Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-31
Status: in_force

(1)(a) When five (5) or more children under twenty-one (21) years of age who, because of significant developmental disabilities, complex communication needs, significant language or learning deficits or any combination of either, are unable to have their educational needs met appropriately in a regular or special education public school program within their local public school districts, a state-supported university or college shall be authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to provide a program of education, instruction and training to such children, provided that such program shall operate under rules, regulations, policies and standards adopted by the State Department of Education, as provided for in Section 37-23-33 . The opinion of a parent or guardian in regard to the provision of an appropriate special education program in or by their respective local public school district shall be considered before a placement decision is finalized. Parents of students enrolled in a local education agency (LEA) shall have any and all rights as provided in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, including, but not limited to, the right to equal participation in their child's Individualized Education Program (IEP), the right to require review of their child's IEP, and the right to appeal an IEP Committee decision immediately. The parent or guardian or local educational agency shall have the right to audio record the proceedings of individualized education program team meetings. The parent or guardian or local educational agency shall notify the members of the individualized education program team of his, her, or its intent to audio record a meeting at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting.

(b) Instructors, including speech-language pathologists, educational audiologists and special and early childhood educators are qualified and empowered to serve as the lead teacher for children enrolled within the state-supported university's or college's university-based program (UBP) through the IDEA-Part C and IDEA-Part B eligibility and placement process upon completing instructional licensure requirements for the purposes of funding MAEP special education teacher units.

(c) Due to the significance of the needs of the children served through the UBP, general education setting requirements may not be applicable as the least restrictive environment. Students enrolled in a UBP by a LEA shall meet all state educational requirements, including participation in statewide assessments. Justification for placement decisions is determined in conjunction with the LEA through each child's IEP for ages three (3) to twenty-one (21). The UBP shall submit to the local education agency and the parents of the student in the program a progress report each semester on all IEP goals and objectives. The UBP and local education agency shall confer annually to develop the IEP for each student enrolled in the UBP.

(2) Any state-supported university or college conducting a full-time medical teaching program acceptable to the State Board of Education may, at its discretion, enter into such contracts or agreements with any private school or nonprofit corporation-supported institution, the Mississippi School for the Deaf, or any state-supported institution, providing the special education contemplated by this section for such services, provided the private school or institution offering such services shall have conducted a program of such services at standards acceptable to the State Department of Education for a period of at least one (1) year prior to the date at which the university or college proposes to enter into an agreement or contract for special educational services as described above.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 31-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-111
Status: in_force

An annual report on program activities and results shall be prepared by the state department of education, vocational division, and submitted to the legislature with the overall annual vocational education report.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 41-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-7
Status: in_force

The local school board is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to lay out all transportation routes and provide transportation for all school children who are entitled to transportation within their respective counties and school districts.

Any school district may, in the discretion of the school board, expend funds from any funds available to the school district, including the amounts derived from district tax levies, sixteenth section funds, and all other available funds, for the purpose of supplementing funds available to the school board for paying transportation costs not covered by total funding formula funds as provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 104-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-23
Status: in_force

The Authority may sell the revenue bonds in such a manner and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par, plus accrued interest to date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. Notice of the sale of any revenue bonds shall be published at least one (1) time not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published in Jackson, Mississippi, and having general circulation within the State of Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals as may be directed by the Authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-707 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-707
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-707
Status: in_force

In all such special municipal separate school districts which may be so organized, reorganized or reconstituted to embrace the entire county in which the majority of the inhabitants of the county reside outside the corporate limits of the municipality, the board of trustees of such district shall be composed of five members, one of whom shall be a resident qualified elector of each supervisors district of the county. Said trustees shall be elected from the county at large by the qualified electors of the county at the first regular general election following the approval by the state educational finance commission of the organization of such district. Such trustees shall take office on the first Monday of January following their election.

At such election the members of the said board from supervisors districts one and five shall be elected for a term of six years, the members from districts three and four shall be elected for a term of four years, and the members from district two shall be elected for a term of two years. Thereafter members shall be elected at regular general elections as vacancies occur for terms of six years each and shall take office on the first Monday of January after their election.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 106-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-51
Status: repealed

The board is authorized to establish a consolidated revolving loan fund for the purpose of providing monies for the operation of all forgivable loan programs authorized to the board and for the purpose of providing monies for the operation of such other loan programs as may be deemed appropriate and authorized by the board from time to time for the furtherance of education of eligible applicants. The board shall be charged with the duty of directing the dispensing of such funds in a manner so as to best effectuate the purpose of this section. Any monies collected in the form of repayment of loans, both principal and interest, shall be deposited in this fund. The board is authorized to maintain such revolving fund in an official state depository and, in accordance with Section 27-105-21, Mississippi Code of 1972 , shall invest such funds, less the amount required for current operation, at interest as required by said section. All interest earned on such investments shall likewise be deposited in said fund.

From and after July 1, 1991, the sums maintained in the respective revolving funds being repealed by Chapter 547, Laws of 1991, or other revolving funds being maintained by the board shall become and constitute the monies of the consolidated revolving fund created by this section, wherever such funds may be physically located. The board is hereby authorized to transfer said funds to an official state depository, as aforesaid.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-102-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 102-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-102-13
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall take into account the ongoing programs of the private colleges in the State of Mississippi when said board authorizes off-campus programs created under this chapter. It is the intent of this chapter to meet the educational needs of students who do not have ready access to the educational opportunities that they desire.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-135-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 135-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-135-11
Status: in_force

The Compact for Education is hereby entered into and enacted into law with all jurisdictions legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows:

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE AND POLICY

A. It is the purpose of this compact to:

1. Establish and maintain close cooperation and understanding among executive, legislative, professional educational and lay leadership on a nationwide basis at the state and local levels.

2. Provide a forum for the discussion, development, crystallization and recommendation of public policy alternatives in the field of education.

3. Provide a clearinghouse of information on matters relating to education problems and how they are being met in different places throughout the nation, so that the executive and legislative branches of state government and of local communities may have ready access to the experience and record of the entire country, and so that both lay and professional groups in the field of education may have additional avenues for the sharing of experience and the interchange of ideas in the formation of public policy in education.

4. Facilitate the improvement of state and local education systems so that all of them will be able to meet adequate and desirable goals in a society that requires continuous qualitative and quantitative advance in educational opportunities, methods and facilities.

B. It is the policy of this compact to encourage and promote local and state initiative in the development, maintenance, improvement and administration of education systems and institutions in a manner that will accord with the needs and advantages of diversity among localities and states.

C. The party states recognize that each of them has an interest in the quality and quantity of education furnished in each of the other states, as well as in the excellence of its own education systems and institutions, because of the highly mobile character of individuals within the nation, and because the products and services contributing to the health, welfare and economic advancement of each state are supplied in significant part by persons educated in other states.

ARTICLE II

STATE DEFINED

As used in this compact, “ state ” means a state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

ARTICLE III

THE COMMISSION

A. The Education Commission of the States, hereinafter called “the commission,” is hereby established. The commission shall consist of seven (7) members representing each party state. One (1) of such members shall be the Governor of Mississippi; One (1) shall be the Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of Mississippi, or his designee; one (1) shall be the State Superintendent of Public Education, or his designee; and four (4) shall be members of the Mississippi State Legislature, consisting of the Chairman of the Education Committee of the Senate, and the Chairman of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee of the Senate and the Chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee of the House of Representatives. In addition to any other principles or requirements which a state may establish for the appointment and service of its members of the commission, the guiding principle for the composition of the membership on the commission from each party state shall be that the members representing such state shall, by virtue of their training, experience, knowledge or affiliations, be in a position collectively to reflect broadly the interests of the state government, higher education, the state education system, local education, lay and professional, public and nonpublic educational leadership. Of those appointees, one (1) shall be the head of a state agency or institution, designated by the Governor, having responsibility for one or more programs of public education. In addition to the members of the commission representing the party states, there may be not to exceed ten (10) nonvoting commissioners selected by the steering committee for terms of one (1) year. Such commissioners shall represent leading national organizations of professional educators or persons concerned with educational administration.

B. The members of the commission shall be entitled to one (1) vote each on the commission. No action of the commission shall be binding unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of the total number of votes on the commission are cast in favor thereof. Action of the commission shall be only at a meeting at which a majority of the commissioners are present. The commission shall meet at least once a year. In its bylaws, and subject to such directions and limitations as may be contained therein, the commission may delegate the exercise of any of its powers to the steering committee or the executive director, except for the power to approve budgets or requests for appropriations, the power to make policy recommendations pursuant to Article IV and adoption of the annual report pursuant to Article III(J).

C. The commission shall have a seal.

D. The commission shall elect annually, from among its members, a chairman, who shall be a governor; a vice chairman; and a treasurer. The commission shall provide for the appointment of an executive director. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, and together with the treasurer and such other personnel as the commission may deem appropriate shall be bonded in such amount as the commission shall determine. The executive director shall be secretary.

E. Irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit system laws of any of the party states, the executive director, subject to the approval of the steering committee, shall appoint, remove or discharge such personnel as may be necessary for the performance of the functions of the commission, and shall fix the duties and compensation of such personnel. The commission in its bylaws shall provide for the personnel policies and programs of the commission.

F. The commission may borrow, accept or contract for the services of personnel from any party jurisdiction, the United States or any subdivision or agency of the aforementioned governments, or from any agency of two (2) or more of the party jurisdictions or their subdivisions.

G. The commission may accept for any of its purposes and functions under this compact any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, conditional or otherwise, from any state, the United States or any other governmental agency, or from any person, firm, association, foundation or corporation, and may receive, utilize and dispose of the same. Any donation or grant accepted by the commission pursuant to this paragraph or services borrowed pursuant to paragraph F of this article shall be reported in the annual report of the commission. Such report shall include the nature, amount and conditions, if any, of the donation, grant or services borrowed, and the identity of the donor or lender.

H. The commission may establish and maintain such facilities as may be necessary for the transacting of its business. The commission may acquire, hold and convey real and personal property and any interest therein.

I. The commission shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business and shall have the power to amend and rescind these bylaws. The commission shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the party states.

J. The commission annually shall make to the governor and legislature of each party state a report covering the activities of the commission for the preceding year. The commission may make such additional reports as it may deem desirable.

ARTICLE IV

POWERS

In addition to authority conferred on the commission by other provisions of the compact, the commission shall have authority to:

A. Collect, correlate, analyze and interpret information and data concerning educational needs and resources.

B. Encourage and foster research in all aspects of education, but with special reference to the desirable scope of instruction, organization, administration and instructional methods and standards employed or suitable for employment in public education systems.

C. Develop proposals for adequate financing of education as a whole and at each of its many levels.

D. Conduct or participate in research of the types referred to in this Article in any instance where the commission finds that such research is necessary for the advancement of the purposes and policies of this compact, using fully the resources of national associations, regional compact organizations for higher education, and other agencies and institutions, both public and private.

E. Formulate suggested policies and plans for the improvement of public education as a whole, or for any segment thereof, and make recommendations with respect thereto available to the appropriate governmental units, agencies and public officials.

F. Do such other things as may be necessary or incidental to the administration of any of its authority or functions pursuant to this compact.

ARTICLE V

COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

A. If the laws of the United States specifically so provide, or if administrative provision is made therefore within the federal government, the United States may be represented on the commission by no more than ten (10) representatives. Any such representative or representatives of the United States shall be appointed and serve in such manner as may be provided by or pursuant to federal law, and may be drawn from any one or more branches of the federal government, but no such representative shall have a vote on the commission.

B. The commission may provide information and make recommendations to any executive or legislative agency or officer of the federal government concerning the common education policies of the states, and may advise with any such agencies or officers concerning any matter of mutual interest.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

A. To assist in the expeditious conduct of its business when the full commission is not meeting, the commission shall elect a steering committee of thirty-two (32) members which, subject to the provisions of this compact and consistent with the policies of the commission, shall be constituted and function as provided in the bylaws of the commission. One-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) of the voting membership of the steering committee shall consist of governors, one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) shall consist of legislators, and the remainder shall consist of other members of the commission. A federal representative on the commission may serve with the steering committee, but without vote. The voting members of the steering committee shall serve for terms of two (2) years, except that members elected to the first steering committee of the commission shall be elected as follows: sixteen (16) for one (1) year and sixteen (16) for two (2) years. The chairman, vice chairman and treasurer of the commission shall be members of the steering committee and, anything in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, shall serve during their continuance in these offices. Vacancies in the steering committee shall not affect its authority to act, but the commission at its next regularly ensuing meeting following the occurrence of any vacancy shall fill it for the unexpired term. No person shall serve more than two (2) terms as a member of the steering committee, provided that service for a partial term of one (1) year or less shall not be counted toward the two-term limitation.

B. The commission may establish advisory and technical committees composed of state, local and federal officials, and private persons to advise it with respect to any one (1) or more of its functions. Any advisory or technical committee may, on request of the states concerned, be established to consider any matter of special concern to two (2) or more of the party states.

C. The commission may establish such additional committees as its bylaws may provide.

ARTICLE VII

FINANCE

A. The commission shall advise the governor or designated officer or officers of each party state of its budget and estimated expenditures for such period as may be required by the laws of that party state. Each of the commission's budgets of estimated expenditures shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or amounts to be appropriated by each of the party states.

B. The total amount of appropriation requests under any budget shall be apportioned among the party states. In making such apportionment, the commission shall devise and employ a formula which takes equitable account of the populations and per-capita income levels of the party states.

C. The commission shall not pledge the credit of any party states. The commission may meet any of its obligations, in whole or in part, with funds available to it pursuant to Article III(G) of this compact, provided that the commission takes specific action setting aside such funds prior to incurring an obligation to be met, in whole or in part, in such manner. Except where the commission makes funds available to it pursuant to Article III(G) thereof, the commission shall not incur any obligation prior to the allotment of funds by the party states adequate to meet the same.

D. The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established by its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the commission shall be audited yearly by a qualified public accountant, and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual reports of the commission.

E. The accounts of the commission shall be open at any reasonable time for inspection by duly constituted officers of the party states and by any persons authorized by the commission.

F. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent commission compliance with laws relating to audit or inspection of accounts by or on behalf of any government contributing to the support of the commission.

ARTICLE VIII

ELIGIBLE PARTIES; ENTRY INTO AND WITHDRAWAL

A. This compact shall have as eligible parties all states, territories and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In respect of any such jurisdiction not having a governor, the term “ governor ,” as used in this compact, shall mean the closest equivalent official of such jurisdiction.

B. Any state or other eligible jurisdiction may enter into this compact, and it shall become binding thereon when it has adopted the same, provided that in order to enter into initial effect, adoption by at least ten (10) eligible party jurisdictions shall be required.

C. Adoption of the compact may be either by enactment thereof or by adherence thereto by the governor. During any period when a state is participating in this compact through gubernatorial action, the governor shall appoint those persons who, in addition to himself, shall serve as the members of the commission from his state, and shall provide to the commission an equitable share of the financial support of the commission from any source available to him.

D. Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one (1) year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of the withdrawal to the governors of all other party states. No withdrawal shall affect any liability already incurred by or chargeable to a party state prior to the time of such withdrawal.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPACT

This compact may be amended by a vote of two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) of the members of the commission present and voting when ratified by the legislatures of two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) of the party states.

ARTICLE X

CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY

This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any state or of the United States, or the application thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 185-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-9
Status: in_force

There is created a special fund in the State Treasury, to be known as the “Independent Schools' COVID-19 Assistance Grant Fund,” from which the grants authorized by Sections 37-185-1 through 37-185-9 shall be disbursed by the MDA. 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, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act. If on December 1, 2020, there are unobligated monies 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.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 145-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-9
Status: in_force

The company shall administer and manage all money, including all interest made on loans pursuant to this chapter and all principal repaid on loans in whatever manner maximizes the amount of money available to the Mississippi Opportunity Loan Fund that is consistent with federal reinsurance requirements and state budget practices.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 43-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-51
Status: in_force

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

Any person who shall refuse, neglect or fail to file any report required by the board shall be denied a new allocation of funds until such reports have been completed and filed with the board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-121 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 23-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-121
Status: in_force

Sections 37-23-121 through 37-23-131 shall be cited as the “Mississippi Learning Resources Law of 1974.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-251 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 9-251
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-251
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(7) The School Executive Management Institute shall be responsible for the regular and ongoing evaluation of the Beginning Principal Support Pilot Program and may contract for such evaluation. The institute shall report to the State Board of Education and the Legislature in the 2003 Regular Session on the desirability of extending this assistance program statewide.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-127-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / 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. § 37-113-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 113-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-17
Status: in_force

The money received by this state, under Act of Congress, entitled “An act to establish agricultural experimental stations, etc.,” approved March 2, 1887, and the provisions of which were accepted by this state, by act approved January 31, 1888, and assigned to the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, shall be expended under its direction. The agricultural and forestry experimental station for this state is established at and with said university, and the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning shall have full control thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 185-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-31
Status: repealed

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Infrastructure Grant Program Act of 2022.”

(2) There is hereby established within the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Infrastructure Grant Program under which independent colleges and universities may apply for reimbursable grants to make necessary investments in water, wastewater, stormwater, broadband and other eligible infrastructure projects to be funded by the Legislature utilizing Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds made available under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Such grants shall be made available to the following institutions: Belhaven University, Blue Mountain College, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Rust College, Tougaloo College and William Carey University. Grant program funds shall be distributed to each listed institution based on the pro rata share of full-time equivalent students enrolled in the respective college or university. For purposes of this distribution, a full-time equivalent student shall be calculated as follows:

(a) One (1) full-time student shall be considered one (1) full-time equivalent student;

(b) One (1) part-time student shall be considered one-half ( 1 / 2 ) of a full-time equivalent student; and

(c) One (1) online student shall be considered one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) of a full-time equivalent student.

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

(a) “ MAICU Grant Program ” shall mean the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Infrastructure Grant Program.

(b) “ ARPA ” shall mean the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2 , which amends Title VI of the Social Security Act.

(c) “ State Recovery Funds ” shall mean Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds awarded through Section 602 of Title VI of the Social Security Act amended by Section 9901 of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2.

(d) “ Department ” shall mean the Department of Finance and Administration.

(4) On or before July 1, 2022, the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer the MAICU Grant Program prescribed under this section, including application procedures and deadlines.

(5) Funds under the MAICU Grant Program shall be awarded for ARPA eligible projects in the following order:

(a) Eligible water, wastewater and stormwater projects under the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) or Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and other eligible water projects allowable by ARPA;

(b) Broadband infrastructure projects;

(c) Capital investments for prevention, mitigation and ventilation in congregate living facilities and other key settings; and

(d) Any eligible project through ARPA guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury, excluding premium pay.

(6) The boards of trustees of the respective members of the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) may submit an application for grant funds under this section. Applicants shall certify to the Department of Finance and Administration that each expenditure of the funds awarded to them by the department under this section is in compliance with the ARPA 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 State Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds. Subsequent submissions will be due by the dates established by the department.

(7) An application for a grant under this section shall be submitted at such time, be in such form, and contain such information as the department prescribes. Each application shall include the following at a minimum: applicant contact information; project description and type of project; project map; estimate of the population served by the projects; estimated project cost; estimated project schedule; and readiness to proceed. The Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to accept additional rounds of grant proposals for application consideration as needed.

(8) Applications shall be reviewed, and the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration shall certify that each project submitted is eligible under the American Rescue Plan Act and all applicable guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury. For water, wastewater and stormwater projects, the department must also certify that it is a “necessary investment” in water, wastewater or stormwater infrastructure as defined in the American Rescue Plan Act and all applicable guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury. Grant agreements shall be executed between the recipient and the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration. All final awards will be determined at the discretion of the executive director of the department. Funds shall be made available to a grantee upon the execution of a grant agreement between the department and the approved applicant, and the department obtains the necessary support for reimbursement.

(9) Grant requirements shall be used prospectively and grants are not available to cover the costs of debt incurred prior to the enactment of this program.

(10)(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the “Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Grant Program Fund,” which shall consist of funds appropriated by the Legislature from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies or other available federal grant funds for the purposes of awarding grants under this section. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund or the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall remain in the fund. The expenditure of monies in the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Grant Program Fund shall be under the direction of the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration;

(b) All monies shall be disbursed from the fund created in this subsection shall be in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies received by or on behalf of the State of Mississippi through the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law No. 117-2 ). Unexpended amounts remaining in the funds at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund or the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the program fund shall be deposited to the credit of COVID-19 Hospital Expanded Capacity Program Fund;

(c) If there are unobligated Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund monies remaining in the fund created in this section, on the later of December 17, 2024, or fourteen (14) days prior to the fund obligation deadline provided by the federal government, the Department of Finance and Administration shall transfer these unobligated balances to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund. The Department of Finance and Administration shall then transfer the unobligated balance of Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the State and School Employees' Life and Health Insurance Fund for an amount not to exceed the lesser of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) or the amount of allowable ARPA expenditures, by no later than December 31, 2024, or on the date of the fund obligation deadline provided by the federal government. The Department of Finance and Administration shall then transfer all remaining unobligated balances of Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Unemployment Compensation Fund up to the ARPA allowable amount, by no later than December 31, 2024, or on the date of the fund obligation deadline provided by the federal government; and

(d) The use of funds allocated under this 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 person receiving funds under these programs found to be fully or partially noncompliant with the requirements in this section shall return to the state all or a portion of the funds received.

(11) The department shall submit to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by October 1 of each year an annual report. The reports shall contain the applications received, the amount of grant funds awarded to each applicant, the amount of grant funds expended by each applicant, and the status of each applicant's project.

(12) Grant funds shall be available under this section through December 31, 2026. Each grant recipient shall certify for any project that a grant is awarded that in the event the project is not completed by December 31, 2026, and the United States Congress does not enact an extension of the deadline on the availability of ARPA Funds, then the grant recipient will complete the project through any other funds available.

(13) The Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration may retain an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) of the total funds allocated to the program to defray administrative costs.

(14) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2026.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 131-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-3
Status: in_force

The president or executive head of any institution of higher learning which has established a demonstration or practice school, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, shall have the power and authority to enter into contracts and agreements with the board of trustees of any school district providing for the attendance of pupils, or one or more, or parts of, grades, from the educable children of such school district at such demonstration or practice school. The board of trustees of any school district is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into contracts and agreements with the president or executive head of an institution of higher learning for such purpose. All such contracts shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by and between the president or executive head of the institution of higher learning and the board of trustees of the school district involved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-509 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-509
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-509
Status: in_force

The superintendent of schools, upon order of the school board, shall be authorized and empowered to make such transfers of funds to and from the credit of the school districts involved as may be necessary to carry out the terms and provisions of Sections 37-7-501 through 37-7-511 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-221 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 153-221
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-221
Status: in_force

(1) The Office of Workforce Development shall establish and administer the Mississippi K-12 Workforce Development Grant Program for the purpose of constructing, remodeling, purchasing or upgrading equipment or otherwise providing support to career technical centers at the K-12 education level. The grant program shall be funded from any funds available to the Office of Workforce Development.

(2) The Office of Workforce Development shall prescribe the terms and conditions of the grant program. To be eligible to receive a grant from the Office of Workforce Development under the grant program, a school at the K-12 education level shall provide the following information:

(a) The number of students enrolled in the workforce development program for which the funds will be used;

(b) The purpose of the program;

(c) Whether the program fits into the ecosystem for the training needs in the area;

(d) Evidence of the school's local involvement with industry partners in the area; and

(e) Any other information that the office determines is necessary.

(3) The Office of Workforce Development may use a maximum of five percent (5%) of funds for the program for the administration of the program.

(4) The Office of Workforce Development shall comply with the reporting requirements provided in Section 37-153-7 . Each school that received grants from the program shall assist the office in completing the reporting requirement.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-4-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 4-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-4-15
Status: in_force

(1) On or after July 1, 2002, the Mississippi Community College Board shall contract with a competent management consulting or accounting firm to study the state funding formula for community and junior colleges. The study shall accomplish the following specific outcomes:

(a) Evaluate the validity of the current student classifications used in the funding formula and make recommendations for change in the classification system if advisable;

(b) Evaluate the weights assigned to each student classification and make recommendations for change in the current weights if advisable;

(c) Identify the best management practices associated with the production of graduates in each of the student classifications and use such information as a basis for validating any changes in weights referred to in paragraph (b) of this subsection. The study of best practices shall also identify the amount of state funding that is used in program areas at schools exhibiting the best management practices.

(2) The report also shall recommend to the Mississippi Community College Board all reporting requirements and systems needed to collect information necessary to maintain a valid system of weights, student classification and the best practices associated with producing graduates most efficiently. All community and junior colleges shall cooperate with the Mississippi Community College Board in conducting this study and in providing all further information on an annual basis necessary to update the weights for programs established as a result of this study, the best management practices and the student classifications established as a result of this study.

(3) The Mississippi Community College Board shall report its findings to the Chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees no later than December 15, 2002.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-60 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-60
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-60
Status: in_force

In addition to all other authority, duties and powers the governing boards of the several school districts of this state may now have, each is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt plans for the implementation of a career education program as the same best suits the needs thereof and thereby to orient its system to the field of work. In so doing, the governing board shall operate within its regular budget, without the employment of additional personnel and out of any available funds, federal, state, local or private.

Nothing in Sections 37-13-58 through 37-13-60 shall be so construed as to prohibit the acceptance of contributions from the private business sector or cooperation therewith, including but not limited to seminars, tours, lectures and in-service training.

There will be cooperation between the state department of education, the state coordinator of career education and the governing boards of the several school districts in implementing this program as it best suits the needs of the individual districts.

Provided, further, the commission on school accreditation shall encourage the development of plans of career education and the implementation thereof, and shall be authorized to accredit same.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 155-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-27
Status: in_force

The provisions of this article are severable. If any part of this article is declared invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the part which remains.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 45-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-1
Status: in_force

The legislature hereby recognizes that in order to exercise the constitutional power, set forth in Section 201 of Article 8, that the legislature may, in its discretion, “provide for the maintenance and establishment of free public schools for all children between the ages of six and twenty-one years, by taxation or otherwise,” equality of educational opportunity with respect to instructional personnel, school buildings and facilities, transportation facilities, curriculum and all other school facilities should be provided for all such children, that the burden of providing such equality of educational opportunity can no longer be borne entirely by the local taxing units, and, therefore, that a program of state aid therefor should be instituted. The legislature, therefore, declares and determines that the maintenance of the uniform system of free public schools to insure and provide substantial equality of educational opportunity is the joint responsibility of the State of Mississippi and the local taxing units thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-121 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 33-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-121
Status: in_force

The purpose of Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 is to improve rehabilitation services for severely disabled individuals in Mississippi by providing for the development and continuation of community rehabilitation programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-127-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 127-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-127-7
Status: in_force

The president of the Mississippi Valley State College shall be held as the professional adviser of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning of all matters pertaining to the inside arrangements of buildings, selection of faculty, and course of study. He shall have the immediate supervision and management of said college in all its departments, subject however, to the general supervision, management, and direction of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 146-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-1
Status: in_force

There is established the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program for the purpose of identifying and recruiting qualified university and college students for dental school matriculation. Such program shall be known and may be cited as the Dr. G. Norris Howell Rural Dentists Scholarship Program. The program shall consist of three (3) distinct phases through which participants will progress, including:

(a) Undergraduate pre-dental education;

(b) Dental school and residency; and

(c) Initial entry into dental practice in a rural or underserved area of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 15-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-9
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

(3) When any child applies for admission or enrollment in any public school in the state, the parent, guardian or child, in the absence of an accompanying parent or guardian, shall indicate on the school registration form if the enrolling child has been expelled from any public or private school or is currently a party to an expulsion proceeding. If it is determined from the child's cumulative record or application for admission or enrollment that the child has been expelled, the school district or charter school may deny the student admission and enrollment until the superintendent of the school, or his designee, or principal of the charter school, as the case may be, has reviewed the child's cumulative record and determined that the child has participated in successful rehabilitative efforts including, but not limited to, progress in an alternative school or similar program. If the child is a party to an expulsion proceeding, the child may be admitted to a public school pending final disposition of the expulsion proceeding. If the expulsion proceeding results in the expulsion of the child, the public school may revoke such admission to school. If the child was expelled or is a party to an expulsion proceeding for an act involving violence, weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs or other activity that may result in expulsion, the school district or charter school shall not be required to grant admission or enrollment to the child before one (1) calendar year after the date of the expulsion.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 15-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-13
Status: in_force

When any child qualified under the requirements of Section 37-15-9 shall apply or present himself for enrollment in or admission to the public schools of any school district of this state, the school board of such school district shall have the power and authority to designate the particular school or attendance center of the district in which such child shall be enrolled and which he shall attend; no enrollment of a child in a school shall be final or permanent until such designation shall be made by said school board. No child shall be entitled to attend any school or attendance center except that to which he has been assigned by the school board; however, the principal of a school or superintendent of the district may, in proper cases, permit a child to attend a school temporarily until a permanent assignment is made by the school board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 35-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-7
Status: in_force

Any funds that may be appropriated by the State Legislature for the purpose of carrying out a program of adult education may be used to supplement local funds or to meet the minimum requirements of the federal government for a program of adult education in the state, provided such program is conducted under the rules and regulations established by the Mississippi Community College Board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-101 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 155-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-101
Status: in_force

This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Affordable College Savings Program.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-68 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 5-68
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-68
Status: in_force

Effective with the term of office beginning on January 1, 2012, the county superintendent of education shall be appointed by the county board of education in any county wherein is located the state's oldest state-supported university, having a population in excess of thirty-eight thousand (38,000) according to the 2000 federal decennial census and in which Mississippi Highways 6 and 7 intersect. Provided, however, if at any time prior to January 1, 2010, or ninety (90) days following August 10, 2009, whichever is earlier, a petition signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) or one thousand five hundred (1,500), whichever is less, of the registered, qualified electors of such county, exclusive of the municipal separate school district boundaries, is filed with the county board of education requesting that a referendum be called on the question of changing from the elective method of selecting the county superintendent of education to the appointive method, then the county board of education shall adopt, not later than the next regular meeting, a resolution calling a referendum to be called and held within the county school district boundaries upon the question. The referendum shall be scheduled for not more than six (6) weeks after the date such petition is filed with the board. When a referendum has been called, notice of the referendum shall be published at least five (5) days per week, unless the only newspaper published in the county school district is published less than five (5) days per week, for at least three (3) consecutive weeks, in at least one (1) newspaper published in the county school district. The notice shall be no less than one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) page in size, and the type used shall be no smaller than eighteen (18) point and surrounded by a one-fourth-inch solid black border. The notice may not be placed in that portion of the newspaper where legal notices and classified advertisements appear. The first publication of the notice shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days before the date fixed for the referendum, and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days before that date. If no newspaper is published in the county school district, then the notice shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county school district. The referendum shall be held, as far as is practicable, in the same manner as other referendums and elections are held in the county. At the referendum, all registered, qualified electors of the county school district, exclusive of the municipal separate school district boundaries, may vote. The ballots used at the referendum shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the purpose of the referendum and the words “FOR CHANGING FROM THE ELECTIVE TO THE APPOINTIVE METHOD OF SELECTING THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION,” and “AGAINST CHANGING FROM THE ELECTIVE TO THE APPOINTIVE METHOD OF SELECTING THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.” The voter shall vote by placing a cross (X) or checkmark (✓) opposite his choice on the proposition. If a majority of the registered, qualified electors of the county school district who vote in the referendum vote in favor of the question, then the change in selection method shall be approved. However, if a majority of the registered, qualified electors who vote in the referendum vote against the question, the change in selection method shall not be approved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-80 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 27-80
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-80
Status: in_force

(1) Effective July 1, 2014, the Hinds Agriculture High School shall be closed. Upon closure, all real property titled to or used by Hinds Agricultural High School will become the property of the Hinds Community College District.

(2) All personal property used by the Hinds Agricultural High School for secondary school purposes, including all nondisposable sports and/or extracurricular equipment (i.e., football helmets, shoulder pads, baseball bats and helmets, and band equipment) will become the property of the Hinds County School District. The division of such personal property will be determined by joint order of the Boards of Trustees of Hinds Community College District and Hinds County School District. Any cost of transferring title of such real or personal property will be paid by Hinds Community College District.

(3) Any such joint order directing the transfer of the personal property of the Hinds Agricultural High School shall be submitted and approved by the State Board of Education. The finding of the State Board of Education shall be final and conclusive for the purpose of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation.

(4) The students attending the said agricultural high school shall be deemed to be students of the school district where they reside. After closure of Hinds Agricultural High School, any student who is enrolled at the Hinds Agricultural High School when the closure is effected may receive two (2) diplomas upon successful completion of all graduation requirements of the school district they subsequently attend: one (1) diploma to be the official completion with the school district they subsequently attend and the second to be a courtesy diploma reflecting graduation from Hinds Agriculture High School.

(5) In the event that Hinds Agricultural High School is closed, there will be a two-year waiver of test scores of Hinds Agricultural High School students being included in accountability calculations for Raymond High School and the Hinds County School District, subject to approval by the State Department of Education. In addition, the students from Hinds Agricultural High School will not be included in the graduation cohort for accountability calculations for the Hinds County School District, subject to approval by the State Department of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-72 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 11-72
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-72
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 37-11-72 through 37-11-72.2 , the term “ seizure action plan ” means a written, individualized health plan designed to acknowledge and prepare for the health care needs of a student or employee diagnosed with a seizure disorder.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 12-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-13
Status: in_force

This chapter shall not be construed to limit the authority of any public school to do any of the following:

(a) Maintain order and discipline on the campus of the public school in a content and viewpoint neutral manner.

(b) Protect the safety of students, employees and visitors of the public school.

(c) Adopt and enforce policies and procedures regarding student speech at school provided that the policies and procedures do not violate the rights of students as guaranteed by the United States and Mississippi constitutions and laws.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-53 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 11-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-53
Status: in_force

(1) A copy of the school district's discipline plan shall be distributed to each student enrolled in the district, and the parents, guardian or custodian of such student shall sign a statement verifying that they have been given notice of the discipline policies of their respective school district. The school board shall have its official discipline plan and code of student conduct legally audited on an annual basis to insure that its policies and procedures are currently in compliance with applicable statutes, case law and state and federal constitutional provisions. As part of the first legal audit occurring after July 1, 2001, the provisions of this section, Section 37-11-55 and Section 37-11-18.1 , shall be fully incorporated into the school district's discipline plan and code of student conduct.

(2) All discipline plans of school districts shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) A parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child enrolled in a public school district shall be responsible financially for his or her minor child's destructive acts against school property or persons;

(b) A parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child enrolled in a public school district may be requested to appear at school by the school attendance officer or an appropriate school official for a conference regarding acts of the child specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection, or for any other discipline conference regarding the acts of the child;

(c) Any parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child enrolled in a school district who refuses or willfully fails to attend such discipline conference specified in paragraph (b) of this section may be summoned by proper notification by the superintendent of schools or the school attendance officer and be required to attend such discipline conference; and

(d) A parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child enrolled in a public school district shall be responsible for any criminal fines brought against such student for unlawful activity occurring on school grounds or buses.

(3) Any parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child who (a) fails to attend a discipline conference to which such parent, guardian or custodian has been summoned under the provisions of this section, or (b) refuses or willfully fails to perform any other duties imposed upon him or her under the provisions of this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00).

(4) Any public school district shall be entitled to recover damages in an amount not to exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), plus necessary court costs, from the parents of any minor under the age of eighteen (18) years and over the age of six (6) years, who maliciously and willfully damages or destroys property belonging to such school district. However, this section shall not apply to parents whose parental control of such child has been removed by court order or decree. The action authorized in this section shall be in addition to all other actions which the school district is entitled to maintain and nothing in this section shall preclude recovery in a greater amount from the minor or from a person, including the parents, for damages to which such minor or other person would otherwise be liable.

(5) A school district's discipline plan may provide that as an alternative to suspension, a student may remain in school by having the parent, guardian or custodian, with the consent of the student's teacher or teachers, attend class with the student for a period of time specifically agreed upon by the reporting teacher and school principal. If the parent, guardian or custodian does not agree to attend class with the student or fails to attend class with the student, the student shall be suspended in accordance with the code of student conduct and discipline policies of the school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-461 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 29-461
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-461
Status: in_force

There shall be two (2) campuses in the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District: one (1) located in or near Natchez to be known as the Natchez Campus, and the other in or near Wesson to be known as the Copiah-Lincoln Campus.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 71-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-11
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning with July 1, 2020, a licensing authority shall grant a license to any student applicant who participates in an alternative learning course, program or opportunity or apprenticeship program, and who meets the following criteria:

(a) Completed an apprenticeship in the licensed occupation or profession;

(b) Attained a satisfactory industry certification score on the WorkKeys assessment, if such assessment is a required component of the alternative course or apprenticeship;

(c) Passed an examination, if one is deemed to be necessary by the licensing authority; and

(d) Paid any fees deemed necessary by the licensing authority.

(2) Licensing authorities shall establish a passing score for their respective examinations which shall not exceed the passing score that is required under the standard licensing processes. If the relevant licensing authority or provision of law does not require an examination for the standard licensing process for an occupation, no examination may be required for applicants who complete an apprenticeship in that occupation.

(3) Licensing authorities shall establish a licensing fee, which shall not exceed the licensing fee that is required under the standard licensing processes. If the relevant licensing authority or state does not require a fee for the standard licensing process for an occupation, no fee can be required for applicants who complete an apprenticeship in that occupation.

(4) Except as otherwise required by federal law, apprenticeships for an occupation shall not be required to exceed the number of hours required by the relevant licensing authority or statute for that occupation.

(5) Licensing authorities shall adopt necessary rules for the implementation of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 27-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-63
Status: in_force

The municipalities of Mississippi and the municipal separate school districts in Mississippi are hereby authorized and empowered to issue municipal bonds or municipal separate school district bonds to aid in procuring the establishment, location, and maintenance of agricultural high schools which have been or may hereafter be established. Such bonds shall be issued as provided by law. The proceeds of the sale of said bonds may be used for the purchase of lands, buildings or for erecting buildings, or in any way to aid in the establishment and maintenance of county agricultural high schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 51-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-3
Status: in_force

The terms and provisions of this chapter shall be administered and executed by the state educational finance commission. For the purpose of this chapter, the term “commission” shall mean “state educational finance commission” except where the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 177-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-1
Status: in_force

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

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

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

(b) The goals and benchmarks for growth;

(c) How progress will be monitored and evaluated;

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

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

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

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

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

(4) A Kindergarten or First-, Second- or Third-Grade student identified with a deficiency in reading must be provided intensive interventions in reading to ameliorate the student's specific reading deficiency, as identified by a valid and reliable diagnostic assessment. The intensive intervention must include effective instructional strategies, and appropriate teaching methodologies necessary to assist the student in becoming a successful reader, able to read at or above grade level, and ready for promotion to the next grade. A Kindergarten, First-, Second- or Third-Grade student identified with a reading deficiency or not promoted may be placed in a transition class.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 138-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-27
Status: in_force

(1) Any person found by the commission to have violated any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof or any certificate issued pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to (a) a civil penalty of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for each violation, such penalty to be assessed and levied by order of the commission after notice and hearing in accordance with subsection (5) below of this section, and (b) a reprimand or a suspension or revocation of any certificate issued to the person pursuant to this chapter, such reprimand, suspension or revocation to be assessed and levied by order of the commission after notice and hearing as provided in subsection (5) below of this section.

(2) In lieu of, or in addition to, the penalty provided for in subsection (1)(a) of this section, the commission shall have power to institute and maintain in the name of the state any and all proceedings necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of this chapter, rules and regulations enforced pursuant thereto, and orders and certificates issued pursuant to this chapter in the appropriate circuit, chancery, county or justice court of the county in which venue may lie. The commission may obtain mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, either temporary or permanent, and it shall not be necessary in such cases that the state plead or prove: (a) that irreparable damage would result if the injunction did not issue; (b) that there is no adequate remedy at law; or (c) that a written complaint or commission order has first been issued for the alleged violation.

(3) Any person who knowingly submits false or inaccurate information in support of an application for issuance or renewal of a certificate under this chapter or who willfully fails to comply with the conditions of the certificate issued by the commission or who willfully violates this chapter, or any rule, regulation or written order of the commission or emergency order issued by the director in pursuance thereof shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) within the discretion of the court. Each day in which such violation exists or continues shall constitute a separate offense.

(4) In addition to or in lieu of filing a criminal complaint for such willful misconduct described in subsection (3) of this section, the commission may impose a civil penalty in accordance with subsection (1)(a) of this section, and shall impose a reprimand or a suspension or revocation of any certificate in accordance with subsection (1)(b) of this section.

(5) All proceedings and hearings before the commission regarding violations of this chapter or any rule or regulation, written order of the commission, emergency order of the director or certificate issued or renewed by the commission in pursuance thereof or any certificate issued pursuant to this chapter and all appeals therefrom shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 49-17-31 through 49-17-41, Mississippi Code of 1972 .

(6) All fines, penalties and other sums recovered or collected by the commission for and on behalf of the state under this section shall be deposited in the Pollution Emergency Fund established under Section 49-17-68, Mississippi Code of 1972 , and the commission is authorized to receive and accept, from any funds and all available sources whatsoever, additional funds to be deposited in such fund and expended for the purpose of remedial, clean-up, or abatement actions involving pollution of the land, air or waters of the state in violation of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, Mississippi Code of 1972 , any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof, or any condition or limitation of a permit.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 28-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-29
Status: in_force

(1) The performance provisions within a charter contract must be based on a performance framework that clearly sets forth the academic and operational performance indicators, measures and metrics that will guide the authorizer's evaluations of the charter school. The performance framework must include indicators, measures and metrics, at a minimum, for the following:

(a) Student academic proficiency;

(b) Student academic growth;

(c) Achievement gaps in both proficiency and growth between major student subgroups;

(d) Attendance;

(e) Recurrent enrollment from year to year;

(f) In-school and out-of-school suspension rates and expulsion rates;

(g) For charter high schools, postsecondary readiness, including the percentage of graduates submitting applications to postsecondary institutions, high school completion, postsecondary admission and postsecondary enrollment or employment;

(h) Financial performance and sustainability; and

(i) Board performance and stewardship, including compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and terms of the charter contract.

(2) The charter contract of each charter school serving Grades 9-12 must include a provision ensuring that graduation requirements meet or exceed those set by the Mississippi Department of Education for a regular high school diploma. Nothing in this section shall preclude competency-based satisfaction of graduation requirements.

(3) Annual performance targets must be set by each charter school in conjunction with the authorizer and must be designed to help each school meet applicable federal, state and authorizer expectations.

(4) The performance framework must allow the inclusion of additional rigorous, valid and reliable indicators proposed by a charter school to augment external evaluations of its performance; however, the authorizer must approve the quality and rigor of any indicators proposed by a charter school, which indicators must be consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

(5) The performance framework must require the disaggregation of all student performance data by major student subgroups (gender, race, poverty status, special education status, English learner status and gifted status).

(6) The authorizer shall collect, analyze and report all data from state assessments in accordance with the performance framework for each charter school. Multiple schools overseen by a single governing board must report their performance as separate, individual schools, and each school must be held independently accountable for its performance.

(7) Information needed by the authorizer from the charter school governing board for the authorizer's reports must be required and included as a material part of the charter contract.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 181-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-19
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education may receive and expend contributions from any public or private source to fund ESAs for participating students.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-69 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 11-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-69
Status: in_force

(1) Each local school district shall include in its personnel policies, discipline policies and code of student conduct a prohibition against bullying or harassing behavior and adopt procedures for reporting, investigating and addressing such behavior, that:

(a) Prohibit the bullying of a student;

(b) Prohibit retaliation against any person, including a victim, a witness, or another person, who in good faith provides information concerning an incident of bullying;

(c) Establish a procedure for providing notice of an incident of bullying to a parent or guardian of the victim and a parent or guardian of the bully within a reasonable amount of time after the incident;

(d) Establish the actions a student should take to obtain assistance and intervention in response to bullying;

(e) Set out the available counseling options for a student who is a victim of or a witness to bullying or who engages in bullying;

(f) Establish procedures for reporting an incident of bullying, investigating a reported incident of bullying and determining whether the reported incident of bullying occurred;

(g) Prohibit the imposition of a disciplinary measure on a student who, after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, on the basis of that student's use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying; and

(h) Require that discipline for bullying of a student with disabilities comply with applicable requirements under federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 USCS Section 1400 et seq. ).

(2) The policies must recognize the fundamental right of every student to take reasonable actions as may be necessary to defend himself or herself from an attack by another student who has evidenced menacing or threatening behavior through bullying or harassing.

(3) The procedure for reporting bullying established under subsection (1) of this section must be posted on the district's Internet website.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 16-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-15
Status: in_force

(1) Any person who has withdrawn from high school before graduation may be granted a diploma from the Mississippi public high school that the person last attended if the person has:

(a) Completed all requisite graduation course work requirements and has achieved a passing score on an assessment reasonably comparable to the respective assessments that would qualify the person for high school graduation as such assessments existed at the time that the student would have graduated; and

(b) Made a request to the public high school district that the person last attended in Mississippi that includes relevant transcripts of course work completed.

(2) The State Department of Education is authorized to determine and/or develop any reasonably comparable assessment to be administered to persons seeking to obtain a diploma from the last Mississippi public high school of attendance under the authority granted under subsection (1) of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 145-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-7
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created a special fund of the company to be known as the “Mississippi Opportunity Loan Fund.” The fund shall consist of amounts paid into the fund by donations from private sources, by legislative appropriation, from the proceeds of the issuance of bonds or from any other source. All of the earnings on the investment of monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(2) The monies in the fund shall be used to increase the educational opportunities of students by providing low interest rate loans to assist Mississippi students in furthering their higher education goals.

(3) The Mississippi Opportunity Loan Fund shall be maintained by the company. The company is authorized to maintain such fund in an official state depository, and, in accordance with Section 27-105-21 , shall invest such funds at interests as required by said section, said depository so selected shall be capable of serving as Trustee for the Mississippi Opportunity Loan Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 11-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-31
Status: in_force

Such report as is required pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-11-29(2) , shall contain the full name of the student; the place, date and time of arrest; a brief statement of the charge or charges upon which he was arrested, and any other charges placed against him after his arrest but before the making of the report, and the disposition, if any, which may have been made of said charges by the arresting officer or the law enforcement department of which he be a member; whether the student was released on bail and, if so, the amount thereof; and the person's home address and the school or educational institution in which he was enrolled. If the report be made after the trial of such person it shall contain all of the foregoing information and, in addition, a brief statement of the charge or charges upon which he was tried, whether acquitted or convicted; if convicted, the punishment inflicted; if any appeal has been taken from the decision of the justice court judge or circuit court such shall be so stated; and if such person be admitted to bail either before or after trial, the amount thereof shall be stated, together with the name of each surety upon his bail bond.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-69 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 101-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-69
Status: in_force

All bonds issued by an educational building corporation shall be lawful investments for trusts, insurance companies, savings companies, banks, and other financial institutions organized under the laws of this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-179 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 23-179
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-179
Status: in_force

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

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

(3) All local school districts may have programs of gifted education for intellectually, creatively and/or artistically gifted students in Grades 2 through 12 and for academically gifted students in Grades 9 through 12 approved by the board. Beginning with the 1993-1994 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grade 2, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education and the availability of funds appropriated therefor by line-item. Beginning with the 1994-1995 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grades 2 and 3, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. Beginning with the 1995-1996 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grades 2, 3 and 4 subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. Beginning with the 1996-1997 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. Beginning with the 1997-1998 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. Each local school district shall include as a part of its five-year plan a description of any proposed gifted education programs of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 39-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-1
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:

(a) “ Perishables ” shall mean items which have a variable market price on which vendors are unable to submit a long-range price such as fruits and vegetables;

(b) “ Purchasing agent ” shall mean the superintendent, or other individual or individuals designated by the school board or by the school boards acting jointly as its agent or agents to negotiate and make private contract or to purchase;

(c) “ School boards ” shall mean the local governing boards of all school districts in the state, whether they act jointly or separately. The term also means the State Board of Education when acting in its role as prescribed in Section 43-5-1 et seq. ;

(d) “ Services ” shall mean maintenance, operational and scholastic services utilized within and for the school district or school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 51-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-7
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the commission to receive and pass upon, allow or disallow, all applications for loans made by students who desire to receive a secular education in any of the grades one through twelve in any school in this state constituting a bona fide school as defined in a general regulation of the commission, other than in the free public school system of this state, and who are acceptable for enrollment in any approved nonfree school system. The commission may make such investigation into the financial status of the parents of such students who apply for loans as it deems advisable, to determine the extent of the need for said loan. The commission may prescribe such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

The commission shall have the authority to grant loans from the “state educational loan fund” to such applicants as are qualified to receive them and on such terms as may be prescribed by regulation of the commission and by this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 43-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-51
Status: in_force

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

Any person who shall refuse, neglect or fail to file any report required by the board shall be denied a new allocation of funds until such reports have been completed and filed with the board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-107 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-107
Status: in_force

All funds provided for in Sections 37-23-91 through 37-23-111 shall be kept in a separate fund and shall be used exclusively for the construction, operation, furnishings and maintenance of any such center so established. Any funds accumulated which are not used in any fiscal year shall remain in said separate fund for that use in the succeeding year or years. Such funds shall be expended upon order of the county board of education, and by warrant issued by the county superintendent of education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 17-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-13
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever the Governor declares a state of emergency in a school district in response to a certification by the State Board of Education and the Commission on School Accreditation made under Section 37-17-6(12)(b) , or when the State Board of Education places a school district into a District of Transformation for academic or financial reasons under Section 37-17-6 (12)(b) , the State Board of Education, in addition to any actions taken under Section 37-17-6 , shall abolish the school district and assume control and administration of the schools formerly constituting the district, and appoint an interim superintendent to carry out this purpose under the direction of the State Board of Education. In such case, the State Board of Education shall have all powers which were held by the previously existing school board, and the previously existing superintendent of schools or county superintendent of education, including, but not limited to, those enumerated in Section 37-7-301 , and the authority to request tax levies from the appropriate governing authorities for the support of the schools and to receive and expend the tax funds as provided by Section 37-57-1 et seq. and Section 37-57-105 et seq.

(2) When a school district is abolished under this section, loans from the School District Emergency Assistance Fund may be made by the State Board of Education for the use and benefit of the schools formerly constituting the district in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 37-17-6(15) for such loans to the district. The abolition of a school district under this section shall not impair or release the property of that school district from liability for the payment of the loan indebtedness, and it shall be the duty of the appropriate governing authorities to levy taxes on the property of the district so abolished from year to year according to the terms of the indebtedness until same shall be fully paid.

(3) After a local school board is abolished by the State Board of Education, at such time the State Board of Education determines that the impairments are being substantially corrected and the responsibility of the district transformation in such district upon the conclusion of the final scholastic year in which a district has maintained a “C” accountability rating for three (3) consecutive years, the State Board of Education may appoint a new five-member board for the administration of the school district and shall notify the local county board of supervisors and/or municipal governing authority of such appointment, spreading the names of the new school board members on its minutes. The new local school board members shall be residents of the school district. The new local school board members appointed by the State Board of Education may serve in an advisory capacity to the interim superintendent for its first year of service and thereafter shall have full responsibility to administer the school district. Thirty (30) days prior to the end of the first year of office as an advisory board, each member shall draw lots to determine when the members shall rotate off the board as follows: one (1) member shall serve a one-year term of office; one (1) member shall serve a two-year term of office; one (1) member shall serve a three-year term of office; one (1) member shall serve a four-year term of office; and one (1) member shall serve a five-year term of office. At that time, the State Board of Education shall notify the appropriate board of supervisors or municipal governing authority of this action and request them to provide for the election or appointment of school board members at the end of the terms of office in the manner provided by law, in order for the local residents of the school district to select a new school board on a phased-in basis. In such situations, the Governor will set the date of any necessary special election which shall be conducted by the county election commission. During the new school board's first two (2) years administering the school district, the interim superintendent shall continue to serve alongside the school board. The State Board of Education shall request the new school board to provide for the appointment of a superintendent to govern the reconstituted or reorganized school district one (1) year after the new school board's first year of administering the school district. The new superintendent shall serve as deputy to the interim superintendent while the interim superintendent is assigned to the district. A board member or superintendent in office at the time the Governor declares a state of emergency in a school district, or when the State Board of Education places a school district into a District of Transformation due to academic or financial reasons, shall not be eligible to serve in the office of school board member or superintendent for the school district reconstituted or reorganized following the district transformation period.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 173-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-25
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

(4) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any person or organization from providing funding or other assistance to the establishment or operation of any school authorized under this chapter, except religious or sectarian organizations. The State Board of Education, acting on behalf of the participating schools, is authorized to accept gifts, donations, and grants of any kind made to a participating school and to expend or use such gifts, donations, and grants in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the donor; however, no gift, donation, or grant may be accepted if subject to a condition that is contrary to any provision of state law or board rule.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-125 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 65-125
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-125
Status: in_force

No person shall sign any such petition or petitions provided for in Section 37-65-119 who is not a qualified elector. All petitions shall be signed in person. Opposite or under his name, every signer shall, in a manner readily identifiable with his name, give the following information: his post office and street address, if any; the name in or by which he is registered upon the county registration books; his occupation; where employed, if employed; the voting precinct where he last voted if he has voted within the last three years; if the school district includes part of two judicial districts and has two offices of the circuit clerk and registrar, he shall specify the municipality in which is located the circuit clerk's office where he is registered; and whether he is parent, natural or adoptive, or guardian, as the case may be, of a child or children enrolled in a school of the district and if so, the name of the child or children and the school in which said child or children may be enrolled. Any name signed to such a petition which does not give all information required above shall not constitute a valid signature to any such petition and shall be disregarded in computing the number of qualified electors who may have signed any such petition.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-102-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 102-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-102-1
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may establish off-campus instructional programs for existing universities. However, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall not establish off-campus instructional programs if in its opinion such action is not in the best interest of quality education for the State of Mississippi and the university system.

Students at any off-campus program site may, in the discretion of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, be permitted to register for full-time course loads.

Attendance at an off-campus site shall fulfill the residency requirements as if the student had attended class on the parent campus of the university, and there shall be no difference in the standards for work nor quality weight of a degree earned in the off-campus program from that earned at the parent institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 43-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-23
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to advertise for and receive sealed bids for textbooks. Bidders shall quote their lowest net wholesale prices, f.o.b. destination being the board-authorized regional depository. The board may, in its discretion, establish a state depository or approve regional depositories located in reasonable proximity to the state, or inaugurate any other plan for the distribution of books. Such prices shall not be higher than the lowest price at which books are sold anywhere in the United States, after all discounts are allowed. It is the intent of the Legislature that the price paid for a textbook shall not exceed the lowest price at which the same book, both having the same copyright date, is sold anywhere in the United States after all discounts are allowed. Every contract entered into under the provisions of this section by the board and any publisher or publishing company shall contain a provision that the publisher covenants and agrees that he is not furnishing under contract executed after the first day of January of the year in which the contract becomes effective, to any state, county or school district in the United States, the textbooks embraced in the contract at a price below the price stipulated therein. At any time that the board may find that any book or books, in either regular or special editions, are being furnished in any other state at a lower price under contract than it is being furnished in Mississippi, the contract shall be forfeited to the state. Any contractor who violates this provision shall return all money paid out for such book or books and also forfeit such book or books to the state, and suit may be brought on the bond of the contractor for all losses sustained.

Successful bidders or contractors may maintain a depository at a place within the State of Mississippi or within a regional area located in reasonable proximity to the state, to be named by the board, where a stock of books sufficient to meet all reasonable and immediate demands shall be kept. Upon requisition of the board, an approved depository shall ship books, transportation charges paid, to the various shipping points in Mississippi to be specified by the board. For such service the depository shall make no charge to the board except the actual cost of transportation from the depository to the shipping point designated. The cost of distribution shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the total appropriation for any fiscal year.

All books furnished the State of Mississippi by contractors under this chapter shall continue to measure up to the same standards as are required in the contract, said standards to include printing, binding, cover boards, mechanical makeup, and any other relevant points as set out in the plans and specifications as fixed by the board. Any contractor of any book or books, who fails to keep said books up to said standards, shall forfeit, not only his contract to the state, but shall return all money paid out for such book or books and also forfeit said books to the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-207 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 31-207
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-207
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall have the following duties:

(a) To seek the best available projections of employment and occupations for Mississippians;

(b) To utilize these projections and other considerations to set vocational and technical education priorities;

(c) To utilize the services of all state agencies having information regarding the purposes of this chapter;

(d) To cooperate with the governor's office of job development and training and the board of economic development to prevent duplication and provide continuity of employment and training services;

(e) To conduct evaluations of the success or failure of vocational-technical programs, including the extent to which training actually leads to jobs in the field in which the student was trained;

(f) Obtain and publish data and information on program performance from those vocational-technical programs receiving state funds; and

(g) To notify local school districts and public community/junior colleges prior to March 1 annually of any discontinuation of ongoing vocational programs which would affect the renewing of contracts with vocational personnel.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-157 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 37-31-201 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 31-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-201
Status: in_force

Wherever used in this chapter, or in any other statute, rule or regulation affecting the Vocational Education Division of the State Department of Education and any of its functions or duties:

(a) The word “board” shall mean and refer to the State Board of Education.

(b) The word “division” shall mean and refer to the Mississippi Division of Vocational and Technical Education of the State Department of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-49 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 27-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-49
Status: in_force

All conveyances of property under the authority of Section 37-27-47 shall be for a cash consideration and the proceeds of such sale shall be placed in the maintenance fund of the agricultural high school. If any sale embraces realty, and the agricultural high school selling same owes outstanding bonds or notes, then in that event the proceeds of such sale shall be placed to the credit of the bond and interest sinking fund of such agricultural high school, or used to construct, renovate or purchase, under provisions elsewhere provided by law, similar type property or property of comparable value at attendance centers to be used for the same or other reasonably necessary purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-201 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 23-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-201
Status: in_force

(1) Before December 1, 2008, the State Board of Education shall appoint an ongoing Advisory Committee to expedite the implementation of Sections 37-23-191 through 37-23-203 . The Advisory Committee shall be composed of at least twelve (12) persons nominated by the State Superintendent of Public Education from within or outside of the state, including, but not limited to, representatives of the following groups:

(a) The National Federation of the Blind;

(b) The Mississippi Council of the Blind;

(c) A parent or guardian of a blind student;

(d) The Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities;

(e) Special education directors having one or more blind or visually impaired students in their respective school districts;

(f) Specialists in Braille education or deaf-blindness or certified teachers of the blind and visually impaired students, or both. Specialists in Braille shall be deemed competent in reading and writing Literary Braille and Nemeth Code as certified by successful passage of the Mississippi Praxis II Braille Competency Exam and/or certified under National Certification in Literary Braille;

(g) Employees of the State Department of Education;

(h) Consumers, or an advocate of consumers, of Braille materials;

(i) The Mississippi School for the Blind;

(j) The Mississippi Instructional Resource Center; and

(k) Individuals from higher education programs that address issues specific to visual impairment.

(2) The State Superintendent of Public Education shall appoint a chairperson from among the members of the Advisory Committee. The committee shall meet at least semiannually upon the call of the superintendent, and its functions shall be to perform the duties prescribed in subsection (3) of this section. Members of the committee shall receive no compensation or per diem, but each member shall be entitled to reimbursement for all actual and necessary expenses incurred by his participation in the committee's activities.

(3) The committee shall perform the following duties:

(a) Provide expertise to maximize collaboration with the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) at the American Printing House for the Blind and, when necessary, textbook publishers on the development of NIMAS and associated graphics files to be converted into accessible textbooks with translation software;

(b) Recommend potential authorized users for the NIMAS program to the State Director of Special Education to ensure that all accessible textbook needs are met within the state on a timely basis, being no later than such time that all other students receive their corresponding textbooks;

(c) Study any other issues that the committee determines are relevant and necessary to the implementation of this article and to the improvement of the education of students who are blind or visually impaired in Mississippi; and

(d) Assist the State Department of Education in promulgating regulations, policies and procedures in implementing Sections 37-23-191 through 37-23-203 .

(4) The State Superintendent of Public Education shall respond to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee within sixty (60) days of the annually published report.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-303 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-303
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-303
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

(d) “ Net enrollment ” has the same meaning as ascribed to that term under Section 37-151-201 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-427 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 29-427
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-427
Status: in_force

In the event that bonds shall have been authorized for projects determined by the board of trustees of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District and such bonds validated, the board of trustees is authorized to utilize any available funds for the immediate commencement of such project and to reimburse the funds from which any such expenditures are made from the proceeds of the bonds when the same are received.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-25-8 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 25-8
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-25-8
Status: in_force

Upon satisfactory completion of the State Driver Education and Training Program, a driver's education student shall be issued a Certificate of Completion. A copy of said certificate shall be delivered by the school to the Driver Service Bureau of the Department of Public Safety.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 123-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-7
Status: in_force

(1) Delta State University may enter into a public-private partnership with a third-party developer for planning, designing, renovating, constructing, furnishing, and equipping Ward Hall Dormitory and Cleveland Hall, using funds specifically appropriated for that purpose.

(2) Delta State University may enter into a partnership with the Cleveland School District to create a model rural education school to serve Pre-K through sixth-grade students from Bolivar County and a model program which shall also serve as a model for the education of teachers and administrators. To accomplish that purpose, Delta State University and the Cleveland School District are each authorized, in their discretion:

(a) To enter into an agreement for the purpose of designing, constructing, maintaining and operating a model rural education school to serve Pre-K through sixth-grade students from Bolivar County; and

(b) To transfer funds to the other and expend such funds on mutually agreeable terms and conditions for the construction, maintenance and operation of such school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-35 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 11-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-35
Status: in_force

(1) If any person charged by Section 37-11-29(2) or (3) to make the reports therein provided for shall willfully fail, refuse or neglect to file any such report, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or be imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months, or both.

(2) If any person charged by Section 97-5-24 to make the reports therein provided for shall willfully fail, refuse or neglect to file any such report, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or be imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months, or both.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-102-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 102-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-102-15
Status: in_force

(1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Bureau of Buildings, Grounds and Real Property Management shall not make any expenditure for capital improvements for off-campus sites unless specifically authorized by the Mississippi Legislature. However, this shall not preclude such capital improvements from being made by county or municipal governments locally or regionally involved.

(2) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Bureau of Buildings, Grounds and Real Property Management is specifically authorized to expend any funds available to it from private sources, from the proceeds of the sale of any property and improvements currently on the site of Mississippi State University off-campus instructional program at Meridian and from the proceeds of funds designated to the Mississippi State University system for “repair, renovation and new construction” in Chapter 2, Section 2, General Laws, First Extraordinary Session of 1989, for the construction, equipping and furnishing and new building, and/or for the repair, renovation, equipping and furnishing of any existing building at the Mississippi State University off-campus instructional program site at Meridian, Mississippi. The board of trustees is hereby authorized to receive and expend matching funds from the local, county and municipal governments for such construction, equipping, furnishing, repair or renovation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 45-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-63
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter are and shall be construed to be in addition to and supplemental of the provisions of any other statutes of this state pertaining to the matters herein referred to.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 144-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-15
Status: in_force

Medical and osteopathic students in the program must enter family medicine or other generalist residency programs according to their choice of specialty. Depending upon the availability of funds, students who successfully enter residency programs which have been approved by the commission may receive further financial support from the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program subject to applicable rules and policies of the commission. All funding for financial support from the commission to participants during their residency must be disbursed in accordance with applicable regulations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-79 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 27-79
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-79
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education shall review and develop a report relating to the need for a separate board of trustees and separate administrative office for the Coahoma Agricultural High School, the Forrest Agricultural High School and the Hinds Agricultural High School and shall submit this finding with recommendations for any necessary legislation to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees on or before December 1, 2012, for consideration in the 2013 Regular Session. Said report shall include any necessary recommendations for the consolidation and transfer of administrative offices, transfer of real and personal property, and transfer of students from such agricultural high school to the appropriate school district.

(2) Any agricultural high school in this state (whether maintained by one (1) county or more than one (1) county) may be abolished when twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors residing in such county or counties shall file a petition with the board of supervisors or boards of supervisors of such county or counties, and request that such school be abolished. Thereupon, the question shall be submitted to an election of the qualified electors of the county or counties within not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the next meeting of the board of supervisors or boards of supervisors after the filing of the petition. At such election said electors may vote for abolishing the agricultural high school or against abolishing the agricultural high school. If a majority of the votes cast in such election be in favor of abolishing such school, then such school shall be abolished. If less than a majority of those voting fail to vote for abolishing such school then it shall not be abolished but shall be supported and maintained as now provided by law. When an election is called under this section and the school is not abolished, then another election cannot be held for a period of two (2) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 113-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-45
Status: in_force

Any such county as is provided for in Section 37-113-43 is hereby authorized and empowered to issue and sell its bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of providing funds with which to make the contribution or donation authorized under the provisions of said section. Such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness shall not be issued in an amount which will exceed the limit of indebtedness of said county as such limit is prescribed by Sections 19-9-1 through 19-9-31, Mississippi Code of 1972 . Before issuing any such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, the board of supervisors acting for such county shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to issue the same, stating the amount and purpose thereof and fixing the date upon which an election will be held on the proposition. Notice of such election shall be given by publication of such resolution once a week for at least three consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper published in said county. The first publication of such notice shall be made not less than twenty-one days prior to the date fixed in such resolution for the holding of said election as aforesaid and the last publication shall be made not more than seven days prior to such date. At such election all qualified electors of said county may vote and the ballots used shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the amount and purpose of the bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness proposed to be issued and the voter shall vote by placing a cross (x) or check (✓) opposite his choice on the proposition. The bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness authorized herein shall not be issued unless authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified voters of said county who vote on the proposition at such election. Such election shall be conducted and the returns thereof made, canvassed, and declared as nearly as may be in like manner as is now or may hereafter be provided by law in the case of general elections in counties. In the event that the question of the issuance of such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness be not authorized at such election, such question shall not again be submitted to a vote until the expiration of a period of six months, from and after the date of such election.

Such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness shall bear such date or dates, shall be of such denomination or denominations, shall be payable at such place or places, shall bear such rate or rates of interest and shall mature in such amounts and at such times as may be provided and directed by the board of supervisors of said county. Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates not exceeding six per cent per annum and shall mature in not more than twenty-five years from the date thereof and shall be sold for not less than par and accrued interest.

Any bonds authorized to be issued at an election as provided for in this section shall be issued by such county, acting by and through its board of supervisors, at such times and in such amounts as shall be provided for by resolution of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.

All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued hereunder shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of such county. There shall annually be levied upon all taxable property within said county an ad valorem tax in addition to all other taxes, sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and the interest on said bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness as the same respectively mature and accrue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 146-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-17
Status: in_force

(1) Upon completion of dental school and/or a dental residency program approved by the commission, a participant in the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program must proceed to enter the full-time practice of dentistry in a rural or underserved area in Mississippi, as defined by the commission and consistent with generally acceptable designations. If an area experiences significant changes in its dental or general community which are not reflected by dental health professional shortage area (HPSA), the commission may receive testimony and, in its discretion, may qualify the area as a dentally underserved or rural area to allow the program participant to fulfill his or her practice obligation.

(2) Upon entering the practice of dentistry, a participant in the program must serve in a dental health professional shortage area (HPSA) or rural area otherwise approved for practice under subsection (1) of this section for a number of years which corresponds to the number of years, not to exceed five (5), for which the participant received funding through the program. Any participant who fails to complete the period of practice for which he or she is obligated to provide services in a dental health professional shortage area (HPSA) or rural area in exchange for financial assistance received through the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program shall be liable for the repayment of all financial assistance provided to the participant through the program, along with other penalties that may be prescribed by the commission, an amount which shall be reduced on a pro rata basis for actual years of practice by the dentist in the area designated by the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-77 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-77
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Mississippi School Administrator Sabbatical Program which shall be available to licensed teachers employed in Mississippi school districts for not less than three (3) years, for the purpose of allowing such teachers to become local school district administrators under the conditions set forth in this section. The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, shall develop guidelines for the program. Application shall be made to the State Department of Education for the Mississippi School Administrator Sabbatical Program by qualified teachers meeting the criteria for a department-approved administration program and who have been recommended by the local school board. Administration programs that are eligible for the administrator sabbatical program shall be limited to those that have been approved by the department by the January 1 preceding the date of admission to the program. Admission into the program shall authorize the applicant to take university course work and training leading to an administrator's license.

(2) The salaries of the teachers approved for participation in the administrator sabbatical program shall be paid by the employing school district from funds other than total funding formula funds as provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 . However, the State Department of Education shall reimburse the employing school districts for the cost of the salaries and paid fringe benefits of teachers participating in the administrator sabbatical program for one (1) contract year. Reimbursement shall be made in accordance with the then current salary schedule under Section 37-19-7 , except that the maximum amount of the reimbursement from state funds shall not exceed the salary prescribed for a teacher holding a Class A license and having five (5) years' experience. The local school district shall be responsible for that portion of a participating teacher's salary attributable to the local supplement and for any portion of the teacher's salary that exceeds the maximum amount allowed for reimbursement from state funds as provided in this subsection, and the school board may not reduce the local supplement payable to that teacher. Any reimbursements made by the State Department of Education to local school districts under this section shall be subject to available appropriations and may be made only to school districts determined by the State Board of Education as being in need of administrators.

(3) Such teachers participating in the program on a full-time basis shall continue to receive teaching experience and shall receive the salary prescribed in Section 37-19-7 . Such participants shall be fully eligible to continue participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System and the Public School Employees Health Insurance Plan during the time they are in the program on a full-time basis.

(4) As a condition for participation in the School Administrator Sabbatical Program, such teachers shall agree to employment as administrators in the sponsoring school district for not less than five (5) years following completion of administrator licensure requirements. Any person failing to comply with this employment commitment in any required school year, unless the commitment is deferred as provided in subsection (5) of this section, shall immediately be in breach of contract and become liable to the State Department of Education for that amount of his salary and paid fringe benefits paid by the state while the teacher was on sabbatical, less twenty percent (20%) of the amount of his salary and paid fringe benefits paid by the state for each year that the person was employed as an administrator following completion of the administrator licensure requirements. In addition, the person shall become liable to the local school district for any portion of his salary and paid fringe benefits paid by the local school district while the teacher was on sabbatical that is attributable to the local salary supplement or is attributable to the amount that exceeds the maximum amount allowed for reimbursement from state funds as provided in subsection (2) of this section, less twenty percent (20%) of the amount of his salary and paid fringe benefits paid by the school district for each year that the person was employed as an administrator following completion of the administrator licensure requirements. Interest on the amount due shall accrue at the current Stafford Loan rate at the time the breach occurs. If the claim for repayment of such salary and fringe benefits is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection after default, then the obligor shall be liable for an additional amount equal to a reasonable attorney's fee.

(5) If there is not an administrator position immediately available in the sponsoring school district after a person has completed the administrator licensure requirements, or if the administrator position in the sponsoring school district in which the person is employed is no longer needed before the completion of the five-year employment commitment, the local school board shall defer any part of the employment commitment that has not been met until such time as an administrator position becomes available in the sponsoring school district. If such a deferral is made, the sponsoring school district shall employ the person as a teacher in the school district during the period of deferral, unless the person desires to be released from employment by the sponsoring school district and the district agrees to release the person from employment. If the sponsoring school district releases a person from employment, that person may be employed as an administrator in another school district in the state that is in need of administrators as determined by the State Board of Education, and that employment for the other school district shall be applied to any remaining portion of the five-year employment commitment required under this section. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent a school district from not renewing the person's contract before the end of the five-year employment commitment in accordance with the School Employment Procedures Law ( Section 37-9-101 et seq. ). However, if the person is not employed as an administrator by another school district after being released by the sponsoring school district, or after his contract was not renewed by the sponsoring school district, he shall be liable for repayment of the amount of his salary and fringe benefits as provided in subsection (4) of this section.

(6) All funds received by the State Department of Education from the repayment of salary and fringe benefits paid by the state from program participants shall be deposited in the Mississippi Critical Teacher Shortage Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 121-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-17
Status: in_force

The basketball court within the Davey L. Whitney Complex located on the campus of Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be named the Shirley A. Walker Basketball Court. The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place within the Davey L. Whitney Complex, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Mrs. Walker.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-125-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 125-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-125-5
Status: in_force

The Jackson State College shall be located on the property situated near the city of Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, and containing forty-nine acres more or less north of the Y. & M. V. railroad, west of Dalton street, section 9, township 6, range 1, east, and otherwise known as Jackson College.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-147-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 147-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-147-3
Status: in_force

There is hereby created and established the Mississippi University Research Authority to promote the public welfare and prosperity of the people of Mississippi and foster economic development within the state by forging links among the state's educational institutions, businesses and industrial communities and state government through the development of cooperative ventures of innovative technological significance which will advance education, research or economic development within the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-157 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 33-157
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-157
Status: in_force

The Department of Rehabilitation Services shall provide the rehabilitation services authorized by law and by the rules, regulations and policies of the board to every individual determined to be eligible therefor, and in carrying out the purposes of this chapter the department is authorized, when consistent with the rules, regulations and policies of the State Board of Rehabilitation Services:

(a) To expend funds received either by appropriation or directly from federal or private sources.

(b) To cooperate with other departments, agencies and institutions, both public and private, in providing the services authorized by this chapter to disabled individuals, in studying the problems involved therein, and in establishing, developing and providing in conformity with the purposes of this chapter, such programs, facilities and services as may be necessary or desirable.

(c) To enter into reciprocal agreements with other states to provide for the services authorized by this chapter to residents of the states concerned.

(d) To conduct research and compile statistics relating to the provision of services to or the need of services by disabled individuals.

(e) To enter into contractual arrangements with the federal government and with other authorized public agencies or persons for performance of services related to rehabilitation.

(f) To contract with schools, hospitals and other agencies, and with doctors, optometrists, nurses, technicians and other persons, for training, physical restoration, transportation and other rehabilitation services.

(g) To take such action as may be necessary to enable the department to apply for, accept and receive for the state and its residents the full benefits available under the federal Vocational Rehabilitation Act, and any amendments thereto, and under any other federal legislation or program having as its purpose the providing of, improvement or extension of, vocational rehabilitation services.

(h) To establish an Office on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to provide services and activities authorized under Section 37-33-171 .

(i) To own in the name of the State of Mississippi certain real property described in Section 7 of Chapter 512, Laws of 2005, and to construct, renovate or repair under the supervision of the Department of Finance and Administration any buildings on such property.

(j) To borrow money from the Mississippi Development Bank or other financial institution for the purpose of construction, repair and renovation, furnishing or equipping facilities owned or under the supervision of the department; however, the department shall certify the following to the Mississippi Development Bank or other financial institution prior to entering into any loan:

(i) The available revenue that the department intends to utilize to repay the loan; and

(ii) That the department does not intend to request an additional appropriation from state source funding to pay debt service on any loan entered into under this paragraph.

(k) To fingerprint and perform a current criminal history record check, child abuse registry check, sex offender registry check, and vulnerable adult abuse or neglect check on any person performing services for or on behalf of the department including, but not limited to, every employee, volunteer, contractual worker, and independent contractor.

(l) To use the results of the fingerprinting and background checks performed under paragraph (k) for the purposes of employment decisions and/or actions and service provision to consumers of the department's services. The department and its agents, officers, employees, attorneys and representatives shall be exempt from liability for any findings, recommendations or actions taken under this paragraph.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-2 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 101-2
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-2
Status: in_force

There is hereby established within the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning a Welfare Policy Institute at a campus location to be designated by the board of trustees. The purpose of the institute shall be to research and gather empirical information regarding the social and welfare programs authorized under Sections 37-101-2 , 43-1-8 , 43-1-10 , 43-1-30 , 43-13-115 , 43-17-1 , 43-17-5 , and 43-49-1 through 43-49-15 and to write grant proposals regarding the policy implications of such program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 28-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-21
Status: in_force

(1) The authorizer shall grant an initial charter to each qualified applicant for a term of five (5) operating years. The term of the charter shall commence on the charter school's first day of operation. An approved charter school may delay its opening for one (1) school year in order to plan and prepare for the school's opening. If the school requires an opening delay of more than one (1) school year, the school must request an extension from the authorizer. The authorizer may grant or deny the extension depending on the particular school's circumstances.

(2)(a) The authorizer and the governing board of the approved charter school shall execute a charter contract that clearly sets forth the academic and operational performance expectations and measures by which the charter school will be judged and the administrative relationship between the authorizer and charter school, including each party's rights and duties. The performance expectations and measures set forth in the charter contract must include, but need not be limited to, applicable federal and state accountability requirements. The performance provisions may be refined or amended by mutual agreement after the charter school is operating and has collected baseline achievement data for its enrolled students.

(b) The charter contract must be signed by the chairman of the authorizer board and the president of the charter school's governing board.

(c) A charter school may not commence operations without a charter contract executed in accordance with this section and approved in an open meeting of the authorizer board.

(3) The authorizer may establish reasonable preopening requirements or conditions to monitor the start-up progress of a newly approved charter school and to ensure that the school is prepared to open smoothly on the date agreed and that the school meets all building, health, safety, insurance and other legal requirements before the school's opening.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-14-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 14-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-14-5
Status: in_force

The Division of Medicaid shall cooperate with the State Department of Education to develop and seek approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a waiver or grant to cover the services of public school nurses, as allowed by federal law. The division is also authorized to explore other options for administering and providing services under this program, including, but not limited to, matching any available federal funds. The Department of Education shall place particular emphasis on reducing unnecessary paperwork by public school nurses.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 103-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-7
Status: in_force

For purposes of determining whether a person pays out-of-state or in-state tuition for attendance at universities and community and junior colleges, the residence of a person less than twenty-one (21) years of age is that of the father, the mother or a general guardian duly appointed by a proper court in Mississippi. If a court has granted custody of the minor to one (1) parent, the residence of the minor is that of the parent who was granted custody by the court. If both parents are dead, the residence of the minor is that of the last surviving parent at the time of that parent's death, unless the minor lives with a general guardian duly appointed by a proper court of Mississippi, in which case his residence becomes that of the guardian. A student residing within the State of Mississippi who, upon registration at a Mississippi institution of higher learning or community college, presents a transcript demonstrating graduation from a Mississippi secondary school and who has been a secondary school student in Mississippi for not less than the final four (4) years of secondary school attendance shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition. This section shall not apply to the residence of a person as it relates to residency for voter registration or voting.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 45-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-19
Status: in_force

The commission shall promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations as shall be necessary and proper to carry out the provisions of this chapter and of such other laws, the administration of which shall be vested in the commission; however, no such rule or regulation shall be in conflict with any applicable law. It shall be the duty of the commission to furnish the board of trustees or other governing body of all school districts and the attorney general certified copies of all rules and regulations prescribed by the commission, which distribution shall be made not less than thirty days prior to the effective date of all such rules or regulations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-73 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-73
Status: in_force

Budget estimates of the amount of appropriations needed each fiscal year for vocational rehabilitation services for the blind and for the administration of said program shall be submitted in such manner as may be provided by law, and sufficient funds for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Law shall be appropriated by the Legislature. In the event federal funds are available to the State of Mississippi for vocational rehabilitation purposes, the department is authorized to comply with such requirements as may be necessary to obtain said federal funds in the maximum amount and most advantageous proportion possible insofar as this may be done without violating other provisions of the state law and constitution. In the event the national Congress fails in any year to appropriate funds for grants-in-aid to the state for vocational rehabilitation purposes, the State Legislature shall appropriate such funds as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of said law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-57 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 153-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-57
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Accelerate Mississippi Workforce Development Program, which shall be directed by the office for the purpose of providing education and training to citizens seeking employment in high-wage, high-demand industries in the state, including, but not limited to, the nursing and healthcare fields, which were impacted by the disruption to the economy and workforce caused by COVID-19. This program shall be subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature using Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds made available under ARPA or any other funds appropriated by the Legislature.

(2) As used in this section, the following words have the meanings ascribed unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) “ Recipient ” means a community college, institution of higher learning, or trainee recipient of grant funding under this section.

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

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

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

(i) Necessary equipment or other supplies;

(ii) Curricula or other academic or training materials;

(iii) Remote learning or other classroom technology;

(iv) Stipends for teaching staff or faculty for workforce development programs;

(v) Trainee support, including tuition expenses and childcare or transportation assistance;

(vi) Coaching or mentoring services;

(vii) Job placement services;

(viii) Apprenticeship programs; and

(ix) Recruitment programs.

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

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

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

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

(ii) The number of trainees who will be served by the program; and

(iii) The average wage rate for trainees receiving employment after completing the program;

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

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

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

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

(6) The office shall:

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

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

(c) Prioritize high-wage, high-skill industries, including, but not limited to, nursing jobs or other jobs within the healthcare field; and

(d) Coordinate with the Department of Employment Security to share information to identify individuals who were furloughed, unemployed, underemployed or otherwise displaced due to COVID-19.

(7) The office may use a maximum of two percent (2%) of funds allocated for this article for the administration of the grant program, to the extent permissible under federal law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-55 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 41-55
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-55
Status: in_force

(1) The driver of every school transportation vehicle used to transport pupils, on approaching any railroad crossing, shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop within fifty (50) feet but not less than fifteen (15) feet from the nearest rail of the railroad. While stopped, the driver shall open the service door and driver's window, and look and listen for:

(a) Approaching trains or any other vehicle operated upon the rails for the purpose of maintenance of railroads, including, but not limited to, all hi-rail vehicles and on-track maintenance machines; and

(b) Signals indicating the approach of a train or other vehicle or machine operated upon the rails.

The driver shall not proceed until the driver has determined that it is safe to proceed.

(2) The driver of every school transportation vehicle used to transport pupils, on approaching any highway intersection, shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop and shall not proceed until the driver has determined that it is safe to proceed.

(3) Any driver who fails to bring his vehicle to a complete stop and follow the procedures as herein required is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) for each offense.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 104-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-29
Status: in_force

Revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of the State of Mississippi or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state, but such bonds shall be payable solely from the sinking fund provided therefor, as hereinafter established in Section 37-104-31 . The issuance of such revenue bonds shall not directly, indirectly or contingently obligate the state to levy or pledge any form of taxation whatever therefor, and all such revenue bonds shall contain recitals on their face substantially covering the foregoing provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 97-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-97-5
Status: in_force

Any student who is deprived of an athletic opportunity or suffers any direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of this article shall have a private cause of action.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-293 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 101-293
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-293
Status: in_force

(1) Within the limits of the funds available to any state agency for such purpose, the administrative head of such state agency may grant paid educational leave on a part-time or full-time basis and reimburse employees for educational expenses such as tuition, books and related fees to pursue undergraduate or graduate level education to those applicants deemed qualified.

It is the intent of the Legislature that such educational leave program shall be used as an incentive for employees to develop job-related skills and to develop employees for higher-level professional and management positions.

(2) In order to be eligible for paid educational leave, reimbursement for educational expenses or both, an applicant must:

(a) Be working at a state agency for at least three (3) years at the time of application or be working at a state agency at the time of application for part-time graduate level education in a particular profession deemed by the administrative head of the state agency to meet a critical need within the state agency;

(b) Attend any college or school located in the State of Mississippi and approved by the administrative head of such agency, unless such course of study is not available at a Mississippi college or school, in which case the applicant may attend an out-of-state college or school;

(c) Agree to work as an employee in the same state agency for at least three (3) full years after completion of the course of study or, in the case of employees on educational leave on a part-time basis or receiving reimbursement for educational expenses only, to work for a time prorated based upon the total amount of expenses, including leave, paid for by the agency.

(3)(a) Before being granted paid educational leave, or being approved for reimbursement of educational expense or both, each applicant shall enter into a contract with the state agency, which shall be deemed a contract with the State of Mississippi, agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the paid educational leave will be granted to him. The contract shall include such terms and provisions necessary to implement the purpose and intent of this section. The form of such contract shall be prepared by the Attorney General of this state and approved by the State Personnel Board, and shall be signed by the administrative head of the state agency and signed by the recipient. If the recipient is a minor, his minority disabilities shall be removed by a chancery court of competent jurisdiction before the contract is signed.

(b) Educational expenses for tuition, books and associated fees shall be reimbursed to the employee only after the employee has submitted documentation that the approved course has been successfully completed.

(c) If the recipient does not work as an employee in that state agency for the period of employment specified in the contract, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the remaining portion of the compensation that he or she was paid while on paid educational leave and educational expenses paid, with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the recipient's date of graduation, or the date that the recipient last worked at that state agency, whichever is the later date. In addition, there shall be included in any contract for paid educational leave a provision for liquidated damages equal to Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year for each year remaining to be served under such contract.

(d) If any recipient fails or withdraws from school at any time before completing his or her education, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the amount of the total compensation that he or she was paid while on paid educational leave, with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the date the recipient failed or withdrew from school. However, if the recipient remains or returns to work in the same position he or she held in the same state agency prior to accepting educational leave, he or she shall not be liable for payment of any interest on the amount owed.

(e) The state agency shall have the authority to cancel any contract made between it and any recipient for paid educational leave or educational expenses or both upon such cause being deemed sufficient by the administrative head of the agency.

(f) The state agency is vested with full and complete authority and power to sue in its own name any recipient for any balance due the state on any such uncompleted contract, which suit shall be conducted and handled by the Attorney General of the state.

(g) Persons who default on contracts entered into under this section shall have the default determined and lose their professional health care licenses under the procedures provided in Section 37-101-291 .

(4) At the discretion of the administrative head of the state agency, any recipient who is granted paid educational leave by the state agency, including nurses, shall be compensated by such agency as prescribed by the State Personnel Board during the time he or she is in school. For employees who are on educational leave on a full-time basis, the State Personnel Board shall establish a maximum salary amount at which any employee may be paid full compensation while on educational leave and shall establish a deduction ratio or reduced percentage rate of compensation to be paid to all employees compensated at a salary level above such maximum salary amount. No recipient of full-time educational leave shall accrue personal or major medical leave while he or she is on paid educational leave.

(5) Each state agency granting paid educational leave to employees or reimbursing educational expenses or both shall file an annual report with the Legislature which shall detail for each recipient of paid educational leave the position of the employee, the cost of the educational assistance and the degree program and school attended.

(6) Within the limits of funds available to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health may grant educational leave to medical residents of the University of Mississippi and pay a stipend in an amount not to exceed the salary of a medical resident. In order to be eligible for paid educational leave under this subsection, the applicant must be approved by the Department of Mental Health Educational Leave Committee and meet all obligations established under agreements between the Department of Mental Health and the University of Mississippi and regulations promulgated by the Board of Mental Health. The recipient shall fulfill his or her obligation under this program on an annual pro rata basis for each year on paid education leave.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 59-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-21
Status: in_force

If the territory of such school district as is provided for in section 37-59-19 , lies in two or more counties, bonds may be issued as provided herein by the board of supervisors of the county having the greatest assessed valuation of taxable property within such district, upon petition of a majority of the qualified electors residing within the district as a whole. In such cases, a counterpart of the petition shall be separately circulated in that part of the district situated within each of the counties involved, and the said petitions shall be filed with the respective boards of supervisors. Each such board shall thereupon determine, by resolution entered upon its minutes, the number of qualified electors of such county residing within such district, and the number of qualified electors of such district who have signed such petition, and shall transmit a certified copy of such resolution and of such petition to the board of supervisors of the county having the greater assessed valuation of taxable property within such district. The latter board shall thereupon determine, by resolution entered upon its minutes, the total number of qualified electors residing within such district as a whole, and the total number of qualified electors of such district who have signed such petitions. If the latter board thereupon finds and determines that such petitions have been signed by a majority of all of the qualified electors residing within such district, regardless of county lines, such board may proceed to issue bonds in the amount and for the purpose or purposes set forth in such petition.

The maximum amount of such bonds which may be issued by petition shall not exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), and the total amount of bonds so issued by petition in any twelve-month period shall not exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 101-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-63
Status: in_force

Each corporation formed under the provisions of Section 37-101-61 shall have the following powers, together with all powers incidental thereto or necessary to the discharge thereof in corporate form: to have succession by its corporate name for the duration of time (which may be in perpetuity) specified in its certificate of incorporation; to sue and be sued and to defend suits against it; to make use of a corporate seal and to alter it at pleasure; to acquire, whether by purchase, construction or gift, facilities for one or more institutions of higher learning and land therefor; to equip, maintain, enlarge or improve such facilities; to lease under such terms and conditions as its board of directors may deem advisable and as shall not conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-101-61 through 37-101-71 to the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning or to such other entity as may be approved by such board subject to prior approval by said board of each issue of bonds; to issue its bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of acquiring, constructing, maintaining, enlarging, improving or equipping any of such facilities or land in the manner provided in Section 37-101-65 ; to secure the payment of such bonds through the pledge of and lien on such revenues or other sources of income, including lease payments, entering into trust agreements, and the making of such covenants as are provided in Section 37-101-101 ; to refund bonds previously issued; to enter into contracts and agreements or do any act necessary for or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under Sections 37-101-61 through 37-101-71 ; to accept gifts from any source whatsoever; to appoint and employ such officers and agents, including attorneys, as its business may require; and to provide for such insurance as its board of directors may deem advisable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 115-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-111
Status: in_force

The state building commission is authorized and directed to provide suitable land presently state owned or received as a gift, and buildings to house the school of dentistry; and payment for the construction costs of such buildings shall be made from any money made available to carry out the provisions of Sections 37-115-101 through 37-115-111 . Any funds appropriated or granted from any source shall be put into a fund in the office of the state treasurer to be designated as the “School of Dentistry Fund.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 141-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-7
Status: in_force

It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Legislature that the functions of the center shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Undertaking selected applied research projects with a permanent research staff, augmented by specialists from universities and colleges, government agencies and private firms, assisted by graduate students.

(b) Relating, when applicable, public service-related research and technical assistance activities at all state universities to the overall statewide economic development plan.

(c) Coordinating economic development related activities among all state universities.

(d) Providing a computer facility for use by all educational institutions and government agencies.

(e) Maintaining current information on research projects in the state; on scientific and research personnel; on research expenditures and sources of funds; on research programs of agencies and institutions outside the state which bear upon Mississippi development; publishing annually a catalogue of this information; and otherwise functioning as a research clearinghouse for the State of Mississippi.

(f) Developing a list of priority research projects that would have significant contribution to advancement of economic development efforts in the state.

(g) Coordinating with universities and other entities in the state to promote completion of the priority economic development related research projects with economic development potential and advising and assisting in the securing of needed research funding.

(h) Contracting with universities and other entities to effect needed priority economic development related research projects.

(i) Providing printing and data processing support to the Department of Economic Development.

(j) Identifying all federal funds that flow into Mississippi for any and all purposes, making comparisons with other states and preparing appropriate analyses to identify sources of federal funds where potential exists for attracting and obtaining larger amounts of federal funds for the state.

(k) Develop a system whereby economic development related research results can be disseminated to public and private entities for the purpose of enhancing economic development efforts, particularly at the local level.

(l) Assisting institutions, organizations and firms in identifying and obtaining research funds and other grants from public and private sources.

(m) Developing an econometric model of Mississippi designed to forecast various sectors of the Mississippi economy.

(n) Supporting and utilizing the Mississippi Automated Resource Information System (MARIS) to accomplish its objectives of gathering, maintaining and disseminating information and providing research assistance.

(o) Performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Commissioner of Higher Education.

(p) Carrying out the provisions of Sections 37-141-51 through 37-141-57 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 101-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-21
Status: in_force

A body politic and corporate is hereby created under the name of Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, to have perpetual succession, with powers to contract and be contracted with; to receive and acquire, by any legal method, property of any description, necessary or convenient for its operation, and to hold, employ, use and convey the same; to adopt and use a corporate seal; and to adopt by-laws, rules and regulations for the government of the same, its employees, officials, agents, and members.

The object and purposes of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory shall be to promote the study and knowledge of science including the natural resources of the State of Mississippi and to provide for the dissemination of research findings and specimens from the Gulf Coast area.

The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory shall be under the control and supervision of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, and the powers of said laboratory shall be vested in and its duties performed by said board.

The laboratory shall be located at some appropriate place within the state and on the Gulf of Mexico to be determined by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.

It shall be the duty of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning to appoint or elect a director for said laboratory, determine the number of instructors, assistants and other employees and fix their compensation, and in cooperation with the Mississippi Academy of Science, prescribe rules, regulations, and policies governing the operation of the institution, qualifications of instructors and employees and for the admission of students, and for the direction of research programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-99 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 41-99
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-99
Status: in_force

The principal of and interest upon all notes or bonds issued under the authority of Section 37-41-89 shall be paid out of such transportation funds of the school district as may be available for such purpose. It shall be the duty of the school board to set aside each year out of such transportation funds a sufficient amount to pay the principal of and interest upon said notes or bonds as and when the same shall respectively mature and accrue. It shall be the duty of the superintendent of schools to include in the school budget each year separate items showing the amount required for the payment of the principal of and the interest upon all notes or bonds issued under the authority of said section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 144-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-17
Status: in_force

(1) Upon completion of residency, a participant in the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program must proceed to enter the practice of medicine in a rural or underserved area in Mississippi, as defined by the commission and consistent with generally acceptable designations. If an area experiences significant changes in its medical or general community which are not reflected by health professional shortage area (HPSA) or medically underserved area (MUA) rural designation, the commission may receive testimony and, in its discretion, may qualify the area as an underserved or rural area to allow the program participant to fulfill his or her practice obligation.

(2) Upon entering the practice of medicine, a participant in the program must serve in a health professional shortage area (HPSA), medically underserved area (MUA), or rural area otherwise approved for practice under subsection (1) of this section for a number of years which corresponds to the number of years, not to exceed five (5), for which the participant received funding through the program. A participant who completes residency who fails to enter the practice of medicine as required under this section shall be deemed in breach of contract and shall be liable for the immediate repayment of all financial assistance provided to the participant through the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, including assistance provided during undergraduate school, as well as in medical or osteopathic school, along with other penalties that may be prescribed in policy by the board. Any participant who fails to complete the period of practice for which he or she is obligated to provide services in a health professional shortage area (HPSA) or a medically underserved area (MUA) in exchange for financial assistance received through the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program shall be liable for the repayment of all financial assistance provided to the participant through the program, along with other penalties that may be prescribed by the commission, an amount which shall be reduced on a pro rata basis for actual years of practice by the physician in the area designated by the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-4-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 4-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-4-13
Status: in_force

(1) In negotiating commitments under the Industrial Training Programs with industries seeking to locate or expand in Mississippi, the Mississippi Community College Board may enter into multi-year agreements for such training programs subject to the availability of funds appropriated therefor.

(2) The Mississippi Community College Board shall file a report with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives listing the commitments that are made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-81 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 33-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-81
Status: in_force

(1) The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services may enter into contracts with appropriate post-secondary educational institutions in the state for the purpose of implementing and maintaining programs of services for hearing-impaired students.

(2) Those programs shall be funded from funds appropriated to the office by the Legislature or from any other resource identified and accessed by the office. The office shall continue to administer those programs for each year deemed suitable by the office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 151-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-13
Status: in_force

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

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

The State Board of Education shall utilize such awards to bring the best administrative practices to the attention of other schools. The awards shall include public recognition by the local school board and the State Board of Education and the awarding of plaques, certificates and the monetary award for administrators that perform well.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 16-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-9
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(d) Data relating to the performance of children with disabilities shall be disaggregated for assessments conducted after July 1, 1998.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-30 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 15-30
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-30
Status: in_force

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law, a pupil complies with the residency requirements for school attendance in a school district if the parent of the pupil is transferred to, or is pending transfer to, a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order.

(2) A school district shall accept an application for enrollment and course registration by electronic means for a pupil who meets the requirements prescribed in subsection (1) of this section, including enrollment in a specific school or program within the school district.

(3) The parent of a pupil who meets the requirement prescribed in subsection (1) of this section shall provide proof of residence to the school district within ten (10) days after the published arrival date provided on official documentation. The parent may use the address of any of the following as proof of residence for the purposes of this subsection:

(a) A temporary on-base billeting facility.

(b) A purchased or leased home or apartment.

(c) Any federal government housing or off-base military housing, including off-base military housing that may be provided through a public-private venture.

(4) For the purposes of this section:

(a) “ Active military duty ” means full-time military duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and the State Military Reserve on active duty orders.

(b) “ Military installation ” means a base, camp, post, station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship or other installation under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Defense or the United States Coast Guard.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-47 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 145-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-47
Status: in_force

The bonds issued pursuant to Sections 37-145-43 through 37-145-73 shall be authorized by a resolution of the company, shall bear such date or dates, and shall mature at such time or times as such resolution may provide, except that no bond shall mature more than thirty (30) years from the date of issue. Bonds which are not subject to taxation shall bear interest at such rate or rates not exceeding that authorized by Section 75-17-103 , including variations of such rates, be in such denominations, be in such form, carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption, including redemption prior to maturity, as such resolution may provide. Except as expressly provided otherwise in Sections 37-145-43 through 37-145-73 , the provisions of other laws of the state relating to the issuance of revenue bonds shall not apply to bonds issued by the company. As to bonds issued hereunder and designated as taxable bonds by the company, any immunity to taxation by the United States government of interest on such bonds or notes is hereby waived. Bonds of the company may be sold by the company at public or private sale, from time to time, and at such price or prices as the company shall determine.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-127 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 65-127
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-127
Status: in_force

Any action or order of the board of trustees provided for in this article or deemed necessary may be taken at any regular or special meeting thereof, held at the place where such board holds its regular meetings, or otherwise as provided in this article and at which a majority of the board of trustees shall be present.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-505 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-505
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-505
Status: in_force

The control and operation of the Meridian Junior College District shall be vested in a board of trustees appointed by the city council of the City of Meridian. The board of trustees of the Meridian Junior College District shall consist of five (5) members. When the initial appointments are made, the first appointee shall serve for a term of one (1) year, the second appointee for a term of two (2) years, the third appointee for a term of three (3) years, the fourth appointee for a term of four (4) years and the fifth appointee for a term of five (5) years; thereafter all appointments shall be for a term of five (5) years. Trustees of the Meridian Junior College District shall be appointed by a majority vote of the full membership of the city council of the City of Meridian at the first meeting of the council held in the month of February of each year, and the term of office of each trustee so appointed shall commence on the first Saturday of March following, except that the existing trustees of the Meridian Municipal Separate School District as of April 30, 1980, shall constitute the initial board of trustees of the Meridian Junior College District. As the terms of these individual trustees expire, trustees for the Meridian Junior College District shall be appointed as provided herein. All vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms by appointment by majority vote of the full membership of the city council.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 155-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-25
Status: in_force

The state shall agree to meet the obligations of the board to beneficiaries if monies in the fund fail to offset the obligations of the board. If there is not enough money in the fund to pay the tuition and required fees of the institution of higher education in which a beneficiary enrolls as provided by the prepaid tuition contract, the Legislature shall appropriate to the fund the amount necessary for the board to pay the applicable amount of tuition and required fees of the institution.

In the event that the board determines the program to be financially infeasible, the board may discontinue the program. Any qualified beneficiary who has been accepted by and is enrolled or is within five (5) years of enrollment in an institution of higher learning or any in-state or out-of-state regionally accredited private four- or two-year college or an out-of-state regionally accredited, state-supported, nonprofit four- or two-year college or university shall be entitled to exercise the complete benefits for which he has contracted. All other contract holders shall receive a refund, pursuant to Section 37-155-9, of the amount paid in and an additional amount in the nature of interest at a rate that corresponds, at a minimum, to the prevailing interest rates for savings accounts provided by banks and savings and loan associations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-205 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 23-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-205
Status: in_force

There is hereby established the Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired Scholarship Program. The program shall be operated by the Mississippi Instructional Resource Center (MIRC). MIRC shall develop rules and regulations to implement a scholarship program to assist Certified Teachers of the Visually Impaired in taking and passing the Mississippi Praxis II Braille Competency Exam and/or becoming certified under National Certification in Literacy Braille. Funding for this program shall be administered through a special fund at the Mississippi Department of Education and shall be subject to appropriation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 6-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-3
Status: repealed

(1) From and after July 1, 1987, all school districts in the State of Mississippi shall have the same prerogatives, powers, duties and privileges as provided in this chapter.

(2) As used in this chapter, the term “school board” shall mean (a) the county board of education of any countywide school district in this state; and (b) the board of trustees of any municipal separate, special municipal separate, consolidated or line consolidated school district in this state.

(3) As used in this chapter, the term “superintendent” or “superintendent of schools” shall mean (a) the county superintendent of education of any countywide school district in this state whose duties require the supervision of students; and (b) the superintendent of any municipal separate, special municipal separate, consolidated or line consolidated school district in this state.

(4) Repealed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-131 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 23-131
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-131
Status: in_force

The department, in implementing the provisions of Sections 37-23-121 through 37-23-131 , shall have the following duties:

(a) To establish in various areas of the state, the location and size of which shall be determined by the department, a team of full-time, qualified professional persons trained, individually or collectively, in such disciplines as psychology, speech and hearing, special education, educational evaluation, and social work. One team shall be provided for each area, and shall render diagnostic evaluation, and related services to all children who are being considered for possible or continued placement in educational programs for exceptional children.

(b) To contract for or purchase services of clinical and medical specialists, including, but not limited to, pediatricians, neurologists and psychiatrists, when such services of specialists are needed and not available from members of a team.

(c) To provide for consultation with school personnel, parents and agencies concerned with exceptional children and to serve as resource personnel to which such persons and agencies may consult for assistance in solving problems related to diagnosis and evaluation of exceptional children.

(d) To provide personnel to serve as a resource in programs of preservice and inservice training of teachers.

(e) To disseminate information to the public with regard to exceptional children.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-44 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 101-44
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-44
Status: in_force

(1) In lieu of exercising the authority set forth in Section 37-101-43 and before entering into or awarding any lease under Section 37-101-41 , the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, subject to the provisions of Section 37-101-42 , may award contracts to a single entity for privately financed design and construction or renovation of facilities on university campuses, as well as for maintaining, furnishing and equipping of such facilities, if the entities receiving the contract or contracts and those entities to which work or services are subcontracted are duly licensed and qualified in the state to perform the contract or contracts. State General Fund appropriations or bonds backed by the state may not be used to finance the construction or maintenance of any such facility.

(2) The design-build delivery system described under subsection (1) of this section shall be administered pursuant to Section 31-7-13.1 and may be authorized only when the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning makes a determination, entered on its minutes, with specific findings for the project demonstrating how it is in the best interest of the public to enter into a design-build contract.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-251 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 33-251
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-251
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the Legislature to provide for the development of a coordinated rehabilitation program for those persons severely disabled by spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries. Further, it is intended that permanent paralysis and brain damage be prevented whenever possible through early identification of spinal cord/brain injuries, skilled emergency evaluation procedures, and proper medical and rehabilitative treatment. The goal of this program shall be to enable individuals severely disabled by spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury to resume the activities of daily living and reintegrate with the community with as much dignity and independence as possible. For those persons who cannot achieve complete independence, supportive services are needed in order for them to live as normally as possible.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-191 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-191
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-191
Status: in_force

Understanding the important role the Civil Rights Movement had on the State of Mississippi and understanding the importance of teaching Mississippi's children all of our history, it is the goal of this Legislature to provide meaningful support to this most important endeavor. Mississippi's central role in the civil rights struggle needs to be formalized and taught as a beacon of hope for all of our citizens.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 104-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-23
Status: in_force

The Authority may sell the revenue bonds in such a manner and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par, plus accrued interest to date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. Notice of the sale of any revenue bonds shall be published at least one (1) time not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published in Jackson, Mississippi, and having general circulation within the State of Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals as may be directed by the Authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 65-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-17
Status: in_force

Should any school, junior college or institution of higher learning be closed in accordance with the terms of this article, such period of closure shall not be subtracted from the period of time which would otherwise be earned by any superintendent, principal, teacher or other employee employed to render services in and about the conduct and operation of any such school, junior college or institution of higher learning, as to any certification to which such person might otherwise be entitled.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 27-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-67
Status: in_force

If, within three (3) weeks after notice by publication has been made of intention to issue bonds pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-27-65 , ten percent (10%) of the adult taxpayers of the county shall petition against the issuance of said bonds, then the question shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the county, within twenty (20) days after the next meeting of the board of supervisors after the filing of the petition. Should a majority of those voting in such election vote against the bond issue, the bonds shall not be issued, and the order shall be null and void.

When ten percent (10%) of the adult taxpayers of the county shall petition for the issuance of bonds pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-27-65 , then the board of supervisors shall submit the question to the qualified electors of the county within twenty (20) days after the meeting of the board of supervisors at which such petition is filed. Should a majority of those voting in such election vote for the bond issue the bonds shall be issued by the board of supervisors as provided by law, but if a majority of the qualified electors voting at such election should vote against the bond issue, the bonds shall not be issued.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-70 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 9-70
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-70
Status: in_force

(1) The superintendent shall keep and maintain an office as necessary for the discharge of his or her duties and responsibilities in office. The cost of the operation of said office shall be paid out of such funds as may be available to the school board from all sources, except as provided for in the following subsection.

(2) In all school districts in which the superintendent or the administrative superintendent was, prior to July 1, 1986, known and referred to as county superintendent of education under the statutes of the State of Mississippi or as district superintendent of a special municipal separate school district which embraces all of the territory of a county, the board of supervisors shall be responsible for providing an office together with all necessary furniture and water, gas, electricity, and other utilities necessary and required for the operation of his said office, which shall be paid for out of the general fund of the county upon allowance of the board of supervisors.