before September 1 or December 31, as the case may be, or the issuance of a proper license before October 15 or February 15, as the case may be, shall be a conditional contract and shall include a provision stating that the contract will be null and void if, as specified in the contract, the contingency upon which the contract is conditioned has not occurred. If any superintendent, other than those elected, principal, licensed employee or person recommended for a licensed position who has been elected and approved shall not execute and return the contract within ten (10) days after same has been tendered to him for execution, then, at the option of the school board, the election of the licensed employee and the contract tendered to him shall be void and of no effect.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 104-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-33
Status: in_force

Any holder of revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter, or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto, except to the extent that such rights are not restricted by the bond loan agreement and the resolution directing the issuance of such revenue bonds, may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted hereunder and under the bond loan agreement and the authorizing resolution; and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by this chapter and by the bond loan agreement and the authorizing resolution. No holder of any revenue bonds shall have the right to compel any exercise of taxing power by the State of Mississippi to provide funds to pay any such revenue bonds or the interest thereon, or to enforce the payment thereof against any property of the State of Mississippi; nor shall any such revenue bonds constitute a charge, lien, or encumbrance, legal or equitable, upon any property of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-47 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 115-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-47
Status: in_force

(1) The University of Mississippi Medical Center is authorized to dispose of food that has been frozen or properly preserved for human consumption through donation to charitable facilities, charitable organizations and/or individuals providing charitable services as the Medical Center deems appropriate.

(2) The executive director of the charitable facility or organization, receiving such food, or his authorized designee, shall agree to a waiver of liability in favor of the State of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi Medical Center stating that such donations are being provided in the condition used by the State of Mississippi and the University Medical Center, and without warranty of any nature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-433 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-433
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-433
Status: in_force

If it shall be determined to proceed with the issuance of the said bonds the same may be validated and sold as other bonds of the county or counties except that the sale shall be made by the board of trustees of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District and the validation proceedings may be held before the chancery court of any county of the district. Notice of the validation herein shall, however, be published as provided by law in each of the counties of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 45-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-41
Status: in_force

When the reporter's notes shall have been transcribed, the reporter shall certify same and file an original and one copy with the commission and give notice by registered mail of the fact of such filing to the county board or county boards of education and the board of trustees of any municipal separate school district involved in the proceeding covered by the transcript, and their respective counsel of record, if any, and to the commission.

Any correction of the transcript shall be made in the same manner provided for correcting a transcript in Section 9-13-35, Mississippi Code of 1972 , with the commission exercising the rights and power of the trial judge mentioned therein, and the executive secretary of the commission exercising the duties of the clerk mentioned in said section. The written agreement provided by said section concerning the transcript therein provided to be filed in the supreme court may be entered into and filed in the chancery court to which the appeal is taken from any final rule, regulation or order of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 12-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-5
Status: in_force

Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Homework and classroom assignments must be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school district. Students may not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work. If an assignment requires a student's viewpoint to be expressed in coursework, artwork or other written or oral assignments, a public school shall not penalize or reward a student on the basis of religious content or a religious viewpoint. In such an assignment, a student's academic work that expresses a religious viewpoint shall be evaluated based on ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance to the course curriculum or requirements of the coursework or assignment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-183-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 183-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-183-5
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

(i)

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

․․․․$ 1,854,520.00

(ii)

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

․․․․$ 1,946,536.00

(iii)

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

․․․․$ 3,603,960.00

(iv)

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

․․․․$ 11,704,776.00

(v)

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

․․․․$ 1,523,944.00

(vi)

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

․․․․$ 1,147,928.00

(vii)

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

․․․․$ 11,981,392.00

(viii)

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

․․․․$ 7,320,384.00

(ix)

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

․․․․$ 2,272,000.00

(x)

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

․․․․$ 340,800.00

(xi)

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

․․․․$ 433,952.00

(xii)

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

․․․․$ 2,465,688.00

(xiii)

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

․․․․$ 364,088.00

(xiv)

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

․․․․$ 397,600.00

(xv)

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

․․․$ 2,433,312.00.

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

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

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

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

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

(i)

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

․․․․․$ 1,104,018.54

(ii)

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

․․․․․$ 1,641,377.19

(iii)

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

․․․․․$ 1,429,800.67

(iv)

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

․․․․․$ 1,943,536.14

(v)

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

․․․․․$ 4,900,064.29

(vi)

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

․․․․․$ 2,908,719.58

(vii)

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

․․․․․$ 2,511,704.35

(viii)

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

․․․․․$ 2,359,313.34

(ix)

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

․․․․․$ 1,697,113.29

(x)

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

․․․․․$ 1,453,472.11

(xi)

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

․․․․․$ 4,220,356.11

(xii)

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

․․․․․$ 1,866,958.52

(xiii)

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

․․․․․$ 3,372,657.14

(xiv)

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

․․․․․$ 2,497,523.94

(xv)

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

․․․․$ 1,248,446.98.

(d) The department shall directly allocate:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(a) The name of each educational institution;

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

(c) The total amount of reimbursement received by each educational institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 177-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-21
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter which include components necessary to provide for teacher training, instructional materials, remedial education training and administration of an intensive literacy curriculum shall be subject to legislative appropriation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-68-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 68-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-68-15
Status: in_force

The department shall provide a comprehensive report on the use of funds distributed under this grant program and the effectiveness of distance learning plans adopted by schools to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations and Education Committees by October 1, 2020.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 185-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-7
Status: in_force

(1) Any eligible independent school desiring to participate in the program shall make application for a grant to the MDA in a form satisfactory to the MDA. The application shall include verified documentation, signed under penalty of perjury.

(2) The MDA shall use the funds appropriated by the Legislature from the Budget Contingency Fund to make grants to eligible independent schools pursuant to applications submitted under subsection (1) of this section, to cover future COVID-19-eligible expenses or provide reimbursement for previously incurred COVID-19-eligible expenses.

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

(4) The program shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a) The eligible maximum amount of grant funds which may be awarded to any eligible independent school under the provisions of Sections 37-185-1 through 37-185-9 shall not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00);

(b) Any grant funds awarded shall be the lesser of the amount indicated in the independent school's application as itemized eligible COVID-19-related expenses or the eligible maximum amount, subject to approval by the MDA; and

(c) An eligible independent school is not limited to submitting only one (1) application for grant funds, but may submit new applications for grant funds, following the guidelines required by the MDA, until such time that it has received the aggregate amount of funds for which it is eligible to be awarded.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 59-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-45
Status: in_force

No interest-bearing indebtedness shall hereafter be incurred by any such school district except in the manner provided in this article or as may otherwise be provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-159 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 101-159
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-159
Status: in_force

The consideration and proceeds derived or received from all oil, gas and mineral leases provided for in Section 37-101-153 , including, but not limited to bonuses, rentals, royalties and delay rentals, shall be paid to the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning for the use and benefit of the institution owning or having the use and benefit of the land from which said money was derived. All such money or funds shall be allocated to or used for the benefit of such institution or institutions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-87 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-87
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-87
Status: in_force

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

(2) No person having less than eight (8) years combined actual experience as a school attendance officer, school teacher, school administrator, law enforcement officer possessing a college degree with a major in a behavioral science or a related field, and/or social worker in the state shall be employed as a school attendance officer supervisor. Further, a school attendance officer supervisor shall possess a college degree with a major in a behavioral science or a related field or shall have actual experience as a school teacher, school administrator, law enforcement officer possessing such degree or social worker; however, these requirements shall not apply to persons employed as school attendance officers before January 1, 1987. School attendance officers shall meet any additional qualifications established by the State Personnel Board for school attendance officers or school attendance officer supervisors. The school attendance officer supervisors shall receive an annual salary to be set by the State Superintendent of Public Education, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 45-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-25
Status: in_force

Subject to the provisions of any applicable statute, the commission shall supervise and approve or disapprove all surveys of educational needs made by any school board or board of education. The commission may assist such boards in making such surveys, and it may make supplemental surveys of such needs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-54 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 33-54
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-54
Status: in_force

The State Department of Rehabilitation Services, through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind, shall administer the Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Law as prescribed in Sections 37-33-53 through 37-33-75 , Sections 43-3-3 through 43-3-15 and Section 43-3-93 . The executive director of the department shall assign to the office such powers and duties deemed appropriate to carry out the lawful functions of this law and any federal law or regulation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 121-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-17
Status: in_force

The basketball court within the Davey L. Whitney Complex located on the campus of Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be named the Shirley A. Walker Basketball Court. The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place within the Davey L. Whitney Complex, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Mrs. Walker.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-131 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-131
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-131
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any community or junior college is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into lease agreements or service contracts with any governmental agency or political subdivision, corporation, partnership, joint venture, or individual under which the college may acquire by lease, lease-purchase or service contract for a primary term not to exceed thirty-five (35) years lands, buildings and related facilities which the board may determine necessary to provide additional facilities, services or educational opportunities to the college, its students, faculty and the community.

Any machinery, furnishings, fixtures and equipment for these facilities and use by the college may be acquired by lease or lease purchase provided that the primary term of such lease shall not exceed the estimated useful economic life of such machinery or equipment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-30 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 101-30
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-30
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature finds and declares that a compelling state interest exists in providing a retirement incentive program or encouraging the retirement of those employees of institutions of higher learning who are current and active contributing members of the Public Employees' Retirement System.

(2) As used in this section:

(a) “ Board ” means the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

(b) “ Program ” means the retirement incentive program established under this section.

(3)(a) The board is authorized to pay, in fiscal years selected by the board, a monetary incentive to employees who are eligible for retirement in exchange for a voluntary agreement of the employee:

(i) To retire on a specific date as set forth in subsection (6) of this section, and

(ii) To waive any and all claims, known or unknown, arising out of or related to employment or cessation of employment at institutions of higher learning.

(b) The granting of additional compensation shall be made in exchange for additional consideration given by the employee.

(c) The retirement incentive authorized by this section is a voluntary plan for institutions of higher learning faculty and staff offering an incentive for retirement. The plan shall be available to all full-time faculty and staff who meet the eligibility criteria set forth in subsection (4) of this section.

(4)(a) To be eligible to participate in the program, full-time faculty and staff of institutions of higher learning must, as of the effective date of their retirement, be eligible to retire under the laws governing the Public Employees' Retirement System by virtue of:

(i) Having twenty-five (25) years of creditable service, or

(ii) Being age sixty (60) and having at least four (4) years of creditable service.

(b) The institution of higher learning offering the program shall, in all cases, utilize the records of the Public Employees' Retirement System as the source for determining eligibility.

(c) The program is offered as an alternative to any other retirement incentive plan that may be offered by the state or the Public Employees' Retirement System in the future.

(5) In accordance with applicable law, the institution of higher learning shall provide a cash benefit to each participant in the program based upon a percentage of the participant's current salary that is subject to federal income tax, state income tax and Federal Insurance Contributions Act withholding. The participant shall be compensated for unused annual leave as otherwise provided by law. The cash benefit paid under this section shall not be subject to employer or employee contributions under the laws governing the Public Employees' Retirement System.

(6) Eligible employees shall make their election to participate in the program in the manner and at the time prescribed by the board. The date of retirement for all employees participating in this program shall be June 30 of any fiscal year in which the program is offered. Employees electing to participate in the program shall agree to waive any claims, known or unknown, arising out of or related to employment or cessation of employment at institutions of higher learning. An employee may revoke the election to participate in the program within seven (7) days after the execution of the election.

(7) The additional compensation authorized under the program is made in exchange for additional consideration given by the employee.

(8) The board shall prescribe such rules and regulations as it shall consider necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-17
Status: in_force

(1) On or before April 1 of each year, the principal of each school shall recommend to the superintendent of the local school district the licensed employees or noninstructional employees to be employed for the school involved except those licensed employees or noninstructional employees who have been previously employed and who have a contract valid for the ensuing scholastic year. If such recommendations meet with the approval of the superintendent, the superintendent shall recommend the employment of such licensed employees or noninstructional employees to the local school board, and, unless good reason to the contrary exists, the board shall elect the employees so recommended. If, for any reason, the local school board shall decline to elect any employee so recommended, additional recommendations for the places to be filled shall be made by the principal to the superintendent and then by the superintendent to the local school board as provided above. The school board of any local school district shall be authorized to designate a personnel supervisor or another principal employed by the school district to recommend to the superintendent licensed employees or noninstructional employees; however, this authorization shall be restricted to no more than two (2) positions for each employment period for each school in the local school district. Any noninstructional employee employed upon the recommendation of a personnel supervisor or another principal employed by the local school district must have been employed by the local school district at the time the superintendent was elected or appointed to office; a noninstructional employee employed under this authorization may not be paid compensation in excess of the statewide average compensation for such noninstructional position with comparable experience, as established by the State Department of Education. The school board of any local school district shall be authorized to designate a personnel supervisor or another principal employed by the school district to accept the recommendations of principals or their designees for licensed employees or noninstructional employees and to transmit approved recommendations to the local school board; however, this authorization shall be restricted to no more than two (2) positions for each employment period for each school in the local school district.

When the licensed employees have been elected as provided in the preceding paragraph, the superintendent of the district shall enter into a contract with such persons in the manner provided in this chapter.

If, at the commencement of the scholastic year, any licensed employee shall present to the superintendent a license of a higher grade than that specified in such individual's contract, such individual may, if funds are available from the total funding formula funds of the district as provided for in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , or from district funds, be paid from such funds the amount to which such higher grade license would have entitled the individual, had the license been held at the time the contract was executed.

(2) Superintendents/directors of schools under the purview of the State Board of Education, the superintendent of the local school district and any private firm under contract with the local public school district to provide substitute teachers to teach during the absence of a regularly employed schoolteacher shall require, through the appropriate governmental authority, that current criminal records background checks and current child abuse registry checks are obtained, and that such criminal record information and registry checks are on file for any new hires applying for employment as a licensed or nonlicensed employee at a school and not previously employed in such school under the purview of the State Board of Education or at such local school district prior to July 1, 2000. In order to determine the applicant's suitability for employment, the applicant shall be fingerprinted. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the fingerprints shall be forwarded by the Department of Public Safety to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. The fee for such fingerprinting and criminal history record check shall be paid by the applicant, not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00); however, the State Board of Education, the school board of the local school district or a private firm under contract with a local school district to provide substitute teachers to teach during the temporary absence of the regularly employed schoolteacher, in its discretion, may elect to pay the fee for the fingerprinting and criminal history record check on behalf of any applicant. Under no circumstances shall a member of the State Board of Education, superintendent/director of schools under the purview of the State Board of Education, local school district superintendent, local school board member or any individual other than the subject of the criminal history record checks disseminate information received through any such checks except insofar as required to fulfill the purposes of this section. Any nonpublic school which is accredited or approved by the State Board of Education may avail itself of the procedures provided for herein and shall be responsible for the same fee charged in the case of local public schools of this state. The determination whether the applicant has a disqualifying crime, as set forth in subsection (3) of this section, shall be made by the appropriate governmental authority, and the appropriate governmental authority shall notify the private firm whether a disqualifying crime exists.

(3) If such fingerprinting or criminal record checks disclose a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23(h) , child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust or aggravated assault which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the new hire shall not be eligible to be employed at such school. Any employment contract for a new hire executed by the superintendent of the local school district or any employment of a new hire by a superintendent/director of a new school under the purview of the State Board of Education or by a private firm shall be voidable if the new hire receives a disqualifying criminal record check. However, the State Board of Education or the school board may, in its discretion, allow any applicant aggrieved by the employment decision under this section to appear before the respective board, or before a hearing officer designated for such purpose, to show mitigating circumstances which may exist and allow the new hire to be employed at the school. The State Board of Education or local school board may grant waivers for such mitigating circumstances, which shall include, but not be limited to: (a) age at which the crime was committed; (b) circumstances surrounding the crime; (c) length of time since the conviction and criminal history since the conviction; (d) work history; (e) current employment and character references; (f) other evidence demonstrating the ability of the person to perform the employment responsibilities competently and that the person does not pose a threat to the health or safety of the children at the school.

(4) No local school district, local school district employee, member of the State Board of Education or employee of a school under the purview of the State Board of Education shall be held liable in any employment discrimination suit in which an allegation of discrimination is made regarding an employment decision authorized under this Section 37-9-17 .

(5) The provisions of this section shall be fully applicable to licensed employees of the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA), established in Section 37-140-3 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 145-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-25
Status: in_force

Upon the adoption of a resolution by the board of directors of the company declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by Sections 37-145-23 through 37-145-43 , the board shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution to the State Bond Commission. Upon the receipt of same, the State Bond Commission shall issue and sell bonds in an amount requested, and do any and all things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. For the payment of such bonds and the interest thereon, the full faith, credit and taxing power of the State of Mississippi are hereby irrevocably pledged. If the Legislature shall find that there are funds available in the General Fund of the Treasury of the State of Mississippi in amounts sufficient to pay maturity, principal and accruing interest of such general obligation bonds and if the Legislature shall appropriate such available funds for the purpose of paying such maturity, principal and accruing interest, then the principal, maturity and accruing interest of such bonds shall be paid from appropriations made from the General Fund of the Treasury of the State of Mississippi by the Legislature thereof; but if there are not available sufficient funds in the General Fund of the Treasury of the State of Mississippi to pay the maturity, principal and accruing interest of such bonds, or if such funds are available and the Legislature should fail to appropriate a sufficient amount thereof to pay such principal and accruing interest as the same becomes due, then, and in that event, there shall annually be levied upon all taxable property within the State of Mississippi an ad valorem tax at a rate sufficient to provide the funds required to pay the bonds at maturity and the interest thereon as the same accrues. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed that rate established in Section 75-17-101 ), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times, be redeemable prior to maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the State Bond Commission. Such bonds shall be signed by the Chairman of the State Bond Commission or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the State Bond Commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the Secretary of the State Bond Commission. The interest coupons to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials herein designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers prior to the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to the purchaser or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 29-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-63
Status: in_force

(1) The president of any community college, or such other person designated or authorized by the board of trustees, shall have the power to recommend to the board of trustees all teachers to be employed in the district.

(2) The president may remove or suspend any member of the faculty subject to the approval of the trustees. He shall be the general manager of all fiscal and administrative affairs of the district with full authority to select, direct, employ and discharge any and all employees other than teachers; however, the board may make provisions and establish policies for leave for faculty members and other key personnel.

(3) The president shall have the authority, subject to the provisions of Section 75-76-34 and Sections 37-29-1 through 37-29-273 and the approval of the trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules, and establish and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of teachers and students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 115-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-27
Status: in_force

The medical school and teaching hospital shall be built and equipped together, in connection with each other, or as nearly together or connected as may promote the most efficient operation of both of them in proper coordination one with the other. The medical school and teaching hospital shall be located and built upon part of the lands owned by the State of Mississippi in or near the City of Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, and commonly known as the old asylum lands, to be selected by the State Building Commission. The medical school and teaching hospital may have other locations as determined to be reasonable and necessary by the University of Mississippi Medical Center. All University of Mississippi Medical Center locations shall provide in the aggregate not less than fifty percent (50%) of their services to indigent persons including qualified beneficiaries of the State Medicaid Program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 145-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-71
Status: in_force

The board of trustees is authorized to borrow funds from public or private sources under such provisions pertaining to rates of interest, repayment schedules, collateral and other requirements as may be approved by the board of trustees for the support of the guaranty student loan function of the board. The obligations so incurred by the board of trustees shall be limited to the amount of indebtedness as may be supported by revenues available from the board's guaranty student loan function and such obligations shall not constitute a debt, liability or general obligation of the state or any political subdivision thereof (other than the board of trustees), or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or any political subdivision thereof (other than the board of trustees), but shall be payable solely as provided by the board of trustees.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 26-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-1
Status: in_force

(1) The purpose of this chapter is to provide funds for use by:

(a) The University of Mississippi Law Center in providing: (i) education and training for the courts of Mississippi and related personnel; (ii) technical assistance for the courts of Mississippi and related personnel; and (iii) current and accurate information for the Mississippi Legislature pertaining to the needs of the courts of Mississippi and related personnel; and

(b) The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi in providing: (i) education and training for district attorneys, county prosecuting attorneys and municipal prosecuting attorneys; (ii) technical assistance for district attorneys, county prosecuting attorneys and municipal prosecuting attorneys; and (iii) current and accurate information for the Mississippi Legislature pertaining to the needs of district attorneys, county prosecuting attorneys and municipal prosecuting attorneys.

(2) The provisions of this chapter are applicable to all courts of Mississippi, now or hereafter created, including, but not limited to, the supreme, circuit, chancery, county, youth, family, justice and municipal courts, other provisions to the contrary notwithstanding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 145-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-39
Status: in_force

Sections 37-145-23 through 37-145-41 shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers therein granted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 15-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-17
Status: in_force

If the parent, guardian or other person having custody of any child shall feel aggrieved by the assignment of such child to a school or attendance center by the school board, then such parent, guardian or other person may, at any time within thirty (30) days after such assignment, make application in writing to the school board for a review or reconsideration of such assignment. Upon receiving any such application, the school board shall set a time and place for the hearing thereof which time shall be not more than fifteen (15) days after the regular meeting of said board next succeeding the date of the filing of said application. At the time and place so fixed, the person filing such application shall have the right to appear and present evidence in support of said application. After hearing said evidence, the school board shall determine whether said application is well taken and supported by the evidence and shall enter an order either affirming its previous action or modifying or changing same as said school board shall find proper.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 103-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-15
Status: in_force

A married person may claim the residence status of his or her spouse, or he or she may claim independent residence status under the same regulations set forth in Section 37-103-13 as any other adult.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-125 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 23-125
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-125
Status: in_force

(1) The Department of Education is directed to establish a learning resources system to be implemented and administered by the department.

(2) The state board of education shall adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement and administer this system.

(3) The department is authorized to employ and train such professional and clerical assistance as is necessary to implement and administer the system.

(4) The department is authorized to accept any federal, state or other governmental funds and any funds from private sources or gifts, grants or donations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 59-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-111
Status: in_force

All indebtedness incurred under the provisions of this article shall be evidenced by the negotiable notes or certificates of indebtedness of the school district on whose behalf the money is borrowed. Said notes or certificates of indebtedness shall be signed by the president of the school board and superintendent of schools of such school district. Such notes or certificates of indebtedness shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than the rates now or hereafter authorized under the provisions of Section 19-9-19 . No such notes or certificates of indebtedness shall be issued and sold for less than par and accrued interest. All such notes or certificates of indebtedness shall mature according to the following:

(a) All notes or certificates of indebtedness issued for purposes authorized under Section 37-59-101 , with the exception of the financing of school buses and transportation equipment, shall mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period not to exceed twenty (20) years from the date of issuance thereof. Provided, however, that if negotiable notes used to finance other such capital improvements are outstanding from not more than one (1) previous issue authorized under the provisions of this article, then the schedule of payments for a new or supplementary issue may be so adjusted that the schedule of maturities of all notes or series of notes hereunder shall, when combined, mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period of twenty (20) years from the date of the new or supplementary issue, or if a lower interest rate will be secured on notes previously issued and outstanding, a portion of the proceeds of any issue authorized hereunder may be used to refund the balance of the indebtedness previously issued under the authority of this article.

(b) All notes or certificates of indebtedness for purposes of financing of school buses and transportation equipment shall mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period not to exceed ten (10) years from the date of issuance thereof. Provided, however, that if negotiable notes used to finance such noncapital improvements are outstanding from not more than one (1) previous issue authorized under the provisions of this article, then the schedule of payments for a new or supplementary issue may be so adjusted that the schedule of maturities of all notes or series of notes hereunder shall, when combined, mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period of ten (10) years from the date of the new or supplementary issue, or if a lower interest rate will thereby be secured on notes previously issued and outstanding, a portion of the proceeds of any issue authorized hereunder may be used to refund the balance of the indebtedness previously issued under the authority of this article.

Such notes or certificates of indebtedness shall be issued in such form and in such denominations as may be determined by the school board, and same may be made payable at the office of any bank or trust company selected by the school board, and, in such case, funds for the payment of principal and interest due thereon shall be provided in the same manner provided by law for the payment of the principal and interest due on bonds issued by the taxing districts of this state.

Any school district in Mississippi may borrow money from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency under any provision of state or federal law that provides for the borrowing of money by school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 61-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-5
Status: in_force

If in any year there should remain a balance in the total funding formula funds of any school district on June 30 which amount is not to be used or is not needed in the payment of expenses for the preceding fiscal year properly payable out of such total funding formula funds, then such balance on hand to the credit of such funds of the school district shall be carried forward as a part of such total funding formula funds for the next succeeding fiscal year. The proper pro rata part of the amount so carried forward, to be determined by the percentage which the state total funding formula funds during the year bore to the entire amount of the school district's total funding formula funds, shall be charged against and deducted from the amount which the school district is allotted from state total funding formula funds for the succeeding fiscal year, in a manner prescribed by the State Auditor. The remainder of the amount so carried forward may be deducted from the amount which the school district is required to produce as its local minimum ad valorem tax effort for the support of the total funding formula for the succeeding fiscal year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-603 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / 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. § 37-23-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 23-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-65
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education is authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations for the payment of such financial assistance and the administration of Sections 37-23-61 through 37-23-75 generally.

The State Department of Education shall have the authority to promulgate and enforce reasonable rules and regulations establishing standards for administration of the program contemplated by Sections 37-23-61 through 37-23-75 , consistent with the maintenance of high quality programs for the benefit of the exceptional children served.

The State Department of Education shall require that the programs for which children are eligible for financial assistance under Sections 37-23-61 through 37-23-75 be designed to provide individualized appropriate special education and related services that enable a child to reach his or her appropriate and uniquely designed goals for success.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-59 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-59
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-59
Status: in_force

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-13-58 , the state department of education is hereby authorized to provide for the services of a state coordinator of career education and such other professional and nonprofessional staff as may be needed and as funds available to the department will permit. It shall be the responsibility of the state coordinator of career education to coordinate efforts of the personnel of the state department of education, the state's colleges and universities, local public schools and other appropriate agencies to provide the services embraced by Sections 37-13-58 through 37-13-60 . The state department of education and the state coordinator of career education will be responsible for the development of teacher education courses, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels, designed to familiarize teachers and prospective teachers with the career education concept and its application to their roles as teachers and prospective teachers. The state colleges and universities will consult and cooperate with the state department of education and state coordinator of career education in the development of these courses and in the responsibilities under Sections 37-13-58 through 37-13-60 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 15-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-3
Status: in_force

Such cumulative folders as are provided for in Section 37-15-1 shall be kept in the school wherein the pupils are in attendance. Both the permanent records and the cumulative folders shall be available to school officials, including teachers within the school district who have been determined by the school district to have legitimate educational interests. In no case, however, shall such records be available to the general public. Transcripts of courses and grades may be furnished when requested by the parent or guardian or eligible pupil as prescribed in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 20 USCS Section 1232g . Such records shall be kept for each pupil throughout his entire public school enrollment period. In the event a pupil transfers to a public school, including a charter school, then the cumulative folder shall be furnished to the head of the school to which the pupil transfers; if a pupil transfers to a private school, then a copy of the cumulative folder shall be furnished to the head of the school to which the pupil transfers. The permanent record shall be kept permanently by the school district from which the pupil transferred.

At no time may a permanent record of a student be destroyed, but cumulative folders may be destroyed by order of the school board of the school district in not less than five (5) years after the permanent record of the pupil has become inactive and has been transferred to the central depository of the district. Provided, however, that where a school district makes complete copies of inactive permanent records on photographic film, microfilm, or any other acceptable form of medium for storage which may be reproduced as needed, such permanent records may be destroyed after the photographic film or microfilm copy has been stored in the central depository of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 65-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-21
Status: in_force

The fact that the power and authority to close any one or more or all of the schools of any school district, or any agricultural high school, or any agricultural high school and junior college, or any institution of higher learning may be by some other law of the State of Mississippi vested in some other person or officer or board shall not cause this article and any other such law to be in conflict nor shall same be construed to be in conflict with each other, and the power and authority vested in each such board or boards of trustees or person or officer may be exercised by each or either, independent of the other such board or boards or person or persons or officer or officers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-72.1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 11-72.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-72.1
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Beginning on July 1, 2025, the local school board of each public school district shall have at least one (1) school employee at each school who has met the training requirements necessary to administer or assist with the self-administration of a seizure rescue medication or medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms as approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and any successor agency.

(b) A local school district shall be permitted to use any adequate and appropriate training program or guidelines for training of school personnel in the seizure disorder care tasks covered under this section.

(2)(a) Before administering a seizure rescue medication or medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms, the student's parent, guardian or responsible adult shall:

(i) Provide the school with a written authorization to administer the medication at school;

(ii) Provide a written statement from the person's health care practitioner, which shall contain the following information:

1. Full name;

2. The name and purpose of the medication;

3. The prescribed dosage;

4. The route of administration;

5. The frequency that the medication may be administered; and

6. The circumstances under which the medication may be administered;

(iii) Provide the prescribed medication to the school in its unopened, sealed package with the label affixed by the dispensing pharmacy intact.

(b) In addition to the statements required in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the parent or guardian, or adult shall collaborate with school personnel to create a seizure action plan.

(3) The statements and seizure action plan required in subsection (2) of this section shall be kept on file in the office of the school nurse or school administrator.

(4) The permission for the administration of any of the medications authorized under subsection (1)(a) of this section shall be effective for the school year in which it is granted and shall be renewed each following school year upon fulfilling the requirements of subsections (2) through (3) of this section.

(5) The requirements of this section shall apply only to schools that have an adult employee or enrolled student who has a seizure disorder, a seizure rescue medication or medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and any successor agency prescribed by the student's health care provider.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-203 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-203
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3), (4) and (5) of this section, the boards of trustees of all municipal separate school districts created under this chapter, either with or without added territory, shall consist of five (5) members, each to be chosen for a term of five (5) years, but so chosen that the term of office of one (1) member shall expire each year. In the event the added territory of a municipal separate school district furnishes fifteen percent (15%) or more of the pupils enrolled in the schools of such district, then at least one (1) member of the board of trustees of such school district shall be a resident of the added territory outside the corporate limits. In the event the added territory of a municipal separate school district furnishes thirty percent (30%) or more of the pupils enrolled in the schools of such district, then not more than two (2) members of the board of trustees of such school district shall be residents of the added territory outside the corporate limits. In the event the added territory of a municipal separate school district in a county in which Mississippi Highways 8 and 15 intersect furnishes thirty percent (30%) or more of the pupils enrolled in the schools of such district, then the five (5) members of the board of trustees of such school district shall be elected at large from such school district for a term of five (5) years each except that the two (2) elected trustees presently serving on such board shall continue to serve for their respective terms of office. The three (3) appointed trustees presently serving on such board shall continue to serve until their successors are elected in March of 1975 in the manner provided for in Section 37-7-215 . At such election, one (1) trustee shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, one (1) for a term of three (3) years and one (1) for a term of five (5) years. Subsequent terms for each successor trustee shall be for five (5) years. In the event one (1) of two (2) municipal separate school districts located in any county with two (2) judicial districts, District 1 being comprised of Supervisors Districts 1, 2, 4 and 5, and District 2 being comprised of Supervisors District 3, with added territory embraces three (3) full supervisors districts of a county, one (1) trustee shall be elected from each of the three (3) supervisors districts outside the corporate limits of the municipality. In the further event that the territory of a municipal separate school district located in any county with two (2) judicial districts, District 1 being comprised of Supervisors Districts 1, 2, 4 and 5, and District 2 being comprised of Supervisors District 3, with added territory embraces four (4) full supervisors districts in the county, and in any county in which a municipal separate school district embraces the entire county in which Highways 14 and 15 intersect, one (1) trustee shall be elected from each supervisors district.

Except as otherwise provided herein, the trustees of such a municipal separate school district shall be elected by a majority of the governing authorities of the municipality at the first meeting of the governing authorities held in the month of February of each year, and the term of office of the member so elected shall commence on the first Saturday of March following. In the case of a member of the board of trustees who is required to come from the added territory outside the corporate limits as is above provided, such member of the board of trustees shall be elected by the qualified electors of the school district residing in such added territory outside the corporate limits at the same time and in the same manner as is otherwise provided in this article for the election of trustees of school districts other than municipal separate school districts.

In the event that a portion of a county school district is reconstituted, in the manner provided by law, into a municipal separate school district with added territory and in the event that the trustees to be elected from the added territory are requested to be elected from separate election districts within the added territory, instead of elected at large, by the Attorney General of the United States as a result of and pursuant to preclearance under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, and in the event the added territory of a municipal separate school district of a municipality furnishes thirty percent (30%) or more of the pupils enrolled in the schools of such district, then two (2) members of the board of trustees shall be residents of the added territory outside the corporate limits of such municipality and shall be elected from special trustee election districts by the qualified electors thereof as herein provided. The board of trustees of the school district shall apportion the added territory into two (2) special trustee election districts as nearly as possible according to population and other factors heretofore pronounced by the courts. The board of trustees of the school district shall thereafter publish the same in a newspaper of general circulation within that school district for at least two (2) consecutive weeks; and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the board of trustees of the school district, the new district lines shall thereafter be effective. Any person elected from the new trustee election districts constituted herein shall be elected in the manner provided for in Section 37-7-215 for a term of five (5) years. Any vacancy in the office of a trustee elected from such trustee election district, whether occasioned by redistricting or by other cause, shall be filled by appointment of the governing authorities of the municipality, provided that the person so appointed shall serve only until the next general election following his appointment, at which time a person shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term in the manner provided in Section 37-7-215 .

In any county organizing a countywide municipal separate school district after January 1, 1965, the trustees thereof to be elected from outside the municipality, such trustees shall be elected by the board of supervisors of such county, and the superintendent of such school district shall have authority to pay out and distribute the funds of the district. In the event a municipal separate school district should occupy territory in a county other than that in which the municipality is located and fifteen percent (15%) or more of the pupils enrolled in the schools of such district shall come from the territory of the district in the county other than that in which the municipality is located, the territory of such county in which the municipality is not located shall be entitled to one (1) member on the board of trustees of such school district. The trustee shall be a resident of the territory of that part of the district lying in the county in which the municipality is not located and shall be elected by the qualified electors of the territory of such county at the same time and in the same manner as is provided for the election of trustees of school districts other than municipal separate school districts having territory in two (2) or more counties.

All vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms by appointment of the governing authorities of the municipality; except that in the case of the trustees coming from the added territory outside the corporate limits, the person so appointed shall serve only until the next general election following his appointment, at which time a person shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term in the manner otherwise provided herein.

No person who is a member of such governing body, or who is an employee of the municipality, or who is a member of the county board of education, or who is a trustee of any public, private or sectarian school or college located in the county, inclusive of the municipal separate school district, or who is a teacher in or a trustee of the school district, shall be eligible for appointment to the board of trustees.

(2) In counties of less than fifteen thousand (15,000) people having a municipal separate school district with added territory which embraces all the territory of a county, one or more trustees of the school district shall be nominated from each supervisors district upon petition of fifty (50) qualified electors of that supervisors district, or twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of such district, whichever number shall be smaller. One (1) trustee must be elected from each supervisors district of the county. In such counties embraced entirely by a municipal separate school district, there shall be no county board of education after the formation of such district, and the county superintendent of education shall act as superintendent of schools of the district and shall be appointed by the board of trustees of that district, and the provisions of subsection (1) of this section and the first paragraph of Section 37-7-211 shall not apply to such districts.

(3) In municipalities designated as having a mayor-council form of government under Chapter 8, Title 21, Mississippi Code of 1972 , and having a population in excess of one hundred thousand (100,000) according to the 2000 federal decennial census, the boards of trustees of the municipal separate school district located in the municipality may, if authorized by ordinance of the municipal governing authority, consist of seven (7) members residing in each of the seven (7) wards in the municipality, to be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council as follows: (a) each board member shall reside in the ward from which he is appointed; (b) members serving on March 31, 2010, shall continue to serve until a new term commences and new members shall be selected from wards not currently represented on the board; (c) one (1) of the two (2) additional appointments shall serve a term of five (5) years and one (1) for a term of four (4) years, with all subsequent appointments for a five-year term; and (d) each new appointment shall be made by the mayor and confirmed by the city council of the municipality at the first meeting of the governing authorities held in the month of June following March 31, 2010, and thereafter each year, and the term of office of each member so selected shall commence on the first Saturday of July following.

(4)(a) Beginning in 2017, in any municipal separate school district that is traversed by the Escatawpa River and in which Interstate Highway 10 and Mississippi Highway 63 intersect, the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district shall consist of five (5) members, each to be elected for a term of four (4) years in the manner provided in this subsection. Within forty-five (45) days after July 1, 2017, the municipal governing authority shall apportion the municipal separate school district, including any added territory outside the corporate limits, into five (5) special trustee election districts as nearly equal as possible according to population, incumbency and other factors pronounced by the courts before August 8, 2017. The municipal governing authority shall place upon its minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) trustee election districts and shall publish the same in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district for at least three (3) consecutive weeks. After having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the municipal governing authority, the new district lines shall be effective.

(b) On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2017, and every four (4) years thereafter, an election shall be held in the municipal separate school district for local school board members from trustee election districts 1, 3 and 5 in the same manner and at the same time as the general municipal election is held and conducted, for the purpose of electing the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district. All members of the board of trustees elected pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall take office on the first Monday of January immediately following the date of their election. However, in order to provide for an orderly transition, the term of each member of the board of trustees serving on July 1, 2017, which otherwise would expire after the first Monday in July 2018, shall expire on the first Monday of January 2018. If no individual qualifies for the elective office of school district trustee, the trustee for that specific trustee district shall be filled by appointment of the municipal governing authority; however, the person so appointed to fill the vacancy may serve only until the first Monday in January 2019, at which time the trustee elected pursuant to this subsection shall take office for the remainder of the unexpired initial term.

From and after January 1, 2018, any vacancy on the board of trustees shall be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the board of trustees within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs. The appointee must be selected from the qualified electors of the trustee election district in which the vacancy occurs. The appointee shall serve until the first Monday of January succeeding the next general municipal election, at which election a member from that trustee election district shall be elected for a full term.

(c) On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2018, and every four (4) years thereafter, an election shall be held in the municipal separate school district for local school board members from trustee election districts 2 and 4 in the same manner and at the same time as the Congressional mid-term election is held and conducted, for the purpose of electing the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district. All members of the board of trustees elected pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall take office on the first Monday of January immediately following the date of their election. However, in order to provide for an orderly transition, the term of each member of the board of trustees serving on July 1, 2018, which otherwise would expire after the first Monday in July 2018, shall expire on the first Monday of January 2019. If no individual qualifies for the elective office of school district trustee, the trustee for that specific trustee district shall be filled by appointment of the municipal governing authority; however, the person so appointed to fill the vacancy may serve only until the first Monday in January 2020, at which time the trustee elected pursuant to this subsection shall take office for the remainder of the unexpired initial term.

From and after July 1, 2020, any vacancy on the board of trustees shall be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the board of trustees within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs. The appointee must be selected from the qualified electors of the trustee election district in which the vacancy occurs. The appointee shall serve until the first Monday of July succeeding the next general municipal election, at which election a member from that trustee election district shall be elected for a full term.

(5)(a) Beginning in 2024, in any municipal separate school district in which Interstate Highway 20 and Mississippi Highway 15 intersect, the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district shall consist of five (5) members, each to be elected for a term of four (4) years in the manner provided in this subsection. Within forty-five (45) days after July 1, 2024, the municipal governing authority shall apportion the municipal separate school district, including any added territory outside the corporate limits, into five (5) special trustee election districts as nearly equal as possible according to population, incumbency and other factors pronounced by the courts before January 1, 2024. The municipal governing authority shall place upon its minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) trustee election districts and shall publish the same in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district for at least three (3) consecutive weeks. After having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the municipal governing authority, the new district lines shall be effective. Candidates for such positions shall file the intent to be a candidate not later than 5:00 p.m. on September 1, 2024, and shall qualify as otherwise provided by law.

(b) On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2024, an election shall be held in the municipal separate school district for local school board members in the same manner and at the same time as the presidential election is held and conducted, for the purpose of electing the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district. All members of the board of trustees elected pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall take office on the first Monday of January immediately following the date of their election, and may serve until the first Monday in January 2028, at which time the trustee elected pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection shall take office. If no individual qualifies for the elective office of school district trustee, the trustee for that specific trustee district shall be filled by appointment of the municipal governing authority; however, the person so appointed to fill the vacancy may serve only until the first Monday in January 2028, at which time the trustee elected pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection shall take office.

From and after January 1, 2028, any vacancy on the board of trustees shall be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the board of trustees within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs. The appointee must be selected from the qualified electors of the trustee election district in which the vacancy occurs. The appointee shall serve until the first Monday of January succeeding the next general election, at which election a member from that trustee election district shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(c) On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2027, and every four (4) years thereafter, an election shall be held in the municipal separate school district for local school board members in the same manner and at the same time as the general elections are held and conducted in accordance with Section 23-15-193 , for the purpose of electing the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district. All members of the board of trustees elected pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall take office on the first Monday of January immediately following the date of their election.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-223 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 153-223
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-223
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Individual Training Account Workforce Reinforcement Assistance (ITA-WRAP) Program, which shall be directed by the Office of Workforce Development for the purpose of providing education and training to citizens seeking employment in high-wage, high-demand industries with documented workforce shortages prioritized by the office. This program shall be subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature.

(2) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings as defined herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Recipient ” means a community college, institution of higher learning, local workforce development area or other eligible recipient of grant funding under this section.

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

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

(d) “ Eligible expenses ” means a cost incurred by a recipient, pursuant to this section, to include trainee support, including tuition or registration expenses and supportive services such as childcare or transportation assistance.

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

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

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

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

(ii) The number of trainees who will be served by the program and how each will be tracked for reporting; and

(iii) The average wage rate for trainees receiving employment before and 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) The office shall:

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

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

(6) The office may use a minimal amount of funds allocated for this section for the administration of the grant program, to be approved by the State Workforce Investment Board Executive Committee.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 133-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-5
Status: in_force

In addition to all other powers and duties now vested by law in the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning of the State of Mississippi, said board is hereby empowered and required to permit the establishment of technical institutes, as branches within the framework of the existing state institutions of higher learning, that have an ongoing program in the areas concerned, adequately staffed and equipped to offer a curriculum designed and intended to immediately initiate training (extending beyond the junior college level) in the field of vocational, scientific, engineering, technical, and aero-space education and the necessary supporting studies, so that the demands of heavy and aero-space industry and installations for skilled engineering technicians may be satisfied and maintained. The board shall require the curriculum of any technical institute established under the provisions of the Mississippi Technical Institute Law of 1964 to be complementary and supplementary to public junior college curriculums so that the full advantage of the educational resources of the State of Mississippi may be realized. The board shall permit the establishment of such technical institutes anywhere within the State of Mississippi, in the areas of most urgent need, on any land or facility presently, or hereafter, under the jurisdiction and control of the board and on such terms and conditions as shall seem appropriate. The state building commission shall, at its discretion, provide new buildings, facilities, and necessary repairs, renovations and remodeling of any facility designated by the board as a technical institute from funds made available for such purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-407 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-407
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-407
Status: in_force

Such contract or agreement provided for in Section 37-7-405 , shall be transmitted to the state educational finance commission which shall consider and pass upon same from the standpoint of whether or not same will promote the welfare of the school districts involved and the efficiency of the operation of the schools thereof. If said agreement shall be approved by the said state educational finance commission, then the school districts involved shall be authorized to proceed as set forth in said agreement. If, however, the state educational finance commission shall disapprove said agreement then the school districts involved shall not be authorized to proceed thereunder. Any such agreement, with the prior consent and approval of the state educational finance commission, may be altered or amended from time to time as circumstances require.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 61-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-29
Status: in_force

The State Department of Audit is hereby authorized and empowered to post-audit and investigate the financial affairs and all transactions involving the school funds of the school district including the total funding formula funds and supplementary district school funds, and to make separate and special audits thereof, as now provided by Sections 7-7-201 through 7-7-215 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-134 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-134
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-134
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature recognizes that there is a problem with Mississippi student inactivity and obesity, and therefore requires the following guidelines for school district physical education, health education and physical activity and fitness classes:

(a) Kindergarten through Grade 8: One hundred fifty (150) minutes per week of physical activity-based instruction and forty-five (45) minutes per week of health education instruction, as defined by the State Board of Education.

(b) Grades 9 through 12: One-half ( 1 / 2 ) Carnegie unit requirement in physical education or physical activity for graduation. Beginning with the 2015-2016 Ninth Grade class, an instructional component on the proper administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) shall be included as part of the physical education or health education curriculum. The curricula shall incorporate into the instruction the psychomotor skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of an automated external defibrillator as follows:

(i) An instructional program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross;

(ii) An instructional program which is nationally recognized and is based on the most current national evidence-based Emergency Cardiovascular Care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator;

(iii) A licensed teacher shall not be required to be a certified trainer of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, to facilitate, provide or oversee such instruction for noncertification; and

(iv) Courses which result in a certification being earned must be taught by an authorized CPR/AED instructor.

For purposes of this paragraph (b), the term “ psychomotor skills ” means the use of hands-on practicing to support cognitive learning. Cognitive-only training does not qualify as “psychomotor skills.”

The requirements of this paragraph (b) shall be minimum requirements. Any local school district shall be authorized to offer CPR and AED instruction for longer periods of time than required herein, and may enhance the curriculum and training components.

(c) The State Department of Education shall establish a procedure for monitoring adherence by school boards to the requirements set forth in this section.

All instruction in physical education, health education and physical activity must be based on the most current state standards provided by the State Department of Education.

(2) Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, each local school board shall, consistent with regulations adopted by the State Board of Education, adopt a school wellness plan which shall promote a healthy lifestyle for Mississippi's school children and staff. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the school wellness plan shall also promote increased physical activity, healthy eating habits and abstinence from the use of tobacco and illegal drugs through programs that incorporate healthy lifestyle choices into core subject areas which may be developed in partnership with the Institute for America's Health.

(3) Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Health, shall have the authority to establish a school health pilot program to improve student health so that all students can fully participate and be successful in school. The school health pilot program shall be implemented in local school districts, as provided in Section 37-13-134.1 .

(4) The Legislature shall appropriate sufficient state-source funds for the State Department of Education to employ a physical activity coordinator to assist districts on current and effective practices and on implementation of physical education and physical activity programs.

(5) The physical activity coordinator employed under Section 37-13-133 must have the qualifications prescribed in any of the following paragraphs, which are listed in the order of preference:

(a) A doctorate in physical education, exercise science or a highly related field, and at least three (3) years of experience in teaching physical education in Grades K-12 or in physical activity promotion/fitness leadership; or

(b) A master's degree in physical education, exercise science or a highly related field, and at least five (5) years of experience in teaching physical education in Grades K-12 or in physical activity promotion/fitness leadership; or

(c) A bachelor's degree in physical education, a teacher's license, and at least seven (7) years of experience in teaching physical education in Grades K-12 or in physical activity promotion/fitness leadership.

(6) The Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports created under Section 7-1-551 et seq. , the Mississippi Council on Obesity Prevention and Management created under Section 41-101-1 et seq. , the Task Force on Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention created under Section 41-103-1 et seq. , the Mississippi Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and the Mississippi Alliance for School Health shall provide recommendations to the State Department of Education regarding the employment of the physical activity coordinator. The department shall consider the recommendations of those entities in employing the physical activity coordinator.

(7) The physical activity coordinator shall present a state physical activity plan each year to the Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports, the Mississippi Council on Obesity Prevention and Management, the Task Force on Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, the Mississippi Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and the Mississippi Alliance for School Health.

(8) The physical activity coordinator shall monitor the districts for adherence to current Mississippi school accountability standards and for implementation of the physical education curriculum on file with the State Department of Education. The State Department of Education shall monitor and act as a clearinghouse for the activities of the local school health councils established pursuant to subsection (9) of this section.

(9)(a) The local school board of each school district shall establish a local school health council for each school which shall ensure that local community values are reflected in the local school's wellness plan to address school health. Such councils shall be established no later than November 1, 2006.

(b) The local school health council's duties shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(i) Recommend age appropriate curriculum and the number of hours of instruction to be provided in health and physical activity-based education, provided that the number of hours shall not be less than that required by this section;

(ii) Recommend appropriate practices that include a coordinated approach to school health designed to prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes and other health risks, through coordination of:

1. Health education;

2. Physical education;

3. Nutritional services;

4. Parental/Community involvement;

5. Instruction to prevent the use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol;

6. Physical activity;

7. Health services;

8. Healthy environment;

9. Counseling and psychological services;

10. Healthy lifestyles; and

11. Staff wellness.

(iii) Provide guidance on the development and implementation of the local school wellness plan.

(c) The local school board shall appoint members to the local school health council. At a minimum, the school board shall appoint one (1) person from each of the following groups:

(i) Parents who are not employed by the school district;

(ii) The director of local school food services;

(iii) Public schoolteachers;

(iv) Public school administrators;

(v) District students;

(vi) Health care professionals;

(vii) The business community;

(viii) Law enforcement;

(ix) Senior citizens;

(x) The clergy;

(xi) Nonprofit health organizations; and

(xii) Faith-based organizations.

(10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or limit the sale or distribution of any food or beverage item through fund-raisers conducted by students, teachers, school groups, or parent groups when the items are intended for sale off the school campus.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 28-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-61
Status: in_force

(1) A charter school has a right of first refusal to purchase or lease at or below fair market value a closed public school facility or property or unused portions of a public school facility or property in the school district in which the charter school is located if the school district decides to sell or lease the public school facility or property. If a conversion charter school application is successful, the local school district owning the conversion charter school's facility must offer to lease or sell the building to the conversion charter school at or below fair market value.

(2) A charter school may negotiate and contract at or below fair market value with a school district, state institution of higher learning, public community or junior college, or any other public or for-profit or nonprofit private entity for the use of a facility for a school building.

(3) Public entities, including, but not limited to, libraries, community service organizations, museums, performing arts venues, theatres, cinemas, churches, community and junior colleges, colleges and universities, may provide space to charter schools within their facilities under their preexisting zoning and land use designations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 39-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-23
Status: in_force

The school boards of all public school districts may, in their discretion, enter into an agreement, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, to act jointly in the purchase of maintenance, operational and scholastic services, supplies and materials and equipment.

It is the purpose of this section to enable the school systems to achieve economies of scale through increased purchasing power to the end that the education tax revenues be utilized efficiently.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-147-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 147-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-147-13
Status: in_force

The authority shall have the power to implement and further the purposes of the Mississippi University Research Authority Act including the power:

(a) To lease, sell, exchange or transfer to a university or university research corporation personal property, money or other assets on terms and conditions established by the authority which are fair, just and reasonable to the authority and the university involved and to enter into any other contract or agreement with the university research corporation or other private entity.

(b) To conduct, sponsor, finance and contract in connection with technological innovations of all kinds.

(c) To receive gifts, grants and donations of money, personal property or other assets of any kind from any source.

(d) To do anything else which the authority deems appropriate to further the purposes of the Mississippi University Research Authority Act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-125 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 101-125
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-125
Status: in_force

Orders or resolutions of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning authorizing the investment of funds or the sale and redemption of bonds and other obligations purchased therewith under the provisions of Sections 37-101-121 and 37-101-123 , may be in general terms and may confer continuing authority upon the person or persons authorized to act. It shall not be necessary that separate resolutions or orders be passed and adopted with reference to each transaction.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 133-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-133-1
Status: in_force

This chapter may be cited as the “Mississippi Technical Institute Law of 1964.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 155-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-9
Status: in_force

In addition to the powers granted by any other provision of this article, the board of directors shall have the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this article, the purposes and objectives of the trust fund and the powers delegated by any other law of the state or any executive order thereof, including, but not limited to, the following express powers:

(a) To adopt and amend bylaws;

(b) To adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this article;

(c) To invest any funds of the trust fund in any instrument, obligation, security or property that constitutes legal investments for public funds in the state and to name and use depositories for its investments and holdings;

(d) To execute contracts and other necessary instruments;

(e) To impose reasonable requirements for residency for beneficiaries at the time of purchase of the contract and to establish rules to govern purchase of contracts for beneficiaries who are nonresidents at the time the purchaser enters into the prepaid tuition contract;

(f) To impose reasonable limits on the number of contract participants in the trust fund at any given period of time;

(g) To contract for necessary goods and services, to employ necessary personnel, and to engage the services of consultants for administrative and technical assistance in carrying out the responsibilities of the trust fund;

(h) To solicit and accept gifts, including bequeathments or other testamentary gifts made by will, trust or other disposition, grants, loans and other aids from any personal source or to participate in any other way in any federal, state or local governmental programs in carrying out the purposes of this article. Any gifts made to the board under this subsection shall be deductible from taxable income of the state in the tax year;

(i) To define the terms and conditions under which payments may be withdrawn or refunded from the trust fund, including, but not limited to, the amount paid in and an additional amount in the nature of interest at a rate that corresponds, at a minimum, to the prevailing interest rates for savings accounts provided by banks and savings and loan associations and impose reasonable charges for such withdrawal or refund;

(j) To ensure applicability to private and out-of-state tuitions:

(i) Under the program, a state purchaser may enter into a prepaid tuition contract with the board under which the purchaser agrees to attend a public institution of higher education in Mississippi;

(ii) If the beneficiary of a plan described by Section 37-155-11 enrolls in any in-state or out-of-state regionally accredited private four- or two-year college or an out-of-state regionally accredited, state-supported, nonprofit four- or two-year college or university, or any in-state or out-of-state regionally accredited graduate institution, the board shall pay to the institution an amount up to, but not greater than, the undergraduate tuition and required fees that the board would have paid had the beneficiary enrolled in an institution of higher education covered by the plan selected in the prepaid tuition contract. The beneficiary is responsible for paying a private undergraduate or graduate institution or an out-of-state public undergraduate or graduate institution the amount by which the tuition and required fees of the institution exceed the tuition and required fees paid by the board;

(k) To impose reasonable time limits on the use of the tuition benefits provided by the program;

(l) To provide for the receipt of contributions to the trust fund in lump sums or installment payments;

(m) To adopt an official seal and rules;

(n) To sue and be sued;

(o) To establish agreements or other transactions with federal, state and local agencies, including state universities and community colleges;

(p) To appear in its own behalf before boards, commissions or other governmental agencies;

(q) To segregate contributions and payments to the fund into various accounts and funds;

(r) To require and collect administrative fees and charges in connection with any transaction and impose reasonable penalties, including default, for delinquent payments or for entering into an advance payment contract on a fraudulent basis;

(s) To procure insurance against any loss in connection with the property, assets and activities of the fund or the board;

(t) To require that purchasers of advance payment contracts verify, under oath, any requests for contract conversions, substitutions, transfers, cancellations, refund requests or contract changes of any nature;

(u) To administer the fund in a manner that is sufficiently actuarially sound to meet the obligations of the program. The board shall annually evaluate or cause to be evaluated the actuarial soundness of the fund. If the board perceives a need for additional assets in order to preserve actuarial soundness, the board may adjust the terms of subsequent advance payment contracts to ensure such soundness;

(v) To establish a comprehensive investment plan for the purposes of this section. The comprehensive investment plan shall specify the investment policies to be utilized by the board in its administration of the fund. The board may authorize investments in:

(i) Bonds, notes, certificates and other valid general obligations of the State of Mississippi, or of any county, or of any city, or of any supervisors district of any county of the State of Mississippi, or of any school district bonds of the State of Mississippi; notes or certificates of indebtedness issued by the Veterans' Home Purchase Board of Mississippi, provided such notes or certificates of indebtedness are secured by the pledge of collateral equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the amount of the loan, which collateral is also guaranteed at least for fifty percent (50%) of the face value by the United States government, and provided that not more than five percent (5%) of the total investment holdings of the system shall be in Veterans' Home Purchase Board notes or certificates at any time; real estate mortgage loans one hundred percent (100%) insured by the Federal Housing Administration on single-family homes located in the State of Mississippi, where monthly collections and all servicing matters are handled by Federal Housing Administration approved mortgagees authorized to make such loans in the State of Mississippi;

(ii) State of Mississippi highway bonds;

(iii) Funds may be deposited in any institution insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that maintains a facility that takes deposits in the State of Mississippi which appears on the State of Mississippi Treasury Department's approved depository list and/or safekeeper list or a custodial bank;

(iv) Corporate bonds and taxable municipal bonds of investment grade as rated by Standard & Poor's, by Fitch Ratings, Ltd., or by Moody's Investment Service; or corporate short-term obligations of corporations or of wholly owned subsidiaries of corporations, whose short-term obligations are rated A-2 or better by Standard & Poor's, rated P-2 or better by Moody's Investment Service, or F-2 or better by Fitch Ratings, Ltd., or the equivalent of these ratings if assigned by another United States Securities and Exchange Commission designated Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization;

(v) Agency and nonagency residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations;

(vi) Convertible bonds;

(vii) Bonds of the Tennessee Valley Authority;

(viii) Bonds, notes, certificates and other valid obligations of the United States, and other valid obligations of any federal instrumentality that issues securities under authority of an act of Congress and are exempt from registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

(ix) Bonds, notes, debentures and other securities issued by any federal instrumentality and fully guaranteed by the United States. Direct obligations issued by the United States of America shall be deemed to include securities of, or other interests in, any open-end or closed-end management type investment company or investment trust registered under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, provided that the portfolio of such investment company or investment trust is limited to direct obligations issued by the United States of America, United States government agencies, United States government instrumentalities or United States government sponsored enterprises, and to repurchase agreements fully collateralized by direct obligations of the United States of America, United States government agencies, United States government instrumentalities or United States government sponsored enterprises, and the investment company or investment trust takes delivery of such collateral for the repurchase agreement, either directly or through an authorized custodian;

(x) Interest-bearing revenue bonds or notes or bonds or notes which are general obligations of any state in the United States or of any city or county therein, provided that the bonds or notes are of investment grade as rated by Standard & Poor's, by Fitch Ratings, Ltd., or by Moody's Investment Service;

(xi) 1. Shares of stocks, common and/or preferred, of corporations created by or existing under the laws of the United States or any state, district or territory thereof and shares of stocks, common and/or preferred and convertible securities of non-United States companies; provided:

a. The maximum investments in stocks shall not exceed seventy percent (70%) of the market value of the total investment fund;

b. The stock of such corporation shall:

A. Be listed on a national stock exchange; or

B. Be traded in the over-the-counter market, provided price quotations for such over-the-counter stocks are quoted by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ);

c. The outstanding shares of such corporation shall have a total market value of not less than Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00);

d. The amount of investment in any one (1) corporation shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the book value of the assets of the fund; and

e. The shares of any one (1) corporation owned by the fund shall not exceed five percent (5%) of that corporation's outstanding stock;

2. The board may take requisite action to effectuate or hedge such transactions for shares of stock and convertible securities of non-United States companies through foreign or domestic banks, including the purchase and sale, transfer, exchange or otherwise disposal of, and generally deal in foreign exchange through the use of foreign currency, interbank forward contracts, futures contracts, options contracts, swaps and other related derivative instruments, notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary;

(xii) Bonds of investment grade, stocks and convertible securities of established non-United States companies and foreign government securities of investment grade rated by a recognized rating agency, which companies are listed on only primary national stock exchanges of foreign nations; provided that the total market value of investments under this paragraph shall at no time exceed thirty percent (30%) of the total market value of all investments of the fund. The board may take requisite action to effectuate or hedge such transactions through foreign or domestic banks, including the purchase and sale, transfer, exchange or otherwise disposal of, and generally deal in foreign exchange through the use of foreign currency, interbank forward contracts, futures contracts, options contracts, swaps and other related derivative instruments, notwithstanding any other provisions of this article to the contrary;

(xiii) Covered call and put options on securities or indices traded on one or more of the regulated exchanges;

(xiv) Institutional investment trusts managed by a corporate trustee or by a Securities and Exchange Commission registered investment advisory firm retained as an investment manager by the board of directors, and institutional class shares of investment companies and unit investment trusts registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 where such funds or shares are comprised of common or preferred stocks, bonds, money market instruments or other investments authorized under this section. Any investment manager or managers approved by the board of directors shall invest such funds or shares as a fiduciary;

(xv) Pooled or commingled real estate funds or real estate securities managed by a corporate trustee or by a Securities and Exchange Commission registered investment advisory firm retained as an investment manager by the board of directors. Such investment in commingled funds or shares shall be held in trust; provided that the total market value of investments under this paragraph shall at no time exceed ten percent (10%) of the total market value of all investments of the fund. Any investment manager approved by the board of directors shall invest such commingled funds or shares as a fiduciary;

(xvi) Types of investments not specifically authorized by this paragraph if the investments are in the form of a separate account managed by a Securities and Exchange Commission registered investment advisory firm retained as an investment manager by the board; or a limited partnership or commingled fund approved by the board; provided that the total market value of investments under this paragraph shall at no time exceed ten percent (10%) of the total market value of all investments of the fund. Any person or entity who exercises any discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting management of the separate account, limited partnership or commingled fund, or who exercises any authority or control respecting management or disposition of the assets of the separate account, limited partnership or commingled fund shall exercise such authority or control as a fiduciary;

(w) All investments shall be acquired at prices not exceeding the prevailing market values for such investments;

(x) Any limitations herein set forth shall be applicable only at the time of purchase and shall not require the liquidation of any investment at any time. All investments shall be clearly marked to indicate ownership by the fund and to the extent possible shall be registered in the name of the fund;

(y) Subject to the above terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions, the board shall have power to sell, assign, transfer and dispose of any of the securities and investments of the fund, provided that the sale, assignment or transfer has the majority approval of the entire board. The board may employ or contract with investment managers, evaluation services or other such services as determined by the board to be necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the fund;

(z) Except as otherwise provided herein, no trustee and no employee of the board shall have any direct or indirect interest in the income, gains or profits of any investment made by the board, nor shall any such person receive any pay or emolument for his services in connection with any investment made by the board. No trustee or employee of the board shall become an endorser or surety, or in any manner an obligor for money loaned by or borrowed from the fund;

(aa) All interest derived from investments and any gains from the sale or exchange of investments shall be credited by the board to the account of the fund;

(bb) To delegate responsibility for administration of the comprehensive investment plan to a consultant the board determines to be qualified. Such consultant shall be compensated by the board. Directly or through such consultant, the board may contract to provide such services as may be a part of the comprehensive investment plan or as may be deemed necessary or proper by the board or such consultant, including, but not limited to, providing consolidated billing, individual and collective record keeping and accounting, and asset purchase, control and safekeeping;

(cc) To annually prepare or cause to be prepared a report setting forth in appropriate detail an accounting of the fund and a description of the financial condition of the program at the close of each fiscal year. Such report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and members of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Community College Board and the State Board of Education on or before March 31 each year. In addition, the board shall make the report available to purchasers of advance payment contracts. The board shall provide to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board by March 31 each year complete advance payment contract sales information including projected postsecondary enrollments of beneficiaries. The accounts of the fund shall be subject to annual audits by the State Auditor or his designee;

(dd) To solicit proposals for the marketing of the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program. The entity designated pursuant to this paragraph shall serve as a centralized marketing agent for the program and shall solely be responsible for the marketing of the program. Any materials produced for the purpose of marketing the programs shall be submitted to the board for review. No such materials shall be made available to the public before the materials are approved by the board. Any educational institution may distribute marketing materials produced for the program; however, all such materials shall have been approved by the board prior to distribution. Neither the state nor the board shall be liable for misrepresentation of the program by a marketing agent; and

(ee) To establish other policies, procedures and criteria necessary to implement and administer the provisions of this article.

For efficient and effective administration of the program and trust fund, the board may authorize the State of Mississippi Treasury Department and/or the State Treasurer to carry out any or all of the powers and duties enumerated above.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / 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. § 37-39-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 39-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-23
Status: in_force

The school boards of all public school districts may, in their discretion, enter into an agreement, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, to act jointly in the purchase of maintenance, operational and scholastic services, supplies and materials and equipment.

It is the purpose of this section to enable the school systems to achieve economies of scale through increased purchasing power to the end that the education tax revenues be utilized efficiently.