Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-53 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 33-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-53
Status: in_force

As used in the Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Law:

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

(b) “Director” means the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind;

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

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

(e) “ Individual who is blind ” means any person with insufficient vision to perform vocational or independent living tasks for which sight is essential;

(f) “ Maintenance ” means monetary support provided to an individual for expenses, such as food, shelter, and clothing, that are in excess of the normal expenses of the individual and that are necessitated by the individual's participation in an assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs or the individual's receipt of vocational rehabilitation services under an individualized plan for employment;

(g) “ Physical restoration services ” means (i) corrective surgery or therapeutic treatment that is likely, within a reasonable period of time, to correct or modify substantially a stable or slowly progressive physical or mental impairment that constitutes a substantial impediment to employment; (ii) diagnosis of and treatment for mental or emotional disorders by qualified personnel in accordance with state licensure laws; (iii) dentistry; (iv) nursing services; (v) necessary hospitalization (either inpatient or outpatient care) in connection with surgery or treatment and clinic services; (vi) drugs and supplies; (vii) prosthetic and orthotic devices; (viii) eyeglasses and visual services, including visual training, and the examination and services necessary for the prescription and provision of eyeglasses, contact lenses, microscopic lenses, telescopic lenses, and other special visual aids prescribed by personnel that are qualified in accordance with state licensure laws; (ix) podiatry; (x) physical therapy; (xi) occupational therapy; (xii) speech or hearing therapy; (xiii) mental health services; (xiv) treatment of either acute or chronic medical complications and emergencies that are associated with or arise out of the provision of physical and mental restoration services, or that are inherent in the condition under treatment; (xv) special services for the treatment of individuals with end-stage renal disease, including transplantation, dialysis, artificial kidneys, and supplies; and (xvi) other medical or medically related rehabilitation services;

(h) “ Prosthetic appliance ” means any artificial device necessary to support, to take the place of, a part of the body, or to increase the acuity of a sense organ;

(i) “ Occupational licenses ” means any license, permit or other written authority required by any government unit to be obtained in order to engage in an occupation;

(j) “ Office ” means the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind;

(k) “ Regulations ” means regulations made by the director with the approval of the executive director and the state board, including regulations pertaining to independent living services;

(l) “ Rehabilitation engineering services ” means the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities in functional areas, such as mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and in activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the community;

(m) “ Rehabilitation training ” means all necessary training provided to an individual who is blind to enable him or her to overcome his or her substantial impediment to employment, including, but not limited to, manual, preconditioning, prevocational, vocational, and supplementary training and training provided for the purpose of developing occupational skills and capacities;

(n) “ Supported employment services ” means ongoing support services and other appropriate services needed to support and maintain an individual with a most significant disability in supported employment that are provided by the department (i) for a period of time not to exceed eighteen (18) months, unless under special circumstances the eligible individual and the rehabilitation counselor or coordinator jointly agree to extend the time to achieve the employment outcome identified in the individualized plan for employment; and (ii) following transition, as post-employment services that are unavailable from an extended services provider and that are necessary to maintain or regain the job placement or advance in employment;

(o) “ State board ” means the State Board of Rehabilitation Services;

(p) “ Substantial impediment to employment ” means that a physical or mental impairment (in light of attendant medical, psychological, vocational, educational, communication, and other related factors) hinders an individual from preparing for, entering into, engaging in, or retaining employment consistent with the individual's abilities and capabilities;

(q) “ Vocational rehabilitation ” and “ vocational rehabilitation services ” mean, for an individual who is blind, services available to assist an individual with a disability in preparing for, securing, retaining, or regaining an employment outcome that is consistent with the individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice, including, but not limited to, services in accordance with definitions in the most current amendment of the Rehabilitation Act: (i) assessment for determining eligibility and priority for services by qualified personnel, including, if appropriate, an assessment by personnel skilled in rehabilitation technology; (ii) assessment for determining vocational rehabilitation needs by qualified personnel, including, if appropriate, an assessment by personnel skilled in rehabilitation technology; (iii) vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance, including information and support services to assist an individual in exercising informed choice; (iv) referral and other services necessary to assist applicants and eligible individuals to secure needed services from other agencies, including other components of the statewide workforce investment system and to advise those individuals about client assistance programs; (v) physical and mental restoration services, to the extent that financial support is not readily available from a source other than the State Department of Rehabilitation Services (such as through health insurance or a comparable service or benefit); (vi) vocational and other training services, including personal and vocational adjustment training, books, tools, and other training materials, except that no training or training services in an institution of higher education (universities, colleges, community or junior colleges, vocational schools, technical institutes, or hospital schools of nursing) may be paid for with funds under this law unless maximum efforts have been made by the state unit and the individual to secure grant assistance in whole or in part from other sources to pay for that training; (vii) maintenance; (viii) transportation in connection with the rendering of any vocational rehabilitation service; (ix) vocational rehabilitation services to family members of an applicant or eligible individual if necessary to enable the applicant or eligible individual to achieve an employment outcome; (x) interpreter services, including sign language and oral interpreter services, for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and tactile interpreting services for individuals who are deaf-blind provided by qualified personnel; (xi) reader services, rehabilitation teaching services, and orientation and mobility services for individuals who are blind; (xii) job-related services, including job search and placement assistance, job retention services, follow-up services, and follow-along services; (xiii) supported employment services; (xiv) personal assistance services; (xv) post-employment services; (xvi) occupational licenses, tools, equipment, initial stocks, and supplies; (xvii) rehabilitation technology including vehicular modification, telecommunications, sensory, and other technological aids and devices; (xviii) transition services; (xix) technical assistance and other consultation services to conduct market analyses, develop business plans, and otherwise provide resources, to the extent those resources are authorized to be provided through the statewide workforce investment system, to eligible individuals who are pursuing self-employment or telecommuting or establishing a small business operation as an employment outcome; (xx) other goods and services determined necessary for the individual with a disability to achieve an employment outcome.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 27-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-45
Status: in_force

When the board of trustees of any such agricultural high school shall desire to sell any such property as is provided for in Section 37-27-43 , it shall pass a resolution declaring that such property is not needed nor used for school purposes and shall direct, in such resolution, that same be advertised for sale upon competitive bids in the manner provided for in Section 37-27-47 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-4 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 9-4
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-4
Status: in_force

The compensation of any attorney employed by a school board who is a member of the Legislature shall be paid only from funds available to the school district that are not appropriated by the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 144-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-11
Status: in_force

(1) Students in the program may apply to any medical or osteopathic school that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

(2) Students in the program seeking admission to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine shall be eligible for a special admissions process pursuant to criteria established by the School of Medicine Admissions Committee which will include special consideration of the attributes of participation in the program.

(3) In carrying out the admissions process developed for the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program participants under this section, the goal is for the program to work with the School of Medicine to enhance the capability of participants to successfully enter and complete medical school, train in family medicine or other generalist primary care specialty and enter practice in rural or underserved areas in Mississippi. To the extent feasible, the early admissions process should be completed before November 1 of the year preceding a student's admission to medical school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-437 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-437
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-437
Status: in_force

After the budget shall have been prepared as is provided for in Section 37-29-415 , the board of trustees of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District shall certify the same in writing to the boards of supervisors of the several counties and shall certify to the said boards of supervisors the number of mills of ad valorem taxation required to make provisions for the revenue required in said budget. It shall thereupon become the duty of the board of supervisors of each of the four counties to levy the taxes in the number of mills specified by the board of trustees. The tax levy for maintenance and operation of the district shall not exceed four mills nor shall the levy for capital outlay, including purchase of lands, construction and equipment of buildings and structures, making of major repairs, and for the retirement of bonds, exceed three mills.

Promptly upon having certified the requirements of the district to the several boards of supervisors the board of trustees of the district shall cause publication of notice to be made in each county in a newspaper published or having general circulation therein giving notice of the filing of the request for the levy aforesaid. Said notice shall be published at least one time and within ten days after the certification of the request for such levy to the boards of supervisors. The said notice shall provide that the said levy requested will be made in each county unless a petition signed by twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the district shall be filed with the secretary of the board of trustees of the said district within thirty (30) days from the date of the first publication protesting against the said levy and demanding an election thereon. In the event of the filing of such a petition, it shall be the duty of the secretary forthwith to call a special meeting of the board of trustees of the district setting forth the fact of the filing of such petition in the notice of the call and the said board shall promptly meet and consider the said petition. If it shall find that the same does in fact protest against the said levies and is in fact signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the said district, it shall then so certify to the boards of supervisors of the several counties. As early as possible but not later than fifteen (15) days after the receipt of such notice, it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of each county to enter an order directing the election commissioners of the county to proceed to hold an election in all of the voting precincts of said county to determine whether or not the levy shall be made as requested by the board of trustees of the district.

The said election shall be held within thirty (30) days from the date of the said order of the board of supervisors requesting that the same be called and notice thereof shall be published once a week for three (3) weeks during the period between the order directing the election commissioners to hold the same and the actual date thereof.

The election shall be held in accordance with the laws governing general elections as nearly as is practicable and the election commissioners of each county shall, promptly after the holding of said election, certify to the secretary of the board of trustees of the district the result thereof in each county, certifying also the number of qualified electors in each county on the date of the holding of said election. The board of trustees of the district shall promptly meet and consider the several certificates of the election commissioners and shall determine the result of said election in the district. If it shall be determined that a majority of the qualified electors of the district have voted against the levy requested, the same shall not be made but the board of supervisors in each county shall continue in effect the levy made for the preceding fiscal year. If it be determined that a majority of the qualified electors has not voted against said levy, it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of each county to make the levy as requested. In any event, the levy for full faith and credit bonds outstanding as obligations of the county before May 10, 1962, for capital outlays and improvements for Perkinston Junior College and/or bonds subsequently issued shall be continued in effect in accordance with the obligations undertaken in the issuance of said bonds. All of such bond levies, however, as are reasonably required to meet the annual maturities and interest on outstanding bonds shall be considered a part of the three mill maximum above provided for capital outlays, buildings, purchase of land and other similar items hereinbefore mentioned.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 141-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as “The University Research Center Act of 1988.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-305 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 29-305
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-305
Status: in_force

(1) In funding community and junior colleges, the actual amount of the annual appropriation of the community and junior colleges general support bill shall be computed as follows:

(a) Calculate the state funding per student for Grades K-12 by dividing the total revenue from state funds by the ADA. Both the funding and ADA figures shall be provided by the State Department of Education.

(b) Calculate the state funding per FTE for regional universities by dividing the state funds for E & G operations by FTE enrollment. Both funding and enrollment figures shall come from the SREB State Data Exchange.

(c) Mid-level funding for community and junior colleges shall be the average as computed from paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection multiplied by the total community and junior college FTEs. This amount shall be appropriated annually by the Legislature to the community and junior colleges.

(2) Data used in the calculation of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (1) shall be the most current available data utilizing the same fiscal year for all entities involved. Information from the SREB State Data Exchange shall be used to ensure common denominators in the calculation of FTE enrollment and to ensure consistent reporting of financial data.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-183-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 183-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-183-9
Status: in_force

There is created a special fund in the State Treasury, to be known as the “Postsecondary Education COVID-19 Mitigation Relief Grant Fund,” from which the grants authorized by this chapter shall be disbursed by the department. All monies shall be disbursed from the fund in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 17-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-17
Status: in_force

(1) There is created the Mississippi Achievement School District for the purpose of transforming persistently failing public schools and districts throughout the state into quality educational institutions. The Mississippi Achievement School District shall be a statewide school district, separate and distinct from all other school districts but not confined to any specified geographic boundaries, and may be comprised of any public schools or school districts in the state which, during two (2) consecutive school years, are designated an “F” school or district by the State Board of Education under the accountability rating system or which have been persistently failing and chronically underperforming.

(2) The Mississippi Achievement School District shall be governed by the State Board of Education.

(3) The State Board of Education shall obtain suitable office space to serve as the administrative office of the school district.

(4) The State Board of Education shall select an individual to serve as superintendent of the Mississippi Achievement School District. The superintendent must be deemed by the board to be highly qualified with a demonstrable track record for producing results in a context relevant to that of Mississippi Achievement School District schools. The superintendent of the Mississippi Achievement School District shall exercise powers and duties that would afford significant autonomy but are bound by the governance of the State Board of Education.

(5)(a) Each public school or district in the state which, during each of two (2) consecutive school years or during two (2) of three (3) consecutive school years, receives an “F” designation by the State Board of Education under the accountability rating system or has been persistently failing as defined by the State Board of Education may be absorbed into and become a part of the Mississippi Achievement School District. All eligible public schools and districts shall be prioritized by the Mississippi Achievement School District according to criteria set by the Mississippi Achievement School District and publicized prior to the annual release of accountability rating data. The Mississippi Achievement School District shall takeover only the number of schools and districts for which it has the capacity to serve. The transfer of the school's/district's governance from the local school district to the Mississippi Achievement School District shall take effect upon the approval of the State Board of Education unless, in the sole determination of the Mississippi Achievement School District, the transition may be more smoothly accomplished through a gradual transfer of control. If the Mississippi Achievement School District elects not to assume complete control of a school or district immediately after that school receives an “F” designation during each of two (2) consecutive school years or during two (2) of the three (3) consecutive school years, the State Board of Education shall prescribe the process and timetable by which the school or district shall be absorbed; however, in no event may the transfer of the school or district to the Mississippi Achievement School District be completed later than the beginning of the school year next succeeding the year during which the school or district receives the “F” designation. School districts that are eligible to be absorbed by the Achievement School District, but are not absorbed due to the capacity of the Achievement School District, shall develop and implement a district improvement plan with prescriptive guidance and support from the Mississippi Department of Education, with the goal of helping the district improve student achievement. Failure of the school board, superintendent and school district staff to implement the plan with fidelity and participate in the activities provided as support by the department shall result in the school district retaining its eligibility for the Mississippi Achievement School District.

(b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations governing the operation of the Mississippi Achievement School District.

(c) Designations assigned to schools or districts under the accountability rating system by the State Board of Education before the 2015-2016 school year may not be considered in determining whether a particular school or district is subject to being absorbed by the Mississippi Achievement School District. During the 2017-2018 school year, any school or district receiving an “F” designation after also being designated an “F” school or district in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years may be absorbed immediately by the Mississippi Achievement School District, upon approval of the State Board of Education.

(d) The school district from which an “F” school or district is being absorbed must cooperate fully with the Mississippi Achievement School District and the State Board of Education in order to provide as smooth a transition as possible in the school's/district's governance and operations for the students enrolled in the school or district. Upon completion of the transfer of a school or district to the Mississippi Achievement School District, the school or district shall be governed by the rules, regulations, policies and procedures established by the State Board of Education specifically for the Mississippi Achievement School District, and the school or district shall no longer be under the purview of the school board of the local school district. In the event of the transfer of governance and operations of a school district, the State Board of Education shall abolish the district as prescribed in Section 37-17-13 .

(e) Upon the transfer of the school or school district to the Mississippi Achievement School District, the individual appointed by the State Board of Education to serve as superintendent for the Mississippi Achievement School District shall be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the school or school district, including the following activities: (i) approving or denying all financial obligations of the school or school district; (ii) approving or denying the employment, termination, nonrenewal and reassignment of all licensed and nonlicensed personnel; (iii) approving or denying contractual agreements and purchase orders; (iv) approving or denying all claim dockets and the issuance of checks; (v) supervising the day-to-day activities of the school or school district's staff in a manner which in the determination of the Mississippi Achievement School District will best suit the needs of the school or school district; (vi) approving or denying all athletic, band and other extracurricular activities and any matters related to those activities; (vii) honoring any reasonable financial commitment of the district being absorbed; and (viii) reporting periodically to the State Board of Education on the progress or lack of progress being made in the school or school district to improve the school or school district's impairments.

(f) Upon attaining and maintaining a school or district accountability rating of “C” or better under the State Department of Education's accountability rating system for five (5) consecutive years, the State Board of Education may decide to revert the absorbed school or district back to local governance, provided the school or school(s) in question are not conversion charter schools. “Local governance” may include a traditional school board model of governance or other new form of governance such as mayoral control, or other type of governance. The State Board of Education shall determine the best form of local governance and school board composition after soliciting the input of local citizens and shall outline a process for establishing the type of governance selected. The manner and timeline for reverting a school or district back to local control shall be at the discretion of the State School Board, but in no case shall it exceed five (5) years.

(6) The Superintendent of the Mississippi Achievement School District shall hire those persons to be employed as principals, teachers and noninstructional personnel in schools or districts absorbed into the Mississippi Achievement School District. Only highly qualified individuals having a demonstrable record of success may be selected by the superintendent for such positions in the Mississippi Achievement School District. The superintendent may choose to continue the employment of any person employed in an “F” rated school when the school or district is absorbed into the Mississippi Achievement School District; alternatively, the superintendent may elect not to offer continued employment to a person formerly employed at a school or district that is absorbed into the Mississippi Achievement School District. Any persons employed by the Mississippi Achievement School District shall not be subject to Sections 37-9-101 through 37-9-113 .

(7)(a) The Mississippi Achievement School District may use a school building and all facilities and property that is a part of a school and recognized as part of the facilities or assets of the school before it is absorbed into the Mississippi Achievement School District. In addition, the Mississippi Achievement School District shall have access to those additional facilities that typically were available to that school or district, its students, faculty and staff before its absorption by the Mississippi Achievement School District. Use of facilities by a school or district in the Mississippi Achievement School District must be unrestricted and free of charge. However, the Mississippi Achievement School District shall be responsible for providing routine maintenance and repairs necessary to maintain the facilities in as good a condition as when the right of use was acquired by the Mississippi Achievement School District. The Mississippi Achievement School District shall be responsible for paying all utilities at the facilities used for the absorbed school. Any fixtures, improvements and tangible assets added to a school building or facility by the Mississippi Achievement School District must remain at the school or district building or facility if the school or district is returned to local governance.

(b) The State Board of Education shall include in the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (5) of this section specific provisions addressing the rights and responsibilities of the Mississippi Achievement School District relating to the real and personal property of a school or district that is absorbed into the Mississippi Achievement School District.

(8)(a) The Mississippi Achievement School District shall certify annually to the State Board of Education in which a Mississippi Achievement School District school or district is located the number of students residing in the school district which are enrolled in that school or district.

(b) Whenever an increase in funding is requested by the school board for the support of schools within a particular school district absorbed into the Mississippi Achievement School District, the State Board of Education and the superintendent for the Mississippi Achievement School District shall hold a public meeting in the local municipality having jurisdiction of the absorbed school district to allow input of local residents on the matter, and subsequent to the conclusion of such meeting, the board of the Mississippi Achievement School District shall submit its request for ad valorem increase in dollars to the local governing authority having jurisdiction over the absorbed school district for approval of the request for increase in ad valorem tax effort. In a district in which a school or schools but not the entire district is absorbed into the Mississippi Achievement School District, the local school district shall pay directly to the Mississippi Achievement School District an amount for each student enrolled in that school equal to the ad valorem tax receipts and in-lieu payments received per pupil for the support of the local school district in which the student resides. The pro rata ad valorem receipts and in-lieu receipts to be transferred to the Mississippi Achievement School District shall include all levies for the support of the local school district under Sections 37-57-1 (local contribution to the education funding program) and 37-57-105 (school district operational levy) and may not include any taxes levied for the retirement of the local school district's bonded indebtedness or short-term notes or any taxes levied for the support of vocational-technical education programs, unless the school or schools absorbed include a high school at which vocational-technical education programs are offered. In no event may the payment exceed the pro rata amount of the local ad valorem payment to the education funding program under Section 37-57-1 for the school district in which the student resides. Payments made under this section by a school district to the Mississippi Achievement School District must be made before the expiration of three (3) business days after the funds are distributed to the local school district by the tax collector.

(c) If an entire school district is absorbed into the Mississippi Achievement School District, the tax collector shall pay the amounts as described in paragraph (b) of this subsection, with the exception that all funds should transfer, including taxes levied for the retirement of the local school district's bonded indebtedness or short-term notes and any taxes levied for the support of vocational-technical education programs. The Mississippi Achievement School District shall pay funds raised to retire the district's debts to the appropriate creditors on behalf of the former district.

(9)(a) The State Department of Education shall make payments to the Mississippi Achievement School District for each student in average daily membership at a Mississippi Achievement School District school equal to the state share of the education funding program payments for each student in average daily attendance at the local school district or former local school district in which that school is located. In calculating the local contribution for purposes of determining the state share of the education funding program payments, the department shall deduct the pro rata local contribution of the school district or former school district in which the student resides, to be determined as provided in Section 37-151-7(2)(a) .

(b) Payments made pursuant to this subsection by the State Department of Education must be made at the same time and in the same manner as education funding program payments are made to all other school districts under Sections 37-151-101 and 37-151-103 . Amounts payable to the Mississippi Achievement School District must be determined by the State Department of Education in the same manner that such amounts are calculated for all other school districts under the education funding program.

(10) The Mississippi Achievement School District shall be considered a local educational agency for the same purposes and to the same extent that all other school districts in the state are deemed local educational agencies under applicable federal laws.

(11) The Mississippi Achievement School District may receive donations or grants from any public or private source, including any federal funding that may be available to the school district or individual schools within the Mississippi Achievement School District.

(12) The Legislature may appropriate sufficient funding to the State Department of Education for the 2017 fiscal year for the specific purpose of funding the start-up, operational and any other required costs of the Mississippi Achievement School District during the 2017-2018 school year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 113-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-27
Status: in_force

In order to provide for a more comprehensive method of improvement, promotion and development of agricultural research at the Delta Branch Experiment Station, the tax collector of each county of the State of Mississippi located in whole or in part in a levee district, shall deduct annually from all state ad valorem taxes collected by him a sum equal to the avails of a levy of one mill on the dollar of the assessed valuation of taxable property within such county upon which state ad valorem taxes are levied and collected, provided that such county in its discretion levies the one-fourth mill provided for in the third paragraph of this section. Said tax collector is hereby authorized and directed to pay same to Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science.

Any funds so paid to said university shall be used for agricultural research at the Delta Branch Experiment Station, with primary attention being given to a cotton research program and for providing needed laboratories and other facilities and equipment for agricultural research.

The board of supervisors of any county coming within the provisions of this section shall be authorized to levy, at the time and in the manner other county tax levies are made, and such levy shall be made as a condition precedent to the operation of this section in such county, an ad valorem tax of one-fourth mill against all of the taxable property of such county. Said ad valorem tax levy shall be collected as other taxes are collected, and shall be paid into a special fund of such county and shall be paid over to the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science and shall be used at the Delta Branch Experiment Station for agricultural research, with primary attention being given to a cotton research program and for providing laboratories and other facilities and equipment for agricultural research. Such tax levy shall be in addition to all other levies now authorized by law, and no limitation or inhibition now in the statute against the levying of such a tax shall be effective against such levy. Such one-fourth mill ad valorem levies shall not be reimbursed under the Mississippi homestead exemption laws.

In the event similar diversions are already made from the avails of the state ad valorem tax levy in such a county, then this section shall be considered as supplemental thereto, and such laws authorizing such diversions shall not apply to the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 109-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-7
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(4) Early college students are not eligible for the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program funding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-55 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 47-55
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-55
Status: in_force

The state treasurer shall keep a record in his office of the issuance of all bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter, and he shall execute a certificate to that effect on the back of each bond, which certificate may be signed by either the original or the facsimile signature of the state treasurer. The state treasurer shall also keep proper records relating to the sale and issuance of bonds under the provisions of this chapter, and the amounts received therefor and paid into the state treasury for the purposes provided in this chapter. He shall also keep a full and complete record of all registered bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 138-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-25
Status: in_force

(1) The commission is authorized to assess and collect fees for the issuance and annual renewal of certificates for management planner, project designer, air monitor, contractor, supervisor, inspector and worker pursuant to Sections 37-138-11 through 37-138-21 in amounts sufficient to fully administer this chapter. The fees assessed pursuant to this section are conditions precedent to the issuance and renewal of the certificates set forth in Sections 37-138-11 through 37-138-21 .

(2) There is hereby established a special revenue fund to be known as the Asbestos Abatement Accreditation and Certification Act Fund (the fund) to be deposited in an approved state depository and expended by appropriation approval by the Legislature for the administration of this chapter as provided by law. The interest obtained from any investment or deposit of monies in the fund shall be deposited by the State Treasurer to such fund. Furthermore, all monies collected as fees for certificates provided by this chapter shall, not later than sixty (60) days next succeeding the month in which collections were made, be paid over to the fund.

(3) If the total of monies deposited into the fund exceeds the appropriation by the Legislature for the administration of this chapter, the monies shall be retained in the depository for the fund to be expended by appropriation approval by the Legislature for the administration of this chapter as provided by law in the next succeeding fiscal year.

(4) The commission shall have authority to promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of and expenditures from the fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-337 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-337
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-337
Status: in_force

(1) The governing authorities of the county, counties or city in which a school district is located and the school board of each school district shall develop a five-year plan to encourage community involvement with the schools in such district.

(2) Districts meeting the highest levels of accreditation standards, as defined by the State Board of Education, shall be exempted from the mandatory provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 106-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-71
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program for the purpose of identifying and recruiting qualified university and college students from the state for schooling in education with a focus on dyslexia therapy.

(2) The receipt of a forgivable loan under the program shall be solely limited to those students who are enrolled in or who have been accepted for enrollment into a master's degree program of study for dyslexia therapy at any public or private institution of higher learning within the State of Mississippi at the time an application for a forgivable loan is filed with the board.

(3) The annual amount of the forgivable loan award shall be equal to the total cost for tuition, materials and fees at the college or university in which the student is enrolled. Awards made to nonresidents of the state shall not include any amount assessed by the college or university for out-of-state tuition.

(4) Upon completion of the master's program and licensure requirements, a forgivable loan recipient who has not been previously licensed by the State Department of Education shall render service in an instructional or clinical capacity as a licensed dyslexia therapist in a public school district in the state or an eligible nonpublic school as defined by Section 37-173-1 and meets the criteria established in Section 37-173-17 , not to exceed five (5) recipients rendering instructional or clinical services in a nonpublic school at any time.

(5) Repayment and conversion terms shall be the same as those outlined in Section 37-106-53 .

(6) The board shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, outlining in detail the number of participants who have received forgivable loans under the program, the record of service provided by those recipients as they transition out of the degree program into the public school districts of this state, and the projection for expanding the program to include more participants annually as determined by the need for such qualified professionals in the public school setting. Additionally, the report shall include a summary of allocations and expenditures for the administration of the program and the total amount of funds issued to recipients of forgivable loans from the inception of the program until such time as the report has been prepared and submitted to the Legislature.

(7) The Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program shall be administered in the same manner as the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program established under Section 37-106-55 and shall be incorporated into the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program for all purposes.

(8) Funding for the establishment and continued operation of the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program shall be administered by the board through a special fund established within the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program. The board may accept and receive monetary gifts and donations from any source, public or private, which such funds shall be deposited in the special fund for the benefit of the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program with the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program.

(9) No more than twenty (20) students per cohort shall be selected annually to be admitted into the program for receipt of forgivable loans beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year. However, forgivable loans awarded under the program shall be provided only to students who have been accepted into a Dyslexia Therapy Master's Degree Cohort Program approved by the State Department of Education that provides instructional training as required under Chapter 173, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for dyslexia therapy in preparation of those cohort students for AA licensure by the department.

(10) As part of the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program, the State Department of Education is authorized and directed, subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, to provide financial assistance for the recruitment, placement and employment of qualified licensed dyslexia therapy professionals identified under Section 37-173-15(1)(b), Mississippi Code of 1972 , in order to provide dyslexia screening, evaluation and therapy services to the students attending school in the school district. Said funding may be used to purchase curriculum materials and supplies for dyslexia therapy services. Said funding shall be provided to public school districts upon application therefor regardless of the financial need of the school district in an amount not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) annually, and subject to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature. In order to qualify for such funds, the school district shall meet the following criteria:

(a) Use licensed dyslexia therapists or individuals participating in an approved training program resulting in State Department of Education licensure to provide dyslexia therapy to students diagnosed with dyslexia;

(b) Use daily Orton-Gillingham-based therapy;

(c) Have school leadership trained in dyslexia; and

(d) Have a current School Program Verification and Assurances form on file with the State Department of Education, Office of Curriculum and Instruction. Procedures and standards for the application for such funds shall be established by regulations developed and issued by the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 155-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-1
Status: in_force

This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-165 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-165
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-165
Status: in_force

The State Department of Rehabilitation Services, through the Office of Disability Determination Services, shall cooperate pursuant to agreements with the federal Social Security Administration or its successor in carrying out responsibilities relating to the processing and rendering decisions on all Mississippi applications for Social Security Disability Benefits and Supplemental Security Income pursuant to Title II and Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act, as amended, and is authorized to adopt such methods of administration as are found by the federal government to be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of such disability programs and to comply with such conditions and federal regulations as may be necessary to secure the full benefits of such federal statutes and appropriations. In complying with such federal administrative standards, the office shall assume the following responsibilities:

(a) Provide management needed to ensure that the office carries out the disability determination function under the various provisions of the federal Social Security Act so that disability determinations are made accurately and promptly;

(b) Provide an organizational structure, adequate facilities, qualified personnel, medical consultant services and quality assurances;

(c) Furnish reports and records relating to the administration of the disability program;

(d) Submit budgets;

(e) Cooperate with audits;

(f) Ensure that all applicants for and recipients of disability benefits are treated equally;

(g) Account for property used for disability program purposes;

(h) Provide for the advancement of travel expense funds and other services as deemed necessary;

(i) Take part in research and demonstration projects;

(j) Coordinate with other state agencies;

(k) Protect records and confidential information created by the office in performing the disability determination function;

(l) Maintain liaison with the medical profession and organizations that may facilitate performing the disability determination function; and

(m) Comply with other provisions of the federal law and regulations in performing the disability determination function in order to promote effective and uniform administration.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-232 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 29-232
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-232
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section:

(a) “ Health care professional/vocational technical academic program ” means an academic program in medicine, nursing, dentistry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social services, nutrition services, speech therapy, or other allied-health professional whose purpose is to prepare professionals to render patient care services.

(b) “ Health care professional/vocational technical student ” means a student enrolled in a health care professional/vocational technical academic program.

(2) The dean or director of the health care professional/vocational technical academic program is authorized to ensure that criminal history record checks and fingerprinting are obtained on their students before the students begin any clinical rotation in a licensed health care entity and that the criminal history record check information and registry checks are on file at the academic institution. In order to determine the student's suitability for the clinical rotation, the student shall be fingerprinted. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the fingerprints shall be forwarded by the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Health, or any other legally authorized entity to the FBI for a national criminal history record check. The fee for the fingerprinting and criminal history record check shall be paid by the applicant, not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00); however, the academic institution in which the student is enrolled, in its discretion, may elect to pay the fee for the fingerprinting and criminal history record check on behalf of any applicant. Under no circumstances shall the academic institution representative or any individual other than the subject of the criminal history record checks disseminate information received through any such checks except insofar as required to fulfill the purposes of this section.

(3) If the fingerprinting or criminal history record checks disclose a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23(h) , child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust or aggravated assault, or felonious abuse and/or battery of a vulnerable adult that has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the student shall not be eligible to be admitted to the health care professional/vocational technical academic program of study. Any preadmission agreement executed by the health care professional/vocational technical academic program shall be voidable if the student receives a disqualifying criminal history record check. However, the administration of the health care professional/vocational technical academic program may, in its discretion, allow any applicant aggrieved by the admissions decision under this section to appear before an appeals committee or before a hearing officer designated for that purpose, to show mitigating circumstances that may exist and allow the student to be admitted to or continue in the program of study. The health care professional/vocational technical academic program may grant waivers for those mitigating circumstances, which shall include, but not be limited to: (a) age at which the crime was committed; (b) circumstances surrounding the crime; (c) length of time since the conviction and criminal history since the conviction; (d) work history; (e) current employment and character references; (f) other evidence demonstrating the ability of the student to perform the clinical responsibilities competently and that the student does not pose a threat to the health or safety of patients in the licensed health care entities in which they will be conducting clinical experiences. The health care professional/vocational technical academic program shall provide assurance to the licensed health care entity in which the clinical rotation is planned that the results of a health care professional/vocational technical student's criminal history record check would not prohibit the student from being able to conduct his or her clinical activities in the facility, institution, or organization. The criminal history record check shall be valid for the course of academic study, provided that annual disclosure statements are provided to the health care professional/vocational technical academic program regarding any criminal activity that may have occurred during the student's tenure with the health care professional/vocational technical academic program. The criminal history record check may be repeated at the discretion of the health care professional/vocational technical academic program based on information obtained during the annual disclosure statements. In extenuating circumstances, if a criminal history record check is initiated and the results are not available at the time the clinical rotation begins, the academic institution in which the student is enrolled, at its discretion, may require a signed affidavit from the student assuring compliance with this section. The affidavit will be considered void within sixty (60) days of its signature.

(4) Criminal history record checks that are done as part of the requirements for participation in the health care professional/vocational technical academic program may not be used for any other purpose than those activities associated with their program of study. Students who may be employed as health care professionals outside of their program of study may be required to obtain additional criminal history record checks as part of their employment agreement.

(5) No health care professional/vocational technical academic program or academic program employee shall be held liable in any admissions discrimination suit in which an allegation of discrimination is made regarding an admissions decision authorized under this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 27-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-1
Status: in_force

The county board of education in each county in the state is hereby authorized and empowered to establish not more than two agricultural high schools in the county, and determine their location, in which instruction shall be given in high school branches, theoretical and practical agriculture, domestic science, and in such other branches as the board may hereinafter provide for and make a part of the curriculum, subject to review and correction by the state board of education. If only one school be established at first, the county board of education shall have power at any subsequent time to establish an additional school whenever the necessity for the same shall arise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-317 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 101-317
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-317
Status: in_force

The State Treasurer is hereby authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Fiscal Management Board the necessity for warrants, and the board is hereby authorized and directed to issue such warrants payable out of any funds authorized by Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 for such purpose, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of and interest on all bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 ; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-161 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-161
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-161
Status: in_force

Sections 37-29-161 through 37-29-173 may be cited as the “Mississippi Junior College Vocational and Technical Training Law of 1964.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 101-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-43
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 37-101-44 , and subject to the provisions of Section 37-101-42 , before entering into or awarding any such lease contract under the provisions of Section 37-101-41 , the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall cause the interested state-supported institution upon which a facility is proposed to be constructed or renovated to select and submit three (3) architects to the board. Thereupon, the board shall approve and employ an architect, who shall be paid by the interested institution from any funds available to the interested institution. The architect, under the direction of the interested institution, shall prepare complete plans and specifications for the facility or facilities desired to be constructed or renovated on the leased property.

Upon completion of the plans and specifications and the approval thereof by the board, and before entering into any lease contract, the board shall cause to be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks and not less than twenty-one (21) days in at least one (1) newspaper having a general circulation in the county in which the interested institution is located and in one (1) newspaper with a general statewide circulation, a notice inviting bids or proposals for the leasing, construction or renovation, including the furnishing, maintaining and equipping, if applicable, and leasing back, if applicable, of the land and constructed or renovated facility, including any applicable furnishings or equipment, of the facility to be constructed or renovated in accordance with the plans and specifications. The notice shall distinctly state the thing to be done, and invite sealed proposals, to be filed with the board, to do the thing to be done. The notice shall contain the following specific provisions, together with such others as the board in its discretion deems appropriate, to wit: bids shall be accompanied by a bid security evidenced by a certified or cashier's check or bid-bond payable to the board in a sum of not less than five percent (5%) of the gross construction cost of the facility to be constructed as estimated by the board and the bids shall contain proof satisfactory to the board of interim and permanent financing. The board shall state in the notice when construction shall commence. The bid shall contain the proposed contractor's certificate of responsibility number and bidder's license. In all cases, before the notice shall be published, the plans and specifications shall be filed with the board and also in the office of the president of the interested institution, there to remain.

The board shall award the lease contract to the lowest and best bidder, who will comply with the terms imposed by the contract documents. At the time of the awarding of the lease contract the successful bidder shall enter into bond with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the board, in such penalty as may be fixed by the board, but in no case to be less than the estimated gross construction or renovation cost of the facility to be constructed or renovated as estimated by the board, conditioned for the prompt, proper and efficient performance of the contract. The bond shall be made by an authorized corporate surety bonding company. The bid security herein provided for shall be forfeited if the successful bidder fails to enter into lease contract and commence construction or renovation within the time limitation set forth in the notice. At such time, and simultaneously with the signing of the contract, the successful bidder shall deposit a sum of money, in cash or certified or cashier's check, not less than the bid security previously deposited as bid security to reimburse the interested institution for all sums expended by it for architectural services and other expenditures of the board and interested institution connected with the bidded lease contract, of which such other anticipated expenditures notice is to be given to bidder in the notice. The bid security posted by an unsuccessful bidder shall be refunded to him.

(b) Under the authority granted under Section 37-101-44 , the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section shall not apply to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning's power to grant to universities the authority to contract with a single entity for privately financed design and construction or renovation, and if applicable, the furnishing, maintaining and equipping of facilities on university campuses, and if applicable, the furnishing, maintenance and equipping of facilities on university campuses.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-99-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 99-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-99-1
Status: in_force

(1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the boards of trustees of the community and junior colleges shall adopt policies requiring the award of educational credits to any student who is enrolled in a public institution of higher learning, community or junior college, and is also a veteran, for courses that are part of the student's military training or service, that meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credit, and that are determined by the academic department or appropriate faculty of the awarding institution to be equivalent in content or experience to courses at that institution. Credits shall be awarded in accordance with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges standards.

(2) Each board shall adopt the necessary rules, regulations and procedures to implement the provisions of this section, effective no later than the 2020-2021 academic year and continuing thereafter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-91 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-91
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-91
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be referred to as the “Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law.”

(2) The following terms as used in this section are defined as follows:

(a) “ Parent ” means the father or mother to whom a child has been born, or the father or mother by whom a child has been legally adopted.

(b) “ Guardian ” means a guardian of the person of a child, other than a parent, who is legally appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(c) “ Custodian ” means any person having the present care or custody of a child, other than a parent or guardian of the child.

(d) “ School day ” means not less than five and one-half (5- 1 / 2 ) and not more than eight (8) hours of actual teaching in which both teachers and pupils are in regular attendance for scheduled schoolwork.

(e) “ School ” means any public school, including a charter school, in this state or any nonpublic school in this state which is in session each school year for at least one hundred eighty (180) school days, except that the “nonpublic” school term shall be the number of days that each school shall require for promotion from grade to grade.

(f) “ Compulsory-school-age child ” means a child who has attained or will attain the age of six (6) years on or before September 1 of the calendar year and who has not attained the age of seventeen (17) years on or before September 1 of the calendar year; and shall include any child who has attained or will attain the age of five (5) years on or before September 1 and has enrolled in a full-day public school kindergarten program.

(g) “ School attendance officer ” means a person employed by the State Department of Education pursuant to Section 37-13-89 .

(h) “ Appropriate school official ” means the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, or, in the case of a nonpublic school, the principal or the headmaster.

(i) “ Nonpublic school ” means an institution for the teaching of children, consisting of a physical plant, whether owned or leased, including a home, instructional staff members and students, and which is in session each school year. This definition shall include, but not be limited to, private, church, parochial and home instruction programs.

(3) A parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child in this state shall cause the child to enroll in and attend a public school or legitimate nonpublic school for the period of time that the child is of compulsory school age, except under the following circumstances:

(a) When a compulsory-school-age child is physically, mentally or emotionally incapable of attending school as determined by the appropriate school official based upon sufficient medical documentation.

(b) When a compulsory-school-age child is enrolled in and pursuing a course of special education, remedial education or education for children with physical or mental disadvantages or disabilities.

(c) When a compulsory-school-age child is being educated in a legitimate home instruction program.

The parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child described in this subsection, or the parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child attending any charter school or nonpublic school, or the appropriate school official for any or all children attending a charter school or nonpublic school shall complete a “certificate of enrollment” in order to facilitate the administration of this section.

The form of the certificate of enrollment shall be prepared by the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement of the State Department of Education and shall be designed to obtain the following information only:

(i) The name, address, telephone number and date of birth of the compulsory-school-age child;

(ii) The name, address and telephone number of the parent, guardian or custodian of the compulsory-school-age child;

(iii) A simple description of the type of education the compulsory-school-age child is receiving and, if the child is enrolled in a nonpublic school, the name and address of the school; and

(iv) The signature of the parent, guardian or custodian of the compulsory-school-age child or, for any or all compulsory-school-age child or children attending a charter school or nonpublic school, the signature of the appropriate school official and the date signed.

The certificate of enrollment shall be returned to the school attendance officer where the child resides on or before September 15 of each year. Any parent, guardian or custodian found by the school attendance officer to be in noncompliance with this section shall comply, after written notice of the noncompliance by the school attendance officer, with this subsection within ten (10) days after the notice or be in violation of this section. However, in the event the child has been enrolled in a public school within fifteen (15) calendar days after the first day of the school year as required in subsection (6), the parent or custodian may, at a later date, enroll the child in a legitimate nonpublic school or legitimate home instruction program and send the certificate of enrollment to the school attendance officer and be in compliance with this subsection.

For the purposes of this subsection, a legitimate nonpublic school or legitimate home instruction program shall be those not operated or instituted for the purpose of avoiding or circumventing the compulsory attendance law.

(4) An “ unlawful absence ” is an absence for an entire school day or during part of a school day by a compulsory-school-age child, which absence is not due to a valid excuse for temporary nonattendance. For purposes of reporting absenteeism under subsection (6) of this section, if a compulsory-school-age child has an absence that is more than thirty-seven percent (37%) of the instructional day, as fixed by the school board for the school at which the compulsory-school-age child is enrolled, the child must be considered absent the entire school day. Days missed from school due to disciplinary suspension shall not be considered an “excused” absence under this section. This subsection shall not apply to children enrolled in a nonpublic school.

Each of the following shall constitute a valid excuse for temporary nonattendance of a compulsory-school-age child enrolled in a noncharter public school, provided satisfactory evidence of the excuse is provided to the superintendent of the school district, or his designee:

(a) An absence is excused when the absence results from the compulsory-school-age child's attendance at an authorized school activity with the prior approval of the superintendent of the school district, or his designee. These activities may include field trips, athletic contests, student conventions, musical festivals and any similar activity.

(b) An absence is excused when the absence results from illness or injury which prevents the compulsory-school-age child from being physically able to attend school.

(c) An absence is excused when isolation of a compulsory-school-age child is ordered by the county health officer, by the State Board of Health or appropriate school official.

(d) An absence is excused when it results from the death or serious illness of a member of the immediate family of a compulsory-school-age child. The immediate family members of a compulsory-school-age child shall include children, spouse, grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, including stepbrothers and stepsisters.

(e) An absence is excused when it results from a medical or dental appointment of a compulsory-school-age child.

(f) An absence is excused when it results from the attendance of a compulsory-school-age child at the proceedings of a court or an administrative tribunal if the child is a party to the action or under subpoena as a witness.

(g) An absence may be excused if the religion to which the compulsory-school-age child or the child's parents adheres, requires or suggests the observance of a religious event. The approval of the absence is within the discretion of the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, but approval should be granted unless the religion's observance is of such duration as to interfere with the education of the child.

(h) An absence may be excused when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, that the purpose of the absence is to take advantage of a valid educational opportunity such as travel, including vacations or other family travel. Approval of the absence must be gained from the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, before the absence, but the approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(i) An absence may be excused when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, that conditions are sufficient to warrant the compulsory-school-age child's nonattendance. However, no absences shall be excused by the school district superintendent, or his designee, when any student suspensions or expulsions circumvent the intent and spirit of the compulsory attendance law.

(j) An absence is excused when it results from the attendance of a compulsory-school-age child participating in official organized events sponsored by the 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA). The excuse for the 4-H or FFA event must be provided in writing to the appropriate school superintendent by the Extension Agent or High School Agricultural Instructor/FFA Advisor.

(k) An absence is excused when it results from the compulsory-school-age child officially being employed to serve as a page at the State Capitol for the Mississippi House of Representatives or Senate.

(5) Any parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child subject to this section who refuses or willfully fails to perform any of the duties imposed upon him or her under this section or who intentionally falsifies any information required to be contained in a certificate of enrollment, shall be guilty of contributing to the neglect of a child and, upon conviction, shall be punished in accordance with Section 97-5-39 .

Upon prosecution of a parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child for violation of this section, the presentation of evidence by the prosecutor that shows that the child has not been enrolled in school within eighteen (18) calendar days after the first day of the school year of the public school which the child is eligible to attend, or that the child has accumulated twelve (12) unlawful absences during the school year at the public school in which the child has been enrolled, shall establish a prima facie case that the child's parent, guardian or custodian is responsible for the absences and has refused or willfully failed to perform the duties imposed upon him or her under this section. However, no proceedings under this section shall be brought against a parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child unless the school attendance officer has contacted promptly the home of the child and has provided written notice to the parent, guardian or custodian of the requirement for the child's enrollment or attendance.

(6) If a compulsory-school-age child has not been enrolled in a school within fifteen (15) calendar days after the first day of the school year of the school which the child is eligible to attend or the child has accumulated five (5) unlawful absences during the school year of the public school in which the child is enrolled, the school district superintendent, or his designee, shall report, within two (2) school days or within five (5) calendar days, whichever is less, the absences to the school attendance officer. The State Department of Education shall prescribe a uniform method for schools to utilize in reporting the unlawful absences to the school attendance officer. The superintendent, or his designee, also shall report any student suspensions or student expulsions to the school attendance officer when they occur.

(7) When a school attendance officer has made all attempts to secure enrollment and/or attendance of a compulsory-school-age child and is unable to effect the enrollment and/or attendance, the attendance officer shall file a petition with the youth court under Section 43-21-451 or shall file a petition in a court of competent jurisdiction as it pertains to parent or child. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and municipal law enforcement officers shall be fully authorized to investigate all cases of nonattendance and unlawful absences by compulsory-school-age children, and shall be authorized to file a petition with the youth court under Section 43-21-451 or file a petition or information in the court of competent jurisdiction as it pertains to parent or child for violation of this section. The youth court shall expedite a hearing to make an appropriate adjudication and a disposition to ensure compliance with the Compulsory School Attendance Law, and may order the child to enroll or re-enroll in school. The superintendent of the school district to which the child is ordered may assign, in his discretion, the child to the alternative school program of the school established pursuant to Section 37-13-92 .

(8) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations for the purpose of reprimanding any school superintendents who fail to timely report unexcused absences under the provisions of this section.

(9) Notwithstanding any provision or implication herein to the contrary, it is not the intention of this section to impair the primary right and the obligation of the parent or parents, or person or persons in loco parentis to a child, to choose the proper education and training for such child, and nothing in this section shall ever be construed to grant, by implication or otherwise, to the State of Mississippi, any of its officers, agencies or subdivisions any right or authority to control, manage, supervise or make any suggestion as to the control, management or supervision of any private or parochial school or institution for the education or training of children, of any kind whatsoever that is not a public school according to the laws of this state; and this section shall never be construed so as to grant, by implication or otherwise, any right or authority to any state agency or other entity to control, manage, supervise, provide for or affect the operation, management, program, curriculum, admissions policy or discipline of any such school or home instruction program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 121-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-1
Status: in_force

The Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi, created by act approved February 28, 1878, shall continue as a body politic and corporate, and shall henceforth be known as “Alcorn State University,” without interference with the rights, powers and prerogatives of said college which continue in all respects. Whenever the name “Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College” appears, the same is construed to denote “Alcorn State University.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-555 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-555
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-555
Status: in_force

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

The president shall have the authority, subject to the provisions of Sections 37-29-551 through 37-29-569 and the approval of the trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules, and establish and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of teachers and students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 101-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-65
Status: in_force

All bonds issued by an educational building corporation may be executed and delivered at any time and from time to time, may be in such form and denominations, may be of such tenor, may be payable in such installments and at such time or times not exceeding thirty (30) years from their date, may be payable at such place or places, may bear interest at such rate or rates payable at such place or places and evidenced in such manner, and may contain such provisions not inconsistent herewith, all as may be provided by resolution of its board of directors. The bonds issued by any such corporation shall be signed by the chairman of its board of directors or other chief executive officer and attested by its secretary, and the seal of such corporation shall be affixed thereto. Any such bonds may be sold at public or private sale in such manner and from time to time as may be determined by the board of directors to be most advantageous, and the corporation may pay all expenses, premiums and commissions which its board of directors may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance thereof. All such bonds shall be construed to be negotiable instruments, despite the fact that they are payable solely from a specified source.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 35-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-3
Status: in_force

(1) The board of trustees of any school district, including any community or junior college, may establish and maintain classes for adults, including general educational development classes, under the regulations authorized in this chapter and pursuant to the standards prescribed in subsection (3). The property and facilities of the public school districts may be used for this purpose where such use does not conflict with uses already established.

(2) The trustees of any school district desiring to establish such program may request the taxing authority of the district to levy additional ad valorem taxes for the support of this program. The board of supervisors, in the case of a county school district, a special municipal separate school district, or a community or junior college district, and the governing authority of any municipality, in the case of a municipal separate school district, is authorized, in its discretion, to levy a tax not exceeding one (1) mill upon all the taxable property of the district for the support of this program. The tax shall be in addition to all other taxes authorized by law to be levied. In addition to the funds realized from any such levy, the board of trustees of any school district is authorized to use any surplus funds that it may have or that may be made available to it from local sources to supplement this program.

(3)(a) Any student participating in an approved High School Equivalency Diploma Option program administered by a local school district or a local school district with an approved contractual agreement with a community or junior college or other local entity shall not be considered a dropout. Students in such a program administered by a local school district shall be considered as enrolled within the school district of origin for the purpose of enrollment for total funding formula funds only. Such students shall not be considered as enrolled in the regular school program for academic or programmatic purposes.

(b) Students participating in an approved High School Equivalency Diploma Option program shall have an individual career plan developed at the time of placement to ensure that the student's academic and job skill needs will be met. The Individual Career Plan will address, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) Academic and instructional needs of the student;

(ii) Job readiness needs of the student; and

(iii) Work experience program options available for the student.

(c) Students participating in an approved High School Equivalency Diploma Option program may participate in existing job and skills development programs or in similar programs developed in conjunction with the High School Equivalency Diploma Option program and the vocational director.

(d) High School Equivalency Diploma Option programs may be operated by local school districts or may be operated by two (2) or more adjacent school districts, pursuant to a contract approved by the State Board of Education. When two (2) or more school districts contract to operate a High School Equivalency Diploma Option program, the school board of a district designated to be the lead district shall serve as the governing board of the High School Equivalency Diploma Option program. Transportation for students placed in the High School Equivalency Diploma Option program shall be the responsibility of the school district of origin. The expense of establishing, maintaining and operating such High School Equivalency Diploma Option programs may be paid from funds made available to the school district through contributions, total funding formula funds or from local district maintenance funds.

(e) The State Department of Education will develop procedures and criteria for placement of a student in the High School Equivalency Diploma Option programs. Students placed in High School Equivalency Diploma Option programs shall have parental approval for such placement and must meet the following criteria:

(i) The student must be at least sixteen (16) years of age;

(ii) The student must be at least one (1) full grade level behind his or her ninth grade cohort or must have acquired less than four (4) Carnegie units;

(iii) The student must have taken every opportunity to continue to participate in coursework leading to a diploma; and

(iv) The student must be certified to be eligible to participate in the GED course by the school district superintendent, based on the developed criteria.

(f) Students participating in an approved High School Equivalency Diploma Option program, who are enrolled in subject area courses through January 31 in a school with a traditional class schedule or who are enrolled in subject area courses through October 31 or through March 31 in a school on a block schedule, shall be required to take the end-of-course subject area tests for those courses in which they are enrolled.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6.1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 17-6.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-6.1
Status: in_force

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

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

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

(4) A declaration of a state of emergency shall not be required by the Governor for the two (2) districts to transition from the Mississippi Achievement School District placement into a District of Transformation; however, the two (2) districts shall be required to comply with any and all obligations and laws as required by other Districts of Transformation and the State Board of Education shall have all the authorities granted to it in Sections 37-17-6 and 37-17-13 , including the assignment of an interim superintendent to the Districts of Transformation, or in its discretion, contracting with an appropriate private entity with experience in the academic, finance and other operational functions of schools and school districts, who will be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the school district in accordance with Section 37-17-6(15) , and the determination of when a District of Transformation is ready to be reconstituted, reorganized, and returned to local control.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-75 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 151-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-75
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Community College Board is designated as the primary support agency to the career centers and district councils. The state board may exercise the following powers:

(a) To provide the career centers the assistance necessary to accomplish the purposes of Sections 37-151-63 through 37-151-75 ;

(b) To provide the career centers consistent standards and benchmarks to guide development of the local workforce development system and to provide a means by which the outcomes of local services can be measured;

(c) To develop the staff capacity to provide, broker or contract for the provision of technical assistance to the career centers, including, but not limited to:

(i) Training local staff in methods of recruiting, assessment and career counseling;

(ii) Establishing rigorous and comprehensive local pre-employment training programs;

(iii) Developing local institutional capacity to deliver Total Quality Management training;

(iv) Developing local institutional capacity to transfer new technologists into the marketplace;

(v) Expanding the Skills Enhancement Program and improving the quality of adult literacy programs; and

(vi) Developing data for strategic planning;

(d) To collaborate with the Department of Economic and Community Development and other economic development organizations to increase the community college systems' economic development potential;

(e) To administer presented and approved certification programs by the community colleges for tax credits and partnership funding for corporate training;

(f) To create and maintain an evaluation team that examines which kinds of curricula and programs and what forms of quality control of training are most productive so that the knowledge developed at one (1) institution of education can be transferred to others;

(g) To develop internal capacity to provide services and to contract for services from universities and other providers directly to local institutions;

(h) To develop and administer an incentive certification program; and

(i) To develop and hire staff and purchase equipment necessary to accomplish the goals set forth in this section. 1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 31-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-65
Status: in_force

The funds derived from any sources for any trade school, such as the Mississippi School for the Deaf, Mississippi School for the Blind, the Oakley Youth Development Center, or Parchman Vocational School or other agencies or institutions receiving funds for the purposes of this chapter, which are not operated in connection with any public school, agricultural high school or community/junior college, or by virtue of any tuition, registration fees, or payment for services rendered or commodities produced, shall be the property of the State Board of Education. In the event any public school, agricultural high school or community/junior college establishes any trade school, classes or courses under Section 37-31-61 , such funds shall be the property of such public school, agricultural high school or community/junior college, to be expended by the trustees thereof, and shall be expended solely for the expense of operating and conducting the trade school, classes or courses in connection with such public school, agricultural high school or community/junior college. None of such funds shall be commingled with the funds of any other of such schools, and none of such funds shall be commingled with any of the other funds of any of the public schools, agricultural high schools or community/junior colleges. All of such funds so created shall be and are hereby declared to be public funds, as defined by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-205 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 31-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-205
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education shall have the authority to:

(a) Expend funds received either by appropriation or directly from federal or private sources;

(b) Channel funds to secondary schools, community and junior colleges and regional vocational-technical facilities according to priorities set by the board;

(c) Allocate funds on an annual budgetary basis;

(d) Set standards for and approve all vocational and technical education programs in the public school system and community and junior colleges or other agencies or institutions which receive state funds and federal funds for such purposes, including, but not limited to, the following vocational and technical education programs: agriculture, trade and industry, occupational home economics, consumer and homemaking education, distributive education, business and office, health, industrial arts, guidance services, technical education, cooperative education, and all other specialized training not requiring a bachelor's degree, with the exception of programs of nursing education regulated under the provisions of Section 37-129-1 . The State Board of Education shall authorize local school boards, within such school board's discretion, to offer distributive education as a one-hour or two-hour block course. There shall be no reduction of payments from state funding for distributive education due to the selection of either the one-hour or two-hour course offering;

(e) Set and publish licensure standards for vocational and technical education personnel. The State Board of Education shall recognize a vocational and technical education teacher's work when school is not in session which is in the teacher's particular field of instruction as a means for the teacher to fulfill the requirements for renewal of the teacher's license. The board shall establish, by rules and regulations, the documentation of such work which must be submitted to the board and the number of actual working hours required to fulfill renewal requirements. If a vocational and technical education teacher who does not have a bachelor's degree takes classes in fulfillment of licensure renewal requirements, such classes must be in furtherance of a bachelor's degree;

(f) Require data and information on program performance from those programs receiving state funds;

(g) Expend funds to expand career information;

(h) Supervise and maintain the Division of Vocational and Technical Education and to utilize, to the greatest extent possible, the division as the administrative unit of the board responsible for coordinating programs and services with local institutions;

(i) Utilize appropriate staff of the State Department of Education to perform services for the vocational student organizations, including, but not limited to, procurement, accounting services, tax services and banking services. The department may also procure and pay for annual audits of the vocational student organizations using vocational funds or other available funds of the State Department of Education. It is the intent of this provision that any related costs be paid with vocational funds appropriated by the Legislature;

(j) Promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter in accordance with Section 25-43-1 et seq. ;

(k) Set standards and approve all vocational and technical education equipment and facilities purchased and/or leased with state and federal vocational funds;

(l) Encourage provisions for lifelong learning and changing personal career preferences and advancement of vocational and technical education students through articulated programs between high schools and community and junior colleges;

(m) Encourage the establishment of new linkages with business and industry which will provide for a better understanding of essential labor market concepts;

(n) Periodically review the funding and reporting processes required of local school districts by the board or division with the aim of simplifying or eliminating inefficient practices and procedures;

(o) Assist in the development of high technology programs and resource centers to support current and projected industrial needs;

(p) Assist in the development of a technical assistance program for business and industry which will provide for industrial training and services, including the transfer of information relative to new applications and advancements in technology; and

(q) Enter into contracts and agreements with the Mississippi Community College Board for conditions under which vocational and technical education programs in community and junior colleges shall receive state and federal funds which flow through the State Board of Education for such purposes.

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that no vocational and technical education course or program existing on June 30, 1982, shall be eliminated by the State Board of Education under the authority vested in paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of this section prior to June 30, 1985. It is further the intent of the Legislature that no vocational and technical education teacher or other personnel employed on June 30, 1983, shall be discharged due to licensure standards promulgated by the board under paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of this section, if any such teacher or personnel shall have complied with any newly published licensure standards by June 30, 1985. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to abrogate or affect in any manner the authority of local public school districts or community and junior colleges to eliminate vocational and technical education courses or programs or to discharge any vocational and technical education teacher or other personnel.

(3) The State Board of Education and the Mississippi Community College Board may provide that every vocational and technical education course or program in Mississippi may integrate academic and vocational-technical education through coherent sequences of courses, so that students in such programs achieve both academic and occupational competencies. The boards may expend federal funds available from the 1990 Perkins Act, or other available federal funds, for the alignment of vocational-technical programs with academic programs through the accreditation process and the teacher licensure process.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 106-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-23
Status: in_force

The board shall use the funds available to make possible the implementation of a guaranteed student loan program as provided for by any act of congress.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-163 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 33-163
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-163
Status: in_force

The Office of Disability Determination Services established by Section 37-33-153 shall be administered by a director appointed by the Executive Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services. The director shall devote his full time to the proper administration of the office. In carrying out his duties under this chapter, the director:

(a) Shall enter into agreements on behalf of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services and the State of Mississippi with the federal Social Security Administration or its successor in order to implement the provisions of the federal Social Security Act relating to the determination of disabilities under Title II and Title XVI, and shall enter into contracts necessary to provide such disability determination functions as allowed under applicable federal regulation;

(b) Shall, with the approval of the executive director, make regulations governing Mississippi applications for disability benefits under Title II and Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act, and make such other regulations as are found necessary to implement the functions of the office prescribed under this chapter;

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

(d) Shall, with the approval of the executive director, be responsible for appointing supervisors, assistants, physicians, and other employees or entering into purchase of service contracts, as are necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the office, subject to the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the State Personnel Board as created under Section 25-9-101 et seq. ;

(e) Shall prepare and submit to the board through the executive director annual reports of activities and expenditures, and estimates of the amounts to be made available to the office from all sources; and

(f) Shall, with the approval of the executive director and the board, take such other action as he deems necessary or appropriate to implement the functions of the office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 106-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-71
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program for the purpose of identifying and recruiting qualified university and college students from the state for schooling in education with a focus on dyslexia therapy.

(2) The receipt of a forgivable loan under the program shall be solely limited to those students who are enrolled in or who have been accepted for enrollment into a master's degree program of study for dyslexia therapy at any public or private institution of higher learning within the State of Mississippi at the time an application for a forgivable loan is filed with the board.

(3) The annual amount of the forgivable loan award shall be equal to the total cost for tuition, materials and fees at the college or university in which the student is enrolled. Awards made to nonresidents of the state shall not include any amount assessed by the college or university for out-of-state tuition.

(4) Upon completion of the master's program and licensure requirements, a forgivable loan recipient who has not been previously licensed by the State Department of Education shall render service in an instructional or clinical capacity as a licensed dyslexia therapist in a public school district in the state or an eligible nonpublic school as defined by Section 37-173-1 and meets the criteria established in Section 37-173-17 , not to exceed five (5) recipients rendering instructional or clinical services in a nonpublic school at any time.

(5) Repayment and conversion terms shall be the same as those outlined in Section 37-106-53 .

(6) The board shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, outlining in detail the number of participants who have received forgivable loans under the program, the record of service provided by those recipients as they transition out of the degree program into the public school districts of this state, and the projection for expanding the program to include more participants annually as determined by the need for such qualified professionals in the public school setting. Additionally, the report shall include a summary of allocations and expenditures for the administration of the program and the total amount of funds issued to recipients of forgivable loans from the inception of the program until such time as the report has been prepared and submitted to the Legislature.

(7) The Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program shall be administered in the same manner as the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program established under Section 37-106-55 and shall be incorporated into the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program for all purposes.

(8) Funding for the establishment and continued operation of the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program shall be administered by the board through a special fund established within the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program. The board may accept and receive monetary gifts and donations from any source, public or private, which such funds shall be deposited in the special fund for the benefit of the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program with the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program.

(9) No more than twenty (20) students per cohort shall be selected annually to be admitted into the program for receipt of forgivable loans beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year. However, forgivable loans awarded under the program shall be provided only to students who have been accepted into a Dyslexia Therapy Master's Degree Cohort Program approved by the State Department of Education that provides instructional training as required under Chapter 173, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for dyslexia therapy in preparation of those cohort students for AA licensure by the department.

(10) As part of the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program, the State Department of Education is authorized and directed, subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, to provide financial assistance for the recruitment, placement and employment of qualified licensed dyslexia therapy professionals identified under Section 37-173-15(1)(b), Mississippi Code of 1972 , in order to provide dyslexia screening, evaluation and therapy services to the students attending school in the school district. Said funding may be used to purchase curriculum materials and supplies for dyslexia therapy services. Said funding shall be provided to public school districts upon application therefor regardless of the financial need of the school district in an amount not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) annually, and subject to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature. In order to qualify for such funds, the school district shall meet the following criteria:

(a) Use licensed dyslexia therapists or individuals participating in an approved training program resulting in State Department of Education licensure to provide dyslexia therapy to students diagnosed with dyslexia;

(b) Use daily Orton-Gillingham-based therapy;

(c) Have school leadership trained in dyslexia; and

(d) Have a current School Program Verification and Assurances form on file with the State Department of Education, Office of Curriculum and Instruction. Procedures and standards for the application for such funds shall be established by regulations developed and issued by the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 43-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-25
Status: in_force

Specimen copies of all textbooks, which have been made the basis of contracts under the provisions of this chapter, clearly marked and identified as such, shall be deposited by the publisher of said books with the State Superintendent of Public Education. Said specimen copies shall be preserved and kept open for inspection by the public.

A copy of all contracts and bonds executed under the provisions of this chapter shall be provided to the following, one (1) copy for the contractor, one (1) copy to be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, and one (1) copy to be filed in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Education.

An original of each bid, whether accepted or rejected, shall be filed and preserved in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Education for at least five (5) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-275 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 29-275
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-275
Status: in_force

Any act, which, if committed within the limits of a city, town or village, or in any public place, would be a violation of the general laws of this state, shall be criminal and punishable if done on the campus, grounds or roads of any of the state-supported junior colleges. The peace officers duly appointed by the board of trustees of state-supported community or junior colleges or officers of private security firms licensed by the State of Mississippi contracted by the boards of trustees of state supported community/junior colleges are vested with the powers and subjected to the duties of a constable for the purpose of preventing and punishing all violations of law on state-supported junior college grounds and for preserving order and decorum thereon. Peace officers appointed by the boards of trustees or officers of private security firms licensed by the State of Mississippi contracted by the boards of trustees shall have authority to bear arms in order to carry out their law enforcement responsibilities if such officers have been certified according to the minimum standards established by the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training. The peace officers duly appointed by the boards of trustees of public community/junior colleges are also vested with the powers and subjected to the duties of a constable for the purpose of preventing all violations of law that occur within five hundred (500) feet of any property owned by the college, if reasonably determined to have a possible impact on the safety of students, faculty or staff of the college while on said property. Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require action by any such peace officer appointed by a college to events occurring outside the boundaries of college property, nor shall any such college or its employees be liable for any failure to act to any event occurring outside the boundaries of property owned by the college. If a law enforcement officer is duly appointed to be a peace officer by a college under this section, the board of trustees of the public community/junior college may enter into an interlocal agreement with other law enforcement entities for the provision of equipment or traffic control duties, however, the duty to enforce traffic regulations and to enforce the laws of the state or municipality off of college property lies with the local police or sheriff's department which cannot withhold its services solely because of the lack of such an agreement.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 31-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-15
Status: in_force

The school board may, in its discretion, cooperate with the State Board of Education in the establishment and maintenance of vocational and technical schools or classes giving instruction in vocational and technical training which does not terminate in a bachelors degree to persons in need of such instruction, and may use for paying the cost of such cooperation any monies raised by public taxation in the same manner as monies for other school purposes are used for the maintenance and support of public schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-471 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-471
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-471
Status: in_force

All of the property belonging to the board of trustees of Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and all of the property belonging to any or all of the counties, prior to and as of the effective date hereof, cooperating in the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College or the agricultural high school-junior college located at Wesson, Mississippi or the campus in Adams County, Mississippi, and utilized or held for the present or future use and benefit of said junior college and/or agricultural high school-junior college, shall be and the same is hereby transferred to and vested in the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District as created by Sections 37-29-451 through 37-29-471 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-179 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 37-29-461 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 37-57-104 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 57-104
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-104
Status: in_force

(1) Each school board shall submit to the levying authority for the school district a certified copy of an order adopted by the school board requesting an ad valorem tax effort in dollars for the support of the school district. The copy of the order shall be submitted by the school board when the copies of the school district's budget are filed with the levying authority pursuant to Section 37-61-9 . Upon receipt of the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort in dollars, the levying authority shall determine the millage rate necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount requested by the school board. For the purpose of calculating this millage rate, any additional amount that is levied pursuant to Section 37-57-105(1) to cover anticipated delinquencies and costs of collection or any amount that may be levied for the payment of the principal and interest on school bonds or notes shall be excluded from the limitation of fifty-five (55) mills provided for in subsection (2) of this section.

(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided under paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection, if the millage rate necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount requested by the school board is greater than fifty-five (55) mills, and if this millage rate is higher than the millage then being levied pursuant to the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort for the currently existing fiscal year, then the levying authority shall call a referendum on the question of exceeding, during the next fiscal year, the then existing millage rate being levied for school district purposes. The referendum shall be scheduled for not more than six (6) weeks after the date on which the levying authority receives the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort.

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 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 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 school district, then the notice shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the 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 or municipality. At the referendum, all registered, qualified electors of the school district may vote. The ballots used at the referendum shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the amount and purpose of the increased tax levy and the words “FOR INCREASING THE MILLAGE LEVIED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PURPOSES FROM (MILLAGE RATE CURRENTLY LEVIED) MILLS TO (MILLAGE RATE REQUIRED UNDER SCHOOL BOARD'S ORDER) MILLS,” and “AGAINST INCREASING THE MILLAGE LEVIED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PURPOSES FROM (MILLAGE RATE CURRENTLY LEVIED) MILLS TO (MILLAGE RATE REQUIRED UNDER SCHOOL BOARD'S ORDER) MILLS.” 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 school district who vote in the referendum vote in favor of the question, then the ad valorem tax effort in dollars requested by the school board shall be approved. However, if a majority of the registered, qualified electors who vote in the referendum vote against the question, the millage rate levied by the levying authority shall not exceed the millage then being levied pursuant to the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort for the then currently existing fiscal year.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any school district that is levying more than fifty-five (55) mills pursuant to Sections 37-57-1 and 37-57-105 to decrease its millage rate to fifty-five (55) mills or less. Further, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a referendum in a school district where the requested ad valorem tax effort in dollars requires a millage rate of greater than fifty-five (55) mills but the requested dollar amount does not require any increase in the then existing millage rate. Further, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a referendum in a school district where, because of a decrease in the assessed valuation of the district, a millage rate of greater than fifty-five (55) mills is necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount generated by the ad valorem tax effort for the currently existing fiscal year.

(b) However, if a levying authority is levying in excess of fifty-five (55) mills on July 1, 1997, the levying authority may levy an additional amount not exceeding three (3) mills in the aggregate for the period beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 2003, subject to the limitation on increased receipts from ad valorem taxes prescribed in Sections 37-57-105 and 37-57-107 .

(c) If the levying authority for any school district lawfully has decreased the millage levied for school district purposes, but subsequently determines that there is a need to increase the millage rate due to a disaster in which the Governor has declared a disaster emergency or the President of the United States has declared an emergency or major disaster, then the levying authority may increase the millage levied for school district purposes up to an amount that does not exceed the millage rate in any one (1) of the immediately preceding ten (10) fiscal years without any referendum that otherwise would be required under this subsection.

(3) If the millage rate necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount requested by the school board is equal to fifty-five (55) mills or less, but the dollar amount requested by the school board exceeds the next preceding fiscal year's ad valorem tax effort in dollars by more than four percent (4%), but not more than seven percent (7%) (as provided for under subsection (4) of this section), then the school board shall publish notice thereof at least five (5) days per week, unless the only newspaper published in the school district is published less than five (5) days per week, for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published in the 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 shall be made not less than fifteen (15) days before the final adoption of the budget by the school board. If no newspaper is published in the school district, then the notice shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the school district. If at any time before the adoption of the budget a petition signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the registered, qualified electors of the school district is filed with the school board requesting that a referendum be called on the question of exceeding the next preceding fiscal year's ad valorem tax effort in dollars by more than four percent (4%), then the school board shall adopt, not later than the next regular meeting, a resolution calling a referendum to be held within the school district upon the question. The referendum shall be called and held, and notice thereof shall be given, in the same manner provided for in subsection (2) of this section. The ballot shall contain the language “FOR THE SCHOOL TAX INCREASE OVER FOUR PERCENT (4%)” and “AGAINST THE SCHOOL TAX INCREASE OVER FOUR PERCENT (4%).” If a majority of the registered, qualified electors of the school district who vote in the referendum vote in favor of the question, then the increase requested by the school board shall be approved. For the purposes of this subsection, the revenue sources excluded from the increase limitation under Section 37-57-107 also shall be excluded from the limitation described in this subsection in the same manner as they are excluded under Section 37-57-107 . Provided, however, that any increases requested by the school board as a result of the required local contribution to the total funding formula as required by Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , as certified to the local school district by the State Board of Education under Section 37-151-211 , shall not be subject to the four percent (4%) and/or seven percent (7%) tax increase limitations provided in this section.

(4) If the millage rate necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount requested by the school board is equal to fifty-five (55) mills or less, but the dollar amount requested by the school board exceeds the seven percent (7%) increase limitation provided for in Section 37-57-107 , the school board may exceed the seven percent (7%) increase limitation only after the school board has determined the need for additional revenues and three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of the registered, qualified electors voting in a referendum called by the levying authority have voted in favor of the increase. The notice and manner of holding the referendum shall be as prescribed in subsection (2) of this section for a referendum on the question of increasing the millage rate in school districts levying more than fifty-five (55) mills for school district purposes.

(5) The aggregate receipts from ad valorem taxes levied for school district purposes pursuant to Sections 37-57-1 and 37-57-105 , excluding collection fees, additional revenue from the ad valorem tax on any newly constructed properties or any existing properties added to the tax rolls or any properties previously exempt which were not assessed in the next preceding year, and amounts received by school districts from the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund pursuant to Section 37-61-35 , shall be subject to the increase limitation under this section and Section 37-57-107 .

(6) The school board shall pay to the levying authority all costs that are incurred by the levying authority in the calling and holding of any election under this section.

(7) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to affect in any manner the authority of school boards to levy millage for the following purposes:

(a) The issuance of bonds, notes and certificates of indebtedness, as authorized in Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45 and Sections 37-59-101 through 37-59-115 ;

(b) The lease of property for school purposes, as authorized under the Emergency School Leasing Authority Act of 1986 ( Sections 37-7-351 through 37-7-359 );

(c) The lease or lease-purchase of school buildings, as authorized under Section 37-7-301 ;

(d) The issuance of promissory notes in the event of a shortfall of ad valorem taxes and/or revenue from local sources, as authorized under Section 27-39-333 ; and

(e) The construction of school buildings outside the school district, as authorized under Section 37-7-401 .

Any millage levied for the purposes specified in this subsection shall be excluded from the millage limitations established under this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 113-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-27
Status: in_force

In order to provide for a more comprehensive method of improvement, promotion and development of agricultural research at the Delta Branch Experiment Station, the tax collector of each county of the State of Mississippi located in whole or in part in a levee district, shall deduct annually from all state ad valorem taxes collected by him a sum equal to the avails of a levy of one mill on the dollar of the assessed valuation of taxable property within such county upon which state ad valorem taxes are levied and collected, provided that such county in its discretion levies the one-fourth mill provided for in the third paragraph of this section. Said tax collector is hereby authorized and directed to pay same to Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science.

Any funds so paid to said university shall be used for agricultural research at the Delta Branch Experiment Station, with primary attention being given to a cotton research program and for providing needed laboratories and other facilities and equipment for agricultural research.

The board of supervisors of any county coming within the provisions of this section shall be authorized to levy, at the time and in the manner other county tax levies are made, and such levy shall be made as a condition precedent to the operation of this section in such county, an ad valorem tax of one-fourth mill against all of the taxable property of such county. Said ad valorem tax levy shall be collected as other taxes are collected, and shall be paid into a special fund of such county and shall be paid over to the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science and shall be used at the Delta Branch Experiment Station for agricultural research, with primary attention being given to a cotton research program and for providing laboratories and other facilities and equipment for agricultural research. Such tax levy shall be in addition to all other levies now authorized by law, and no limitation or inhibition now in the statute against the levying of such a tax shall be effective against such levy. Such one-fourth mill ad valorem levies shall not be reimbursed under the Mississippi homestead exemption laws.

In the event similar diversions are already made from the avails of the state ad valorem tax levy in such a county, then this section shall be considered as supplemental thereto, and such laws authorizing such diversions shall not apply to the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 27-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-43
Status: in_force

When any agricultural high school shall own any land, buildings or other property that is not used for school or related school purposes and not needed in the operation of the school, the board of trustees of such agricultural high school may sell and convey such land, buildings or other property in the manner provided in Sections 37-27-45 through 37-27-49 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 153-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-5
Status: in_force

For purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ State board ” or “ board ” means the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board.

(b) “ District councils ” means the Local Workforce Development Councils.

(c) “ Local workforce investment board ” means the board that oversees the workforce development activities of local workforce areas under the federal Workforce Investment Act.

(d) “ Office ” means the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development, housed at the Department of Finance and Administration.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 37-41-83 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 41-83
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-83
Status: in_force

The school boards are authorized and empowered to expend the necessary amounts from the available transportation funds of the school district for the purchase of such transportation equipment, the servicing, repair and maintenance thereof and for the payment of the salaries of persons employed to drive or operate such transportation equipment, and to establish, erect and equip school bus shops or garages, and purchase land therefor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 113-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-23
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby authorized a branch experiment station, to be known as the “Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Soil Experiment Station,” to be located on a suitable tract of approximately six hundred acres of land in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, the site of which is to be selected by the director of the agricultural and forestry experimental station at the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science. Said acreage shall be divided equally, as nearly as practicable, between the Pontotoc Ridge and Flatwoods soil types, for the purpose of experimentation with said two types of soil in forestry, pasture-improvement, horticulture, soil conservation, truck crops, forage crops, poultry, disease and insect control and general farm products. The said experiment station shall be supplied with the necessary buildings, equipment, and other facilities.

(2) The purpose of this section is to provide for increased efficiency in agriculture research for the farmers in the Pontotoc Ridge and Flatwoods soil types, who have been denied this service for all these years. Said branch experiment station shall serve the following named counties, to-wit: The Pontotoc Ridge soil begins at the Tennessee line and traverses the counties of Alcorn, Prentiss, Union, Pontotoc, Chickasaw and Clay. The Flatwoods soil which joins the Pontotoc Ridge soil on the west, begins at the Tennessee line and traverses the counties of Tippah, Benton, Union, Pontotoc, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Webster, Clay, Choctaw, Oktibbeha, Winston, Neshoba, Kemper and Lauderdale County or other counties applicable to these conditions.

(3) The governing authorities of any municipality, town, or county in the state, or any person, firm or corporation may contribute or donate land, money or other property to the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning in furtherance of the purpose of this section.

(4) The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized, upon the recommendation of the director of the agricultural and forestry experimental station at Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, which recommendation is approved by and transmitted to said board by the president of said university, to establish said Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods soil experiment station, to receive and accept title to any land or money or property herein authorized or to be authorized, made available or to be made available by the state legislature, to purchase land, let contracts for the construction of necessary buildings, to equip same, and to further equip said experiment station with farm equipment and any and all other equipment, and to do all things necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-701 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-701
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-701
Status: in_force

The provisions of this article shall be applicable only to those municipal separate school districts which have been or shall be organized, reorganized or reconstituted in accordance with the provisions of Article 1 of this chapter, with added territory where the added territory, exclusive of any added territory which was a part of such municipal separate school district before such organization, reorganization or reconstitution, shall contain twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total number of educable children of such district. Such school districts, for the purposes of this article, shall be known as special municipal separate school districts. This article shall be supplementary and in addition to all existing school laws of this state and, except as herein expressly provided, all applicable statutes relative to the establishment, government, management, and operation of municipal separate school districts shall be fully applicable to such special municipal separate school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 21-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-21-9
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education shall:

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

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

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

(d) Report annually to the Mississippi Legislature on the graduation and dropout rates based on Grades 7 through 12 and Grades 9 through 12 cohort groups, statewide and by district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-1-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-1-13
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education shall issue regulations:

(a) Setting minimum specifications for relocatable classrooms for the public school districts;

(b) Approving or disapproving plans for relocatable classrooms for public school districts;

(c) Providing a system of requiring local school districts to receive State Department of Education approval before purchase of such relocatable classrooms.

(2) The State Department of Education may, in its discretion, inspect the facilities of any manufacturer of relocatable classrooms for the purpose of determining if State Department of Education minimum specifications are being met.

(3) The State Department of Education shall insure that local school districts advertise for and receive bids as required by state law for purchase of relocatable classrooms. The State Department of Education shall approve plans for relocatable classrooms by persons, firms, corporations or associations permitted to submit bids for consideration, before such bids are submitted to local school districts. The State Department of Education shall have the right to reject any and all relocatable classroom plans submitted. Bids may not be submitted to local school districts, unless persons, firms, corporations or associations have State Department of Education approval.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-132-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 132-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-132-5
Status: in_force

A student teacher or intern under the supervision of a certificated teacher, principal, or other administrator shall have the protection of the laws accorded the certificated teacher, principal, or other administrator, and shall, while acting as such student teacher or intern, comply with all rules and regulations of the local board of education and observe all duties assigned certificated teachers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-307 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-307
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-307
Status: in_force

(1) For purposes of this section, the term “ licensed employee ” means any employee of a public school district required to hold a valid license by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development.

(2) The school board of a school district shall establish by rules and regulations a policy of sick leave with pay for licensed employees and teacher assistants employed in the school district, and such policy shall include the following minimum provisions for sick and emergency leave with pay:

(a) Each licensed employee and teacher assistant, at the beginning of each school year, shall be credited with a minimum sick leave allowance, with pay, of seven (7) days for absences caused by illness or physical disability of the employee during that school year.

(b) Any unused portion of the total sick leave allowance shall be carried over to the next school year and credited to such licensed employee and teacher assistant if the licensed employee or teacher assistant remains employed in the same school district. In the event any public school licensed employee or teacher assistant transfers from one public school district in Mississippi to another, any unused portion of the total sick leave allowance credited to such licensed employee or teacher assistant shall be credited to such licensed employee or teacher assistant in the computation of unused leave for retirement purposes under Section 25-11-109 . Accumulation of sick leave allowed under this section shall be unlimited.

(c) No deduction from the pay of such licensed employee or teacher assistant may be made because of absence of such licensed employee or teacher assistant caused by illness or physical disability of the licensed employee or teacher assistant until after all sick leave allowance credited to such licensed employee or teacher assistant has been used.

(d) For the first ten (10) days of absence of a licensed employee because of illness or physical disability, in any school year, in excess of the sick leave allowance credited to such licensed employee, there shall be deducted from the pay of such licensed employee the established substitute amount of licensed employee compensation paid in that local school district, necessitated because of the absence of the licensed employee as a result of illness or physical disability. In lieu of deducting the established substitute amount from the pay of such licensed employee, the policy may allow the licensed employee to receive full pay for the first ten (10) days of absence because of illness or physical disability, in any school year, in excess of the sick leave allowance credited to such licensed employee. Thereafter, the regular pay of such absent licensed employee shall be suspended and withheld in its entirety for any period of absence because of illness or physical disability during that school year.

(3)(a) Beginning with the school year 1983-1984, each licensed employee at the beginning of each school year shall be credited with a minimum personal leave allowance, with pay, of two (2) days for absences caused by personal reasons during that school year. Effective for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years, licensed employees shall be credited with an additional one-half ( 1 / 2 ) day of personal leave for every day the licensed employee is furloughed without pay as provided in Section 37-7-308 . Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, such personal leave shall not be taken on the first day of the school term, the last day of the school term, on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday. Personal leave may be used for professional purposes, including absences caused by attendance of such licensed employee at a seminar, class, training program, professional association or other functions designed for educators. No deduction from the pay of such licensed employee may be made because of absence of such licensed employee caused by personal reasons until after all personal leave allowance credited to such licensed employee has been used. However, the superintendent of a school district, in his discretion, may allow a licensed employee personal leave in addition to any minimum personal leave allowance, under the condition that there shall be deducted from the salary of such licensed employee the actual amount of any compensation paid to any person as a substitute, necessitated because of the absence of the licensed employee. Any unused portion of the total personal leave allowance up to five (5) days shall be carried over to the next school year and credited to such licensed employee if the licensed employee remains employed in the same school district. Any personal leave allowed for a furlough day shall not be carried over to the next school year.

(b) Notwithstanding the restrictions on the use of personal leave prescribed under paragraph (a) of this subsection, a licensed employee may use personal leave as follows:

(i) Personal leave may be taken on the first day of the school term, the last day of the school term, on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday if, on the applicable day, an immediate family member of the employee is being deployed for military service.

(ii) Personal leave may be taken on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday if an employee of a school district has either a minimum of ten (10) years' experience as an employee of that school district or a minimum of thirty (30) days of unused accumulated leave that has been earned while employed in that school district.

(iii) Personal leave may be taken on the first day of the school term, the last day of the school term, on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday if, on the applicable day, the employee has been summoned to appear for jury duty or as a witness in court.

(iv) Personal leave may be taken on the first day of the school term, the last day of the school term, on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday if, on the applicable day, an immediate family member of the employee dies or funeral services are held. Any day of the three (3) bereavement days may be used at the discretion of the teacher, and are not required to be taken in consecutive succession.

For the purpose of this subsection (3), the term “ immediate family member ” means spouse, parent, stepparent, child or stepchild, grandparent or sibling, including a stepbrother or stepsister.

(4) Beginning with the school year 1992-1993, each licensed employee shall be credited with a professional leave allowance, with pay, for each day of absence caused by reason of such employee's statutorily required membership and attendance at a regular or special meeting held within the State of Mississippi of the State Board of Education, the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development, the Commission on School Accreditation, the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television, the meetings of the state textbook rating committees or other meetings authorized by local school board policy.

(5) Upon retirement from employment, each licensed and nonlicensed employee shall be paid for not more than thirty (30) days of unused accumulated leave earned while employed by the school district in which the employee is last employed. Such payment for licensed employees shall be made by the school district at a rate equal to the amount paid to substitute teachers and for nonlicensed employees, the payment shall be made by the school district at a rate equal to the federal minimum wage. The payment shall be treated in the same manner for retirement purposes as a lump-sum payment for personal leave as provided in Section 25-11-103(f) . Any remaining lawfully credited unused leave, for which payment has not been made, shall be certified to the Public Employees' Retirement System in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as otherwise provided by law for unused leave. No payment for unused accumulated leave may be made to either a licensed or nonlicensed employee at termination or separation from service for any purpose other than for the purpose of retirement.

(6) The school board may adopt rules and regulations which will reasonably aid to implement the policy of sick and personal leave, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations having the following general effect:

(a) Requiring the absent employee to furnish the certificate of a physician or dentist or other medical practitioner as to the illness of the absent licensed employee, where the absence is for four (4) or more consecutive school days, or for two (2) consecutive school days immediately preceding or following a nonschool day;

(b) Providing penalties, by way of full deduction from salary, or entry on the work record of the employee, or other appropriate penalties, for any materially false statement by the employee as to the cause of absence;

(c) Forfeiture of accumulated or future sick leave, if the absence of the employee is caused by optional dental or medical treatment or surgery which could, without medical risk, have been provided, furnished or performed at a time when school was not in session;

(d) Enlarging, increasing or providing greater sick or personal leave allowances than the minimum standards established by this section in the discretion of the school board of each school district.

(7) School boards may include in their budgets provisions for the payment of substitute employees, necessitated because of the absence of regular licensed employees. All such substitute employees shall be paid wholly from district funds. Such school boards, in their discretion, also may pay, from district funds other than the total funding formula funds provided for in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , the whole or any part of the salaries of all employees granted leaves for the purpose of special studies or training.

(8) The school board may further adopt rules and regulations which will reasonably implement such leave policies for all other nonlicensed and hourly paid school employees as the board deems appropriate. Effective for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years, nonlicensed employees shall be credited with an additional one-half ( 1 / 2 ) day of personal leave for every day the nonlicensed employee is furloughed without pay as provided in Section 37-7-308 .

(9) Vacation leave granted to either licensed or nonlicensed employees shall be synonymous with personal leave. Unused vacation or personal leave accumulated by licensed employees in excess of the maximum five (5) days which may be carried over from one year to the next may be converted to sick leave. The annual conversion of unused vacation or personal leave to sick days for licensed or unlicensed employees shall not exceed the allowable number of personal leave days as provided in Section 25-3-93 . The annual total number of converted unused vacation and/or personal days added to the annual unused sick days for any employee shall not exceed the combined allowable number of days per year provided in Sections 25-3-93 and 25-3-95 . Local school board policies that provide for vacation, personal and sick leave for employees shall not exceed the provisions for leave as provided in Sections 25-3-93 and 25-3-95 . Any personal or vacation leave previously converted to sick leave under a lawfully adopted policy before May 1, 2004, or such personal or vacation leave accumulated and available for use prior to May 1, 2004, under a lawfully adopted policy but converted to sick leave after May 1, 2004, shall be recognized as accrued leave by the local school district and available for use by the employee. The leave converted under a lawfully adopted policy prior to May 1, 2004, or such personal and vacation leave accumulated and available for use as of May 1, 2004, which was subsequently converted to sick leave may be certified to the Public Employees' Retirement System upon termination of employment and any such leave previously converted and certified to the Public Employees' Retirement System shall be recognized.

(10)(a) For the purposes of this subsection, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed in this paragraph unless the context requires otherwise:

(i) “ Catastrophic injury or illness ” means a life-threatening injury or illness of an employee or a member of an employee's immediate family that totally incapacitates the employee from work, as verified by a licensed physician, and forces the employee to exhaust all leave time earned by that employee, resulting in the loss of compensation from the local school district for the employee. Conditions that are short-term in nature, including, but not limited to, common illnesses such as influenza and the measles, and common injuries, are not catastrophic. Chronic illnesses or injuries, such as cancer or major surgery, that result in intermittent absences from work and that are long-term in nature and require long recuperation periods may be considered catastrophic.

(ii) “ Immediate family ” means spouse, parent, stepparent, sibling, child or stepchild, grandparent, stepbrother or stepsister.

(b) Any school district employee may donate a portion of his or her unused accumulated personal leave or sick leave to another employee of the same school district who is suffering from a catastrophic injury or illness or who has a member of his or her immediate family suffering from a catastrophic injury or illness, in accordance with the following:

(i) The employee donating the leave (the “donor employee”) shall designate the employee who is to receive the leave (the “recipient employee”) and the amount of unused accumulated personal leave and sick leave that is to be donated, and shall notify the school district superintendent or his designee of his or her designation.

(ii) The maximum amount of unused accumulated personal leave that an employee may donate to any other employee may not exceed a number of days that would leave the donor employee with fewer than seven (7) days of personal leave remaining, and the maximum amount of unused accumulated sick leave that an employee may donate to any other employee may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the unused accumulated sick leave of the donor employee.

(iii) An employee must have exhausted all of his or her available leave before he or she will be eligible to receive any leave donated by another employee. Eligibility for donated leave shall be based upon review and approval by the donor employee's supervisor.

(iv) Before an employee may receive donated leave, he or she must provide the school district superintendent or his designee with a physician's statement that states that the illness meets the catastrophic criteria established under this section, the beginning date of the catastrophic injury or illness, a description of the injury or illness, and a prognosis for recovery and the anticipated date that the recipient employee will be able to return to work.

(v) Before an employee may receive donated leave, the superintendent of education of the school district shall appoint a review committee to approve or disapprove the said donations of leave, including the determination that the illness is catastrophic within the meaning of this section.

(vi) If the total amount of leave that is donated to any employee is not used by the recipient employee, the whole days of donated leave shall be returned to the donor employees on a pro rata basis, based on the ratio of the number of days of leave donated by each donor employee to the total number of days of leave donated by all donor employees.

(vii) Donated leave shall not be used in lieu of disability retirement.

(11) Effective January 1, 2020, the provisions of this section shall be fully applicable to any licensed employee of the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 27-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-29
Status: in_force

The trustees of agricultural high schools by and with the consent of the board of supervisors of the county or counties affected are hereby authorized to lease all or any part of the lands belonging to them for the purpose of investigating, exploring, prospecting, drilling and mining for and producing oil, gas and all other minerals, laying pipe lines, building roads, tanks, power stations, telephone lines and other structures thereon to produce, save, take care of, treat, transport and dispose of and own said products, and housing its employees, and to collect royalties from such leases. Any lease of such land shall contain a provision to retain at least a one-eighth interest in the royalties and proceeds and receipts of any oil, gas and/or minerals produced thereon for the benefit of such school.

Any funds arising from or collected under this section shall be deposited in the county depository of the county in which said school is located to the credit of said agricultural high school. Such funds may be disbursed as other funds belonging to said institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-291 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 101-291
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-291
Status: in_force

(1) In order to help alleviate the problem of the shortage of health care professionals at the state health institutions, there is established a program of paid educational leave for the study of such health care professions as defined in Section 37-101-285 and licensed practical nursing by any employee who works at a state health institution and who declares an intention to work in such respective health care occupation in the same state health institution in which the employee was working when granted educational leave, for a minimum period of time after graduation.

(2) The paid educational leave program shall be administered by the respective state health institutions.

(3)(a) Within the limits of the funds available to a state health institution for such purpose, the institution may grant paid educational leave to those applicants deemed qualified therefor, upon such terms and conditions as it may impose and as provided for in this section.

(b) In order to be eligible for paid educational leave, an applicant must:

(i) Be working at a state health institution at the time of application;

(ii) Attend any college or school approved and designated by the state health institution; and

(iii) Agree to work in a health care profession as defined in Section 37-101-285 or as a licensed practical nurse in the same state health institution for a period of time equivalent to the period of time for which the applicant receives paid educational leave compensation, calculated to the nearest whole month, but in no event less than two (2) years.

(c)(i) Before being granted paid educational leave, each applicant shall enter into a contract with the state health institution, which shall be deemed a contract with the State of Mississippi, agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the paid educational leave shall be granted to him. The contract shall include such terms and provisions necessary to carry out the full purpose and intent of this section. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney General of this state, and shall be signed by the executive director of the respective state health institution and 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.

(ii) The state health institution shall have the authority to cancel any contract made between it and any recipient for paid educational leave upon such cause being deemed sufficient by the executive director of such institution.

(iii) The state health institution 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 filed and handled by the Attorney General of the state. The state health institution may contract with a collection agency or banking institution, subject to approval by the Attorney General, for collection of any balance due the state from any recipient. The State of Mississippi, agencies of the state and the state health institution and its employees are immune from any suit brought in law or equity for actions taken by the collection agency or banking institution incidental to or arising from their performance under the contract. The state health institution, collection agency and banking institution may negotiate for the payment of a sum that is less than full payment in order to satisfy any balance the recipient owes the state, subject to approval by the facility director of the sponsoring facility within the state health institution.

(iv) Failure to meet the terms of an educational loan contract shall be grounds for revocation of the professional license which was earned through the paid educational leave compensation granted under this section.

(v) A finding by the sponsoring agency of a default by the recipient shall be a finding of unprofessional conduct and therefore, a basis for the revocation of the professional license which was obtained through the educational leave program. The finding also will be grounds for revocation of any license, as defined by Section 93-11-153 .

(vi) Notice of pending default status shall be mailed to the recipient at the last known address by the sponsoring agency.

(vii) The sponsoring agency shall conduct a hearing of pending default status, make a final determination, and issue an Order of Default, if appropriate.

(viii) Recipients may appear either personally or by counsel, or both, and produce and cross-examine witnesses or evidence in the recipient's behalf. The procedure of the hearing shall not be bound by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence.

(ix) If a recipient is found to be in default, a copy of an Order of Default shall be forwarded to the appropriate licensing agency.

(x) Appeals from a finding of default by the sponsoring agency shall be to the Circuit Court of Hinds County. Actions taken by a licensing entity in revoking a license when required by this section are not actions from which an appeal may be taken under the general licensing and disciplinary provisions applicable to the licensing agency.

(xi) Rules and regulations governing hearing and other applicable matters shall be promulgated by the sponsoring agency.

(xii) A license which has been revoked pursuant to this statute shall be reinstated upon a showing of proof that the recipient is no longer in default.

(xiii) A finding by the sponsoring facility of educational leave default is a disciplinary action, not a collection action, and therefore shall not be affected by the recipient declaring bankruptcy.

(4)(a) Any recipient who is granted paid educational leave by a state health institution shall be compensated by the institution during the time the recipient is in school, at the rate of pay received by a nurse's aide employed at the respective state health institution. All educational leave compensation received by the recipient while in school shall be considered earned conditioned upon the fulfillment of the terms and obligations of the educational leave contract and this section. However, no recipient of full-time educational leave shall accrue personal or major medical leave while the recipient is on paid educational leave. Recipients of paid educational leave shall be responsible for their individual costs of tuition and books.

(b) Paid educational leave shall be granted only upon the following conditions:

(i) The recipient shall fulfill his or her obligation under the contract with the State of Mississippi by working as a professional in a health care profession defined in Section 37-101-285 or as a licensed practical nurse in a state health institution; a recipient sponsored by a health institution under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health may fulfill his or her obligation under the contract with the State of Mississippi at another health institution under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health with prior written approval of the Director of the Department of Mental Health institution with which he or she originally contracted for educational leave. The total compensation that the recipient was paid while on educational leave shall be considered as unconditionally earned on an annual pro rata basis for each year of service rendered under the educational leave contract as a health care professional in his respective state health institution.

(ii) If the recipient does not work as a professional in a health care profession as defined in Section 37-101-285 or as a licensed practical nurse in his respective state health institution for the period required under subsection (3)(b)(iii) of this section, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the remaining portion of the compensation that the recipient was paid while on paid educational leave which has not been unconditionally earned, 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 health institution, 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 Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) which may be reduced on a pro rata basis for each year served under such contract.

(iii) If any recipient fails or withdraws from school at any time before completing his or her health care training, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the amount of the total compensation that the recipient 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, the recipient shall not be liable for liquidated damages, and if the recipient returns to work in the same position held in the same state health institution prior to accepting educational leave, the recipient shall not be liable for payment of any interest on the amount owed.

(iv) The issuance and renewal of the professional license required to work in a health care profession as defined in Section 37-101-285 for which the educational leave was granted shall be contingent upon the repayment of the total compensation that the recipient received while on paid educational leave. No license shall be granted until a contract for repayment is executed. No license shall be renewed without proof of an existing contract which is not in default. Failure to meet the terms of an educational loan contract shall be grounds for revocation of the professional license which was earned through the paid educational leave compensation granted under this section. Any person who receives any amount of paid educational leave compensation while in school and subsequently receives a professional license shall be deemed to have earned the professional license through paid educational leave.

(v) The obligations of educational leave recipients under contracts entered into before July 1, 2002, shall remain unchanged. However, state health institutions may use the collection or license revocation provisions of this section to collect money owed under all educational leave contracts, regardless of when those contracts were executed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 28-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-61
Status: in_force

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

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

(3) Public entities, including, but not limited to, libraries, community service organizations, museums, performing arts venues, theatres, cinemas, churches, community and junior colleges, colleges and universities, may provide space to charter schools within their facilities under their preexisting zoning and land use designations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-135-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 37-101-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 101-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-31
Status: in_force

In addition to the powers vested in the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning by Section 213-A, Mississippi Constitution of 1890 and by this chapter, said board is hereby authorized to establish a reserve fund to receive funds from state, federal or private sources for the purpose of guaranteeing payment of loans obtained by college or university students from public or private lenders or banking institutions. The board is authorized and empowered to do and perform all the necessary and requisite acts and deeds necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-91 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 151-91
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-91
Status: in_force

The school boards of all school districts may establish salary schedules based on training, experience and other such factors as may be incorporated therein, including student progress and performance as developed by the State Board of Education, paying teachers greater amounts than the scale provided in Section 37-19-7 , but no teacher may be paid less than the amount based upon the minimum scale of pay provided in Section 37-19-7 , and all supplements paid from local funds shall be based upon the salary schedules so established. The school boards may call upon the State Department of Education for aid and assistance in formulating and establishing such salary schedules, and it shall be the duty of the State Department of Education, when so called upon, to render such aid and assistance. The amount actually paid to each teacher shall be based upon and determined by the type of license held by such teacher.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-303 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 101-303
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-303
Status: in_force

Before the issuance of any of the bonds herein authorized, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall forward to the State Bond Commission its recommendation declaring the necessity for the issuance of general obligation bonds as authorized by Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 for the purpose of erecting, repairing, constructing, remodeling, adding to or improving capital facilities for institutions of higher learning. The State Bond Commission shall have the power and is hereby authorized, upon receipt of the aforesaid recommendations, at one (1) time or from time to time, to declare the necessity for issuance of negotiable general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi in an aggregate amount not to exceed Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) to provide funds for the purposes hereinabove set forth and to issue and sell bonds in the amount specified.

Out of the total amount of bonds authorized to be issued, funds shall be allocated among the institutions of higher learning as follows:

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

․․․․․․․․․․$4,416,000.00

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

․․․․․․․․․․․1,882,000.00

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

․․․․․․․․․․․2,396,000.00

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

․․․․․․․․․․․9,810,000.00

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

․․․․․․․․․․․1,909,000.00

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

․․․․․․․․․․․1,775,000.00

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

․․․․․․․․․․․6,086,000.00

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

․․․․․․․․․․․5,971,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi--Gulf Park Campus․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․309,000.00

University Medical Center․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․3,465,000.00

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․260,000.00

Education and Research Center․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․475,000.00

Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․1,246,000.00

It is expressly provided, however, that in the event any emergencies or unforeseen contingencies arise, the amount set forth above for any institution may be increased by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, provided that the amount of such increase is achieved by a pro rata reduction in the amounts allocated to the other institutions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-75 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 113-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-75
Status: in_force

The Dean of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Develop the administrative policy for the Dr. Elton Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinarians Scholarship Program;

(b) Promulgating rules and regulations, with the advice and consent of the President of Mississippi State University of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, pertaining to the implementation and operation of the Dr. Elton Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinarians Scholarship Program;

(c) Annually establish a selection committee, composed of faculty of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, rural mixed animal veterinarians and large animal veterinarians, which shall conduct a process, independent from the university's Admissions Committee, to review applications, conduct virtual or in-person interviews and select recipients;

(d) Establish a budget, with the advice and consent of the President of Mississippi State University of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, to support the activities of the program and periodically review, and if appropriate, revise the scholarship and other stipends offered through the program;

(e) Review scholarship recipients' progress in the program and mentor students and veterinarians participating in the program; and

(f) Develop and participate in programs that provide initial practice support in collaboration with other interested professional organizations;

(h) 1 Give preference for approving communities for purposes of Section 37-113-77(2)(d) to communities located in areas designated by the American Veterinary Medical Association or the United States Department of Agriculture as veterinary shortage areas.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 106-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-17
Status: in_force

Any student desiring financial assistance shall submit an application to the board on an annual basis. The director shall adhere to the board's rules and regulations promulgated under authority of this chapter in determining the eligibility of each applicant and in administering the programs authorized in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-223 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-223
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-223
Status: in_force

The Department of Rehabilitation Services shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the proper administration of the Office of Special Disability Programs and shall establish guidelines for eligibility, services, training and evaluation under the program. The State Department of Rehabilitation Services may accept funds from public and private sources for the implementation of Sections 37-33-203 through 37-33-223 .