Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 17-6
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6
Status: in_force

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

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

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

Number of Students

Number of Certified

Per School Library

School Librarians

0--499 Students 1 / 2

Full-time Equivalent

Certified Librarian

500 or More Students

1 Full-time Certified

Librarian

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

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

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

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

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

(4) [Deleted]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(9) [Deleted]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(16) [Deleted]

(17) [Deleted]

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

(19) [Deleted]

(20) [Deleted]

(21) If a local school district is determined as failing and placed into district transformation status for reasons authorized by the provisions of this section, the interim superintendent appointed to the district shall, within forty-five (45) days after being appointed, present a detailed and structured corrective action plan to move the local school district out of district transformation status to the deputy superintendent. A copy of the interim superintendent's corrective action plan shall also be filed with the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 18-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-1
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Technology needs;

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

(d) Paid professional leave;

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

(i) Curriculum;

(ii) Chapter 1;

(iii) Special need students;

(iv) Student rights and responsibility;

(v) School and community relations;

(vi) Effective parenting.

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

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

(4) The State Department of Education may benefit from the use of growth expectation measurements under this section in making evaluations under Section 37-19-9 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-331 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 101-331
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-331
Status: in_force

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

(a) Repair and renovation needs;

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

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

The board shall submit such report to the Legislature on or before January 3, 1989, in order that the Legislature be made fully cognizant of such needs and capabilities. The Governor's Office of General Services is directed to provide the fullest degree of reasonable cooperation to the Mississippi Community College Board in the preparation of this report.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-38 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 15-38
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-38
Status: in_force

(1) The following phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) A dual enrolled student is a student who is enrolled in a community or junior college or state institution of higher learning while enrolled in high school.

(b) A dual credit student is a student who is enrolled in a community or junior college or state institution of higher learning while enrolled in high school and who is receiving high school and college credit for postsecondary coursework.

(2) A local school board, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board shall establish a dual enrollment system under which students in the school district who meet the prescribed criteria of this section may be enrolled in a postsecondary institution in Mississippi while they are still in school.

(3) Dual credit eligibility. Before credits earned by a qualified high school student from a community or junior college or state institution of higher learning may be transferred to the student's home school district, the student must be properly enrolled in a dual enrollment program.

(4) Admission criteria for dual enrollment in community and junior college or university programs. The Mississippi Community College Board and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may recommend to the State Board of Education admission criteria for dual enrollment programs under which high school students may enroll at a community or junior college or university while they are still attending high school and enrolled in high school courses. Students may be admitted to enroll in community or junior college courses under the dual enrollment programs if they meet that individual institution's stated dual enrollment admission requirements.

(5) Tuition and cost responsibility. Tuition and costs for university-level courses and community and junior college courses offered under a dual enrollment program may be paid for by the postsecondary institution, the local school district, the parents or legal guardians of the student, or by grants, foundations or other private or public sources. Payment for tuition and any other costs must be made directly to the credit-granting institution.

(6) Transportation responsibility. Any transportation required by a student to participate in the dual enrollment program is the responsibility of the parent, custodian or legal guardian of the student. Transportation costs may be paid from any available public or private sources, including the local school district.

(7) School district net enrollment credit. When dually enrolled, the student may be counted, for total funding formula purposes, in the net enrollment of the public school district in which the student attends high school.

(8) High school student transcript transfer requirements. Grades and college credits earned by a student admitted to a dual credit program must be recorded on the high school student record and on the college transcript at the university or community or junior college where the student attends classes. The transcript of the university or community or junior college coursework may be released to another institution or applied toward college graduation requirements.

(9) Determining factor of prerequisites for dual enrollment courses. Each university and community or junior college participating in a dual enrollment program shall determine course prerequisites. Course prerequisites shall be the same for dual enrolled students as for regularly enrolled students at that university or community or junior college.

(10) Process for determining articulation of curriculum between high school, university, and community and junior college courses. All dual credit courses must meet the standards established at the postsecondary level. Postsecondary level developmental courses may not be considered as meeting the requirements of the dual credit program. Dual credit memorandum of understandings must be established between each postsecondary institution and the school district implementing a dual credit program.

(11) [Deleted]

(12) Eligible courses for dual credit programs. Courses eligible for dual credit include, but are not necessarily limited to, foreign languages, advanced math courses, advanced science courses, performing arts, advanced business and technology, and career and technical courses. Distance Learning Collaborative Program courses approved under Section 37-67-1 shall be fully eligible for dual credit. All courses being considered for dual credit must receive unconditional approval from the superintendent of the local school district and the chief instructional officer at the participating community or junior college or university in order for college credit to be awarded. A university or community or junior college shall make the final decision on what courses are eligible for semester hour credits.

(13) High school Carnegie unit equivalency. One (1) three-hour university or community or junior college course is equal to one (1) high school Carnegie unit.

(14) Course alignment. The universities, community and junior colleges and the State Department of Education shall periodically review their respective policies and assess the place of dual credit courses within the context of their traditional offerings.

(15) Maximum dual credits allowed. It is the intent of the dual enrollment program to make it possible for every eligible student who desires to earn a semester's worth of college credit in high school to do so. A qualified dually enrolled high school student must be allowed to earn an unlimited number of college or university credits for dual credit.

(16) Dual credit program allowances. A student may be granted credit delivered through the following means:

(a) Examination preparation taught at a high school by a qualified teacher. A student may receive credit at the secondary level after completion of an approved course and passing the standard examination, such as an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate course through which a high school student is allowed CLEP credit by making a three (3) or higher on the end-of-course examination.

(b) College or university courses taught at a high school or designated postsecondary site by a qualified teacher who is an employee of the school district and approved as an instructor by the collaborating college or university.

(c) College or university courses taught at a college, university or high school by an instructor employed by the college or university and approved by the collaborating school district.

(d) Online courses of any public university, community or junior college in Mississippi.

(17) Qualifications of dual credit instructors. A dual credit academic instructor must meet the requirements set forth by the regional accrediting association (Southern Association of College and Schools). University and community and junior college personnel have the sole authority in the selection of dual credit instructors.

A dual credit career and technical education instructor must meet the requirements set forth by the Mississippi Community College Board in the qualifications manual for postsecondary career and technical personnel.

(18) Guidance on local agreements. The Chief Academic Officer of the State Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Chief Instructional Officers of the Mississippi Community College Board and the State Department of Education, working collaboratively, shall develop a template to be used by the individual community and junior colleges and institutions of higher learning for consistent implementation of the dual enrollment program throughout the State of Mississippi.

(19) Mississippi Works Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Option . A local school board and the local community colleges board shall establish a Mississippi Works Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Option Program under which potential or recent student dropouts may dually enroll in their home school and a local community college in a dual credit program consisting of high school completion coursework and a community college credential, certificate or degree program. Students completing the dual enrollment-credit option may obtain their high school diploma while obtaining a community college credential, certificate or degree. The Mississippi Department of Employment Security shall assist students who have successfully completed the Mississippi Works Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Option in securing a job upon the application of the student or the participating school or community college. The Mississippi Works Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Option Program will be implemented statewide in the 2012-2013 school year and thereafter. The State Board of Education, local school board and the local community college board shall establish criteria for the Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Program. Students enrolled in the program will not be eligible to participate in interscholastic sports or other extracurricular activities at the home school district. Tuition and costs for community college courses offered under the Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Program shall not be charged to the student, parents or legal guardians. When dually enrolled, the student shall be counted, for total funding formula purposes, in the net enrollment of the public school district in which the student attends high school. Any transportation required by the student to participate in the Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Program is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian of the student, and transportation costs may be paid from any available public or private sources, including the local school district. Grades and college credits earned by a student admitted to this Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Program shall be recorded on the high school student record and on the college transcript at the community college and high school where the student attends classes. The transcript of the community college coursework may be released to another institution or applied toward college graduation requirements. Any course that is required for subject area testing as a requirement for graduation from a public school in Mississippi is eligible for dual credit, and courses eligible for dual credit shall also include career, technical and degree program courses. All courses eligible for dual credit shall be approved by the superintendent of the local school district and the chief instructional officer at the participating community college in order for college credit to be awarded. A community college shall make the final decision on what courses are eligible for semester hour credits and the local school superintendent, subject to approval by the Mississippi Department of Education, shall make the final decision on the transfer of college courses credited to the student's high school transcript.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 59-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-9
Status: in_force

No bonds or negotiable notes issued by any school district in order to comply with the provisions of Section 37-47-15 , shall be included in computing the debt limits established in Sections 37-59-5 , 37-59-7 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 155-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-21
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

(2) The board shall furnish a statement complying with subsection (1) to a purchaser or beneficiary on written request. The board may charge a reasonable fee for each statement furnished under this subsection.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 33-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-71
Status: in_force

The State Treasurer is designated as the custodian of all funds received by the state from appropriations made by the Congress of the United States, or from other sources for the purpose of carrying out any state or federal statutes pertaining to vocational rehabilitation services for individuals who are blind. The State Treasurer is authorized to receive and provide for the proper custody of those funds, establish such special funds and accounts as may be necessary, and shall make disbursements from those funds and accounts for vocational rehabilitation purposes upon requisition by the executive director and upon the issuance of warrants by the State Fiscal Officer.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 59-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-23
Status: in_force

The levying authority, as defined in Section 37-57-1(1)(b) , acting for and on behalf of any school district, shall annually levy a special tax upon all of the taxable property within such school district, except as provided in Section 37-7-104.3(8) and (9) , which shall be sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and the interest on school bonds issued under the provisions of this article according to the terms thereof, including any school bonds issued pursuant to Section 37-7-104.3(8) and (9) .

In the case of school bonds issued under the provisions of Section 37-59-21 , it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of the county having the greater assessed valuation of taxable property within such district to annually levy upon all of the taxable property within such district, without regard to county lines, a special tax, which shall be sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds according to the terms thereof. Such board shall annually certify to the board of supervisors of the other county or counties in which a portion of the district is situated the rate of taxation so fixed, and it shall be the duty of such other board or boards to cause such rate of taxation to be levied upon all of the taxable property within the boundaries of such district situated within their respective counties. Said taxes shall be collected and deposited as other taxes are collected and deposited in such county or counties, and the tax collector thereof shall thereupon cause such taxes to be remitted to the county depository of the county for which the bonds were issued.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / 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. § 37-101-157 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-157
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-157
Status: in_force

All oil, gas and mineral leases provided for in Section 37-101-153 , 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, on behalf of the institution owning or having the use of such lands as the case may be. The corporate seal of the institution owning or having benefit of such land shall be affixed to all leases. In all such cases such leases shall be executed only upon order or resolution of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in the manner hereinbefore set forth.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-451 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-451
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-451
Status: in_force

When any school district shall own any land, buildings or other property that is not used for school or related school purposes and not needed in the operation of the schools of the district, the school board of such school district may sell and convey such land, buildings or other property in the manner provided in Sections 37-7-453 through 37-7-457 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-205 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 33-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-205
Status: in_force

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

(b) “ Director ” means the Director of the Office of Special Disability Programs;

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

(d) “ Independent living services ” includes, but is not limited to, the following services in accordance with definitions in the most current amendment of the Rehabilitation Act: (i) information and referral services, independent living skills training, peer counseling including cross-disability peer counseling, and individual and systems advocacy; (ii) counseling services, including psychological, psychotherapeutic and related services; (iii) services related to securing housing or shelter, including services related to community group living, and supportive of the purposes of the Rehabilitation Act and of the titles of the Rehabilitation Act, and adaptive housing services (including appropriate accommodations to and modifications of any space used to serve, or occupied by, individuals with disabilities); (iv) rehabilitation technology; (v) mobility training; (vi) services and training for individuals with cognitive and sensory disabilities, including life skills training, and interpreter and reader services; (vii) personal assistance services, including attendant care and the training of personnel providing such services; (viii) surveys, directories, and other activities to identify appropriate housing, recreation opportunities, and accessible transportation and other support services; (ix) consumer information programs on rehabilitation and independent living services available under the Rehabilitation Act, especially for minorities and other individuals with disabilities who have traditionally been unserved or underserved by programs under the Rehabilitation Act; (x) education and training necessary for living in a community and participating in community activities; (xi) supported living; (xii) transportation, including referral and assistance for that transportation and training in the use of public transportation vehicles and systems; (xiii) physical rehabilitation; (xiv) therapeutic treatment; (xv) provision of needed prostheses and other appliances and devices; (xvi) individual and group social and recreational services; (xvii) training to develop skills specifically designed for youths who are individuals with disabilities to promote self-awareness and esteem, develop advocacy and self-empowerment skills, and explore career options; (xviii) services for children; (xix) services under other federal, state or local programs designed to provide resources, training, counseling or other assistance, of substantial benefit in enhancing the independence, productivity and quality of life of individuals with disabilities; (xx) appropriate preventive services to decrease the need of individuals assisted under the Rehabilitation Act for similar services in the future; (xxi) community awareness programs to enhance the understanding and integration into society of individuals with disabilities; and (xxii) such other services as may be necessary and not inconsistent with the provisions of the most current amendment of the Rehabilitation Act;

(e) “ Special disability services ” includes, but not be limited to those services otherwise provided as independent living services;

(f) “ Office ” means the Office of Special Disability Programs;

(g) “ Regulations ” means regulations made by the executive director with the approval of the state board, including regulations pertaining to special disability services;

(h) “ Rehabilitation engineering ” means the systematic application of technologies, engineering methodologies, or scientific principles to meet the needs of and address the barriers confronted by individuals with disabilities in areas that include education, rehabilitation, employment, transportation, independent living and recreation;

(i) “ Rehabilitation engineering services ” means applying engineering principles to the design, modification, customization and/or fabrication of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. An assistive technology device is any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. The areas of practice for rehabilitation engineering typically encompasses job accommodations, computer access, vehicle modifications, architectural modifications and home modifications, augmentative/alternative communications, environmental controls, positioning devices, seating and mobility, sensory aids and learning accommodations;

(j) “ State Board ” means the State Board of Rehabilitation Services.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-211 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 151-211
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-211
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Before February 1 of each year, the tax assessor of each county shall file reports with the State Department of Education which provide information essential to the department in determining the local contribution that each school district or charter school is required to provide toward the cost of local school funding. A separate report must be filed for each school district or part of a school district situated in the county and must include the following information:

(i) The total assessed valuation of nonexempt property for school purposes in each school district;

(ii) Assessed value of exempt property owned by homeowners aged sixty-five (65) or older or disabled, as defined in Section 27-33-67(2) ;

(iii) The school district's tax loss from exemptions provided to applicants under the age of sixty-five (65) and not disabled, as defined in Section 27-33-67(1) ; and

(iv) The school district's homestead reimbursement revenues.

(b) The State Department of Education shall prepare and make available to the tax assessor of each county a form for the reports required under paragraph (a) of this subsection (1)(a).

(2)(a) The department shall use the information submitted pursuant to subsection (1) to calculate and certify to each school district the millage required to raise its minimum local tax effort, which must be the value of not less than twenty-eight (28) mills for the then current fiscal year or a millage rate equivalent to twenty-seven percent (27%) of the total funding formula funds for the school district, any charter schools, and any Mississippi Achievement School District Schools located in its boundaries, whichever is a lesser amount as certified to the school district by the department, upon all of the taxable property of the school district, including the following sources:

(i) One hundred percent (100%) of Grand Gulf income, as prescribed in Section 27-35-309 ; and

(ii) One hundred percent (100%) of any fees in lieu of taxes, as prescribed in Section 27-31-104 , in accordance with Section 37-57-1 .

(b) The department shall determine the local contribution of each school district or charter school based on the minimum local tax effort, as determined under paragraph (a), and shall certify this required local contribution to each school district or charter school, as follows:

(i) For school districts in which there are no charter schools, the minimum local tax effort is the required local contribution for the school district.

(ii) For school districts in which there is located one or more charter schools, the local contribution of the school district is the product of multiplying the local pro rata amount by the net enrollment of the school district. The department will calculate the local pro rata amount by dividing the school district's minimum local tax effort by the sum of the net enrollment of the school district, as determined by Section 37-151-207 , and the projected enrollment of charter school students, as specified in Section 37-151-207 , who reside or are estimated to reside in the district, but excluding from this projected enrollment any resident students who are projected to transfer from the district to a charter school after the calculation of the district's net enrollment, so as not to double-count those students.

(iii) For each charter school, the local contribution is the sum of the local pro rata amount for each charter school student, as determined by Section 37-151-207 , based on each student's district of residence. The department will calculate a local pro rata amount for each school district in which a student projected to attend the charter school resides or is estimated to reside using the methodology in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (b).

(iv) In the case of an agricultural high school, the local contribution is based on an equitable amount per pupil, as determined by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall set the millage requirement to generate such an amount and will certify this amount and millage requirement to agricultural high schools in the same manner as for all other school districts under this subsection.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in Section 37-151-213(1) , the required state share in support of each school district and charter school is determined by subtracting the required local contribution, which total amount may not exceed twenty-seven percent (27%) of the total projected funding formula cost, from the total projected funding formula cost, as determined under Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , for the school district or charter school.

(4) If the school board of any school district or charter school governing board determines that it is not economically feasible or practicable to operate any school within the district or charter school for the full one hundred eighty (180) days required for the school term of a scholastic year under Section 37-13-63 , due to an enemy attack, man-made, technological, or natural disaster in which the Governor has declared a disaster emergency under the laws of this state or the President of the United States has declared an emergency or major disaster to exist in this state, the school board or charter school governing board may notify the State Department of Education of the disaster and submit a plan for altering the school term. If the State Board of Education finds the disaster to be the cause of the school not operating for the contemplated school term and that the school is located in a school district covered by the Governor's or President's disaster declaration, the board may permit the schools located in that district to be operated for less than one hundred eighty (180) days and, in such case, the State Department of Education may not reduce the state share in support of the funding formula for that district or charter school because of the failure to operate those schools for one hundred eighty (180) days.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-73 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 23-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-73
Status: in_force

In the event of disapproval by the state department of education of an application for financial assistance payable from department funds, the department shall give notice to the applicant, through the parent or guardian of, or person standing in loco parentis to, the applicant, or to the public school district, by certified mail. Any applicant, through the parent or guardian of, or the person standing in loco parentis to, the applicant, or to the public school district, may, within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice, apply to the state board of education for a hearing, and shall be given a prompt and fair hearing on the question of entitlement to such financial assistance. The board shall render prompt decision upon such hearing. If the board shall affirm the previous action of disapproval of the application, notice shall be given to the applicant, through the parent or guardian of, or the person standing in loco parentis to, the applicant, or to the public school district, by certified mail. Any applicant aggrieved by the action of the board may, through the parent or guardian of, or the person standing in loco parentis to, the applicant or to the public school district within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice, file a petition in the chancery court of the county in which applicant resides for a hearing in the matter on all questions of fact and of law. The petition shall be served upon the state superintendent of public education. Within thirty (30) days after service of the petition, the board shall prepare and deposit a certified transcript of the record in the case in the office of the clerk of the court, which record shall include a copy of the application and any official findings, orders and rulings of the board in the case. The state board of education shall have thirty (30) days after the service of the petition within which to appear and file exceptions, answers or other pleadings. Additional time for preparation of the certified transcript of the record and for appearing and filing exceptions, answers or other pleadings may be granted to the board by order of the court. The court, after considering the law, the pleadings and such evidence as may be adduced in the case, may modify, affirm or reverse the findings of the board and make, issue and enter its judgment accordingly. Appeal from any such judgment shall be subject to the procedures applicable to appeals in ordinary civil actions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-37 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 104-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-37
Status: in_force

All revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be legal investments for trustees, other fiduciaries, savings banks, trust companies, and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi; and such revenue bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and public subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-150 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 23-150
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-150
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the Legislature that none of the provisions of Sections 37-16-9 , 37-23-1 through 37-23-9 and 37-23-133 through 37-23-149 shall create mandates that impose financial or legal requirements upon local school districts that are greater or more restrictive upon local school districts as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 and any later amendments or regulations thereunder, or any other relevant federal legislation. Furthermore, it is not the intent of the Legislature to impose any additional state unfunded mandates for the implementation of Sections 37-16-9 , 37-23-1 through 37-23-9 and 37-23-133 through 37-23-149 . Any provisions of Sections 37-16-9 , 37-23-1 through 37-23-9 and 37 -- 23 -133 through 37-23-149 that are inconsistent, create additional unfunded state mandates, or that are more restrictive upon school districts than federal requirements shall be expressly unenforceable and have no effect.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 28-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-15
Status: in_force

(1) To solicit, encourage and guide the development of quality charter school applications, the authorizer shall issue and publicize a request for proposals before September 1 of each year; however, during 2013, the authorizer shall issue and publicize a request for proposals before December 1. The content and dissemination of the request for proposals must be consistent with the purposes and requirements of this chapter.

(2) The authorizer annually shall establish and disseminate a statewide timeline for charter approval or denial decisions.

(3) The authorizer's request for proposals must include the following:

(a) A clear statement of any preferences the authorizer wishes to grant to applications intended to help underserved students;

(b) A description of the performance framework that the authorizer has developed for charter school oversight and evaluation in accordance with Section 37-28-29 ;

(c) The criteria that will guide the authorizer's decision to approve or deny a charter application; and

(d) A clear statement of appropriately detailed questions, as well as guidelines, concerning the format and content essential for applicants to demonstrate the capacities necessary to establish and operate a successful charter school.

(4) In addition to all other requirements, the request for proposals must require charter applications to provide or describe thoroughly all of the following mandatory elements of the proposed school plan:

(a) An executive summary;

(b) The mission and vision of the proposed charter school, including identification of the targeted student population and the community the school hopes to serve;

(c) The location or geographic area proposed for the school;

(d) The grades to be served each year for the full term of the charter contract;

(e) Minimum, planned and maximum enrollment per grade per year for the term of the charter contract;

(f) Evidence of need and community support for the proposed charter school;

(g) Background information, including proof of United States citizenship, on the applicants, the proposed founding governing board members and, if identified, members of the proposed school leadership and management team. The background information must include annual student achievement data, disaggregated by subgroup, for every school under the current or prior management of each board member and leadership team member;

(h) The school's proposed calendar, including the proposed opening and closing dates for the school term, and a sample daily schedule. The school must be kept in session no less than the minimum number of school days established for all public schools in Section 37-13-63 ;

(i) A description of the school's academic program, aligned with state standards;

(j) A description of the school's instructional design, including the type of learning environment (such as classroom-based or independent study), class size and structure, curriculum overview and teaching methods;

(k) The school's plan for using internal and external assessments to measure and report student progress on the performance framework developed by the authorizer in accordance with Section 37-28-29 ;

(l) The school's plan for identifying and successfully serving students with disabilities (including all of the school's proposed policies pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, 20 USCS Section 1400 et seq., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USCS Section 794 , and Title 11 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USCS Section 12101 et seq., and the school's procedures for securing and providing evaluations and related services pursuant to federal law), students who are English language learners, students who are academically behind, and gifted students, including, but not limited to, compliance with any applicable laws and regulations;

(m) A description of cocurricular or extracurricular programs and how those programs will be funded and delivered;

(n) Plans and timelines for student recruitment and enrollment, including lottery policies and procedures that ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to be considered in the lottery and that the lottery is equitable, randomized, transparent and impartial so that students are accepted in a charter school without regard to disability, income level, race, religion or national origin;

(o) The school's student discipline policies, including those for special education students;

(p) An organizational chart that clearly presents the school's organizational structure, including lines of authority and reporting between the governing board, education service provider, staff, related bodies (such as advisory bodies or parent and teacher councils), and all other external organizations that will play a role in managing the school;

(q) A clear description of the roles and responsibilities of the governing board, education service provider, school leadership team, management team and all other entities shown in the organizational chart;

(r) A staffing chart for the school's first year, and a staffing plan for the term of the charter;

(s) Plans for recruiting and developing school leadership and staff, which may not include utilization of nonimmigrant foreign worker visa programs;

(t) The school's leadership and teacher employment policies, including performance evaluation plans;

(u) Proposed governing bylaws;

(v) Explanations of any partnerships or contractual relationships central to the school's operations or mission;

(w) The school's plans for providing transportation, food service and all other significant operational or ancillary services;

(x) Opportunities and expectations for parent involvement;

(y) A detailed school start-up plan, identifying tasks, timelines and responsible individuals;

(z) A description of the school's financial plans and policies, including financial controls and audit requirements;

(aa) A description of the insurance coverage the school will obtain;

(bb) Start-up and five-year budgets with clearly stated assumptions;

(cc) Start-up and first-year cash flow projections with clearly stated assumptions;

(dd) A disclosure of all sources of private funding and all funds from foreign sources, including gifts from foreign governments, foreign legal entities and domestic entities affiliated with either foreign governments or foreign legal entities. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “ foreign ” means a country or jurisdiction outside of any state or territory of the United States;

(ee) Evidence of anticipated fundraising contributions, if claimed in the application; and

(ff) A sound facilities plan, including backup or contingency plans if appropriate.

(5) In the case of an application to establish a charter school by converting an existing noncharter public school to charter school status, the request for proposals additionally shall require the applicant to demonstrate support for the proposed charter school conversion by a petition signed by a majority of teachers or a majority of parents of students in the existing noncharter public school, or by a majority vote of the local school board or, in the case of schools in districts under state conservatorship, by the State Board of Education.

(6) In the case of a proposed charter school that intends to contract with an education service provider for substantial educational services, management services or both types of services, the request for proposals additionally shall require the applicant to:

(a) Provide evidence of the education service provider's success in serving student populations similar to the targeted population, including demonstrated academic achievement as well as successful management of nonacademic school functions, if applicable;

(b) Provide a term sheet setting forth: the proposed duration of the service contract; roles and responsibilities of the governing board, the school staff and the education service provider; the scope of services and resources to be provided by the education service provider; performance evaluation measures and timelines; the compensation structure, including clear identification of all fees to be paid to the education service provider; methods of contract oversight and enforcement; investment disclosure; and conditions for renewal and termination of the contract;

(c) Disclose and explain any existing or potential conflicts of interest between the school governing board and proposed service provider or any affiliated business entities; and

(d) Background information, including proof of United States citizenship, on the principal individuals affiliated with the education service provider.

(7) In the case of a charter school proposal from an applicant that currently operates one or more schools in any state or nation, the request for proposals additionally shall require the applicant to provide evidence of past performance and current capacity for growth. The applicant shall be required to submit clear evidence that it has produced statistically significant gains in student achievement or consistently produced proficiency levels as measured on state achievement tests.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-81 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 113-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-81
Status: in_force

(1) A veterinarian shall be released from the program contract without penalty if:

(a) The veterinarian has completed the service requirements of the contract;

(b) The veterinarian is unable to complete the service requirements of the contract because of a permanent physical disability;

(c) The veterinarian demonstrates extreme hardship or shows other good cause justifying the release; or

(d) The veterinarian dies.

(2) An obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in accordance with the provisions of Section 37-113-77 shall be postponed during:

(a) Any period of temporary medical disability during which the person obligated is unable to practice veterinary medicine due to the disability; and

(b) Any other period of postponement agreed to or determined in accordance with criteria agreed to in the practice agreement.

(3) A veterinarian shall be released from further performance of veterinary services under the program contract if he or she is unable to perform his or her contractual obligations to provide veterinary services due to the suspension or revocation of his or her federal accreditation or denial, refusal of renewal, limitation, suspension, revocation, or other disciplinary measure taken against his or her license to practice in the State of Mississippi pursuant to the Mississippi Veterinary Practice Act, Chapter 39, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972 , particularly, Sections 73-39-75 and 73-39-77 . If a veterinarian is released from his or her contract pursuant to this subsection, the program may recover a portion of or all of the payments made to such veterinarian under Section 37-113-77 . The dean may use appropriate remedies available to enforce this subsection.

(4) Upon the failure of a person to satisfy the obligation to engage in the full-time practice of veterinary medicine in a rural community in accordance with the provisions of this section with no just cause as outlined in subsection (1), that person shall, within ninety (90) days of the failure, be liable for the repayment of all financial assistance provided to such person through the program prescribed in accordance with the policies adopted by the dean, less a prorated amount based on any periods of veterinary medicine practice meeting the requirements of this section, plus interest at the prime rate of two percent (2%) from the date the assistance accrued. The interest on any unpaid obligation for violations specified in this subsection shall be compounded annually.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-125-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 125-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-125-3
Status: in_force

The object of the Jackson State College shall be to qualify teachers for the public schools of this state by giving instruction in the art and practice of teaching in all branches of study which pertain to industrial training, health, and rural and elementary education, and such other studies as the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, in cooperation with the state department of education, may, from time to time, prescribe.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-201 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 33-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-201
Status: in_force

All powers, duties and functions of the Department of Human Services and the Board of Human Services that are being exercised or performed by the Division of Rehabilitation Services and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind of the Department of Human Services on June 30, 1991, are transferred to the State Department of Rehabilitation Services and the State Board of Rehabilitation Services on July 1, 1991. All records, property and contractual rights and obligations of, and unexpended balances of appropriations and any other allocations to, the Department of Human Services and the Board of Human Services that relate to the powers, duties and functions exercised or performed by the Division of Rehabilitation Services and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind of the Department of Human Services on June 30, 1991, shall be transferred to the State Department of Rehabilitation Services and the State Board of Rehabilitation Services on or before July 1, 1991. The State Fiscal Officer shall transfer to the State Department of Rehabilitation Services all funds that are allocated to the Division of Rehabilitation Services and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind of the Department of Human Services in House Bill 1536, 1991 Regular Session [ Laws 1991, Ch. 47 ], and such funds shall be used by the State Department of Rehabilitation Services during fiscal year 1992 under the same terms and conditions as specified for those funds in House Bill 1536, 1991 Regular Session [ Laws 1991, Ch. 47 ]. Any positions of the former State Department of Rehabilitation Services and the former Rehabilitation Agency for the Blind that were transferred to the Department of Human Services on July 1, 1989, whose duties primarily involved the providing of rehabilitation services or the providing of related administrative or support services shall be transferred to the State Department of Rehabilitation Services on July 1, 1991, at a level commensurate with the level of each respective position on June 30, 1989. The Department of Human Services and the Board of Human Services shall assist the State Department of Rehabilitation Services and the State Board of Rehabilitation Services with the greatest degree of cooperation to carry out the intent and purpose of this act and to accomplish an orderly transition. The Department of Human Services shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 5 of House Bill 1536, 1991 Regular Session [ Laws 1991, Ch. 47 ], even though this act [Laws 1991, Ch. 608] was introduced under the authority of a different resolution than the one cited in Section 5 of House Bill 1536, 1991 Regular Session [ Laws 1991, Ch. 47 ].
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 41-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-103
Status: in_force

For the further purpose of carrying out the provisions of Sections 37-41-81 through 37-41-101 , the state board of education is further authorized and empowered to adopt and promulgate reasonable rules and regulations not inconsistent with the law for such purpose. Said state board of education shall have, in addition, all power and authority conferred upon it by the provisions of Sections 37-41-1 through 37-41-53 or any other statute.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 16-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-1
Status: in_force

The primary purpose of the statewide testing program is to provide information needed for state-level decisions. The program shall be designed to:

(a) Assist in the identification of educational needs at the state, district and school levels.

(b) Assess how well districts and schools are meeting state goals and minimum performance standards.

(c) Provide information to aid in the development of policy issues and concerns.

(d) Provide a basis for comparisons among districts, between charter schools throughout the state and nonpublic charter schools in those school districts in which charter schools are located, and between districts, the state and the nation, where appropriate.

(e) Produce data which can be used to aid in the identification of exceptional educational programs or processes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-3-87 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 3-87
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-3-87
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Better Sight for Better Learning Program.”

(2) The State Board of Education shall recommend a child entering first grade, whose eye screening indicates a need to have a face-to-face comprehensive eye examination, to be completed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist by January 1 of the child's first grade year. A principal, director or other person in charge of a public school shall collect from the child's parent or legal guardian, evidence of the child's face-to-face comprehensive eye examination, as provided by regulation of the State Board of Education, or a signed request by the parent or legal guardian of each student opting out of the face-to-face comprehensive eye examination. A face-to-face comprehensive eye examination that was performed before a child's initial enrollment in a public school shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement of this section. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations under the authority provided in this section to implement the provisions of this section.

(3) The State Department of Education is hereby authorized and empowered to establish a student vision screening program to make eye screening services available to students in Grades K-12 in the public schools in order to detect vision problems which can lead to academic problems. Such eye screening service shall be based on a process that is screening in nature, and not diagnostic, which is intended to identify with a reasonably high probability, students with a wide range of eye problems who should seek the services of an eye care professional for examination, diagnosis and corrective recommendation. Such eye screening service shall provide each student screened with a report of the student's screening results to be taken home. Each school shall be provided with a list of the students screened, and their results. Statistical summaries of the screening results shall be provided to each school, and composite statistics by school system, county or district shall be provided to the State Department of Education. The State Department of Education may contract with any legal entity to administer the student vision screening program on the school district level, and such contract shall be let on a competitive basis. State funding for the program shall only be available subject to appropriation by the Legislature.

(4) The school board of any local school district shall cooperate with the State Department of Education and any entity under contract with the department to implement the student face-to-face comprehensive eye examination or vision screening programs established under this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 145-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-67
Status: in_force

The company is hereby declared to be performing a public function and to be a public body corporate and a political subdivision of the state. Accordingly, the income, including any profit made on the sale thereof from all bonds issued by the company pursuant to Sections 37-145-43 through 37-145-73 , shall at all times be exempt from all taxation by the state or any public subdivision thereof. If, after all indebtedness and other obligations of the company are discharged the company is dissolved, its remaining assets shall inure to the benefit of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-75 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 31-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-75
Status: in_force

The various counties, municipalities, school districts and community and junior college districts which may become parties to any agreement authorized by Sections 37-31-71 through 37-31-79 are authorized to appropriate and expend any and all funds which may be required to carry out the terms of the agreement from any funds available to any party to the agreement not otherwise appropriated without limitation as to the source of the funds, including total funding formula funds, sixteenth section funds, funds received from the federal government or other sources by way of grant, donation or otherwise, and funds which may be available to any such party through the State Department of Education or any other agency of the state, regardless of the party to the agreement designated by the agreement to be primarily responsible for the construction or operation of the regional education center and regardless of the limitation on the expenditure of any funds imposed by any other statute. However, no funds whose use was originally limited to the construction of capital improvements shall be utilized for the purpose of defraying the administrative or operating costs of any regional education center. Any one or more of the parties to an agreement may be designated as the fiscal agent or contracting party in carrying out any of the purposes of the agreement, and any and all funds authorized to be spent by any of the parties may be paid over to the fiscal agent or contracting party for disbursement by the fiscal agent or contracting party. Disbursements shall be made and contracted for under the laws and regulations applicable to the fiscal or disbursing agent, except to the extent they may be extended or modified by the provisions of Sections 37-31-71 through 37-31-79 . All of the parties to the agreement may issue bonds, negotiable notes or other evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of providing funds for the acquisition of land and for the construction of buildings and permanent improvements under the terms of the agreement under any existing laws authorizing the issuance or sale of bonds, negotiable notes or other evidences of indebtedness to provide funds for any capital improvement.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-55 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 28-55
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-55
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(6) The State Department of Education shall disburse Education Enhancement Funds for classroom supplies, instructional materials and equipment, including computers and computer software to all eligible charter school teachers on the same basis and in the same manner as it is paid to school districts under Section 37-61-33(3)(a)(iii) for the purpose of issuing procurement cards or credentials for a digital solution to eligible teachers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-69 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 145-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-69
Status: in_force

The bonds issued by and under the authority of Sections 37-145-43 through 37-145-73 by the company are declared to be legal investments in which all public officers or public bodies of the state, its political subdivisions, all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, all insurance companies and associations, and other persons carrying on insurance business, all banks, bankers, banking associations, trust companies, savings associations, including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees and other fiduciaries, and all other persons who are now or may later be authorized to invest in bonds or in other obligations of the state, may invest funds, including capital, in their control or belonging to them. Such bonds are also hereby made securities which may be deposited with and received by all public officers and bodies of the state or any agency or political subdivision of the state and all municipalities and public corporations for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the state is now or may be later authorized by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 101-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-31
Status: in_force

In addition to the powers vested in the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning by Section 213-A, Mississippi Constitution of 1890 and by this chapter, said board is hereby authorized to establish a reserve fund to receive funds from state, federal or private sources for the purpose of guaranteeing payment of loans obtained by college or university students from public or private lenders or banking institutions. The board is authorized and empowered to do and perform all the necessary and requisite acts and deeds necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 27-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-65
Status: in_force

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

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

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, bonds referred to hereinabove may be issued pursuant to the supplemental powers and authorizations conferred by the provisions of the Registered Bond Act, being Sections 31-21-1 through 31-21-7 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 5-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-3
Status: in_force

No person who is a resident of the territory embraced within a municipal separate school district or a special municipal separate school district shall be eligible to be a member of the county board of education. Qualified electors residing within a municipal separate school district or special municipal separate school district shall not be eligible to vote or participate in the election of members of the county board of education.

The provisions of this section shall be applicable in the case of a special municipal separate school district and a line consolidated school district of which another county is the home county which together occupy all of the territory of a supervisors district of the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 103-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-29
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to provide that the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning or the board of trustees of any junior college is required to consider for admission the application of a nonresident.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 175-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-19
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall publicize information regarding the Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship on the department's official website.

(2) The department shall annually, by December 15, report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives the department's actions with respect to implementing accountability in the scholarship program under this section, any substantiated allegations or violations of law or rule by an eligible nonpublic school under this program concerning the enrollment and attendance of students, the credentials of teachers, background screening of teachers, and teachers' fingerprinting results and the corrective action taken by the department.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-107 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 33-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-107
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors and the governing authorities of municipalities may, in their discretion, make reasonable appropriations from the general fund of the municipality or county for the support of community rehabilitation programs established by Section 37-33-101 , to train, rehabilitate, retrain, and develop more productive lives for individuals with disabilities within the respective counties.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-457 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-457
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-457
Status: in_force

(1) The operation and control of the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District shall be vested in a board of trustees representing the seven (7) counties lying within the district. The said board shall consist of twenty (20) members to be chosen as follows:

(a) Copiah County shall be entitled to five (5) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65 .

(b) Lincoln County shall be entitled to five (5) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65 .

(c) Lawrence County shall be entitled to one (1) member who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65 .

(d) Franklin County shall be entitled to one (1) member who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65 .

(e) Simpson County shall be entitled to one (1) member who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65 .

(f) Jefferson County shall be entitled to one (1) member who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65 .

(g) Adams County shall be entitled to five (5) members who shall be elected from the residents of said county by the board of supervisors of Adams County within thirty (30) days of February 4, 1975.

The terms of office for the members shall be five (5) years. However, upon the first selection of trustees in the county, one (1) shall be elected for a term of five (5) years, one (1) for a term of four (4) years, one (1) for a term of three (3) years, one (1) for a term of two (2) years, and one (1) for a term of one (1) year, so as to prevent the retirement of more than one (1) member in any one (1) year. The members elected from Adams County shall have like qualifications and receive the same compensation as the members from other counties as provided by Section 37-29-65 .

(h) There shall be one (1) member of the board of trustees who shall be elected by the members of the said board of trustees from among the residents of the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District. Said member so chosen shall serve a five-year term and have the same powers and duties as the other board members.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this subsection (1), persons who are currently serving as members of the board of trustees of the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District shall complete their terms without interruption.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-49 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 113-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-49
Status: in_force

If any such county makes the contribution or donation as provided for in Section 37-113-43 , neither such donation nor any provisions of Sections 37-113-43 through 37-113-49 shall be held to give rise to any right of title, lien, encumbrance or other right in the buildings, facilities or equipment so constructed or acquired and installed by means of or with the aid of such contribution or donation or upon the site on which they are located. Neither shall such donation nor any provision of said sections give rise to any right or obligation on the part of such county with respect to the operation or maintenance of said educational facilities and equipment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 37-7-341 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 7-341
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-341
Status: in_force

The school board of a local school district may expend funds from any available sources for the purpose of defraying the cost of student field trips to public or private nonprofit museums, including the cost of admission to such museums.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 15-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-31
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Except as provided in subsections (2) through (5) of this section, upon the petition in writing of a parent or guardian resident of the school district of an individual student filed or lodged with the president or secretary of the school board of a school district in which the pupil has been enrolled or is qualified to be enrolled as a student under Section 37-15-9 , or upon the aforesaid petition or the initiative of the school board of a school district as to the transfer of a grade or grades, individual students living in one school district or a grade or grades of a school within the districts may be legally transferred to another school district, by the mutual consent of the school boards of all school districts concerned, which consent must be given in writing and spread upon the minutes of such boards.

(b) The school board of the transferring school district to which such petition may be addressed shall act thereon not later than its next regular meeting subsequent to the filing or lodging of the petition, and a failure to act within that time shall constitute a rejection of such request. The school board of the other school district involved (the transferee board) shall act on such request for transfer as soon as possible after the transferor board shall have approved or rejected such transfer and no later than the next regular meeting of the transferee board, and a failure of such transferee board to act within such time shall constitute a rejection of such request. If such a transfer is approved by the transferee board, then such decision shall be final. If such a transfer should be refused by the school board of either school district, then such decision shall be final.

(c) Any legal guardianship formed for the purpose of establishing residency for school district attendance purposes shall not be recognized by the affected school board.

(2)(a) Upon the petition in writing of any parent or guardian who is a resident of Mississippi and is an instructional or licensed employee of a school district, but not a resident of such district, the school board of the employer school district shall consent to the transfer of such employee's dependent school-age children to its district and shall spread the same upon the minutes of the board. Upon the petition in writing of any parent or guardian who is not a resident of Mississippi and who is an instructional or licensed employee of a school district in Mississippi, the school board of the employer school district shall consent to the transfer of such employee's dependent school-age children to its district and shall spread the same upon the minutes of the board.

(b) The school board of any school district, in its discretion, may adopt a uniform policy to allow the enrollment and attendance of the dependent children of noninstructional and nonlicensed employees, who are residents of Mississippi but are not residents of their district. Such policy shall be based upon the employment needs of the district, implemented according to job classification groups and renewed each school year.

(c) The employer transferee school district shall notify in writing the school district from which the pupil or pupils are transferring, and the school board of the transferor school district shall spread the same upon its minutes.

(d) Any such agreement by school boards for the legal transfer of a student shall include a provision providing for the transportation of the student. In the absence of such a provision the responsibility for transporting the student to the transferee school district shall be that of the parent or guardian.

(e) Any school district which accepts a student under the provisions of this subsection shall not assess any tuition fees upon such transferring student in accordance with the provisions of Section 37-19-27 .

(3) Upon the petition in writing of any parent or legal guardian of a school-age child who is a resident of an adjacent school district residing in the geographical situation described in Section 37-15-29(3) , the school board of the school district operating the school located in closer proximity to the residence of the child shall consent to the transfer of the child to its district, and shall spread the same upon the minutes of the board. Any such agreement by school boards for the legal transfer of a student under this subsection shall include a provision for the transportation of the student by either the transferor or the transferee school district. In the event that either the school board of the transferee or the transferor school district shall object to the transfer, it shall have the right to appeal to the State Board of Education whose decision shall be final. However, if the school boards agreeing on the legal transfer of any student shall fail to agree on which district shall provide transportation, the responsibility for transporting the student to the transferee school district shall be that of the parent or guardian.

(4) Upon the petition in writing of any parent or legal guardian of a school-age child who was lawfully transferred to another school district prior to July 1, 1992, as described in Section 37-15-29(4) , the school board of the transferee school district shall consent to the transfer of such child and the transfer of any school-age brother and sister of such child to its district, and shall spread the same upon the minutes of the board.

(5)(a) If the board of trustees of a municipal separate school district with added territory does not have a member who is a resident of the added territory outside the corporate limits, upon the petition in writing of any parent or legal guardian of a school-age child who is a resident of the added territory outside the corporate limits, the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district and the school board of the school district adjacent to the added territory shall consent to the transfer of the child from the municipal separate school district to the adjacent school district. The agreement must be spread upon the minutes of the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district and the school board of the adjacent school district. The agreement must provide for the transportation of the student. In the absence of such a provision, the parent or legal guardian shall be responsible for transporting the student to the adjacent school district. Any school district that accepts a student under this subsection may not assess any tuition fees against the transferring student.

(b) Before September 1 of each year, the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district shall certify to the State Department of Education the number of students in the added territory of the municipal separate school district who are transferred to the adjacent school district under this subsection. The municipal separate school district also shall certify the total number of students in the school district residing in the added territory plus the number of those students who are transferred to the adjacent school district. Based upon these figures, the department shall calculate the percentage of the total number of students in the added territory who are transferred to the adjacent school district and shall certify this percentage to the levying authority for the municipal separate school district. The levying authority shall remit to the school board of the adjacent school district, from the proceeds of the ad valorem taxes collected for the support of the municipal separate school district from the added territory of the municipal separate school district, an amount equal to the percentage of the total number of students in the added territory who are transferred to the adjacent school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-311 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-311
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-311
Status: in_force

All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 shall be and are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and in exercising the powers granted by Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 , the State Bond Commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code. Such bonds and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation within the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 140-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-15
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education may enter into agreements with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for providing classical music educational services to students in Grades Kindergarten through 12 at the Mississippi School of the Arts or at any other public school facility in Mississippi, subject to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature. Such educational services shall include: (a) music history, music instrument, and music performance instruction in the classroom; (b) symphony concerts for the students, programmed to support and enhance the teaching of history, literature and science; (c) chamber ensemble and chamber orchestra performances where members serve as educators as well as performers; (d) organizing and developing student performing ensembles, where members serve as music instrument instructors, conductors and performers; (e) symphony concerts for students, parents and other residents to enhance the position of the school as center of the local community; and (f) other services to be determined by agreement.

(2) The State Board of Education is encouraged to enter into contractual agreements with professional arts organizations, including the Mississippi Museum of Art, New Stage Theatre and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, for providing instruction, concerts, exhibits, performances and other outreach programs at the Mississippi School of the Arts or at any other public school facility in Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-89 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-89
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-89
Status: in_force

(1) In each school district within the state, there shall be employed the number of school attendance officers determined by the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement to be necessary to adequately enforce the provisions of the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law; however, this number shall not exceed one hundred fifty-three (153) school attendance officers at any time. From and after July 1, 1998, all school attendance officers employed pursuant to this section shall be employees of the State Department of Education. The State Department of Education shall employ all persons employed as school attendance officers by district attorneys before July 1, 1998, and shall assign them to school attendance responsibilities in the school district in which they were employed before July 1, 1998. The first twelve (12) months of employment for each school attendance officer shall be the probationary period of state service.

(2)(a) The State Department of Education shall obtain current criminal records background checks and current child abuse registry checks on all persons applying for the position of school attendance officer after July 2, 2002. The criminal records information and registry checks must be kept on file for any new hires. In order to determine an applicant's suitability for employment as a school attendance officer, the applicant must be fingerprinted. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the Department of Public Safety shall forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a national criminal history record check. The applicant shall pay the fee, not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00), for the fingerprinting and criminal records background check; however, the State Department of Education, in its discretion, may pay the fee for the fingerprinting and criminal records background check on behalf of any applicant. Under no circumstances may a member of the State Board of Education, employee of the State Department of Education or any person other than the subject of the criminal records background check disseminate information received through any such checks except insofar as required to fulfill the purposes of this subsection.

(b) If the fingerprinting or criminal records check discloses a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23(h) , child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust or aggravated assault which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the applicant is not eligible to be employed as a school attendance officer. Any employment of an applicant pending the results of the fingerprinting and criminal records check is voidable if the new hire receives a disqualifying criminal records check. However, the State Board of Education, in its discretion, may allow an applicant aggrieved by an employment decision under this subsection to appear before the board, or before a hearing officer designated for that purpose, to show mitigating circumstances that may exist and allow the new hire to be employed as a school attendance officer. The State Board of Education may grant waivers for mitigating circumstances, which may include, but are not necessarily limited to: (i) age at which the crime was committed; (ii) circumstances surrounding the crime; (iii) length of time since the conviction and criminal history since the conviction; (iv) work history; (v) current employment and character references; and (vi) other evidence demonstrating the ability of the person to perform the responsibilities of a school attendance officer competently and that the person does not pose a threat to the health or safety of children.

(c) A member of the State Board of Education or employee of the State Department of Education may not be held liable in any employment discrimination suit in which an allegation of discrimination is made regarding an employment decision authorized under this section.

(3) Each school attendance officer shall possess a college degree with a major in a behavioral science or a related field or shall have no less than three (3) years combined actual experience as a school teacher, school administrator, law enforcement officer possessing such degree, and/or social worker; however, these requirements shall not apply to persons employed as school attendance officers before January 1, 1987. School attendance officers also shall satisfy any additional requirements that may be established by the State Personnel Board for the position of school attendance officer.

(4) It shall be the duty of each school attendance officer to:

(a) Cooperate with any public agency to locate and identify all compulsory-school-age children who are not attending school;

(b) Cooperate with all courts of competent jurisdiction;

(c) Investigate all cases of nonattendance and unlawful absences by compulsory-school-age children not enrolled in a nonpublic school;

(d) Provide appropriate counseling to encourage all school-age children to attend school until they have completed high school;

(e) Attempt to secure the provision of social or welfare services that may be required to enable any child to attend school;

(f) Contact the home or place of residence of a compulsory-school-age child and any other place in which the officer is likely to find any compulsory-school-age child when the child is absent from school during school hours without a valid written excuse from school officials, and when the child is found, the officer shall notify the parents and school officials as to where the child was physically located;

(g) Contact promptly the home of each compulsory-school-age child in the school district within the officer's jurisdiction who is not enrolled in school or is not in attendance at public school and is without a valid written excuse from school officials; if no valid reason is found for the nonenrollment or absence from the school, the school attendance officer shall give written notice to the parent, guardian or custodian of the requirement for the child's enrollment or attendance;

(h) Collect and maintain information concerning absenteeism, dropouts and other attendance-related problems, as may be required by law or the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement; and

(i) Perform all other duties relating to compulsory school attendance established by the State Department of Education or district school attendance supervisor, or both.

(5) While engaged in the performance of his duties, each school attendance officer shall carry on his person a badge identifying him as a school attendance officer under the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement of the State Department of Education and an identification card designed by the State Superintendent of Public Education and issued by the school attendance officer supervisor. Neither the badge nor the identification card shall bear the name of any elected public official.

(6) The State Personnel Board shall develop a salary scale for school attendance officers as part of the variable compensation plan. The various pay ranges of the salary scale shall be based upon factors including, but not limited to, education, professional certification and licensure, and number of years of experience. School attendance officers shall be paid in accordance with this salary scale. The minimum salaries under the scale shall be no less than the following:

(a) For school attendance officers holding a bachelor's degree or any other attendance officer who does not hold such a degree, the annual salary shall be based on years of experience as a school attendance officer or related field of service or employment, no less than as follows:

Years of Experience

Salary

0--4 years

$

24,528.29

5--8 years

26,485.29

9--12 years

28,050.89

13--16 years

29,616.49

Over 17 years

31,182.09

(b) For school attendance officers holding a license as a social worker, the annual salary shall be based on years of experience as a school attendance officer or related field of service or employment, no less than as follows:

Years of Experience

Salary

0--4 years

$

25,558.29

5--8 years

27,927.29

9--12 years

29,822.49

13--16 years

31,717.69

17--20 years

33,612.89

Over 21 years

35,415.39

(c) For school attendance officers holding a master's degree in a behavioral science or a related field, the annual salary shall be based on years of experience as a school attendance officer or related field of service or employment, no less than as follows:

Years of Experience

Salary

0--4 years

$

26,382.29

5--8 years

29,008.79

9--12 years

31,109.99

13--16 years

33,211.19

17--20 years

35,312.39

Over 21 years

37,413.59

(7)(a) Each school attendance officer employed by a district attorney on June 30, 1998, who became an employee of the State Department of Education on July 1, 1998, shall be awarded credit for personal leave and major medical leave for his continuous service as a school attendance officer under the district attorney, and if applicable, the youth or family court or a state agency. The credit for personal leave shall be in an amount equal to one-third ( 1 / 3 ) of the maximum personal leave the school attendance officer could have accumulated had he been credited with such leave under Section 25-3-93 during his employment with the district attorney, and if applicable, the youth or family court or a state agency. The credit for major medical leave shall be in an amount equal to one-half ( 1 / 2 ) of the maximum major medical leave the school attendance officer could have accumulated had he been credited with such leave under Section 25-3-95 during his employment with the district attorney, and if applicable, the youth or family court or a state agency. However, if a district attorney who employed a school attendance officer on June 30, 1998, certifies, in writing, to the State Department of Education that the school attendance officer had accumulated, pursuant to a personal leave policy or major medical leave policy lawfully adopted by the district attorney, a number of days of unused personal leave or major medical leave, or both, which is greater than the number of days to which the school attendance officer is entitled under this paragraph, the State Department of Education shall authorize the school attendance officer to retain the actual unused personal leave or major medical leave, or both, certified by the district attorney, subject to the maximum amount of personal leave and major medical leave the school attendance officer could have accumulated had he been credited with such leave under Sections 25-3-93 and 25-3-95 .

(b) For the purpose of determining the accrual rate for personal leave under Section 25-3-93 and major medical leave under Section 25-3-95 , the State Department of Education shall give consideration to all continuous service rendered by a school attendance officer before July 1, 1998, in addition to the service rendered by the school attendance officer as an employee of the department.

(c) In order for a school attendance officer to be awarded credit for personal leave and major medical leave or to retain the actual unused personal leave and major medical leave accumulated by him before July 1, 1998, the district attorney who employed the school attendance officer must certify, in writing, to the State Department of Education the hire date of the school attendance officer. For each school attendance officer employed by the youth or family court or a state agency before being designated an employee of the district attorney who has not had a break in continuous service, the hire date shall be the date that the school attendance officer was hired by the youth or family court or state agency. The department shall prescribe the date by which the certification must be received by the department and shall provide written notice to all district attorneys of the certification requirement and the date by which the certification must be received.

(8)(a) School attendance officers shall maintain regular office hours on a year-round basis; however, during the school term, on those days that teachers in all of the school districts served by a school attendance officer are not required to report to work, the school attendance officer also shall not be required to report to work. (For purposes of this subsection, a school district's school term is that period of time identified as the school term in contracts entered into by the district with licensed personnel.) A school attendance officer shall be required to report to work on any day recognized as an official state holiday if teachers in any school district served by that school attendance officer are required to report to work on that day, regardless of the school attendance officer's status as an employee of the State Department of Education, and compensatory leave may not be awarded to the school attendance officer for working during that day. However, a school attendance officer may be allowed by the school attendance officer's supervisor to use earned leave on such days.

(b) The State Department of Education annually shall designate a period of six (6) consecutive weeks in the summer between school years during which school attendance officers shall not be required to report to work. A school attendance officer who elects to work at any time during that period may not be awarded compensatory leave for such work and may not opt to be absent from work at any time other than during the six (6) weeks designated by the department unless the school attendance officer uses personal leave or major medical leave accrued under Section 25-3-93 or 25-3-95 for such absence.

(9) The State Department of Education shall provide all continuing education and training courses that school attendance officers are required to complete under state law or rules and regulations of the department.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-53 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 145-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-53
Status: in_force

The company, subject to the provisions in proceedings relating to outstanding bonds as may then exist, may purchase bonds out of any funds available therefor, which shall thereupon be cancelled, at any reasonable price which, if the bonds are then redeemable, shall not exceed the redemption price (and premium, if any) then applicable plus accrued interest to the redemption date thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-16 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 101-16
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-16
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning shall develop a system of manpower management which shall be implemented in all institutions under the control of the board. The manpower management system shall be so designed to insure accurate and rapid reporting of all manpower positions within each institution by job classification to include position number and title, grade, salary and fringe benefits, name of incumbent, social security number and date of hire.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 145-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-51
Status: in_force

Any pledge made by the company shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge was made. The revenues or properties so pledged and thereafter received by the company 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 company, irrespective of whether the parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 104-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-1
Status: in_force

This chapter may be cited as the “Mississippi Educational Facilities Authority Act for Private, Nonprofit Institutions of Higher Learning.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 28-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-43
Status: in_force

(1) A charter school may not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, disability, national origin or any other category that would be unlawful if done by a noncharter public school.

(2) A charter school may not engage in any sectarian practices in its educational program, admissions or employment policies or operations.

(3) A charter school may not discriminate against any student on the basis of national origin, minority status or limited proficiency in English. Consistent with federal civil rights laws, charter schools must provide limited English proficient students with appropriate services designed to teach them English and the general curriculum.

(4) A charter school may not charge tuition.

(5) The terms of each charter school must include a transportation plan for students attending the charter school.

(6) Subject to the approval of the authorizer, a charter school may contract with an accredited online course provider for the delivery of virtual courses to students enrolled in the charter school.

(7) Except to the extent authorized under paragraph (c) of Section 37-28-41 , the powers, obligations and responsibilities set forth in the charter contract may not be delegated or assigned by either party.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 45-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-13
Status: in_force

The commission shall meet on the third Monday of each month, and shall meet at such other times as may be designated by law or upon call by the chairman or a majority of the members of the commission. At its first meeting, the commission shall organize and elect a chairman and a vice-chairman. As soon as practicable thereafter, the commission shall adopt such rules and regulations not contrary to the provisions of this chapter and the other laws of the State of Mississippi as shall be necessary and proper to govern its proceedings. Four members of said commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of doing business. The commission may either elect a secretary from among its membership or designate the executive secretary as its secretary.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 57-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-1
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The boards of supervisors of the counties shall levy and collect all taxes for and on behalf of all school districts which were within the county school system or designated as special municipal separate school districts prior to July 1, 1986. Such taxes shall be collected by the county tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as county taxes are collected by him, and the same penalties for delinquency shall be applicable.

The governing authorities of the municipalities shall levy and collect all taxes for and on behalf of all school districts which were designated as municipal separate school districts prior to July 1, 1986. Such taxes shall be collected by the municipal tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as municipal taxes are collected by him, and the same penalties for delinquency shall be applicable.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 19-9-171 , the county or municipal tax collector, as the case may be, shall pay such tax collections, except for taxes collected for the payment of the principal of and interest on school bonds or notes and except for taxes collected to defray collection costs, into the school depository and report to the school board of the appropriate school district at the same time and in the same manner as the tax collector makes his payments and reports of other taxes collected by him.

However, the State Board of Education shall determine the appropriate levying authority for any school district created or reorganized after July 1, 1987.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter and any other laws pertaining to taxes levied or bonds or notes issued for and on behalf of school districts, the term “ levying authority ” means the board of supervisors of the county or the governing authorities of the municipality, whichever levies taxes for and on behalf of the particular school district as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.

(2) The levying authority for the school district shall, at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied by the levying authority, levy a tax of not less than twenty-eight (28) mills for the then current fiscal year or a millage rate equivalent to twenty-seven percent (27%) of the total funding formula under Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , whichever is a lesser amount, as certified to the school district by the State Department of Education, upon all of the taxable property of the school district. However, in no case shall the minimum local ad valorem tax effort for any school district be equal to an amount that would require a millage rate exceeding fifty-five (55) mills in that school district. However, if a levying authority is levying in excess of fifty-five (55) mills on July 1, 1997, the levying authority may levy an additional amount not exceeding three (3) mills in the aggregate for the period beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 2003, subject to the limitation on increased receipts from ad valorem taxes prescribed in Sections 37-57-105 and 37-57-107 . Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any school district that is levying more than fifty-five (55) mills pursuant to Sections 37-57-1 and 37-57-105 to decrease its millage rate to fifty-five (55) mills or less. In making such levy, the levying authority shall levy an additional amount sufficient to cover anticipated delinquencies and costs of collection so that the net amount of money to be produced by such levy shall be equal to the amount which the school district is required to contribute as its minimum local ad valorem tax effort. The tax so levied shall be collected by the tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as other ad valorem taxes are collected by him. The amount of taxes so collected as a result of such levy shall be paid into the district maintenance fund of the school district by the tax collector at the same time and in the same manner as reports and payments of other ad valorem taxes are made by the tax collector, except that the amount collected to defray costs of collection may be paid into the county general fund. The levying authority shall have the power and authority to direct and cause warrants to be issued against such fund for the purpose of refunding any amount of taxes erroneously or illegally paid into such fund where such refund has been approved in the manner provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 21-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-51
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(i) Voluntary enrollment of children;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(xiii) Family engagement opportunities;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(i) Kindergarten readiness;

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

(iii) Math proficiency in grades 3 through 8;

(iv) Science proficiency in grades 5 and 8;

(v) Disciplinary incidents;

(vi) Chronic absenteeism;

(vii) On-time graduation rate;

(viii) College enrollment;

(ix) Grade retention; and

(x) Special education services/exits.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Participation in Excel By 5;

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

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

4. Participation in the Mississippi Building Blocks.

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

(vii) All authority granted to the State Department of Education to establish program rules is subject to the public processes established in the provisions of the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, including, but not limited to, filing notice of the proposed rules, public hearings and any economic impact statement with the Office of the Secretary of State before presenting such information to the State Board of Education for final approval.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-95 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 151-95
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-95
Status: in_force

Total funding formula funds shall cover one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of the State and School Employees' Life and Health Insurance Plan created under Article 7, Chapter 15, Title 25, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for all district employees who work no less than twenty (20) hours during each week and regular nonstudent school bus drivers employed by the district.

Where the use of federal funding is allowable to defray, in full or in part, the cost of participation in the insurance plan by district employees who work no less than twenty (20) hours during each week and regular nonstudent school bus drivers, whose salaries are paid, in full or in part, by federal funds, the use of total funding formula funds as required under this section shall be reduced to the extent of the federal funding. Where the use of federal funds is allowable but not available, it is the intent of the Legislature that school districts contribute the cost of participation for such employees from local funds, except that parent fees for child nutrition programs shall not be increased to cover such cost.

The State Department of Education, in accordance with rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education, may withhold a school district's total funding formula funds for failure of the district to timely report student, fiscal and personnel data necessary to meet state and/or federal requirements. The rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education shall require the withholding of total funding formula funds for those districts that fail to remit premiums, interest penalties and/or late charges under the State and School Employees' Life and Health Insurance Plan. Noncompliance with such rules and regulations shall result in a violation of compulsory accreditation standards as established by the State Board of Education and Commission on School Accreditation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 11-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-23
Status: in_force

If any person shall wilfully disturb any session of the public school or any public school meeting, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) nor more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-57 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 11-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-57
Status: in_force

(1) Except in the case of excessive force or cruel and unusual punishment, a public school teacher, assistant teacher, principal, or an assistant principal acting within the course and scope of his employment shall not be liable for any action carried out in conformity with state or federal law or rules or regulations of the State Board of Education or the local school board or governing board of a charter school regarding the control, discipline, suspension and expulsion of students. The local school board shall provide any necessary legal defense to a teacher, assistant teacher, principal, or assistant principal in the school district who was acting within the course and scope of his employment in any action which may be filed against such school personnel. A school district or charter school, as the case may be, shall be entitled to reimbursement for legal fees and expenses from its employee if a court finds that the act of the employee was outside the course and scope of his employment, or that the employee was acting with criminal intent. Any action by a school district or charter school against its employee and any action by the employee against the school district or charter school for necessary legal fees and expenses shall be tried to the court in the same suit brought against the school employee.

(2) Corporal punishment administered in a reasonable manner, or any reasonable action to maintain control and discipline of students taken by a public school teacher, assistant teacher, principal or assistant principal acting within the scope of his employment or function and in accordance with any state or federal laws or rules or regulations of the State Board of Education or the local school board or governing board of a charter school does not constitute negligence or child abuse. No public school teacher, assistant teacher, principal or assistant principal so acting shall be held liable in a suit for civil damages alleged to have been suffered by a student as a result of the administration of corporal punishment, or the taking of action to maintain control and discipline of a student, unless the court determines that the teacher, assistant teacher, principal or assistant principal acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a manner exhibiting a wanton and willful disregard of human rights or safety. For the purposes of this subsection, “ corporal punishment ” means the reasonable use of physical force or physical contact by a teacher, assistant teacher, principal or assistant principal, as may be necessary to maintain discipline, to enforce a school rule, for self-protection or for the protection of other students from disruptive students.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section a public school teacher, assistant teacher, principal, assistant principal or other school personnel is prohibited from using corporal punishment, as defined in subsection (2) of this section, on any student with a disability. No school personnel shall be granted immunity from liability under subsection (2) of this section for the use of corporal punishment on a student with a disability. For purposes of this subsection, the term “ student with a disability ” means a student who has an individualized education plan (IEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or a Section 504 plan under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The term “ school personnel ” includes all individuals employed on a full-time or part-time basis by a public school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-503 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-503
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-503
Status: in_force

All of the property owned by the Meridian Municipal Separate School District utilized by Meridian Junior College as of September 1, 1979, shall be and the same is hereby transferred to and vested in the board of trustees of the Meridian Junior College District and their successors in office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-119-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 119-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-119-7
Status: in_force

The University of Southern Mississippi (herein sometimes referred to as the “university”) is authorized and empowered to require the state building commission to issue bonds in an amount not exceeding the sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000.00), bearing interest at a rate not exceeding six per cent per annum, for the purpose of and to be expended in extending, adding to and improving the athletic stadium on its campus; to impose student athletic fees; to impose charges, in addition to and distinguished from the established price of admission, upon persons, other than students, for the privilege of attending events held in such stadium, which such charges shall be exempt from any amusement tax now levied and collected in the State of Mississippi, and to immediately commence, prior to the issuance and sale of the bonds herein authorized and to continue, the collection of such charges; and to apply to the satisfaction and retirement, as and when due, of the principal of and interest on such bonds, said athletic fees and said charges, and also, rental income from the dormitory facilities now in the stadium, and income, not otherwise appropriated or allocated, from any other sources. Such bonds shall be authorized by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning in the manner now provided by Sections 37-101-91 through 37-101-103 , and all of the provisions of said sections (except as herein otherwise provided and as are not in conflict with the provisions hereof) shall be applicable to the authorization and issuance of such bonds. Reference in Sections 37-101-95 , 37-101-101 , to “dormitories, dwellings or apartments” shall be understood to apply also to all other projects authorized to be financed under the provisions of Section 37-101-99 .

Upon request of the university, acting through its president and financial secretary, authorization having been first obtained from the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, the state building commission shall issue and sell bonds of the university at not less than par and accrued interest in the manner provided by Section 21-27-45, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for the sale of bonds of municipalities issued thereunder and upon terms and at interest rates, not to exceed the maximum therein authorized, to be fixed by the state building commission. The state building commission is hereby authorized to supervise the contracting for, and the erection of, all buildings erected, extended, added to, or improved under the provisions of this section. The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized and empowered to specify the nature of such extensions, additions, improvements or new construction, and shall approve the plans and specifications therefor prior to the letting of any new contract for any such work. All contracts let under the supervision of the state building commission shall be let as provided by law for other contracts let by said commission.

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, in the resolution authorizing such bonds, may provide for the imposition of such student athletic fees, such charges for the privilege of attending events held in such stadium (as hereinabove distinguished from the price of admission), such rental charges for use of the dormitories facilities now in the stadium and for application to the retirement of such bonds of such other sources of income, not otherwise appropriated or allocated, as it may consider desirable. Said board may provide for the collection and the allocation of such fees and charges. Such fees and charges or other income shall always be in such amounts as will assure the prompt payment of principal of and interest on such bonds and the carrying out of all of the covenants and agreements contained in such resolution authorizing such bonds.

All bonds so issued shall constitute negotiable instruments within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code of Mississippi.

Any bonds authorized under authority of this section may be validated in the chancery court of first judicial district, Hinds County in the manner and with the force and effect now or hereafter provided by general law for the validation of municipal bonds.

This section, without reference to any other statute or law of Mississippi other than the portions of Sections 37-101-91 through 37-101-103 , not in conflict herewith, and Section 31-19-25 , shall constitute full authority for the extension, adding to and improvement of the aforesaid stadium and the authorization and issuance of bonds hereunder and no other provisions of the statutes pertinent thereto, except as herein expressly provided, shall be construed as applying to any proceedings had hereunder or any acts done pursuant hereto.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-73-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 37-27-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 27-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-15
Status: in_force

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

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

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

The board of trustees of a school established or maintained by the joint action of two or more counties, shall have all the power and discharge all the duties appertaining to boards of trustees of schools where only one county is interested.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-73-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 73-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-73-7
Status: in_force

The State Workforce Investment Board, by and through the Office of Workforce Development, shall create, in consultation with the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi Community College Board, the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit and other appropriate business and industry stakeholders, a single list of nationally recognized industry certifications for use in the Mississippi statewide accountability system, in diploma endorsement requirements and for reimbursement under Section 37-153-15 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-132-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 132-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-132-5
Status: in_force

A student teacher or intern under the supervision of a certificated teacher, principal, or other administrator shall have the protection of the laws accorded the certificated teacher, principal, or other administrator, and shall, while acting as such student teacher or intern, comply with all rules and regulations of the local board of education and observe all duties assigned certificated teachers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 37-68-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 68-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-68-13
Status: in_force

(1)(a) There is created a special fund in the State Treasury, to be known as the “Equity in Distance Learning Fund,” from which the grants authorized by this chapter shall be disbursed by the department. All monies shall be disbursed from the fund in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, by the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act. If on November 1, 2020, there are unobligated monies in the fund from either the department or schools, the department shall have the discretion to distribute the monies for eligible expenditures pursuant to the CARES Act to schools by application. However unexpended amounts of any monies unrelated to the Coronavirus Relief Fund, whether appropriated by the Legislature or donated by any public or private entity, remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the Budget Contingency Fund or the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the grant program fund shall be deposited to the credit of the grant program fund.

(b) If on December 29, 2020, there are unexpended Coronavirus Relief Fund monies remaining in the fund, those funds shall lapse into the Budget Contingency Fund, to be transferred, by the State Fiscal Officer, into the Unemployment Compensation Fund on or before December 30, 2020.

(2) The use of funds allocated under this grant program shall be subject to audit by the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. Each school, or other entity or person receiving funds under this grant program, found to be fully or partially noncompliant with the requirements in this chapter, shall return to the state all or a portion of the funds received.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 43-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-19
Status: in_force

The board shall have the power and is hereby authorized:

(a) To promulgate rules and regulations for the purchase, care, use, disposal, distribution and accounting for all books to be furnished under the terms of this chapter, and to promulgate such other rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.

(b) To adopt, contract for, and make available for purchase, cash or credit, basal, supplementary or alternative textbooks through twelve (12) grades as provided in the school curriculum, or for any other course that it may add thereto.

(c) To determine the period of contract for rated and adopted textbooks which shall not be for less than four (4) years nor more than five (5) years, with the right of the board, in its discretion, to renew or extend such contract from year to year for a period not exceeding two (2) additional years and to determine the conditions of the approval or forfeiture of a contract and such other terms and conditions as may be necessary and not contrary to law.

(d) To have complete power and authority over additions and amendments to textbooks, advertising for bids and the contents thereof, including auxiliary materials and workbooks, advertising on the protective covers of textbooks, bids and proposals, prices of textbooks, specimen copies, cash deposits, selection and adoption, distribution, fumigation, emergencies, selling to others, return of deposits, forfeiture of deposits, regulations governing deposits, renovation and repair of books, requisition, transportation or shipment of books, and any other acts or regulations, not contrary to law, that may be deemed necessary for furnishing and loaning free textbooks to the school children, as provided in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-1
Status: in_force

There shall be maintained a uniform system of free public schools consisting of grades one through twelve, which may be divided between grammar schools, junior high schools and high schools, or any combination thereof, on such basis and in such grades as the board of trustees of the school district involved, in its discretion, shall deem necessary and desirable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 141-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-21
Status: in_force

(1) The director of the center, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, shall fix the salaries and wages of employees of the center, shall reimburse employees for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, and may approve receipt by employees of additional income payments from grants, fellowships and other sources.

(2) The director of the center, upon approval of the board of trustees, may contract with universities and colleges, with individuals and with public or private research organizations for their services and, under the same approval, may contract for performance by the center of services to governmental subdivisions of the state, to United States government departments and agencies, to area development organizations, to trade associations and other similar groups of public or private nature, and to private business enterprises, and may set fees for such services. Upon approval of the board of trustees, the center may establish intern programs to provide experience that supplements the education of students enrolled in state institutions of higher learning.

(3) Expenditures by and for the center and its branches shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of the funds appropriated to carry out the provisions of this chapter, upon warrant issued by the State Fiscal Management Board; and such board shall issue its warrant upon requisition signed by the director of the center, in the manner provided by law. Full and complete accounting shall be kept and made by the center for all funds received and expended by it. Representatives of the office of the State Auditor annually shall audit the expenditures of funds received by the center from all sources, and the auditor shall make a complete and detailed report of such audit to the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-127-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 127-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-127-1
Status: in_force

A body politic and corporate is hereby created by the name of the “Mississippi Valley State College” to have perpetual succession, with power to contract and be contracted with, to receive by any legal method of transfer or conveyance, property of any description, to have, hold, and employ the same, to make and use a corporate seal, with power to break or change the same, and to adopt bylaws, rules and regulations for the government of its members, official agents, and employees. However, the name of said “Mississippi Valley State College” is hereafter changed to “Mississippi Valley State University,” without interference with the rights, powers and prerogatives of said college which continue in all respects. Whenever the name “Mississippi Valley State College” appears, the same is construed to denote “Mississippi Valley State University.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 51-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-5
Status: in_force

There shall be, and there is hereby, created in the state treasury, a special fund to be known as the “state educational loan fund.” The said fund shall consist of such amounts as may be paid into said fund by appropriation and also such amounts as may be returned to said fund as repayments, both principal and interest, from loans provided for in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-6 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 15-6
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-6
Status: in_force

For the purpose of providing notice to public and private school officials, both within and outside the boundaries of the state, of the expulsion of any public school student, the State Department of Education may develop a central reporting system for maintaining information concerning each expulsion from a public school. In establishing and maintaining the reporting system, the department may require each school district and charter school to report, within a certain period of time after an expulsion, as established by the department, information such as the following:

(a) The name of the student expelled;

(b) The date the student was expelled;

(c) The age of the student at the time of the expulsion;

(d) The school from which the student was expelled;

(e) The reason for the expulsion, including a detailed description of the student's act or acts;

(f) The duration of the period of expulsion, if not indefinite; and

(g) Any other information that the department deems necessary for school officials in a public or private school, where a student is seeking enrollment, to determine whether or not a student should be denied enrollment based upon a previous expulsion.

Any information maintained by the department under the authority of this section shall be strictly confidential. The information shall be available to school officials at a public or private school only upon their request and only when a student seeks enrollment or admission to that school. In no case shall the information be available to the general public; however, aggregate reporting by the department which does not disclose any personally identifiable information is permitted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6.1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 17-6.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6.1
Status: in_force

(1) In the Mississippi Achievement School District, in which as of January 1, 2024, two (2) local school districts have been placed into by the State Board of Education, specifically, the Yazoo City Municipal School District and the Humphreys County School District, there shall be an administrative transition of those school districts into two (2) separate Districts of Transformation with such transition completed by July 1, 2025. Until June 30, 2025, preceding the effective date of the required transition of school districts in the Mississippi Achievement School District into Districts of Transformation, the districts shall remain under the authority and control of the Mississippi Achievement School District and the State Board of Education.

(2) From and after July 1, 2024, no local school district shall be placed into the Mississippi Achievement School District and effective July 1, 2025, the Mississippi Achievement School District shall be dissolved.

(3) On or before September 1, 2024, the State Board of Education shall provide the Mississippi Achievement School District with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for actions to be taken to comply with the transition of those local schools into Districts of Transformation.

(4) A declaration of a state of emergency shall not be required by the Governor for the two (2) districts to transition from the Mississippi Achievement School District placement into a District of Transformation; however, the two (2) districts shall be required to comply with any and all obligations and laws as required by other Districts of Transformation and the State Board of Education shall have all the authorities granted to it in Sections 37-17-6 and 37-17-13 , including the assignment of an interim superintendent to the Districts of Transformation, or in its discretion, contracting with an appropriate private entity with experience in the academic, finance and other operational functions of schools and school districts, who will be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the school district in accordance with Section 37-17-6(15) , and the determination of when a District of Transformation is ready to be reconstituted, reorganized, and returned to local control.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 113-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-43
Status: in_force

Any county of this state now or hereafter having a population of more than one hundred thousand according to the latest available census, and in which there is located a municipality of one hundred thousand or more, acting by and through its board of supervisors, is hereby authorized and empowered to contribute the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) toward the construction, erection and equipping of educational facilities to be utilized by Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science within such county, by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 11-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-41
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any pupil attending the public schools of this state to become a member of or to belong to or participate in the activities of any high school fraternity, sorority, or secret society as defined in Section 37-11-37 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 17-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-1
Status: in_force

(1) The power and authority to prescribe standards for the accreditation of noncharter public schools, to insure compliance with such standards and to establish procedures for the accreditation of noncharter public schools is hereby vested in the State Board of Education. The board shall, by orders placed upon its minutes, adopt all necessary rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this chapter and shall provide, through the State Department of Education, for the necessary personnel for the enforcement of standards so established.

(2) A charter school authorized by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board must be granted accreditation by the State Board of Education based solely on the approval of the school by the authorizer. If the authorizer, at any time, revokes a school's charter, the State Board of Education shall withdraw the accreditation of the charter school immediately.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 104-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-5
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) “ Authority ” means the members of the State Bond Commission, which is composed of the Governor, the Attorney General, and the State Treasurer, under Section 31-17-1, Mississippi Code of 1972 , acting as the Educational Facilities Authority for Private, Nonprofit Institutions of Higher Learning.

(b) “ Private institution of higher learning ” means a nonprofit university, college or junior college within the State of Mississippi, authorized by law to provide a program of education beyond the high school level, which is not under the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the Mississippi Community College Board, and which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

(c) “ Educational facility ” means any facility or structure, including, but not limited to, a housing or dormitory facility, academic building, library, laboratory, research facility, classroom, athletic facility, health care facility, maintenance, storage or utility facility, student union building, administration building, and parking facility, and any other facility or structure related thereto, which is essential, useful or convenient for the instruction of students, the conducting of research or the operation and conduct of a private institution of higher learning, and the land underlying said facility or structure, but shall not include any facility or structure used or to be used for sectarian instruction or as a place of religious worship nor any facility which is used or to be used primarily in connection with any part of the program of a school or department of divinity for any religious denomination or sect.

(d) “ Educational facility project ” means the construction, enlargement, repair, improvement, alteration, remodeling, reconstruction, equipping or acquisition of an educational facility.

(e) “ Cost of the educational facility project ” means the cost of construction, enlargement, repair, improvement, alteration, remodeling, reconstruction, equipping or acquisition of an educational facility; the cost of all lands, properties, rights-of-way, easements, franchises and interests acquired, used for or in connection with the educational facility; the cost of demolishing or removing buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which such buildings or structures may be moved; the cost of all machinery and equipment; financing charges, interest prior to and during construction, enlargement, repair, improvement, alteration, remodeling, reconstruction, or equipping of the said educational facility and for one (1) year after completion of said construction, enlargement, repair, improvement, alteration, remodeling, reconstruction, equipping or acquisition; the cost of engineering, architectural, financial and legal services; the cost of all plans, surveys and specifications; studies, estimates of cost and of revenues, and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the project; administrative expenses; the cost of such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing herein authorized of the construction, enlargement, repair, improvement, alteration, remodeling, reconstruction, equipping or acquisition of any educational facility and the placing of said project in operation. Any obligations or expenses incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be regarded as a cost of the educational facility project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of the proceeds of revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter for such educational facility project.

(f) “ Participating private institution of higher learning ” means a private institution of higher learning which, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, undertakes an educational facility project, and the financing thereof, or undertakes the refinancing of an educational facility project.

(g) “ Revenue bonds ” means revenue bonds issued by the Authority, under the provisions of this chapter, to finance or refinance an educational facility project at a participating private institution of higher learning and payable from monies received by the Authority from the participating private institution of higher learning pursuant to the bond loan agreement as defined herein.

(h) “ Bond loan agreement ” means an agreement between the participating private institution of higher learning and the Authority for the purposes of: (i) establishing the terms for the payment of the revenue bonds by the participating private institution of higher learning; (ii) establishing the collateral of the participating private institution of higher learning which the parties determine to be necessary to secure the payment of the revenue bonds; (iii) establishing the terms for the payment by the Authority to the participating private institution of higher learning of the proceeds from the sale of the revenue bonds for the payment of the costs of the educational facilities project by the participating private institution of higher learning; and (iv) setting forth all other matters relating to the revenue bonds.