Miss. Code Ann. § 37-171-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 171-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-171-5
Status: in_force

(1) The school board of a school district may adopt a policy allowing the public use of indoor or outdoor school property during nonschool hours for purposes of recreation or sport. The school district must ensure that this use of school facilities by the public does not interfere with the use of those facilities for school purposes.

(2) School districts and school district employees may not be held liable for any claim resulting from a loss or injury arising from the use of indoor or outdoor school property or facilities made available for public recreation or sport. However, this chapter does not relieve a school district or school district employee of liability that otherwise exists for:

(a) Deliberate, willful or malicious injury to persons or property by a school district employee; or

(b) Injury resulting from a lack of proper maintenance or upkeep of a piece of equipment or facilities, unless the school district or school district employee had attempted to restrict access to a piece of equipment or facilities area in need of repair which would endanger a student during normal school hours.

This subsection may not be deemed to create or increase the liability of any person.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-75 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-75
Status: in_force

(1) For purposes of this section:

(a) “Strike” means a concerted failure to report for duty, a willful absence from one's position, the stoppage of work, a deliberate slowing down of work, or the withholding, in whole or in part, of the full, faithful and proper performance of the duties of employment, for the purpose of inducing, influencing or coercing a change in the conditions, compensation, rights, privileges or obligations of public employment; provided, however, that nothing herein shall limit or impair the right of any certified teacher to express or communicate a complaint or opinion on any matter related to the conditions of public employment so long as the same is not designed and does not interfere with the full, faithful and proper performance of the duties of employment.

(b) “Certified teacher” shall mean the following employees of public school districts: classroom teachers, supervisors of programs, librarians, guidance personnel, audiovisual personnel and vocational directors.

(2) It is hereby declared that a strike, concerted work stoppage or concerted refusal to perform lawful duties in any manner by certified teachers against public school districts within the State of Mississippi shall be illegal, unprotected and contrary to the public policy of the State of Mississippi.

(3) No certified teacher, group of certified teachers or teacher organization shall promote, encourage or participate in any strike against a public school district, the State of Mississippi or any agency thereof.

(4) No person exercising any authority, supervision or direction over any certified teacher shall have the power to authorize, approve or consent to a strike by one or more certified teachers, and such person shall not authorize, approve or consent to such strike. No local school governing board or any person exercising authority, supervision or direction over any public school shall attempt to close or curtail the operations of the public school, or to change or alter in any manner the schedule of operations of said school in order to circumvent the full force and effect of this statute. In the event of a strike against the public school, the local school governing board shall continue school operations as long as practicable in order to ascertain which teachers are on strike, and certify the names of such teachers to the Attorney General. Any member of a local school governing board or public school administrator who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) for each day such violation continues.

(5) Chancery courts having jurisdiction of the parties are vested with the authority to hear and determine all actions alleging violations of subsection (3) of this section. Suits to enjoin violations of subsection (3) of this section shall have priority over all matters on the court's docket except other emergency matters.

(6) If a certified teacher, a group of certified teachers, a teacher organization, or any officer, agent or representative of any teacher organization engages in a strike in violation of subsection (3) of this section, any public school district whose employees are involved or whose employees may be affected by the strike shall file suit to enjoin the strike in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, or in the chancery court having proper jurisdiction and proper venue of such actions. The chancery court shall conduct a hearing with notice to all interested parties, at the earliest practicable time. If the complainant makes a prima facie showing that a violation of subsection (3) of this section is in progress or that there is a clear, real and present danger that such a strike is about to commence, the chancery court shall issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the strike. Upon final hearing, the chancery court shall either make the injunction permanent or dissolve it.

(7) If an injunction to enjoin a strike issued pursuant to this section is not promptly complied with, on the application of the complainant, the chancery court shall immediately initiate contempt proceedings against those who appear to be in violation. A teacher organization found to be in contempt of court for violating an injunction against a strike shall be fined up to Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) for each such calendar day. The fines so collected shall immediately accrue to the school district and shall be used by it to replace those services denied the public as a result of the strike. Each officer, agent or representative of a teacher organization found to be in contempt of court for violating an injunction against a teacher organization shall be liable for any damages which might be suffered by a public employer as a result of a violation of the provisions of subsection (3) of this section by the teacher organization or its representatives, officers and agents. The chancery court having jurisdiction over such actions is empowered to enforce judgment against teacher organizations by the attachment or garnishment of organization initiation fees or dues.

(8) If the court, after a hearing on notice, determines that a certified teacher has violated subsection (3) of this section, it shall order the termination of his or her employment by the public school district. No person knowingly violating the provision of said subsection may, subsequent to such violation, be employed or reemployed as a teacher by any public school district in the state unless the court first finds a public necessity therefor.

The provisions of this subsection (8) shall be cumulative and supplemental to any other applicable provision of law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 115-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-31
Status: in_force

The teaching hospital and related facilities shall be utilized to serve the people of Mississippi generally. The teaching hospital and related facilities shall have the power necessary to enter into group purchasing arrangements as deemed reasonable and necessary, and such powers as are necessary to establish and operate health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, prepaid health benefit plans and other managed care entities regulated by Section 83-41-301 et seq. , and the power to establish rates and charges for health care services, either on a fee for service, discounted, capitated or other risk based payment basis, and provided that any such entity shall primarily provide care and services to indigent persons or qualified beneficiaries of the State Medicaid Program; and further provided, however, any entity, or any affiliate of any such entity, that now or in the future provides management services to the University of Mississippi Medical Center or any of its facilities, shall not be affiliated in any manner with any managed care product established by the University of Mississippi Medical Center under the authority of this section. There shall be a reasonable volume of free work; however, said volume shall never be less than one-half of its bed capacity for indigent patients who are eligible and qualified under the state charity fund for charity hospitalization of indigent persons, or qualified beneficiaries of the State Medicaid Program. The income derived from the operations of said hospital, including all facilities thereof, shall be utilized toward the payment of the operating expenses of said hospital, including all facilities thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 117-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-3
Status: in_force

The purpose and aim of the Mississippi State College for Women is the moral and intellectual advancement of the girls of the state by the maintenance of a first-class institution for their education in the arts and sciences, for their training in normal school methods and kindergarten, for their instruction in bookkeeping, photography, stenography, telegraphy, and typewriting, and in designing, drawing, engraving, and painting, and their industrial application, and for their instruction in fancy, general and practical needlework, and in such other industrial branches as experience, from time to time, shall suggest as necessary or proper to fit them for the practical affairs of life.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-110-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 110-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-110-7
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty and responsibility of universities participating in the intern program to nominate qualified graduate students to said program and to keep the program coordinator fully apprised of the academic development of the intern student, including any change in the student's educational status.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-25-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 25-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-25-7
Status: in_force

Any student receiving instruction under this chapter shall be:

(a) Fourteen (14) years of age or above;

(b) A regularly enrolled student in the ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade; and

(c) A full-time student in the respective secondary school.

Any driver education student shall not be required to possess a learner's permit or driver's license while the student is under the direct supervision of a driver education instructor and is actually enrolled in an approved course of driver education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 155-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-111
Status: in_force

(1) There is created a Mississippi Affordable College Savings Trust Fund as an instrumentality of the state to be administered by the Treasury Department. The MACS Trust Fund shall consist of state appropriations, monies acquired from other governmental or private sources and money remitted in accordance with savings trust agreements and shall receive and hold all payments, contributions and deposits intended for it as well as gifts, bequests, endowments or federal, state or local grants and any other public or private source of funds and all earnings on the fund until disbursed as provided under this section. The amounts on deposit in the trust fund shall not constitute property of the state. Amounts on deposit in the trust fund may not be commingled with state funds, and the state may have no claim to or interest in such funds. Savings trust agreements or any other contract entered into by or on behalf of the trust do not constitute a debt or obligation of the state, and no account owner is entitled to any amounts except for those amounts on deposit in or accrued to their account.

The MACS Trust Fund shall continue in existence as long as it holds any funds belonging to an account owner or otherwise has any obligations to any person or entity until its existence is terminated by the Legislature and remaining assets on deposit in the fund are returned to account owners or transferred to the state in accordance with unclaimed property laws.

(2) There are created the following three (3) separate accounts within the MACS Trust Fund: (a) the administrative account; (b) the endowment account; and (c) the program account. The administrative account shall accept, deposit and disburse funds for the purpose of administering and marketing the program. The endowment account shall receive and deposit accounts received in connection with the sales of interests in the MACS Trust Fund other than amounts for the administrative account and other than amounts received pursuant to a savings trust agreement. Amounts on deposit in the endowment account may be applied as specified by the board for any purpose related to the program or to otherwise assist Mississippi residents to attain a postsecondary education. The program account shall receive, invest and disburse amounts pursuant to savings trust agreements.

(3) The official location of the trust fund shall be the State of Mississippi Treasury Department, and the facilities of the Treasury Department shall be used and employed in the administration of the fund, including, but without limitation to, the keeping of records, the management of bank accounts and other investments, the transfer of funds and the safekeeping of securities evidencing investments. These functions may be administered pursuant to a management agreement with a qualified entity or entities.

(4) Payments received by the board on behalf of beneficiaries from account owners, other payors or from any other source, public or private, shall be placed in the trust fund, and the board shall cause there to be maintained separate records and accounts for individual beneficiaries, as may be required under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, and any other applicable federal law.

(5) Account owners and any other payors or contributors shall be permitted only to contribute cash or any other form of payment or contribution as is permitted under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, and approved by the board. The board shall cause the program to maintain adequate safeguards against contributions in excess of what may be required for qualified higher education expenses. The MACS Trust Fund, through the Treasurer, may receive and deposit into the trust fund any gift of any nature, real or personal property, made by an individual by testamentary disposition, including, without limitation, any specific gift or bequeath made by will, trust or other disposition to the extent permitted under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended. The MACS Trust Fund may receive amounts transferred from an UGMA, UTMA or other account established for the benefit of a minor if the trust beneficiary of such an account is identified as the legal owner of the MACS Trust Fund account upon attaining majority age.

(6) The account owner retains ownership of all amounts on deposit in his or her account with the program up to the date of distribution on behalf of a designated beneficiary. Earnings derived from investment of the contributions shall be considered to be held in trust in the same manner as contributions, except as applied for purposes of the designated beneficiary and for purposes of maintaining and administrating the program as provided in this article. Amounts on deposit in an account owner's account shall be available for expenses and penalties imposed by the board for the program as disclosed in the savings trust agreement.

(7) The MACS Trust Fund shall constitute a fund of an instrumentality of the state, and its property and income shall be exempt from all taxation by the state and by all of its political subdivisions.

(8) The assets of the MACS Trust Fund shall be preserved, invested and expended solely pursuant to and for the purposes of this article and shall not be loaned or otherwise transferred or used by the state for any other purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-67
Status: in_force

The number of hours of actual teaching which shall constitute a school day shall be determined and fixed by the board of trustees of the school district at not less than five and one-half (5 1 / 2 ) hours.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 144-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-3
Status: in_force

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

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

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

(i) Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians;

(ii) Mississippi Chapter, American College of Physicians;

(iii) Mississippi Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics;

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

(v) Mississippi Psychiatric Association;

(vi) Mississippi Medical and Surgical Association;

(vii) Mississippi Osteopathic Association;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(8) Funding for the establishment and continued operation of the program and commission shall be appropriated out of any money in the General Fund not already appropriated to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 61-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-31
Status: in_force

The boards of supervisors of the various counties in Mississippi which are entitled to share in the distribution of the Chickasaw school funds, are hereby authorized and empowered to make settlement with any separate school district in said counties which has received more or less than its proportionate part of said funds, and the boards of supervisors may appropriate any money now on hand or that may be allotted to said counties in the future in the payment of any amount due to such separate school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 145-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Opportunity Loan Program Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-268 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-268
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-268
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the “Community College Repair and Renovation Fund” which shall consist of monies appropriated or otherwise made available therefor by the Legislature. Within the special fund, the State Treasury shall establish a subaccount for each community and junior college. Interest earned on monies in the special fund shall be deposited to the credit of such fund and money shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year into the State General Fund. Money in the special fund shall be appropriated by the Legislature and allocated by the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, Department of Finance and Administration, for the repair, renovation and improvement of existing facilities owned by the community and junior colleges, including utility infrastructure projects; heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; and the replacement of furniture and equipment. However, the cost of such repair, renovation and improvement for any one (1) project shall not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00).

(2) Monies in the special fund shall be allocated to each community college's subaccount as follows:

(a) One-half ( 1 / 2 ) divided equally among the fifteen (15) public community and junior colleges; and

(b) One-half ( 1 / 2 ) divided upon the basis of the number of full-time academic, technical and vocational public community and junior college students actually enrolled and in attendance on the last day of the sixth week of the fall semester of the preceding year counting only those students who reside within the State of Mississippi. On or before December 1 of each year, the Mississippi Community College Board shall furnish the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, Department of Finance and Administration, the enrollment information required in this paragraph (b), including the percentage of statewide enrollment attributed to each community and junior college.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the term “ furniture and equipment ” shall be limited to the types of furniture and equipment items previously recorded in the community college's inventory.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-145 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-145
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-145
Status: in_force

In the event any county shall have outstanding bonds or other indebtedness which were sold or levied for the support and maintenance of a public junior college which was in operation as of July 1, 1964, and such county becomes a part of a legally constituted junior college district as provided in section 37-29-31 , the board of supervisors of such county shall continue to levy taxes upon such county until such bonds or other indebtedness shall be fully paid according to the terms thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 177-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-3
Status: in_force

Immediately upon the determination of a reading deficiency, and subsequently with each quarterly progress report until the deficiency is remediated, the parent or legal guardian of a Kindergarten or First-, Second- or Third-Grade student who exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading must be notified in writing by the student's teacher of the following:

(a) That the student has been identified as having a substantial deficiency in reading;

(b) A description of the services that the school district currently is providing to the student;

(c) A description of the proposed supplemental instructional services and supports that are designed to remediate the identified area of reading deficiency which the school district plans to provide the student, as outlined in the student's individual reading plan;

(d) That if the student's reading deficiency is not remediated before the end of the student's Third-Grade year, the student will not be promoted to Fourth Grade unless a good cause exemption specified under Section 37-177-11 is met;

(e) Strategies for parents and guardians to use in helping the student to succeed in reading proficiency; and

(f) That while the state annual accountability assessment for reading in Third Grade is the initial determinant, it is not the sole determiner of promotion and that approved alternative standardized assessments are available to assist the school district in knowing when a child is reading at or above grade level and ready for promotion to the next grade.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 141-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-23
Status: in_force

The Attorney General of the state shall be legal counsel to the University Research Center.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 59-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-33
Status: in_force

Whenever a balance shall remain of the proceeds of any bond issue after the purpose for which such bonds were issued shall have been accomplished, such balance shall forthwith be transferred to the bond and interest fund applicable to such bond issue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-21
Status: in_force

The State Board of Health and the various county health departments are hereby authorized and empowered to establish and provide for health education programs in the public school districts of this state and to employ county health educators for such purpose. In order to effectuate such programs the county superintendents of education of counties in which such programs have been established, with the approval of the county board of education, and the board of trustees of the municipal separate school districts are authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to cooperate and join with the said State Board of Health and the county health departments in such program. For such purposes the said county superintendents of education, with the approval of the county board of education, are hereby authorized and empowered to expend such funds as may be necessary from the common school funds of the county, and the board of trustees of municipal separate school districts are hereby authorized and empowered to expend such funds as may be necessary from the maintenance funds of such districts for the purpose of defraying the expenses of such cooperative health education programs. Those students whose parents or guardians shall make written application to the proper authorities on the ground that such program is inconsistent with the tenets and practices of the known religious organization with which they are affiliated shall not be required to participate in the program.

The State Board of Health and various county health departments shall have the power and authority to enter into such agreements and joint programs with the said county superintendents of education and boards of trustees of municipal separate school districts as may be necessary, proper and desirable in carrying out the purposes of this section, and in establishing and carrying on health education programs in the public school districts of this state, and the said county superintendents of education, with the approval and consent of the county board of education, and the board of trustees of municipal separate school districts shall have the power and authority to enter into such agreements and joint programs with each other and with the State Board of Health and county health departments as may be necessary for such purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-37 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 11-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-37
Status: in_force

A public high school fraternity, sorority or secret society, as contemplated by Sections 37-11-37 through 37-11-45 , is hereby defined to be any organization composed wholly, or in part, of public high school pupils, which seeks to perpetuate itself by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in such high school on the basis of the decision of the membership of such fraternity, sorority or secret society, rather than upon the free choice of any pupil in the school. However, this does not apply to the Order of DeMolay or a similar organization sponsored by any branch of the Masonic Orders or like adult fraternal organization.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-12 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 106-12
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-12
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special trust fund to be known as the Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Trust Fund. The trust fund shall consist of all monies designated by the Legislature for deposit therein and any gift, donation, bequest, trust, grant, endowment, transfer of money or securities, or any other monies from any source whatsoever, designated for deposit in the trust fund.

(2) The principal of the trust fund shall remain inviolate and shall be invested by the State Treasurer in the same manner as provided by Section 27-105-33, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for the investment of excess state funds. Interest and income derived from investment of the principal of the trust fund shall be appropriated by the Legislature for expenditure as provided in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-187-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 187-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-187-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature finds and declares that due to the COVID-19 pandemic there is an immediate increased need for reliable Internet service in Mississippi, including expanded broadband access, to facilitate and assist with distance learning. Therefore, the Mississippi Department of Education shall establish the Mississippi Pandemic Response Broadband Availability Grant Program to provide grants to Mississippi public school districts, independent schools and Native American tribal schools for the purpose of expanding broadband access in the unserved areas of the State of Mississippi.

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

(a) “ Broadband access ” means access to broadband services as defined in Section 77-17-3(d) .

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

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

(3) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the “Mississippi Pandemic Response Broadband Availability Grant Program Fund,” which shall consist of funds made available by the Legislature in any manner and funds from any other source designated for deposit into such fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. Monies in the fund shall be used for the purpose of providing payments to eligible Mississippi public school districts, independent schools and Native American tribal school districts as provided in this chapter. Monies in the fund shall be administered and disbursed by the department in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. If on December 1, 2020, there are undistributed monies in the fund, or if at any other time undistributed monies in the fund are determined by the department to be ineligible to be spent by the department, those monies shall be transferred to the Unemployment Compensation Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 140-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-3
Status: in_force

(1) There is created the Mississippi School of the Arts, which shall be a residential school for eleventh and twelfth grade high school students located on the campus of Whitworth College in Brookhaven, Mississippi. The purpose of the school shall be to provide a more challenging educational experience for artistically talented and gifted students of the state to develop their full potential, including the teaching of humanities, creative writing, literature, theater, music, dance and visual arts, and the school's curriculum and admissions policies shall reflect that purpose.

(2) The 2001-2002 school year shall be the first year that the school shall admit students for enrollment, which shall be limited to students in the eleventh grade during the school's first year. Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, the school shall enroll students in the eleventh and twelfth grades.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 23-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-61
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 37-23-61 through 37-23-75 , the word “ child ” shall mean any child who cannot pursue all regular classwork due to reasons of defective hearing, vision, speech, intellectual disability, or other mental or physical conditions as determined by competent medical authorities and psychologists. Those medical authorities and psychologists shall be approved by the State Department of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-123 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-123
Status: in_force

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

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

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

All indebtedness so created shall be paid from first funds derived from tax levies for maintenance and operation of said school coming into the treasury thereof and from fees, rentals and other charges as provided in Section 37-29-125 . In order to secure the prompt payment of any and all indebtedness, whether of principal or interest incurred hereunder, a special fund shall be established in the depository of the funds of said institution, the style of which shall be, “debt retirement fund of __________ junior college district,” and immediately upon receipt of the distribution of said first funds derived from such tax levies, annually hereafter in advance of the due date of each and every installment of said indebtedness, a sufficient sum from said taxes shall be paid into said special fund for the retirement of all principal and interest coming due within said year equal to the difference, if any, between such principal and interest and the amount collected from fees, rentals and other charges, as provided in Section 37-29-125 . Said debt retirement fund shall be used for no other purpose than for the payment of principal and interest of indebtedness incurred hereunder.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 47-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-39
Status: in_force

For the purpose of paying the principal of and interest upon all state school bonds issued under the authority of this chapter, there shall be and there is hereby pledged the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-91 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 27-91
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-91
Status: in_force

Any agricultural high school in this state, which has not been operated and maintained as an agricultural high school for four years last past, which does not own sufficient buildings in which to operate and maintain an agricultural high school, and which owes legal, valid and outstanding debts, may be abolished by the board of supervisors of the county in which such agricultural high school is located.

In the event an agricultural high school is abolished as provided in this section, the property of such school may be sold by the board of supervisors of such county. The proceeds of the sale of such property shall be used to pay the debts of the school, and the balance, if any, shall be paid into the general school fund of the county.

This section is intended to provide an additional method for abolishing agricultural high schools and it will not amend or repeal any other law providing for the abolishing of such schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 181-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-17
Status: in_force

(1) An eligible nonpublic school is autonomous and not an agent of the state or federal government and therefore:

(a) The State Department of Education or any other government agency shall not regulate the educational program of a nonpublic school, postsecondary institution or educational service provider that accepts funds from the parent or guardian of a participating student beyond the requirements of the ESA program as promulgated in this chapter;

(b) The creation of the Education Scholarship Account program does not expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers, or any school district to impose any additional regulation of nonpublic schools, postsecondary institutions or educational service providers beyond those necessary to enforce the requirements of the ESA program; and

(c) Eligible schools, postsecondary institutions and educational service providers shall be given the maximum freedom to provide for the educational needs of their students without governmental control. No eligible school, postsecondary institution or educational service provider shall be required to alter its creed, practices, admission policies or curriculum in order to accept participating students.

(2) Eligible schools, or the parent or guardian who submitted the ESA application, must submit student performance data to the State Department of Education at the end of the school year, including the individual results of the pre-assessment and post-assessment required in Section 37-181-15(f) . The department shall develop a uniformed reporting format for eligible schools to use when submitting assessment results.

(3) In any legal proceeding challenging the application of this chapter to an eligible school, postsecondary institution or educational service provider the state bears the burden of establishing that the law is necessary and does not impose any undue burden on the eligible school, postsecondary institution or educational service provider.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-119 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 65-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-119
Status: in_force

If a petition or petitions be filed with the secretary or president of the board of trustees, signed in person in accord with the provisions of this article by three-fifths of the persons who are qualified electors in or of the school district in which any one or more schools have been closed and three-fifths of the qualified electors who reside in the territory comprising the attendance area, if any has been designated, served by any school which may be closed, requesting the opening of a school or schools which have been closed and specifying the school or schools the re-opening of which is requested by the petition they signed, then it shall be the mandatory duty of such board of trustees to forthwith determine whether said petition or petitions are signed by the said requisite number of said qualified electors. In order to facilitate the determination by the board of whether the petition or petitions have been signed by the requisite number of said qualified electors and so that the board of trustees may have the completed petitions before it upon which its determination shall be made, all petitions requesting the opening of the same school or schools shall be filed not later than seven days after the filing of the first petition addressed to the re-opening of the same school or schools; in computing such period of time the day of filing the said first petition shall be excluded.

The board of trustees with whom any such petition or petitions are filed shall check and verify every petition or petitions filed with it to determine whether it be properly signed or executed by the required number of qualified electors. Such board of trustees is fully authorized to employ such person or persons, including counsel, as it may deem necessary in order to expeditiously make such investigation, and it is also authorized to hold such hearing or hearings as it may deem necessary in and about its said investigation and determination. All persons purporting to have signed said petition or petitions shall cooperate with said board of trustees in and about such investigation and determination.

The said board of trustees shall diligently proceed with and complete its investigation and determination of whether said petition or petitions are signed by the requisite number of qualified electors so as to avoid unnecessary delay and in any event shall complete same within not more than forty-five days after the last day upon which, in accord with this section, any petition or petitions may be filed as above provided for. The verification by the board of trustees of the signatures to said petition or petitions shall include an examination of the records on file in the office of the circuit clerk or registrar of the county or counties in which the school district involved may be situated. If it be apparent upon the face of the petition or petitions that same are not signed by the requisite number of qualified electors, when all petitions are considered together which may have been filed within such period of time above provided for, the said board of trustees may make its determination upon the sufficiency of said petition without making the detailed investigation or incurring the expense which would otherwise be incurred by such investigation and check of the records.

Within three days after the board of trustees shall have determined whether said petition or petitions do or do not contain the requisite number of signatures to re-open any school or schools therein designated, it shall hold a regular or special meeting at the place where its regular meetings are held, if the building containing same be then in existence, or, otherwise, in some other public place within the district to be selected by the president of said board of trustees, and there make the official announcement and determination of the sufficiency or insufficiency of the said petition or petitions to cause a re-opening of any school or schools which have been closed in accord with the terms of this article and enter an order evidencing its determination. If it finds that said petition or petitions are insufficient to cause such a re-opening of any such school, it shall so state in its order, but if it finds that the petition or petitions are sufficient in accord with the terms of this article to cause a re-opening of any school or schools previously closed, it shall order that the school or schools be re-opened and go into operation within one week from the date of such meeting; the day of the entry of such order shall be included in such computation of time. Upon the entry of such order all students which have been transferred to other schools and all employees who have been working in other schools and all other employees and all other students who were enrolled in any school or schools which were closed shall, on the day appointed for the re-opening of said school or schools, report for classes and duty in the school or schools where they were attending or working when such school or schools were closed, and such order shall automatically be a re-transfer of such students and employees.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 121-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-5
Status: in_force

The Mississippi agricultural and forestry experimental station is authorized to establish a branch at Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi, for the purpose of providing an organization for cooperative effort between the two land grant institutions in furthering a unified agricultural research program for the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 153-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-61
Status: in_force

The office shall provide a comprehensive report on the use and effectiveness of funds distributed under the grant programs created in this article, to include, if applicable, wage data and employment outcomes for trainees, to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, Chair of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee, and Chair of the House Workforce Development Committee by October 1 each year of the existence of the program. The report shall also contain, if applicable, the submitted applications, the score of the applications, the amount of grant funds awarded to each applicant, the amount of grant funds expended by each applicant, the status of the training infrastructure, the number of students currently trained at the applicant's school, and the estimated increase in the number of students to be trained at the applicant's school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-73-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 73-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-73-3
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the Office of Workforce Development shall implement a career coaching program to support middle schools and high schools as students are exposed, prepared and connected to career avenues within and beyond the classroom setting. Through strong partnerships with economic and business leaders, paired with viable relationships with school districts, the career coaches shall target the alignment of students' strengths with intentional academic and work-based learning in pursuit of meaningful professional employment.

(2) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the Office of Workforce Development, working through the Department of Employment Security as fiscal agent, shall establish rules and regulations to operate the career coaching program, which may include granting funds to eligible recipients such as state agencies, regional workforce entities and other nonprofits, to hire coaches. The Office of Workforce Development shall establish criteria for coaches and shall work with partner organizations to identify candidates and measure outcomes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 23-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-61
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 37-23-61 through 37-23-75 , the word “ child ” shall mean any child who cannot pursue all regular classwork due to reasons of defective hearing, vision, speech, intellectual disability, or other mental or physical conditions as determined by competent medical authorities and psychologists. Those medical authorities and psychologists shall be approved by the State Department of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-57 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 45-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-57
Status: in_force

In the event of an appeal by any county board of education or board of trustees of any municipal separate school district from any final rule, regulation or order of the state educational finance commission, it shall be the duty and responsibility of such appealing county board or board of trustees, under the supervision of the executive secretary of said commission, to prepare or cause to be prepared the record on appeal, which, when approved by the commission or by the chairman thereof in vacation, shall be and constitute the record on appeal. The same shall thereupon be filed, as required by law, in the chancery court to which the appeal is taken. The cost of making and filing such record shall be an item of cost of said appeal, which shall be paid by said appellant. The cost of such record shall not be in excess of the cost of a similar record on appeal from a chancery court of this state to the supreme court of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 101-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-1
Status: in_force

The following state institutions of higher learning shall be under the management and control of a board of trustees to be known as the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, namely:

(a) The University of Mississippi;

(b) Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science;

(c) Mississippi University for Women;

(d) The University of Southern Mississippi;

(e) Delta State University;

(f) Alcorn State University;

(g) Jackson State University;

(h) Mississippi Valley State University;

(i) And any other of like kind which may be hereafter established by the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 155-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-5
Status: in_force

As used in this article, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) Prepaid Tuition Contract. A contract entered into between the Board of Directors of the College Savings Plans of Mississippi Trust Funds and a purchaser pursuant to this article.

(b) Trust fund. There is created a special fund in the State of Mississippi Treasury Department to be designated as the “Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Trust Fund” (hereinafter referred to as the trust fund or fund) and to be administered by the State of Mississippi Treasury Department. The fund shall consist of state appropriations, monies acquired from other governmental or private sources, and money remitted in accordance with prepaid tuition contracts. In the event that dividends, interest and gains exceed the amount necessary for program administration and disbursements, the board may designate a percentage of the fund to serve as a contingency fund.

(c) Purchaser. A person, corporation, trust, charitable organization or other such entity that makes or is obligated to make advance payments in accordance with a prepaid tuition contract entered into pursuant to this article. However, no purchaser may request or accept any form of compensation, fee, commission, service charge or any other form of payment or remuneration for entering into a contract for the benefit of a nonresident beneficiary.

(d) Beneficiary. (i) The beneficiary of a prepaid tuition contract must be eighteen (18) years of age or younger at the time the purchaser enters into the contract and must be: (A) a resident of this state at the time the purchaser enters into the contract; or (B) a nonresident if the purchaser is a resident of this state at the time that the contract is entered into.

(ii) The board may require a reasonable period of residence in this state for a beneficiary or the purchaser.

(iii) A beneficiary is considered a resident for purposes of tuition regardless of the beneficiary's residence on the date of enrollment. However, for contracts entered into after July 1, 2003, this provision only applies to nonresident beneficiaries if (A) the original purchaser was the parent, grandparent or legal guardian of the beneficiary; or (B) the beneficiary was a resident of Mississippi at the time the contract was purchased.

(e) Institution of higher education. Any public institution of higher learning or public community or junior college located in Mississippi.

(f) Tuition. The quarter, semester or term charges and all required fees imposed by an institution of higher education as a condition of enrollment by all students.

(g) Board or board of directors. The Board of Directors of the College Savings Plans of Mississippi Trust Funds as provided in Section 37-155-7 .

(h) Legislature. The Legislature of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-64 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-64
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-64
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning with the 2010-2011 school term, any school district required to close the operation of its schools by decision of the superintendent, under the authority provided by the local school board, due to extreme weather conditions, in the best interests of the health and safety of the students, administration and staff of the school district, shall be exempt from the requirement that schools be kept in session a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days. Any school district that closes its schools for reasons authorized under this section shall receive payment from the State Department of Education for per pupil expenditure for pupils in net enrollment not to exceed ten (10) days.

(2) In the event weather conditions are cause for the closure of operations of schools in any local school district in any instance in which a state of emergency has not been declared pursuant to Section 37-151-211(4) , the State Board of Education may consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests submitted by local school districts to alter the school calendar consistent with the provision of that section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 21-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-9
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education shall:

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

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

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

(d) Report annually to the Mississippi Legislature on the graduation and dropout rates based on Grades 7 through 12 and Grades 9 through 12 cohort groups, statewide and by district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-161-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 161-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-161-7
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall develop a wellness curriculum for use by each school district and the board shall establish rules and regulations to be followed by the districts whereby the districts shall implement the curriculum. Such wellness curriculum shall include educating students about the value of exercise, proper diet and abstinence from use of tobacco and alcohol. The state board shall also adopt regulations for districts' compliance concerning what products may be sold in vending machines on campus and when they can be sold.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-131 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 115-131
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-131
Status: in_force

A special fund, to be designated as the “2023 Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom Fund”, is created within the State Treasury. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund. Monies deposited into the fund shall be expended by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support the operations of the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom (“Center”) at the University of Mississippi, subject to the conditions that the Center shall:

(a) Promote scholarly research and civic education by exploring the principles of freedom expressed in our country's founding documents;

(b) Support individual faculty members at institutions of higher learning who have been named Declaration Fellows and who actively participate in the Center's network of scholars and further the mission and principles of the Center;

(c) Support classes, activities, and internships that advance students' understanding of American freedom at both the secondary and post-secondary level of education, including support for the operation of any Freedom Studies minor that may be available for academic credit at the University of Mississippi, as well as support for all Freedom Studies courses belonging to this minor; and

(d) Continue to be governed and advised in accordance with the Center governing structure described in the last paragraph of the Center mission statement signed by the Chancellor, Provost and founding Director of the Center and received in the Office of the Chancellor on March 1, 2023.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 185-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-5
Status: in_force

(1) The Independent Schools' COVID-19 Assistance Grant Program is established, to be administered by the MDA, for the purpose of making grants to eligible independent schools to provide reimbursements for eligible expenses, as defined in Section 37-185-3 .

(2) From the date of the beginning of the period for applications for grants under this section, the MDA shall consider and review applications from eligible independent schools that did not receive and have not been awarded reimbursement under any other federal program for the expenses that will be reimbursed by a grant under this section.

(3) The MDA shall develop regulations, procedures and application forms to govern the administration of the program, which at a minimum, shall require eligible independent schools 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 37-185-3 , which the independent school has previously incurred, is presently incurring or will incur before December 30, 2020, as such expenses relate to mitigation of the impact of COVID-19.

(4) The MDA may retain One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for the administration of the program.

(5) 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 eligible independent school;

(b) The total amount of reimbursement requested by each eligible independent school; and

(c) The total amount of reimbursement received by each eligible independent school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 115-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-23
Status: in_force

There is hereby created a four-year, standard medical school as a department of the University of Mississippi, which school shall be equipped and operated as a standard medical school in accordance with the recommended standards of the Council on Medical Education and hospitals of the American Medical Association and the council of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 153-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-15
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this article:

(a) The words “ industry certification ” mean a process through which students are assessed by an independent, third-party certifying entity using predetermined standards for knowledge, skills and competencies, resulting in the award of a credential that is nationally recognized and must be at least one (1) of the following:

(i) Within an industry that addresses a critical local, regional or statewide economic need;

(ii) Linked to an occupation that is included in the State Department of Employment Security's occupations in high-demand list; or

(iii) Linked to an occupation that is identified as emerging.

(b) The words “ qualifying industry certification ” mean an industry certification that is linked to an occupation with wages of at least seventy percent (70%) of the median state income unless the industry certification is stackable to another postsecondary or professional credential which is linked to an occupation which meets the wage criterion.

(2) The State Workforce Investment Board shall provide the State Board of Education annually with a list of qualifying industry certifications. If the occupations identified in the list are not substantially the same as those occupations identified in the prior year, the State Board of Education shall provide reasonable notice of the changes to school districts.

(3) Beginning in fiscal year 2019-2020 and subject to available funding, the Department of Education shall pay a career and technical education incentive grant to the public school for each student enrolled in the public school who earns a qualifying industry certification. The amount per student for the career and technical education incentive grant shall be Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00). If the statewide sum of the career and technical education incentive grants awarded pursuant to this section exceeds the amount of available funds appropriated for the grants, the grants per student shall be reduced proportionately to cover all eligible grants under this section. Any costs accrued during one (1) fiscal year may be claimed and reimbursed in the following fiscal year.

(4) The grants may be used for qualifying industry certification examination fees, professional development for teachers in career and technical education programs under this section, student instructional support for programs that lead to qualifying industry certifications, or to increase access to qualifying industry certifications. Any grants awarded under this section may not be used to supplant funds provided for the basic operation of the career and technical education programs.

(5) On or before October 1 of each year, the Department of Education, working in collaboration with the Office of Workforce Development and any other entities as necessary, shall submit a report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees, the Chairman of the House Workforce Development Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee on the following:

(a) The number of students who enrolled in a career and technical education course or program that leads to a qualifying industry certification.

(b) The number of students who earned a qualifying industry certification by certification.

(c) The amount of career and technical education incentive grants awarded by the school.

(d) The amount of career and technical education incentive grants awarded per student.

(e) Aggregated demographic data on the students who earned a qualifying industry certification, including the qualifying industry certifications earned by rural and urban students.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-35 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 41-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-35
Status: in_force

In every school district of this state having district-owned school buses, the school board may establish, maintain and operate a school bus garage or shop for the servicing, repair and maintenance of such county-owned or district-owned buses. Two (2) or more counties or school districts are authorized, in the discretion of the respective school boards thereof, jointly to establish, maintain and operate a school bus garage or shop for the servicing, repair and maintenance of such county-owned or district-owned buses. All of such garages or shops shall be established, maintained and operated under such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the State Board of Education. All expenses incurred in acquiring land, purchasing, renting or constructing buildings, purchasing equipment, and all other expenses incurred in connection with the establishing, operation and maintenance of such garages or shops, may be paid from county or district transportation funds. However, before any county or school district shall expend such transportation funds for the purchase of land, or the purchase, rental or construction of buildings, or other permanent improvements in connection with such garages or shops, such proposed expenditures shall be submitted to and approved by the State Board of Education in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of said board. Where maintenance shops are operated by the board of supervisors or the governing authorities of a municipality, school boards may, by agreement with the board of supervisors or the governing authorities of a municipality provide for the maintenance of school buses in the maintenance shops operated by said boards of supervisors or governing authorities of a municipality and may contribute to the support and expense of said shops as they may deem appropriate, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. School boards may contract with Head Start Programs to provide maintenance services for buses operated by Head Start and may accept financial contributions from Head Start Programs to support the expense of operating their respective school district vehicle maintenance facilities. All such contractual agreements with Head Start Programs shall be subject to the approval of the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 33-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-103
Status: in_force

The Executive Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, through the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, may, within budgetary limitations, purchase and operate motor vehicles for the purpose of transporting material, products and clients, and may employ program coordinating, supervising, support and production personnel to properly effectuate the purposes for which community rehabilitation programs are established under Section 37-33-101 . The director may designate a member of his or her staff to execute and enter into, on behalf of the office, contracts and subcontracts with any industry, manufacturer or other party for the production and the manufacture of goods or provision of services in the community rehabilitation program; however, the director must approve the general terms and conditions thereof. The director may authorize community rehabilitation programs to manufacture items and/or provide services for sale to jobbers or directly to the general public.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 173-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-21
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(d) Licensed elementary teachers under the supervision of a state department licensed dyslexia therapist.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-49-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 49-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-49-3
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(a) “person” means any individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity;

(b) “educational institution” means a university, college, community college, junior college, high school, technical, vocational or professional school, or similar institution, wherever located, approved or accredited by the state department of education for the purposes of this chapter, or by the appropriate official, department or agency of the state in which the institution is located; and

(c) “educational loan” means a loan or other aid or assistance for the purpose of furthering the obligor's education at an educational institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-147 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 101-147
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-147
Status: in_force

All leases and conveyances of timber, trees, dead wood and stumps, and all oil, gas and mineral leases, or leases for other purposes, provided for in Sections 37-101-141 and 37-101-143 , shall be executed by the President of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and attested by the Commissioner of Higher Education, respectively, for and on behalf of the University of Mississippi, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science and Alcorn State University, as the case may be. The corporate seal of the proper institution shall be affixed to all conveyances and leases of the lands held for the use and benefit of such institutions. In all such cases such conveyances and leases shall be executed only upon the order or resolution of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in the manner and method hereinbefore set forth.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-129-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 129-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-129-3
Status: in_force

No provision of this section and Section 37-129-1 shall apply to or in any wise affect the school of nursing heretofore established in the University of Mississippi pursuant to Section 37-115-51 , and no provision of this section and Section 37-129-1 shall apply to or affect the scholarship program for advanced study in nursing established under Sections 37-129-5 through 37-129-13 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-109 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 115-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-109
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is directed, empowered and authorized to take necessary and proper actions to assure that the school of dentistry of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, as hereby established, acquires and maintains recognition and accreditation in local, regional and national accreditation associations at least at the level of its counterparts in the southeastern region of the United States and on a level with the other professional schools of this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 103-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-13
Status: in_force

The residence of an adult is that place where he is domiciled, that is, the place where he actually physically resides with the intention of remaining there indefinitely or of returning there permanently when temporarily absent.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-8 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 61-8
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-8
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations prescribing the method by which school district ending fund balances are examined for fiscal stability. Failure to comply with any of the rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education with regard to ending fund balances shall constitute a violation of the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 43-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-45
Status: in_force

Any loss occasioned by the neglect, carelessness or failure of duty by the county superintendent or any principal or teacher in charge of any school, shall entitle the state to bring suit for the recovery of the amount of the loss or losses occasioned thereby.

Any writ or suit of any nature instituted under the provisions of this chapter shall be brought in the name of the State of Mississippi by the Attorney General. Any money or moneys recovered by such suit shall be placed to the credit of the State Textbook Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 45-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-61
Status: in_force

From an adverse decision of the chancery court, either party may appeal to the supreme court of the State of Mississippi. Said appeal shall be taken and perfected within thirty days and in the same manner provided by law for other appeals to the supreme court from the judgments of chancery courts, and upon appeal to the supreme court, the same shall be heard and disposed of as a preference cause as promptly and as expeditiously as the circumstances will permit.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-411 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-411
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-411
Status: in_force

Subject to the prior consent and approval of the State Board of Education, the school boards of all school districts involved shall be authorized to agree as to which of the school boards shall have the power to operate, manage, govern and control any joint school or school building, constructed, erected and equipped or which is to be operated jointly under the provisions of Section 37-7-403 , or, in the alternative, such boards may agree that all of such boards, acting jointly, or a joint board established and constituted in such manner as shall be agreed upon, shall have the power to operate, manage, govern and control any such school or school building. The board so agreed upon and constituted shall have the full power and authority to govern, supervise, manage and control such joint school building in the same manner and to the same extent as though said school was a regular school of such school district. All pertinent provisions of the school laws of this state shall be fully applicable to joint schools established, constructed, erected and equipped or which are to be jointly operated under the provisions of Section 37-7-403 , except that the eligible children of all school districts joining and cooperating in the establishment and/or operation of such joint school who are assigned to such school by the school board of the district in which they reside shall be eligible to and shall attend such school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-123 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-123
Status: in_force

When any such bonds or other direct obligations of the United States of America shall have been purchased with such excess funds as is provided for in Section 37-101-121 , such bonds or other obligations may be sold or surrendered for redemption at any time by order or resolution adopted by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, and approved by the state building commission. Any member or members thereof or any officers or employees thereof, or any other person or persons, when authorized by such order or resolution, shall have the power and authority to sell said bonds or other obligations or to surrender same for redemption and to execute all instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the sale or redemption thereof. When such bonds or other obligations shall be sold or redeemed, the proceeds thereof, including the accrued interest thereon, shall be paid into the proper fund and shall in all respects be dealt with and expended for the purpose for which said funds were originally derived or made available.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 109-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-7
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(4) Early college students are not eligible for the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program funding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-613 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-613
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-613
Status: in_force

The educational building corporations authorized under Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 , in connection with the issuance of the bonds in order to secure the payment of such bonds and interest thereon, shall have power by resolutions:

(a) To fix and maintain fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members and others using or being served by facilities for which bonds are issued under Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 ; however, in fixing such fees, rentals and other charges, there may be allowed reasonable differentials based on the condition, type, location and relative convenience of the facilities in question, but the differentials shall be uniform as to all such students or faculty members and others similarly accommodated;

(b) To provide that bonds issued shall be secured by a first, exclusive and closed lien on, and shall be payable from, all or any part of the income and revenues derived from fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members or others using or being served by any facilities operated at the community or junior college, and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 , or any other law, or otherwise, and not theretofore so pledged;

(c) To pledge and assign to, or in trust for the benefit of the holder or holders of any bond or bonds, coupon or coupons so issued, an amount of the income and revenues derived from fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members, or others using or being served by any facilities operated at any community or junior college, and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 , or any other law, or otherwise, and not theretofore so pledged, and the rentals, fees and charges imposed and pledged pursuant to the terms of this section shall be sufficient to pay when due the bonds so issued and interest thereon, to create and maintain a reasonable reserve therefor, and to operate and maintain the project so constructed, and to create and at all times maintain an adequate reserve for contingencies and for major repairs and replacements;

(d) To covenant with or for the benefit of the holder or holders of any bond or bonds, coupon or coupons so issued to erect, repair, remodel, maintain, add to, extend, improve or acquire any facilities, that so long as any of the bonds shall remain outstanding and unpaid, the institution shall fix, maintain and collect, in installments as may be agreed upon, an amount of fees, rentals or other charges from students, faculty members and others using or being served by any facilities operated at any community or junior college and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 , or any other law, or otherwise, which shall be sufficient to pay when due any bond or bonds, coupons or coupons so issued, and to create and maintain a reasonable reserve therefor, and to pay the cost of operation and maintenance of the facilities against loss or damage by fire and windstorm or other calamities, in such sum as may be acceptable to the purchaser or purchasers of the bonds. The rentals, fees and other charges shall at all times be sufficient to maintain an adequate bond sinking fund to provide for the payment of interest on and principal of the bonds as and when they accrue and mature, to create a reasonable reserve therein and to pay the cost of operation and maintenance and insurance as herein provided and to create and at all times maintain an adequate reserve for contingencies and for major repairs and replacements;

(e) To make and enforce and agree to make and enforce parietal rules that shall insure the use of the facility by all students in attendance at the community or junior college, and faculty members of the community or junior college, to the maximum extent the facilities are capable of serving students and faculty, so long as it does not interfere with any existing contract;

(f) To covenant that as long as any of the bonds so issued shall remain outstanding and unpaid, it will not, except upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the resolution issuing such bonds:

(i) Voluntarily create, or cause to be created, any debt, lien, pledge, assignment, encumbrance or other charge having priority to or being on a parity with the lien of the bonds so issued upon any of the income and revenues derived from fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members and others using or being served by the facilities operated at any such institution and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 , or any other law, or otherwise;

(ii) Convey or otherwise alienate the facilities, or the real estate upon which the same shall be located, except at a price sufficient to pay all the bonds then outstanding payable from the revenues derived therefrom and interest accrued on such bonds, and then only in accordance with any agreements with the holder or holders of such bonds; or

(iii) Mortgage or otherwise voluntarily create, or cause to be created, any encumbrance on the facility, or the real estate upon which it shall be located;

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

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

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

(j) To vest in a trustee or trustees or the holder or holders of any specified amount or percentage of bonds the right to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for and have granted the appointment of a receiver or receivers of the income and revenue pledged and assigned to or for the benefit of the holder or holders of such bonds, which receiver or receivers may have and be granted powers and duties as are usually granted under the laws of the State of Mississippi to a receiver or receivers appointed in connection with the foreclosure of a mortgage made by a private corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-47 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 106-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-47
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The board is authorized and empowered to operate the following forgivable loan programs of like character, operation and purpose to the foregoing enumerated programs to encourage the participation of eligible worthy persons in courses of instruction in its institutions: Graduate Teacher Forgivable Loan, Counselor and School Administrator Forgivable Loan, Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars Forgivable Loan, and Veterinary Medicine Minority Forgivable Loan.

(b) In addition to the authority granted to the board in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the board is authorized and empowered to promulgate rules and regulations for the Southern Regional Education Board Contract Forgivable Loan Program, created through the regional education compact, as set forth in Section 37-135-1 .

(2) In furtherance of such power and authority, the board is authorized to adopt and implement rules and regulations declaring and describing the goals and objectives of such forgivable loan programs; to establish the eligibility requirements for entry into such program and required for continuing participation for succeeding years; to determine the maximum amount to be made available to recipients; to delineate the terms and conditions of contracts with recipients and establish the service requirements for such contracts, if any; to enter into contracts pertaining to such programs with recipients; to enter into loan agreements and other contracts with financial institutions or other providers of loan monies for forgivable loan and loan repayment participants; and to allocate and utilize such funds as may be necessary for the operation of such forgivable loan programs from the annual appropriation for student financial aid. In issuing rules and regulations governing the administration of the Graduate Teacher Summer Scholarship (GTSS) program, the board shall provide that certified teachers at the Oakley Youth Development Center under the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Services shall be fully eligible to participate in the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-69 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 31-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-69
Status: in_force

(1) The school board of a local school district, in its discretion, may establish and implement a vocational apprenticeship program in the high schools in that district through which students may earn high school units for vocational experience as an alternative to those high school units required by the school district in addition to the core curriculum defined by the State Board of Education. The purpose of a vocational apprenticeship program established pursuant to this section shall be to provide those students with skills and training that will lead to gainful employment in a trade or other specialized vocation.

(2) Students who participate in the vocational apprenticeship program shall be required to complete all high school units comprising the core curriculum, as defined by the State Board of Education. In addition, a student in the vocational apprenticeship program may be awarded credit for an additional eight (8) high school units earned through the vocational apprenticeship program, which units shall apply toward, and must be recognized by the State Board of Education in fulfillment of, the local school district's graduation requirements. Units may be awarded in the vocational apprenticeship program, whereby a student gains actual work experience through employment in a job approved by the local school district. The local school district shall adopt policies governing the participation of students in the vocational apprenticeship program.

(3) Students successfully completing a vocational apprenticeship program established pursuant to this section are entitled to a diploma evidencing graduation from a high school in Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 51-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-15
Status: in_force

Applicants who are granted loans may receive a loan in any amount, not exceeding two thousand four hundred dollars ($2,400.00) to any one applicant. Said amount is to be paid in annual, semiannual or quarterly installments not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) per school year, and shall be used to defray part of the applicant's tuition and other costs of attending said schools. The loans herein provided shall not exceed the limitations set out above, but they may be for any such lesser amounts as may be required.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-323 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 101-323
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-323
Status: in_force

The proceeds of the bonds authorized in Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 shall be deposited in a special fund hereby created in the State Treasury to be known as the “Higher Education Capital Improvement Fund.” The proceeds of such bonds shall be used solely for the purposes herein provided, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds. The costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds shall be disbursed by warrant upon requisition of the State Bond Commission, signed by the Governor. The expenditure of the remaining money shall be under the direction of the Office of General Services, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Fiscal Management Board, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Office of General Services.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 113-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-71
Status: in_force

There is established, at Mississippi State University, the “Dr. Elton Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinarians Scholarship Program” for the purpose of identifying and providing qualified students with scholarships to assist such students in pursuing degrees through matriculation in veterinary medicine. The scholarship program shall:

(a) Be developed and implemented in order to provide encouragement, opportunities and incentives for persons pursuing a veterinary medicine degree at Mississippi State University to:

(i) Provide veterinary services in rural Mississippi communities; and

(ii) Receive specialized training to meet the needs of rural Mississippians and livestock producers in rural Mississippi communities;

(b) Be administered by the Dean of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine; and

(c) Annually award scholarships to an average of two (2) scholars, whose scholarship assistance may be funded annually for a period not to exceed four (4) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-169 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-169
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-169
Status: in_force

The formula for allocating funds to the state's public junior colleges in support of the purposes set forth in Section 37-29-163 shall be determined by the Mississippi Community College Board based upon need for the program set forth in the application.

Said board shall furnish a copy of the application to the Governor's Office of General Services and a copy to the Board of Economic Development. The Board of Economic Development shall review each application, and if said board finds and determines there exists a need for said training programs, facilities and equipment, it shall issue a certificate of necessity to the Mississippi Community College Board, which certificate of necessity shall be a prerequisite for approval.

The Mississippi Community College Board shall consider each application with reference to adequacy of the past, present and prospective use of the instruction, personnel, curriculum, equipment, budget, operation, facilities, grants, scholarships, tuition, maintenance and other similar administrative and technical data as relates to each junior college. The said board shall, by resolution or order, approve or disapprove the application.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-107 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 155-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-107
Status: in_force

In addition to those powers granted to the board by Sections 37-155-1 through 37-155-27 and any other provisions of this article, the board 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 or executive order of this state, including, but not limited to, the following express powers:

(a) To adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this article, subject to applicable federal laws and regulations, including rules regarding transfers of funds between accounts established under prepaid tuition contracts and savings trust agreements;

(b) To impose reasonable requirements for residency for beneficiaries or account owners at the time of purchase of the savings trust agreement;

(c) To contract for necessary goods and services, to employ necessary personnel, and to engage the services of consultants and other qualified persons and entities for administrative and technical assistance in carrying out the responsibilities of the trust funds under terms and conditions that the board deems reasonable, including contract terms for periods up to ten (10) years at which time a contract may be terminated, extended or renewed for a term determined by the board, not to exceed a term of ten (10) years at any one time;

(d) To solicit and accept gifts, including bequests 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;

(e) To define the terms and conditions under which payments may be withdrawn or refunded from the trust fund established under this article to impose reasonable charges for a withdrawal or refund;

(f) To impose reasonable time limits on the use of savings trust account distributions provided by the MACS Program;

(g) To regulate the receipt of contributions or payments to the MACS Trust Fund;

(h) To segregate contributions and payments to the MACS Trust Fund into various accounts and funds;

(i) To require and collect administrative fees and charges in connection with any transaction and to impose reasonable penalties for withdrawal of funds for nonqualified higher educational expenses or for entering into a savings trust agreement on a fraudulent basis;

(j) To procure insurance against any loss in connection with the property, assets and activities of the MACS Trust Fund or the board;

(k) To require that account owners of savings trust agreements or purchasers of Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (MPACT) contracts under Sections 37-155-1 through 37-155-27 verify, under oath, any requests for contract conversions, substitutions, transfers, cancellations, refund requests or contract changes of any nature;

( l ) To solicit proposals and to contract for the marketing of the MACS Program, provided that: (i) any materials produced by a marketing contractor for the purpose of marketing the program must be approved by the board before being made available to the public; and (ii) neither the state nor the board shall be liable for misrepresentation of the program by a marketing contractor;

(m) To delegate responsibility for administration of the comprehensive investment plan to a contractor or contractors or a consultant or consultants that the board determines is qualified;

(n) To make all necessary and appropriate arrangements with colleges and universities or other entities in order to fulfill its obligations under savings trust agreements;

( o ) To establish other policies, procedures and criteria necessary to implement and administer this article; and

(p) To authorize the Treasury Department or the State Treasurer, or both, to carry out any or all of the powers and duties enumerated in this section for efficient and effective administration of the MACS Program and MACS Trust Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-97 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 151-97
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-97
Status: in_force

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

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

(b) Overall student and district achievement;

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

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

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

1. Total Student Expenditures:

a. Instruction (1000s);

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

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

3. School Administration (2400s);

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It shall be the duty of the State Department of Education to prescribe the forms for the reports provided for in this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-473 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-473
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-473
Status: in_force

School buildings, land, property and related facilities may be sold, conveyed, leased or otherwise disposed of under Sections 37-7-471 through 37-7-483 , to any charter school, to any group of persons, to any association, club or corporation, or to any county, municipality or other political subdivision, to be used as a charter school facility, to be used as a civic, community, recreational or youth center, or to be used by any county or district fair association in connection with its activities, or to be used for church purposes, or to be used as a library or other public building, or to be used as a factory or otherwise in connection with an industrial enterprise, or to be used as part of a residential, mixed-use or other development activity to stimulate economic development activities within the district, or to enhance property values within the district, or to be used for any similar or related purpose or activity.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-303 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-303
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-303
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 37-29-301 through 37-29-305 , the following terms shall be defined as provided in this section:

(a) “ Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment ” means the process by which the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) calculates FTE by taking total undergraduate semester credit hours divided by thirty (30); total undergraduate quarter hours divided by forty-five (45); total graduate semester credit hours divided by twenty-four (24); and total graduate quarter hours divided by thirty-six (36).

(b) “ State funds ” means all funds appropriated by the Legislature including funds from the State General Fund, Education Enhancement Fund, Budget Contingency Fund and Health Care Expendable Fund.

(c) “ E & G operations ” means education and general expenses of the colleges and universities.

(d) “ Net enrollment ” has the same meaning as ascribed to that term under Section 37-151-201 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-147-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 147-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-147-3
Status: in_force

There is hereby created and established the Mississippi University Research Authority to promote the public welfare and prosperity of the people of Mississippi and foster economic development within the state by forging links among the state's educational institutions, businesses and industrial communities and state government through the development of cooperative ventures of innovative technological significance which will advance education, research or economic development within the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 113-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-15
Status: in_force

The privilege of rooming in the dormitories belongs to the free students, and to the due quota of students from each county in preference to all others, on the basis of the present dormitory capacity in the Mississippi State University of Agricultural and Applied Science.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-113 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 59-113
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-113
Status: in_force

The proceeds of any negotiable notes or certificates of indebtedness issued under the provisions of this article shall be placed in a special fund and shall be expended only for the purpose or purposes for which they were issued as shown by the resolution authorizing the issuance thereof. If a balance shall remain of the proceeds of such notes or certificates of indebtedness after the purpose or purposes for which same were issued shall be accomplished, such balance shall forthwith be transferred to the special fund set up for the payment thereof in Section 37-59-107 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 71-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-9
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Following the adoption of the rule required in Section 37-71-7 , the department shall accept applications from local school districts for the implementation of alternative courses, programs and opportunities or apprenticeship programs. The department shall require an application for each alternative course, program or opportunity or apprenticeship program approved by a local school board to be implemented in its school district.

(b) Upon receipt of an application, the department shall have ninety (90) days to approve or deny the application. Any denied application shall be returned to the submitting local school board and shall include an explanation of the reasons for denial of the application.

(2) The State Department of Education shall provide an annual report detailing the progress that has been made in each school district in providing alternative courses, programs and opportunities or apprenticeships. The report shall be provided to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees no later than December 1 of each year, beginning December 1, 2021. The report also shall be provided to the other members of the Legislature upon request and posted on the department's website for the general public to view.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 151-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-11
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall establish and design an annual program of awards for exemplary performing teachers in Mississippi's public school districts, to be called the “Mississippi Teacher of the Year” Award Program.

The board shall establish criteria and guidelines for making the annual award to one (1) exemplary performing teacher in Mississippi, which shall include a cash award of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to be paid by the State Department of Education pursuant to appropriation therefor and shall be unrestricted as to its use by the recipient. Such award shall be paid as a supplement to such teacher's contracted salary in the year subsequent to receiving the recognition.

The State Board of Education shall utilize such awards to bring the best teaching practices to the attention of other schools. The awards shall include public recognition by the local school board and the State Board of Education and the awarding of plaques, certificates and the monetary award for teachers that perform well.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-203 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 23-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-203
Status: in_force

(1) As part of the certification process, teachers certified in the education of blind and visually impaired students shall be required to demonstrate competence in reading and writing Braille after January 1, 2010. The State Department of Education shall adopt procedures to assess such competencies.

(2) The department shall recognize Braille and Orientation & Mobility as core subject areas for all blind students, as deemed appropriate by the IEP Committee for all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). The department shall adopt proficiency and competency in reading and writing of Literary Braille and Nemeth Code as a minimal standard for all teachers of the blind certified after January 1, 2010.

(3) Competency in reading and writing Literary Braille and Nemeth Code must be exhibited by an individual passing the Mississippi Praxis II Braille Competency Exam.

(4) The adoption of Braille as a core subject for blind and visually impaired students recognizes that the teaching of Braille is a unique educational need unparalleled by any other subject or skill taught to either general or special education students.

(5) The Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) is the body of knowledge and skills that are needed by students with visual impairments due to their unique disability-specific needs. Students with visual impairments need the Expanded Core Curriculum in addition to the core academic curriculum of general education. The ECC should be used as a framework for assessing students, planning individual goals and providing instruction. The ECC includes compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes, orientation and mobility, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, sensory efficiency skills and self-determination.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-207 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 33-207
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-207
Status: in_force

The Office of Special Disability Programs established by Section 37-33-153 shall be administered by a director appointed by the executive director in conformity with policies adopted by the department. In carrying out his or her other duties under the Special Disability Programs Law, the director:

(a) Shall, with the approval of the executive director, make regulations governing the protection of records and confidential information, the manner and form of filing applications, eligibility and investigations and determinations thereof for rehabilitation services through special disability programs, procedures for fair hearings and such other regulations as are found necessary to carry out the purposes of that law;

(b) Shall, with the approval of the executive director, establish appropriate subordinate administrative units within the office;

(c) Shall, with the approval of the executive director, recommend for appointment such personnel as may be necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the office;

(d) Shall prepare and submit to the state board, through the executive director, annual reports of activities and expenditures and, before each regular session of the Legislature, shall submit estimates of sums required for carrying out the Special Disability Programs Law and estimates of the amounts to be made available for this purpose from all sources;

(e) Shall, if the executive director so authorizes, make certifications on behalf of the executive director for the disbursement of funds available for rehabilitation services;

(f) Shall, with the approval of the executive director, appoint boards to serve as the governing authority of centers for independent living or other entities as required by federal law and regulations;

(g) Shall, with the approval of the executive director, take such other action as he or she deems necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Special Disability Programs Law;

(h) May, with the approval of the executive director, delegate to any officer or employee of the office such of his or her powers and duties, except the making of regulations and the making of recommendations for appointment of personnel, as he or she finds necessary to carry out the purposes of the Special Disability Programs Law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-507 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 29-507
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-507
Status: in_force

(1) The Board of Trustees of the Meridian Junior College District shall have the power to do all things necessary for the successful operation of the district; and, the duties of such board shall be the general government of the district and the direction of the administration thereof.

(2) The Meridian Junior College District shall have all the powers of other junior colleges and junior college districts in the State of Mississippi; and, the delineation and enumeration of the powers and purposes set out in Sections 37-29-501 through 37-29-515 shall not be construed to restrict the powers of the governing authorities of the district so as to deny to the district any of the rights, privileges and powers enjoyed by other junior colleges and junior college districts in the State of Mississippi.

(3) The Meridian Junior College District shall remain subject to the jurisdiction and control of the Mississippi Community College Board as now established or as the same may be hereafter changed by law and shall be subject to all rules and regulations and all statutory limitations which are now in effect or may hereafter be imposed, except as the same may be in direct conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-29-501 through 37-29-515 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 106-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-41
Status: in_force

(1) If any member of the armed services, whose official house of record and residence is within the State of Mississippi, is officially reported as being either a prisoner of war or missing in action in Southeast Asia or has been a prisoner of a foreign government as the result of a military action against the United States naval vessel, Pueblo, his child or children shall be entitled to an eight-semester scholarship without cost, exclusive of books, food, school supplies, materials and dues or fees for extracurricular activities at any state-supported college or university of his choice within this state. However, no child will be entitled to receive benefits during any semester or quarter when said child has reached the age of twenty-three (23) years on the first day of the semester or quarter.

(2) The provisions of this section shall apply to the child or children of any member of the armed services who is officially reported as being either a prisoner of war or missing in action in Southeast Asia whose spouse was a resident of this state for a period of not less than ten (10) years during her minority and is a resident or physically resides within this state and does continually reside within this state at the time of enrollment and during the enrollment, and is a resident or physically resides within this state as of April 9, 1973.

(3) It is further provided that the provisions of this section shall apply to the child or children of any person who was a resident of this state at the time he was inducted into the Armed Forces of the United States of America and who is either a former prisoner of war or officially reported as being a prisoner of war or missing in action in Southeast Asia and who, or his spouse if she was a resident of this state for a period of not less than ten (10) years during her minority, is a resident of this state and at the time of enrollment and during the enrollment of his child or children at any state-supported college or university in this state resided or resides in this state.

(4) Any applicant qualified and desiring a scholarship under this section shall apply in writing to the board. The board shall make inquiries into each such application and shall make the investigation as it deems proper to establish and validate all claims made under this section before a scholarship is granted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-207 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-207
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-207
Status: in_force

(1) All school districts reconstituted or created under the provisions of Article 1 of this chapter, and which lie wholly within one (1) county, but not including municipal separate and countywide districts, shall be governed by a board of five (5) trustees. The first board of trustees of such districts shall be appointed by the county board of education, and the original appointments shall be so made that one (1) trustee shall be appointed to serve until the first Saturday of March following such appointments, one (1) for one (1) year longer, one (1) for two (2) years longer, one (1) for three (3) years longer, and one (1) for four (4) years longer. After such original appointments, the trustees of such school districts shall be elected by the qualified electors of such school districts in the manner provided for in Sections 37-7-223 through 37-7-229 , with each trustee to be elected for a term of five (5) years. The five (5) members of the board of trustees of such consolidated school district shall be elected from special trustee election districts by the qualified electors thereof, as herein provided. The board of trustees of any such consolidated school district shall apportion the consolidated school district into five (5) special trustee election districts. The board of trustees of such school district shall place upon its minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) trustee election districts. The board of trustees shall thereafter publish the same in a newspaper of general circulation within said school district for at least three (3) consecutive weeks; and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the board of trustees, said new district lines shall thereafter be effective.

On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, in any year in which any consolidated school district shall elect to utilize the authority to create single member election districts, an election shall be held in each such district in this state for the purpose of electing the board of trustees of such district. At said election the member of the said board from District One shall be elected for a term of one (1) year, the member from District Two shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, the member from District Three shall be elected for a term of three (3) years, the member from District Four shall be elected for a term of four (4) years, and the member from District Five shall be elected for a term of five (5) years. Thereafter, members shall be elected at general elections as vacancies occur for terms of five (5) years each. Trustees elected from single member election districts as provided above shall otherwise be elected as provided for in Sections 37-7-223 through 37-7-229 . All members of the said board of trustees shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election. All vacancies which may occur during a term shall be filled by appointment of the consolidated school district trustees, but the person so appointed shall serve only until the next general election following such appointment, at which time a person shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term at the same time and in the same manner as a trustee is elected for the full term then expiring. The person so elected to the unexpired term shall take office immediately. Said appointee shall be selected from the qualified electors of the district in which the vacancy occurs. In the event the school district is under conservatorship and no members of the board of trustees remain in office, the Governor shall call a special election to fill the vacancies and the said election will be conducted by the county election commission.

(2) All school districts reconstituted and created under the provisions of Article 1 of this chapter, which embrace territory in two (2) or more counties, but not including municipal separate school districts, shall be governed by a board of five (5) trustees. In making the original appointments, the several county boards of education shall appoint the trustee or trustees to which the territory in such county is entitled, and, by agreement between the county boards concerned, one (1) person shall be appointed to serve until the first Saturday of March following, one (1) for one (1) year longer, one (1) for two (2) years longer, one (1) for three (3) years longer and one (1) for four (4) years longer. Thereafter, such trustees shall be elected as is provided for in Sections 37-7-223 through 37-7-229 , for a term of five (5) years. The five (5) members of the board of trustees of such line consolidated school district shall be elected from special trustee election districts by the qualified electors thereof, as herein provided. The existing board of trustees of such line consolidated school district shall apportion the line consolidated school district into five (5) special trustee election districts. The board of trustees shall place upon its minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) trustee election districts. The board of trustees shall thereafter publish the same in a newspaper of general circulation within said school district for at least three (3) consecutive weeks; and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the board of trustees, said new district lines shall thereafter be effective. Provided, however, that in any line consolidated school district encompassing two (2) or more counties created pursuant to Laws, 1953, Extraordinary Session, Chapter 12, Section 8, in which, as a condition precedent to the creation of said district, each county belonging thereto was contractually guaranteed to always have at least one (1) representative on said board, in order that said condition precedent may be honored and guaranteed, in any year in which the board of trustees of such line consolidated school district does not have at least one (1) member from each county or part thereof forming such district, the board of trustees in such district shall be governed by a board of a sufficient number of trustees to fulfill this guarantee, five (5) of whom shall be elected from the five (5) special trustee election districts which shall be as nearly equal as possible and one (1) member trustee appointed at large from each county not having representation on the elected board. In such cases, the board of supervisors of each county shall make written agreement to guarantee the manner of appointment of at least one (1) representative from each county in the district, placing such written agreement on the minutes of each board of supervisors in each county.

On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, in any year in which any line consolidated school district shall elect to utilize the authority to create single member election districts, an election shall be held in each such district in this state for the purpose of electing the board of trustees of such district. At said election the member of the said board from District One shall be elected for a term of one (1) year, the member from District Two shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, the member from District Three shall be elected for a term of three (3) years, the member from District Four shall be elected for a term of four (4) years, and the member from District Five shall be elected for a term of five (5) years. Thereafter, members shall be elected at general elections as vacancies occur for terms of five (5) years each. Trustees elected from single member election districts as provided above shall otherwise be elected as provided for in Sections 37-7-223 through 37-7-229 . All members of the said board of trustees shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election. In all elections, the trustee elected shall be a resident and qualified elector of the district entitled to the representation upon the board, and he shall be elected only by the qualified electors of such district. All vacancies which may occur during a term of office shall be filled by appointment of the consolidated line school district trustees, but the person so appointed shall serve only until the next general election following such appointment, at which time a person shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term at the same time and in the same manner as the trustee is elected for the full term then expiring. The person so elected to the unexpired term shall take office immediately. In the event the school district is under conservatorship and no members of the board of trustees remain in office, the Governor shall call a special election to fill the vacancies and the said election will be conducted by the county election commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 27-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-5
Status: in_force

Boards of supervisors are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to levy on the taxable property in the county at the time the annual tax levy is made, a tax for the building, repair, and equipment of agricultural high schools, as well as for the purchase of suitable lands or buildings, or both, or for the payment of debts heretofore created for any of said purposes, not to exceed three mills. Within twenty (20) days after levy has been made, twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of said county may file with the clerk of the board of supervisors a petition asking that the tax be not levied; thereupon, the question shall be submitted to an election of the people, which election shall be decisive to the levy for that year only. The maximum levy for maintenance purposes as fixed by the law for the agricultural high school, shall not be deemed a limitation on the tax levy for the building, repair, and equipment of agricultural high schools hereinbefore mentioned, nor the levy under this section, a limitation on the levy for maintenance purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-35 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 47-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-35
Status: in_force

Before any state school bonds are issued as authorized by this chapter, the state educational finance commission shall transmit to the state bond commission a request for the issuance thereof in the form of a resolution adopted by said state educational finance commission. Said request shall embody the following:

(a) A schedule showing the aggregate of bonds issued pursuant to previous requests, the purposes for which the same were issued, the annual payments required to retire such bonds and the interest thereon, and the amount of sinking fund applicable to the retirement of such outstanding bonds;

(b) The amount of bonds sought to be issued, the purpose or purposes for which such bonds are to be issued, and the amount intended for each purpose;

(c) A schedule showing future annual principal requirements and estimated annual interest requirements on the bonds requested to be issued;

(d) The estimated amount of the advances which the commission intends to make within the then current fiscal year;

(e) The aggregate amount for which advances have been approved, but which await completion because the funds necessary to make the same are not available;

(f) The aggregate amount of certificates of credit issued to school districts which are to be paid or redeemed by the commission with the proceeds of such bonds and for which no funds are otherwise available.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 97-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-103
Status: in_force

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Compensation ” means any remuneration, in cash or in kind, whether provided at the time or at any subsequent date, to a student-athlete.

For the purposes of this article, “compensation” shall not mean any grant, scholarship, fellowship, tuition assistance, or other form of financial aid provided to a student for pursuing a post-secondary education.

(b) “ Intercollegiate athletics program ” means an intercollegiate athletics sport played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student-athlete are established by a national association, conference or any other group or organization with authority over the sport, that promotes or regulates collegiate athletics.

(c) “ Publicity Rights ” means any right associated with the name, image, likeness, publicity, reputation, fame, or personal following of a student recognized under federal or state law as permitting an individual to control or profit from the use of the same.

(d) “ Postsecondary educational institution ” means a public university or community college or private university or college.

(e) “ Student-athlete ” means an individual who is enrolled in or has signed a National Letter of Intent or other written agreement to enroll in a postsecondary educational institution or is being recruited by a postsecondary educational institution to participate in an intercollegiate athletics program. If an individual is permanently ineligible to participate in a particular intercollegiate sport, the individual is not a student-athlete for purposes of that sport.

(f) “ Third party ” means any individual or entity or group of the same other than a postsecondary educational institution, including a charitable organization that qualifies as an exempt organization under 26 USC Section 501(c)(3) , as amended.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 101-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-23
Status: in_force

(1) The Mississippi Small Farm Development Center, which shall be referred to in this section as the SFDC, is established under the management and control of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The principal offices of the SFDC shall be located at Alcorn State University and shall be under the direction of the president of the university subject to the governance of the board of trustees. The president shall appoint a director of the SFDC who shall recommend to the president necessary professional and administrative staff of the center, all subject to the approval of the board of trustees.

(2) It shall be the function and duty of the SFDC to:

(a) Develop a system to deliver management and technical assistance to small farms utilizing the resources of local, state and federal government programs, various segments of the private sector, and universities and colleges throughout the state;

(b) Make management and technical assistance available to small farms by linking together with the above resources;

(c) Research and develop small farm opportunities for new or alternative crops;

(d) Develop a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of agricultural and economic data; and

(e) Assist small farms in developing more efficient marketing and distribution channels, including foreign trade marketing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 43-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-51
Status: in_force

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

Any person who shall refuse, neglect or fail to file any report required by the board shall be denied a new allocation of funds until such reports have been completed and filed with the board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-321 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 101-321
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-321
Status: in_force

The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided now or hereafter by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds. The notice to taxpayers required by the aforesaid statute shall be published in a newspaper published in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-207 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 153-207
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-207
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Accelerate Mississippi Physician Residency and Fellowship Start-Up Grant Program, which shall be directed by the office for the purpose of creating new or increasing capacity in existing physician residency and fellowship programs in hospitals, which were severely impacted by the disruption to the economy and workforce caused by COVID-19.

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

(a) “Grant program” means the program established in this section, which provides funding, as determined by the office, from federal COVID-19 relief funds to create new or increase capacity in existing physician residency and fellowship programs at general acute care hospitals in the State of Mississippi which are licensed by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

(b) “Recipient” means a general acute care hospital in the State of Mississippi which is licensed by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

(c) “Residency and fellowship programs” means advanced training programs in medical or surgical specialty areas which are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or a similar accreditation body.

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

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

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

(i) Equipment or other supplies necessary for accreditation;

(ii) Necessary infrastructure, including building, renovation or construction, for accreditation;

(iii) Curricula or other academic or training materials necessary for accreditation;

(iv) Stipends for the recruitment, hiring and development of program directors, program coordinators, faculty and/or teaching staff and clinic staff necessary for accreditation; and

(v) Remote learning or other classroom technology.

(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) Evidence that the applicant is in the process of preparing for accreditation, has applied for accreditation or has received accreditation for a new residency or fellowship program, or increased capacity in an existing residency or fellowship program;

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

(i) A description of the workforce shortage the residency or fellowship program is intended to address, including specific information from health care providers in the region;

(ii) Any relevant waitlist or other information demonstrating high demand for medical school graduates to enter the residency or fellowship program;

(iii) The number of residents who will be served by the residency or fellowship program;

(iv) The budget for the residency or fellowship program, including a plan showing sustainability after accreditation and any required federal approval of the program; and

(v) The average wage rate for residents or fellows receiving employment after completing the program;

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

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

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

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

(6) The office shall:

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

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

(c) Prioritize residency or fellowship programs within medical or surgical specialties which are currently experiencing staffing shortages in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and other health care providers across the state;

(d) Prioritize residency or fellowship programs which produce graduates in high-demand medical and surgical fields;

(e) Establish a schedule of application deadlines and a system for considering applications on a rotating basis; and

(f) Ensure that every effort be made, in accordance with the priorities in this subsection, to provide funds for the placement of one (1) resident with each recipient before considering awarding funds for the placement of additional residents in the same round of consideration.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 31-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-67
Status: in_force

Sections 37-31-61 through 37-31-65 are in addition to and supplementary to existing school laws, and shall not be construed to repeal any laws now in existence governing any of the public schools of this state or the operation thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 16-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-3
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(3) Within five (5) days of completing the administration of a statewide test, the principal of the school where the test was administered shall certify under oath to the State Department of Education that the statewide test was administered in strict accordance with the Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System as adopted by the State Board of Education. The principal's sworn certification shall be set forth on a form developed and approved by the Department of Education. If, following the administration of a statewide test, the principal has reason to believe that the test was not administered in strict accordance with the Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System as adopted by the State Board of Education, the principal shall submit a sworn certification to the Department of Education setting forth all information known or believed by the principal about all potential violations of the Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System as adopted by the State Board of Education. The submission of false information or false certification to the Department of Education by any licensed educator may result in licensure disciplinary action pursuant to Section 37-3-2 and criminal prosecution pursuant to Section 37-16-4 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 6-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-15
Status: in_force

(1) Before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office, each member of the school board shall give a surety bond in the penal sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), with sufficient surety, to be payable, conditioned and approved in the manner provided by law.

(2) The school board may execute a blanket surety bond for each school district official and employee (including school business managers and any other employee who receipts and/or disburses school district funds) in the penalty of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), unless a different penalty is prescribed by statute, to be payable, conditioned and approved in the manner provided by law. The premium on said bond shall be paid out of the school district maintenance fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-179 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 23-179
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-179
Status: in_force

(1) The board shall specifically promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines which establish model programs of gifted education and also establish minimum criteria for gifted education programs. In providing programs of gifted education, the local district may use the model programs prepared by the board or may itself develop programs of gifted education which, prior to being implemented, shall be approved by the board, provided, that no such plan or program shall be approved or continued unless it meets the minimum criteria established by the board.

(2) There is hereby created within the department an office for gifted education which shall be staffed by such professional, support and clerical personnel as may be necessary to implement the provisions of Sections 37-23-171 through 37-23-181 .

(3) All local school districts may have programs of gifted education for intellectually, creatively and/or artistically gifted students in Grades 2 through 12 and for academically gifted students in Grades 9 through 12 approved by the board. Beginning with the 1993-1994 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grade 2, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education and the availability of funds appropriated therefor by line-item. Beginning with the 1994-1995 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grades 2 and 3, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. Beginning with the 1995-1996 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grades 2, 3 and 4 subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. Beginning with the 1996-1997 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. Beginning with the 1997-1998 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. Each local school district shall include as a part of its five-year plan a description of any proposed gifted education programs of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-485 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-485
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-485
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be referred to as the “School Property Development Act of 2005.” It is the intent of the Legislature that this section shall provide school boards with an alternative optional method of disposal of surplus school property that may generate greater returns to the district than a public disposal sale, or to promote or stimulate economic development within the school district or to promote, stabilize or enhance property and tax values within the school district.

(2) The school board of any school district shall be authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to sell, convey or exchange a partial interest, undivided interest or any other interest in real property (other than sixteenth section public school trust land), in whole or in part, for a nonoperational interest in any proposed development of the property, including ownership of shares of a domestic corporation or a membership interest in a limited liability company or a limited partnership interest, any of which is organized for the operation of any project, development or activity that, in the discretion of the school board, will have the potential for fostering economic development activities, increasing property values, increasing student development or enhancing public safety. The school board may contract with any other governmental entity, university or community college, corporation, person or other legal entity for the development, design, construction, financing, ownership or operation of any project, development or activity and may issue notes, leases, bonds or other written obligations to finance such activities. The school board may pledge any revenues or taxes it is to receive from such sale, conveyance or exchange, including any shares of a corporation or membership interest in a limited liability company or limited partnership interest under this subsection or under Sections 37-7-471 through 37-7-483 , to secure the repayment of any notes, leases (excluding leases of sixteenth section public school trust land), bonds or other written obligations of the district issued under any provision of state law. Any such pledge of revenues or other monies shall be valid and binding from the date the pledge is made; such revenues or other monies so pledged and thereafter received by the school district shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the school district irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolutions, contracts or any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded. Any debt secured in whole or in part by a pledge of such revenues or other monies shall not be subject to or included in any debt limitation imposed on the issuance of such debt. This subsection (2) shall not be construed to apply to sixteenth section public school trust land.

(3) The school board shall use sound business practices when executing exchanges as provided in this section. The school board may utilize the services of the Mississippi Development Authority, the local planning and development district or the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning when executing exchanges as provided in this section. The local school board shall require, in any project exceeding Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) that the party with whom the school board is contracting shall provide the following information, at a minimum:

(a) A two-year business plan (which shall include pro forma balance sheets, income statements and monthly cash flow statements);

(b) Financial statements and tax returns for the three (3) years immediately prior to the date the contract is formed;

(c) Credit reports on all persons or entities with a twenty percent (20%) or greater interest in the entity;

(d) Data supporting the expertise of the entity's principals;

(e) A cost benefit analysis of the project performed by the Mississippi Development Authority, a state institution of higher learning or other entity selected by the local school board; and

(f) Any other information required by the local school board.

This subsection (3) shall not be construed to apply to sixteenth section public school trust land.

(4) The local school board shall make public record any final and signed contract created under this section.

(5) No person involved in any economic development project entered into by a school board under the provisions of this section shall be related by consanguinity or affinity within the third degree to any member of the school board or the superintendent or any assistant superintendent of the school district, nor shall any such person have an interest in any business or have an economic relationship with any member of the school board or the superintendent or any assistant superintendent of the school district.

(6) No person, or any agent, subsidiary or parent corporation or firm owned in whole or in part by the person shall be eligible to bid or otherwise participate in the construction, contracting, or subcontracting on any project or part thereof for which the person has been hired to perform construction program management services. Any contract for public construction that violates this provision shall be void and against the public policy of the state. For purposes of this subsection, the term “ construction program management services ” means a set of management and technical services rendered by a person or firm to a public sector building owner during the predesign, design, construction, or post-construction phases of new construction, demolition, alteration, repair, or renovation projects. These services include any one or more of the following: project planning, budgeting, scheduling, coordination, design management, construction administration, or facility occupancy actions, but shall not include any component of the actual construction work. The term does not include the services performed by the general contractor who is engaged to perform the construction work, or services customarily performed by licensed architects or registered engineers.

(7) This section shall be supplemental and additional to any powers conferred by other laws on school districts. However, this section shall not grant any authority to a school board to issue debt in any amount that is not otherwise expressly provided for by law, and shall not grant any authority to impose, levy or collect any tax that is not otherwise expressly provided for by law.

(8) If a school board exercises its option to enter into a development agreement or other contract under this section or to transfer any property or interest therein to a third party for purposes of future development, the following conditions shall apply:

(a) The board shall have the express authority to retain a deed of trust or such other security interest in the property in an amount equal at least to the value of the property at the time of such transfer, less any consideration paid by the developer or other parties;

(b) The liability of the school board and the school district under any such development agreement shall be limited to the value of any retained property interest in the development agreement or the property that is the subject of the development agreement. Neither the school board nor the district shall be liable to any party nor shall it indemnify or hold harmless any party for any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, settlements, claims, actions, suits, proceedings or judgments of any kind and nature, costs, expenses, or attorney's fees incurred by such party or parties for any act or action arising out of, or in connection with any development agreement entered into by the school board, other than the value of the retained ownership interest in the property that was conveyed under such development agreement.

(9) Before entering into any transaction as provided in this section, the school board members shall certify that they are in compliance with Section 25-4-25 regarding filings of statements of economic interest with the Mississippi Ethics Commission and that they will receive no direct or indirect pecuniary benefit as a result of the transaction or be in violation of the provisions of Section 25-4-105 regarding the improper use of official position.

(10) [Deleted]

(11) Any property developed by a school district under this section shall be deemed to be for “school purposes” or for “educational purposes.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-302 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 7-302
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-302
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any school district shall be authorized to borrow such funds as may be reasonable and necessary from the federal government, the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision or entity thereof, or any other governmental agency, from any individual, partnership, nonprofit corporation or private for-profit corporation, to aid such school districts in asbestos removal, to be repaid out of any funds other than the total funding formula funds provided for in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 ; provided, however, that the grant of authority shall in no way be construed to require said boards of trustees to remove asbestos material or substances from any facilities under their control, nor shall there be any liability to said school districts or boards for the failure to so remove such asbestos materials. All indebtedness incurred under the provisions of this section 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 of the school district on whose behalf the money is borrowed 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 notes or certificates of indebtedness shall mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period not to exceed twenty (20) years from the dates of the issuance thereof. Principal and interest shall be payable in such manner as may be determined by the school board. 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.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 23-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-33
Status: in_force

(1) Such program of education, instruction and training as is provided for in Section 37-23-31 shall be furnished in such manner as shall be provided by rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education, which for such purposes shall have the full power to adopt such rules, regulations, policies and standards as it may deem necessary to carry out the purpose of Sections 37-23-31 through 37-23-35 , including the establishment of qualifications consistent with the requirements of subsection (2) of this section for any teachers employed under the provisions thereof. It is expressly provided, however, that no program of education, instruction and training shall be furnished except in a university or college supported by the State of Mississippi and only in cases where such university or college shall consent thereto and shall provide any classroom space, furniture and facilities which may be deemed necessary in carrying out the provisions of those sections.

(2) Speech-language pathologists, educational audiologists, and special and early childhood educators are qualified and authorized to serve as the lead teacher for children enrolled in a university or college-based program through the IDEA-Part C and IDEA-Part B eligibility and placement process. Whenever communication is a primary area of concern on a child's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP), a speech-language pathologist or educational audiologist may serve as the lead instructor with an educator serving as a related service provider as necessary to meet the educational needs of the child. Speech-language pathologists and educational audiologists must undergo extensive college coursework in communication-based disorders impacting multiple areas of development, including cognition. The content of the college coursework must include typical and atypical development for ages birth through death. In addition to completing the college coursework, these instructional providers must meet all instructional licensure requirements as set forth by the State Department of Education for the purpose of funding MAEP special education teacher units.

(3) The State Department of Education through its general supervision responsibilities set forth by the Office of Special Education Programs at the United States Department of Education, shall require that the program of education, instruction and training 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.

(4) A university- or college-based program must submit all reports and data required by the State Department of Education on the same or similar time schedule and in the same or similar manner that same or similar reports and data must be submitted to the department by local educational agencies.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-219 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 33-219
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-219
Status: in_force

The right of an individual to maintenance under the Office of Special Disability Programs shall not be transferable or assignable at law or in equity and shall be exempt from the claims of creditors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-201 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-201
Status: in_force

The official boards of the various public supported hospitals of the State of Mississippi that conduct a nurses training program in connection with said hospitals are hereby empowered to contribute to a public supported junior college wherein said hospital is located in said junior college district for the support and maintenance of a nurses training program at said junior college. The board of supervisors of any county wherein there is a public hospital supported in whole or in part at county expense is hereby authorized and empowered to contribute to a nurses training program carried on and conducted thereat when said junior college district encompasses the county wherein the supervisors so contribute. The governing board of any municipality in this state that supports in whole or in part a hospital is hereby authorized and empowered to contribute to such a nurses training program at the public supported junior college wherein the municipality is located within the junior college district.

Any public supported junior college operating or conducting a nurses training program is hereby authorized and empowered to accept donations from private hospitals or any other persons, firms or corporations for the support of a nurses training program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-455 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 7-455
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-455
Status: reserved

(1) Any land, buildings or other property that is not used for school purposes and which is not needed in the operation of the schools of the district may be sold in the manner established in this section but only after each charter school located in the school district has notified the school board that it is not exercising its right of first refusal on the property, as provided under Section 37-28-61 . Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, all such land, buildings or other property shall be sold only after the receipt of sealed bids therefor after the time and place of making such sale has been duly advertised in some newspaper having a general circulation in the county in which the property is located once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks with the first publication to be made not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date upon which such bids are to be received and opened. The property shall be sold to the highest and best bidder for cash, but the school board shall have the right to reject any and all bids. If the property is not sold pursuant to such advertisement, the school board, by resolution, may set a date for an open meeting of the school board to be held within sixty (60) days after the date upon which the bids were opened. At the meeting held pursuant to such resolution, the school board may sell by auction the property for a consideration not less than the highest sealed bid previously received pursuant to the advertisement. At the meeting, any interested party may bid for cash, and the property shall be sold to the highest and best bidder for cash, but the school board shall have the right to reject any and all bids. The school board may require a written confirmation of bids received at such called meeting before selling the property at auction, but it shall not be necessary that sealed bids be received before conducting the auction.

(2) As an alternative to the procedures established under subsection (1) of this section, the school board of a school district may elect, in its discretion, to sell by public auction any property, other than real property or buildings of the school district, which is not used for school or related school purposes and not needed in the operation of the schools, according to the procedure in Section 17-25-25 , except as otherwise provided under Section 37-7-459 .

(3) As an alternative to the procedures established under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the county board of education of a county having a population in excess of ten thousand (10,000) according to the 2000 decennial census and in which U.S. Highway 45 intersects with Mississippi Highway 16, may elect, in its discretion, to transfer and sell the buildings of the school district and the real property upon which the buildings are located which are not used as school facilities or for school-related purposes and not needed in the operation of the schools, after advertising for and receiving competitive bids for the sale of such property. If any bid is offered by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity which has made substantial improvements to the buildings, the fair market value of the improvements shall be deemed to be consideration for, a part of, the bid offered by the entity. In this case, the school board shall enter a finding on its minutes that the nonprofit entity has made substantial improvements to the property and the property is no longer needed for school district purposes.

(4) When the sale of such property is authorized and approved by the school board, the president of the school board shall be authorized and empowered to execute a conveyance of the property upon the terms and for the consideration fixed by the board. The school board shall reserve unto the district all oil, gas and minerals in, on or under the land, and all proceeds derived from royalties upon the reserved mineral interests shall be used as provided by Section 37-7-457 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 11-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-63
Status: in_force

No local school board, school superintendent or school principal shall prohibit a public school classroom teacher from discussing and answering questions from individual students on the origin of life.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-203 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-203
Status: in_force

(1) As part of the certification process, teachers certified in the education of blind and visually impaired students shall be required to demonstrate competence in reading and writing Braille after January 1, 2010. The State Department of Education shall adopt procedures to assess such competencies.

(2) The department shall recognize Braille and Orientation & Mobility as core subject areas for all blind students, as deemed appropriate by the IEP Committee for all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). The department shall adopt proficiency and competency in reading and writing of Literary Braille and Nemeth Code as a minimal standard for all teachers of the blind certified after January 1, 2010.

(3) Competency in reading and writing Literary Braille and Nemeth Code must be exhibited by an individual passing the Mississippi Praxis II Braille Competency Exam.

(4) The adoption of Braille as a core subject for blind and visually impaired students recognizes that the teaching of Braille is a unique educational need unparalleled by any other subject or skill taught to either general or special education students.

(5) The Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) is the body of knowledge and skills that are needed by students with visual impairments due to their unique disability-specific needs. Students with visual impairments need the Expanded Core Curriculum in addition to the core academic curriculum of general education. The ECC should be used as a framework for assessing students, planning individual goals and providing instruction. The ECC includes compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes, orientation and mobility, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, sensory efficiency skills and self-determination.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-507 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-507
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-507
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of Sections 37-7-501 through 37-7-511 , any school district to which all or a part of the territory of a dissolved school district is annexed may, by agreement of the school board thereof, assume the payment of all or any part of the outstanding bonds or other indebtedness of the dissolved district even though it is not mandatorily required so to do under the provisions of said sections.

In addition, no such assumption of indebtedness under the provisions of this section shall be binding and effective until the school board of the school district proposing to assume such indebtedness shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention so to do, stating the amount, the nature of the indebtedness to be assumed and the date upon which such board proposes to take final action assuming such indebtedness. Such resolution shall be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) newspaper published or having a general circulation in the school district proposing to assume such indebtedness. The first publication of such resolution shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the date specified in such resolution for final action, and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days prior to such date. If twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the school district proposing to assume such indebtedness shall file a written protest against such assumption of indebtedness on or before the date specified in such resolution, then an election upon the question of the assumption of such indebtedness shall be called and held in said school district in the same manner as other special elections are held therein. If no such protest be filed, then such assumption of indebtedness shall become binding and effective without an election on the question. If an election is called under the provisions of this section, notice thereof shall be given for the same time and in the same manner required for the publication of the resolution hereinabove referred to, and such election shall be held as far as practicable in the same manner as state and county elections are held. At such election all qualified electors of the school district may vote, and the ballots used thereat shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the purpose of the school board to assume such indebtedness, together with the amount thereof, and the words: “For the assumption of the indebtedness,” and “Against the assumption of the indebtedness,” and the voter shall vote by placing a cross (x) or check mark (✓) opposite his choice on the proposition. If at said election three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the qualified electors of the school district who vote in said election vote in favor of the assumption of such indebtedness, then such indebtedness shall be assumed by the school board; otherwise, such indebtedness shall not be assumed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-148-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 148-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-148-5
Status: in_force

(1) The SMART Business Act shall include the SMART Business Rebate to promote research partnerships between colleges and investors and the SMART Business Accelerate Initiative to promote the development of state-owned intellectual property.

(2) The SMART Business Rebate shall be implemented as follows:

(a) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, an investor incurring qualified research costs subject to a research agreement is eligible for a rebate equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the investor's qualified research costs.

(b) An investor incurring research costs may not claim a rebate pursuant to this chapter greater than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in any fiscal year.

(c) The total amount of rebates issued under the SMART Business Rebate by the state in any fiscal year may not exceed Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000.00).

(d) Investors desiring to apply for the SMART Business rebate authorized by this chapter shall submit an application to IHL which must contain, at a minimum, the following:

(i) A description of the qualified research to be conducted by the college or research corporation;

(ii) A proposed budget;

(iii) An estimated date for completion of the qualified research; and

(iv) Such additional information as may be requested by IHL.

(e) IHL shall review each application to determine if the investor has satisfied all of the requirements of this section.

(f) Within sixty (60) days of receiving an application, IHL shall issue or refuse to issue a SMART Business Rebate certificate. The SMART Business Rebate certificate must include the amount of the rebate the investor is eligible to claim, subject to subsection (1) of this section. IHL must notify the Department of Revenue when a SMART Business Rebate certificate is issued.

(g) To claim a rebate, the investor must submit a rebate allocation claim to the Department of Revenue. The rebate allocation claim must include, at a minimum, the SMART Business Rebate certificate issued by IHL and proof of payment to the college or research corporation for qualified research conducted according to the research agreement.

(h) The Department of Revenue may request an audit from the investor submitting a rebate allocation claim, at the investor's expense, to verify the investor has satisfied the requirements of this chapter.

(i) The Department of Revenue shall issue rebates available under this subsection from current income tax collections.

(j) Rebates must be allocated to investors by the Department of Revenue in the order that SMART Business Rebate certificates are issued by IHL.

(3) The SMART Business Accelerate Initiative shall be implemented as follows:

(a) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, an applicant performing research validation pursuant to a research agreement is eligible for a disbursement of up to One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) for the applicant's qualified validation expenses.

(b) The total amount of disbursements issued by the state under the SMART Business Accelerate Initiative in any fiscal year may not exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00).

(c) Applicants desiring to apply for a SMART Business Accelerate Initiative disbursement authorized by this chapter shall submit an application to IHL which must contain, at a minimum, the following:

(i) A description of the research validation to be conducted by the college or research corporation using funds from the disbursement;

(ii) A proposed budget of qualified validation expenses;

(iii) A certified determination from the applicant that the proposed research validation is necessary to develop state-owned intellectual property into products and services; and

(iv) Such additional information as may be requested by IHL.

(d) IHL shall review each application to determine if the applicant has satisfied all of the requirements of this section.

(e) Within sixty (60) days of receiving an application, IHL shall issue or refuse to issue a SMART Business Accelerate Initiative disbursement certificate. The SMART Business Accelerate Initiative disbursement certificate must include the amount of the disbursement the applicant is eligible to receive, subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection. IHL must notify the Department of Revenue when a SMART Business Accelerate Initiative disbursement certificate is issued.

(f) IHL shall develop a process for accepting, reviewing and selecting proposals for SMART Business Accelerate Initiative disbursements and notifying the Department of Revenue when applicants have been selected to receive disbursements.

(g) The Department of Revenue shall issue disbursements available under this subsection from current income tax collections.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-203 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 9-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-203
Status: in_force

The Legislature finds that:

(a) The quality of teaching in the public schools is of vital importance to the future of this state;

(b) This state has a special interest in insuring that the induction of beginning teachers into their profession is conducive to their professional growth and development; and

(c) The formal assignment of mentor teachers who have demonstrated mastery of teaching skills and subject matter knowledge should substantially improve the induction and professional growth of beginning teachers in this state, as well as provide mentor teachers with additional and valuable opportunities to enhance their own professional growth.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-127 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 33-127
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-127
Status: in_force

(1) Any city, county, nonprofit corporation, state-supported institution, or any combination thereof, may apply to the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services for assistance in establishing or operating, or both establishing and operating, a community rehabilitation program. Applications for that assistance shall be on forms supplied by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Each applicant shall annually submit to the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation its plan and budget for the next fiscal year. No applicant shall be eligible for a grant under this section unless its plan and budget have been approved by the director.

(2) In order to provide the necessary funds for a community rehabilitation program, the governing body of any city or county may expend any money in the general fund of the city or county for that purpose. Any city, county, nonprofit corporation and state-supported institution may accept gifts or grants from any source for the community rehabilitation program. Any money received as a gift or nonfederal grant may be used to match federal funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-201 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 29-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-201
Status: in_force

The official boards of the various public supported hospitals of the State of Mississippi that conduct a nurses training program in connection with said hospitals are hereby empowered to contribute to a public supported junior college wherein said hospital is located in said junior college district for the support and maintenance of a nurses training program at said junior college. The board of supervisors of any county wherein there is a public hospital supported in whole or in part at county expense is hereby authorized and empowered to contribute to a nurses training program carried on and conducted thereat when said junior college district encompasses the county wherein the supervisors so contribute. The governing board of any municipality in this state that supports in whole or in part a hospital is hereby authorized and empowered to contribute to such a nurses training program at the public supported junior college wherein the municipality is located within the junior college district.

Any public supported junior college operating or conducting a nurses training program is hereby authorized and empowered to accept donations from private hospitals or any other persons, firms or corporations for the support of a nurses training program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 101-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-41
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

(5) In addition to the above stated authority, the university, with the permission of the board, is authorized to enter into such marketing, support, management, operating, cooperating or other similar agreements as the university and board may deem advisable or prudent in connection with the ongoing operations of such auxiliary facilities for a period not to exceed the term of the lease relating to such auxiliary facilities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 28-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-11
Status: in_force

(1) To cover the costs of overseeing charter schools in accordance with this chapter, the authorizer shall receive three percent (3%) of annual per-pupil allocations received by a charter school from state and local funds for each charter school it authorizes.

(2) The authorizer may receive appropriate gifts, grants and donations of any kind from any public or private entity to carry out the purposes of this chapter, subject to all lawful terms and conditions under which the gifts, grants or donations are given.

(3) The authorizer may expend its resources, seek grant funds and establish partnerships to support its charter school authorizing activities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-149 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 23-149
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-149
Status: in_force

There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the “Special Education, Special Services Fund” which shall be used to distribute any funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature to such fund. This Special Education, Special Services Fund will be used solely for the provision of direct services to individual children with disabilities. Any funds remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, but shall carryover to subsequent fiscal years. Any interest accruing on any unexpended balance in the Special Education, Special Services Fund shall be invested by the State Treasurer and shall remain in the fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 117-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-9
Status: in_force

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

The certificate of selection shall be attested by the clerk of the board of supervisors, under its seal, and shall entitle the holder to admission into the said college, with all the privileges thereof, to pursue all the industrial branches selected, and to enter the subclass or class for which she is fitted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-187-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 187-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-187-5
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall distribute grant monies, without the requirement of application by school districts or schools, as equitably and efficiently as possible after determining the unserved areas of the state using the latest publicly available Federal Communications Commission broadband data, and after determining which and to what extent Mississippi public school districts, independent schools and Native American tribal school districts educate students living in such unserved areas of the state. The Mississippi Department of Education shall consult with the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools and the administrations of the Native American tribal school districts in determining which and to what extent such schools and school districts educate students living in such unserved areas of the state. Any grant monies provided under this chapter shall be spent by the recipient school district no later than December 1, 2020, or by such later date as may be specified in the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established in Section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Grants shall be conditioned on the school district or school broadband provider agreements including that broadband capacity shall be expanded to a significant extent for the district’s or school’s students during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

(2) Funds appropriated and grant monies distributed under this program may be expended on a license to use equipment and services for a period of no longer than one (1) year as necessary to address the COVID-19 crisis and fulfill the purposes of this program.

(3) The department may develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 65-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-103
Status: in_force

The decision or determination to close any one or more or all schools of the district shall be effectuated and evidenced by an order of such board of trustees directing the same, entered upon the minutes of such board, and the same shall be sufficient by an adjudication or determination therein of any one or more reasons authorizing such action as set out in Section 37-65-101 , and it shall not be necessary to include in said order any fact or detail other than the said reason or reasons above mentioned.

Any one or more or all schools of the district which may be closed, as hereinabove provided for, shall remain closed until further order of said board of trustees made and entered upon its minutes opening such school or schools or all schools of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 131-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-1
Status: in_force

The president or executive head of any state-supported institution of higher learning of the State of Mississippi, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, is hereby authorized and empowered to establish, operate, maintain, and conduct teachers demonstration and practice schools in connection with the operation of such institution of higher learning. The president or executive head of any such institution, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, shall have full power and authority to regulate and conduct the affairs of such schools and to establish rules and regulations for their government.