Miss. Code Ann. § 37-22-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 22-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-22-25
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi School District Emergency Bridge Loan Act.”

(2)(a) There is established a bridge loan program to be administered by the State Department of Education for the purpose of assisting local school districts that suffer revenue losses as a result of an economic downturn that substantially impacts the state and local revenues available to school districts. Loan proceeds distributed to school districts shall be specifically for school district operations identified as essential by the department.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department endeavor to ensure that the costs of the administration of this section are as low as possible.

(3)(a) There is created a special fund in the State Treasury to be designated as the “Mississippi School District Emergency Bridge Loan Fund,” referred to in this section as the “fund.” The fund shall consist of money designated for deposit in the fund from any source including, but not limited to, appropriations, bond proceeds, grants, gifts, donations or funds from any source, public or private. The fund shall be credited with all repayments of principal and interest derived from loans made from the fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the State General Fund. Monies in the fund may not be used or expended for any purpose except as authorized under this section.

(b) The department shall establish a loan program by which loans may be made available to school districts to assist those school districts. Any school district that demonstrates for the current fiscal year a projected revenue loss equal to or exceeding one-third ( 1 / 3 ) of its revenues in the preceding fiscal year may qualify for a loan. The interest rate on loans made under this section may vary from time to time and from loan to loan and shall be at or below market interest rates as determined by the department. The department shall act as quickly as is practicable and prudent in deciding on any loan request that it receives.

(c) The aggregate amount of any loans received under this section by a school district shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the revenue received by the school district to fund essential operations in the preceding fiscal year and the estimated revenue from those sources in the current fiscal year plus sixteenth section principal funds that may be expended under law, cash reserves or fund balances at the fiscal year end, as determined by the department. The State Board of Education shall set the maximum amount of any loan made under this section at an amount that will ensure the equitable distribution of the amounts available for loans to the eligible school districts.

(d) A school district that receives a loan from the fund shall pledge for repayment of the loan any part of the homestead exemption annual tax loss reimbursement to which it may be entitled under Section 27-33-77 , as may be required by the department. Each recipient of a loan shall establish a dedicated source of revenue for repayment of the loan. Before any school district shall receive a loan, it must execute with the department a loan agreement evidencing the loan, a copy of which must be filed by the department with the State Tax Commission. The loan agreement may not be construed to prohibit any recipient from prepaying any part or all of the funds received. The repayment schedule in each loan agreement shall provide for: (i) monthly payments; (ii) semiannual payments; or (iii) other periodic payments. The loan agreement shall provide for the repayment of all funds received from the fund within not more than ten (10) years. At the request of the department, the State Tax Commission shall withhold semiannually from the amount to be remitted to a school district the sum necessary to pay all or a portion of the periodic payments for the loan.

(e) A school district that receives a loan from the state which is not eligible to pledge for repayment of the loan under paragraph (d) of this subsection shall repay the loan by making payments each month to the State Treasurer through the Department of Finance and Administration for and on behalf of the department according to Section 7-7-15 , to be credited to the fund in lieu of pledging homestead exemption annual tax loss reimbursement.

Loan repayments shall be according to a repayment schedule contained in each loan agreement as required under paragraph (d) of this subsection.

(f) Evidences of indebtedness that are issued under this section may not be deemed indebtedness within the meaning specified in Section 37-59-5 .

(g) The State Auditor, upon the request of the department, shall audit the receipts and expenditures of a school district if loan repayments appear to be in arrears. If the Auditor finds that the school district is in arrears in the repayments, the Auditor immediately shall notify the State Superintendent of Public Education, who may take any action necessary to enforce the terms of the loan agreement. The superintendent, in his discretion, may notify the State Tax Commission to withhold all future payments to the school district of homestead exemption annual tax loss reimbursements under Section 27-33-77 until such time that the school district is again current in its loan repayments, as certified by the department.

(h) All monies deposited in the fund may be used only for providing the loans authorized under this section. In addition, any amounts in the fund may be used to defray the reasonable costs of administering the fund. The department is authorized to use amounts available to it from the fund to contract for those facilities and staff needed to administer and provide routine management for the funds and loan program.

(4) In administering this section, the State Department of Education shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To supervise the use of all funds made available under this section;

(b) To promulgate rules and regulations and to establish procedures in accordance with this section for the implementation of the loan program;

(c) To requisition monies in the fund and distribute those monies in accordance with this section;

(d) To maintain, in accordance with generally accepted government accounting standards, an accurate record of all monies in the fund made available to school districts under this section; and

(e) To file annually with the Legislature a report detailing how monies in the fund were spent during the preceding fiscal year in each school district.

(5) The State Bond Commission, at one time or from time to time, may declare the necessity for general funds for the purposes provided in this section, including the costs incident to the administration of the loan program. Upon approval by the State Bond Commission, the Department of Finance and Administration may transfer the necessary amount from the General Fund to the fund in ample time to discharge such loans and incidental costs.

(6) The Department of Finance and Administration, without further process of law, may certify the necessity for warrants and issue those warrants in such amounts as may be necessary to make loans under the program authorized by this section.

(7) After any state funds in the fund are no longer needed for the particular purpose for which they were appropriated, deposited or transferred into the fund, the Department of Finance and Administration shall transfer those state funds back to the particular fund or funds in the State Treasury from which they were appropriated or transferred into the fund, upon certification of the State Superintendent of Public Education that the state funds currently are not needed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-107 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 33-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-107
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors and the governing authorities of municipalities may, in their discretion, make reasonable appropriations from the general fund of the municipality or county for the support of community rehabilitation programs established by Section 37-33-101 , to train, rehabilitate, retrain, and develop more productive lives for individuals with disabilities within the respective counties.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 59-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-33
Status: in_force

Whenever a balance shall remain of the proceeds of any bond issue after the purpose for which such bonds were issued shall have been accomplished, such balance shall forthwith be transferred to the bond and interest fund applicable to such bond issue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-69-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 69-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-69-3
Status: in_force

The intent of the Legislature is to provide an opportunity for motivated students to participate in a curriculum that will prepare them for a career of employment in the energy industry in their home state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 65-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-1
Status: in_force

In addition to all other power and authority which may now be vested in the governor of the State of Mississippi by its constitution and statutes, or either, and any power or authority which may be vested in him by common law as governor as such, the governor of the State of Mississippi is hereby vested with the authority to close any one or more or all schools in any school, agricultural high school, or junior college district, or to close any institution of higher learning in the State of Mississippi when, in his discretion, he determines such closure to be to the best interest of a majority of the educable children of any public school district, or to the best interest of a majority of the children or persons eligible to attend any agricultural high school or agricultural high school and junior college district, or to the best interest of any institution of higher learning, or to the best interest of a majority of the persons or children enrolled in any such school or schools, or any agricultural high school or agricultural high school and junior college, or any institution of higher learning. The governor as such is also vested with such supplemental and additional authority to close any one or more or all of said public schools in any such school district, or agricultural high school district, or agricultural high school and junior college district when, in his discretion, he determines such closure will promote or preserve the public peace, order, or tranquility of such district or districts and as such governor he is also vested with the authority to close any one or more or all of said institutions of higher learning when, in his discretion, he determines such closure will promote or preserve the public peace, order, or tranquility in and of such institutions, or the community in which such may be situated or in or of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 35-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-35-1
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Community College Board is authorized and directed to prescribe rules and regulations, which said rules and regulations when properly promulgated and not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter shall have the force and effect of law, under which a program may be established, maintained and supervised for the purpose of supplying educational advantages to adults, which shall include all persons sixteen (16) years of age and over, not enrolled in school or required to be enrolled in school by the compulsory school attendance law, Section 37-13-91, Mississippi Code of 1972 . The aim and purpose of such a program shall be to reduce illiteracy and to provide a general plan of continuing education in the fundamental principles of democratic society, citizenship, public affairs, forums, home family life, arts and crafts, general cultural subjects with priority to be given to academic training through high school and training in technical skills and trades needed by industries, and such other subjects as the Mississippi Community College Board may prescribe for the social and economic advancement of adults. The Mississippi Community College Board is authorized to employ such additional supervisory, secretarial and clerical personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 61-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-21
Status: in_force

(1) If it should appear to the superintendent of schools or the school board of any school district that the amounts to be received from state appropriations, taxation or any other source will be more than the amount estimated in the budget filed and approved, or if it should appear that such amounts shall be less than the amount estimated, the school board of the school district, with assistance from the superintendent, may revise the budget at any time during the fiscal year by increasing or decreasing the fund budget, in proportion to the increase or decrease in the estimated amounts. If it should appear to the superintendent of schools or the school board of a school district that some function of the budget as filed is in excess of the requirement of that function and that the entire amount budgeted for such function will not be needed for expenditures therefor during the fiscal year, the school board of the school district, with assistance from the superintendent, may transfer resources to and from functions and funds within the budget when and where needed; however, no such transfer shall be made from fund to fund or from function to function which will result in the expenditure of any money for any purpose different from that for which the money was appropriated, allotted, collected or otherwise made available or for a purpose which is not authorized by law. No revision of any budget under the provisions hereof shall be made which will permit a fund expenditure in excess of the resources available for such purpose. The revised portions of the budgets shall be incorporated in the minutes of the school board by spreading them on the minutes or by attaching them as an addendum. Final budget revisions, pertinent to a fiscal year, shall be approved on or before the date set by the State Board of Education for the school district to submit its financial information for that fiscal year.

(2) On or before the fifteenth day of October of each year, the local school board of each school district, with the assistance of the school district superintendent, shall prepare and file with the State Department of Education year-end financial statements and any other budgetary information that the State Board of Education may require. The State Board of Education shall prescribe and provide forms to each school district for this purpose. No additional changes may be made to the financial statements after October 15 of each year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-160-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 160-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-160-5
Status: in_force

(1) The State Superintendent of Public Education may award annually a grant or grants to Teach For America Delta for the purpose of recruiting to Mississippi outstanding new teachers who commit to teach no less than two (2) years in an underserved community in the state. Each year, the Legislature may appropriate to the State Department of Education an amount that may be necessary for making a grant or grants under this section.

(2) In awarding grants to Teach For America--Delta, the superintendent shall enter into an agreement with the grantee under which the grantee agrees to use the grant funds to raise additional funds for the following purposes:

(a) To provide highly qualified teachers to high need school districts in the state;

(b) To pay the costs of recruiting, selecting, training and supporting new teachers; and

(c) To serve the educational needs of a substantial number and percentage of underserved students.

(3) The grantee shall use all funds received under this chapter to support activities related directly to the recruitment, selection, training and support of teachers. Specifically, grant funds shall be used to carry out each of the following activities:

(a) Recruiting and selecting Teach For America teachers through a highly selective national process.

(b) Providing preservice training to the Teach For America teachers through a rigorous summer institute that includes hands-on teaching experience and significant exposure to education coursework and theory.

(c) Placing the Teach For America teachers in schools and positions designated by officials in those school districts participating in programs under the Mississippi Critical Teacher Shortage Act of 1998 as high need placements serving underserved students.

(d) Providing ongoing professional development activities for each Teach For America teacher's first two (2) years in the classroom, including regular classroom observations and critical feedback, and ongoing training and support that leads to a standard five-year teaching license.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.6 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-104.6
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.6
Status: in_force

(1) In Leflore County, Mississippi, in which are located, as of January 1, 2016, two (2) school districts, there shall be an administrative consolidation of those school districts in the county into one (1) new countywide school district to be designated as Greenwood-Leflore School District which shall consist of the territory of the former Leflore County School District and the Greenwood Municipal Separate School District, effective on July 1, 2019. At such time that the administrative consolidation becomes effective, the central administrative office of the Greenwood-Leflore School District shall be current Greenwood Public School District Central Office, located in Greenwood, Mississippi.

(2) As soon as practicable, a financial advisor and/or other facilitator with school district experience may be assigned by the Mississippi Department of Education to oversee the budgeting and financial matters relating to the consolidation of the districts slated for consolidation. The financial advisor and/or facilitator may, at the discretion of the Mississippi Department of Education, continue duties for one (1) year after the consolidation to ensure that all financial matters are in place. All financial expenditures of districts that are closing must be approved by the financial advisor and/or facilitator. If the superintendent and/or school board approves expenditures outside of this approval, they shall be personally liable for the excess expenditures. The State Board of Education shall determine the compensation to be paid to the financial advisor and/or facilitator which shall be paid by the local school district to which the financial advisor and/or facilitator is assigned.

(3)(a) On July 1, 2018, the State Board of Education shall serve the local school boards of the Leflore County School District and the Greenwood Municipal Separate School District with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to comply with the administrative consolidation required in this section. The State Board of Education shall require the administrative consolidation of Leflore County School District and the Greenwood Municipal Separate School District on or before July 1, 2019. In the new Greenwood-Leflore School District, there shall be a new phased-in County Board of Education comprised of five (5) members elected to staggered terms of office from single member supervisors districts in the manner prescribed in this subsection. Current members of the Board of Trustees of the Greenwood Public School District serving on November 1, 2017, shall continue in office as the new County Board of Education of the Greenwood-Leflore School District until their successors are elected as follows:

(i) The two (2) appointed board members of the Greenwood Public School District whose terms are nearest to expiration shall expire on January 1, 2019, and thereafter become permanently elected positions to be filled by persons elected as board members from Supervisors Districts 2 and 3 in a November 2018 election held for that purpose, in the manner prescribed in Section 37-7-203 , and the newly elected members will take office on January 1, 2019, for a term of four (4) years;

(ii) The final two (2) appointed board members of the Greenwood Public School District whose terms are the farthest removed from expiration shall expire on January 1, 2020, and thereafter become permanently elected positions to be filled by persons elected as board members from Supervisors Districts 4 and 5 in a November 2019 election held for that purpose, in the manner prescribed in Section 37-7-203 , and the newly elected members will take office on January 1, 2020, for a term of four (4) years; and

(iii) One (1) appointed board member of the Greenwood Public School District whose term is next nearest to expiration shall expire on January 1, 2021, and thereafter become a permanently elected position to be filled by a person elected as a board member from Supervisors District 1 in a November 2020 election held for that purpose, in the manner prescribed in Section 37-7-203 , and the newly elected members will take office on January 1, 2021, for a term of four (4) years.

(b) All subsequent members shall be elected for a term of four (4) years at the regular general election held on the first Monday in November next preceding the expiration of the term of office of the respective members, and shall take office on January 1 next succeeding the election.

(c) No previous school board member of the former school district that was placed under conservatorship residing in the proper territory shall be eligible for selection to the new Board of Education for the Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District.

(d) The State Board of Education shall declare that the territory embraced by Leflore County, Mississippi, shall be the boundary lines for the territory of the new Greenwood-Leflore School District and shall spread a legal description of the new school district on the minutes of its August 2018 meeting and shall serve the applicable school boards and the board of supervisors with an adequate legal description of these new boundaries. Any school board member of the former school districts residing in the proper supervisors district shall be eligible for election to the new Board of Education for the Greenwood-Leflore School District unless such person was serving as a member of the board when either district subject to consolidation under this section was placed under conservatorship, which shall render the board member ineligible for election.

(e) Any school district affected by the required administrative consolidation in the county that does not voluntarily consolidate as ordered by the State Board of Education shall be administratively consolidated by the State Board of Education, to be effective immediately upon action of the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall promptly move on its own motion to administratively consolidate a school district which does not voluntarily consolidate in order to enable the affected school districts to reasonably accomplish the resulting administrative consolidation into the Greenwood-Leflore School District by July 1, 2019, following the motion to consolidate. The affected school districts shall comply with any consolidation order issued by the State Board of Education.

(4) The successor Greenwood-Leflore Board of Education shall appoint a new Superintendent of Schools for the Greenwood-Leflore School District to be selected no later than July 1, 2019, in the manner provided in Section 37-9-13 . The position of Greenwood-Leflore Superintendent of Schools shall be an appointive position. The successor Greenwood-Leflore Board of Education shall also employ central office staff for the Greenwood-Leflore School District no later than July 1, 2019.

(5)(a) On January 1, 2020, following the motion of the State Board of Education to consolidate school districts in Leflore County and the Greenwood Municipal Separate School Districts, the Leflore County and the Greenwood Municipal Separate School Districts and the former school boards of those districts shall be abolished. All real and personal property which is owned or titled in the name of the school district located in such former school districts shall be transferred to the new Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District.

(b) The new board of trustees of the Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for teachers, principals, clerical and administrative staff personnel for the 2019-2020 school year and each school year thereafter.

(c) The new board of trustees for the Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District shall appoint the superintendent of schools for the school district. The superintendent of schools for the Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District may appoint three (3) assistant superintendents of schools for the district, but in no instance shall the administrative leadership of the Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District have more than three (3) assistant superintendents of education. The subsequent superintendent of schools of the consolidated school district shall not be elected, but shall thereafter be appointed by the successor board of trustees in the manner provided in Section 37-9-25 . It shall be the responsibility of the successor board of trustees to prepare and approve the budget of the new consolidated district, and the successor board of trustees may use staff from the former school districts to prepare the budget. Any proposed order of the State Board of Education directing the transfer of the assets, real or personal property of an affected school district in the county, shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation.

(d) Any person or school district aggrieved by an order of the successor newly selected board of trustees of the Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District pursuant to the required administrative consolidation may appeal therefrom within ten (10) days from the date of the adjournment of the meeting at which such order is entered. The appeal shall be taken in the same manner as appeals are taken from judgments or decisions of the board of supervisors as provided in Section 11-51-75 , the provisions of which shall be fully applicable to appeals taken hereunder. The board of trustees of the Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District shall not pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order until the time for an appeal therefrom has expired, nor shall the board pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order from which an appeal is taken until said appeal has been finally determined.

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

(7) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative consolidation of the school districts in Leflore County pursuant to this section. The consolidated districts shall make an election within one (1) year of consolidation concerning the group term life insurance described in subsection (6) of Section 25-15-9 .

(8) The County Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education of the former Leflore County School District and the local school board and Superintendent of Schools of the Greenwood-Leflore Public School District shall cooperate with the State Department of Education, as soon as practicable after July 1, 2016, for the planning and transition of programs, services and alignment of curriculum for the administratively consolidated school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 28-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-7
Status: in_force

(1) There is created the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board as a state agency with exclusive chartering jurisdiction in the State of Mississippi. Unless otherwise authorized by law, no other governmental agency or entity may assume any charter authorizing function or duty in any form.

(2)(a) The mission of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board is to authorize high-quality charter schools, particularly schools designed to expand opportunities for underserved students, consistent with the purposes of this chapter. Subject to the restrictions and conditions prescribed in this subsection, the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board may authorize charter schools within the geographical boundaries of any school district.

(b) The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board may approve a maximum of fifteen (15) qualified charter applications during a fiscal year.

(c) In any school district designated as an “A,” “B” or “C” school district by the State Board of Education under the accreditation rating system at the time of application, the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board may authorize charter schools only if a majority of the members of the local school board votes at a public meeting to endorse the application or to initiate the application on its own initiative.

(3) The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board shall consist of seven (7) members, to be appointed as follows:

(a) Three (3) members appointed by the Governor, with one (1) member being from each of the Mississippi Supreme Court Districts.

(b) Three (3) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, with one (1) member being from each of the Mississippi Supreme Court Districts.

(c) One (1) member appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education.

All appointments must be made with the advice and consent of the Senate. In making the appointments, the appointing authority shall ensure diversity among members of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board.

(4) Members appointed to the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board collectively must possess strong experience and expertise in public and nonprofit governance, management and finance, public school leadership, assessment, curriculum and instruction, and public education law. Each member of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board must have demonstrated an understanding of and commitment to charter schooling as a strategy for strengthening public education.

(5) To establish staggered terms of office, the initial term of office for the three (3) Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board members appointed by the Governor shall be four (4) years and thereafter shall be three (3) years; the initial term of office for the three (3) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor shall be three (3) years and thereafter shall be three (3) years; and the initial term of office for the member appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education shall be two (2) years and thereafter shall be three (3) years. No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. The initial appointments must be made before September 1, 2013.

(6) The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board shall meet as soon as practical after September 1, 2013, upon the call of the Governor, and shall organize for business by selecting a chairman and adopting bylaws. Subsequent meetings shall be called by the chairman.

(7) An individual member of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board may be removed by the board if the member's personal incapacity renders the member incapable or unfit to discharge the duties of the office or if the member is absent from a number of meetings of the board, as determined and specified by the board in its bylaws. Whenever a vacancy on the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board exists, the original appointing authority shall appoint a member for the remaining portion of the term.

(8) No member of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board or employee, agent or representative of the board may serve simultaneously as an employee, trustee, agent, representative, vendor or contractor of a charter school authorized by the board.

(9) The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board shall appoint an individual to serve as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board. The executive director shall possess the qualifications established by the board which are based on national best practices, and shall possess an understanding of state and federal education law. The executive director, who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board, shall devote his full time to the proper administration of the board and the duties assigned to him by the board and shall be paid a salary established by the board, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board. Subject to the availability of funding, the executive director may employ such administrative staff as may be necessary to assist the director and board in carrying out the duties and directives of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board.

(10) The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board is authorized to obtain suitable office space for administrative purposes. In acquiring a facility or office space the authorizer board shall adhere to all policies and procedures required by the Department of Finance and Administration and the Public Procurement Review Board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-139 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-139
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-139
Status: in_force

(1) The State Department of Education shall establish the necessary rules and regulations in accordance with IDEA to provide for an organization or individual to file a signed written complaint with respect to a violation of federal or state regulations by a local educational agency relating to the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child, or the provision of a free appropriate public education to such child.

(2) Procedures that require the parent of a child with a disability, or the attorney representing the child, to provide notice to the State Department of Education shall include:

(a) The name of the child, the address of the residence of the child, and the name of the school the child is attending;

(b) A description of the nature of the problem of the child relating to such proposed initiation or change, including facts relating to such problem; and

(c) A proposed resolution of the problem to the extent known and available to the parents at the time.

(3) The State Department of Education shall develop a model form to assist parents in filing a complaint in accordance with the requirements under IDEA.

(4) All complaints shall remain protected by the confidentiality requirements under IDEA.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 71-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-9
Status: in_force

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

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

(2) The State Department of Education shall provide an annual report detailing the progress that has been made in each school district in providing alternative courses, programs and opportunities or apprenticeships. The report shall be provided to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees no later than December 1 of each year, beginning December 1, 2021. The report also shall be provided to the other members of the Legislature upon request and posted on the department's website for the general public to view.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-145 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 29-145
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-145
Status: in_force

In the event any county shall have outstanding bonds or other indebtedness which were sold or levied for the support and maintenance of a public junior college which was in operation as of July 1, 1964, and such county becomes a part of a legally constituted junior college district as provided in section 37-29-31 , the board of supervisors of such county shall continue to levy taxes upon such county until such bonds or other indebtedness shall be fully paid according to the terms thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-3-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 3-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-3-103
Status: in_force

Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year and annually thereafter, the State Department of Education shall require that local school districts conduct in-service training on suicide prevention education for all newly employed school district employees. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health will be responsible for development of the content of the training. This education may be accomplished through self-review of suitable suicide prevention materials.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 47-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-3
Status: in_force

The term “ school district ” as used in this chapter shall be defined as including all public school districts and public charter schools in this state and also all agricultural high schools not located on the campus of a junior college.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-163 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 37-14-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 14-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-14-3
Status: in_force

(1) The State Department of Education is designated as the state agency responsible for the administration and supervision of the school nurse program as an education and wellness curriculum in the public schools of the State of Mississippi. The public school nurse program administered by the State Department of Education shall be known and may be cited as the “Mary Kirkpatrick Haskell-Mary Sprayberry Public School Nurse Program.” It is the intent of the Legislature that all funds made available to the State Department of Education for the purpose of employing school nurses shall be administered by the State Department of Education.

(2) The State Department of Education, through the Office of Healthy Schools, shall develop standards, procedures and criteria for the public school nurse programs in Kindergarten through Grade 12. The Office of Healthy Schools of the State Department of Education shall assume the responsibility for promoting a statewide school nurse program designed to prepare local school districts to incorporate the school program into their local educational programs.

(3) From and after July 1, 2007, the School Nurse Intervention Program administered and funded by the State Department of Health shall be transferred to the Office of Healthy Schools of the State Department of Education. Any administrative personnel employed by the State Department of Health for the administration of school nurses under the School Nurse Intervention Program may be considered for employment by the Office of Healthy Schools of the State Department of Education for the purpose of coordinating the employment of school nurses in the school districts. Any administrative personnel formerly employed by the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, Inc., for the administration of school nurses in the public schools may be considered for employment by the Office of Healthy Schools of the State Department of Education for the purpose of coordinating the employment of school nurses in the school districts. All records and unexpended balances of accounts in the School Nurse Intervention Program relating to the employment of school nurses shall be transferred to the Office of Healthy Schools in the State Department of Education in accordance with the transfer of responsibility under this chapter.

(4) The nurses in the Mary Kirkpatrick Haskell-Mary Sprayberry Public School Nurse Program shall have the following specific responsibilities:

(a) Serve as the coordinator of the health services program and provide nursing care;

(b) Provide health education to students;

(c) Implement activities to promote health and prevent tobacco, alcohol and substance use and abuse;

(d) Identify health and safety concerns in the school environment and promote a nurturing social environment;

(e) Administer medications and help students manage their health problems;

(f) Support healthy food services programs;

(g) Promote healthy physical education, sports policies and practices;

(h) Promote dropout prevention programs; and

(i) Participate in allied health programs to introduce students to health careers.

(5) The Office of Healthy Schools of the State Department of Education shall provide resources to all public school nurses so that those schools with school nurses will be prepared to provide health education in Mississippi schools and support the Mississippi Comprehensive Health Framework, Mississippi Physical Education Framework, Wellness Policy, coordinated approach to school health, and other resources required by the State Board of Education.

(6) In administering the Mary Kirkpatrick Haskell-Mary Sprayberry Public School Nurse Program, the Office of Healthy Schools of the State Department of Education shall perform the following duties:

(a) Execute any contracts, agreements or other documents with any governmental agency or any person, corporation, association, partnership or other organization or entity that are necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter;

(b) Receive grants or any other contributions made to the State Board of Education to be used for specific purposes related to the goals of this chapter;

(c) Submit to the State Auditor any financial records that are necessary for the Auditor to perform an annual audit of the commission as required by law;

(d) Adopt any rules or regulations that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter;

(e) Develop criteria to measure the effectiveness of a school nurse;

(f) Communicate to superintendents and principals how to maximize the effectiveness of a public school nurse;

(g) Develop recommended salary structure for school districts to use when hiring a school nurse;

(h) Communicate to superintendents, principals and other appropriate school officials regarding the statutes and regulations prohibiting the use of tobacco by school personnel on school property and at school events, and to monitor the effectiveness of this ban;

(i) Implement policies to reduce unnecessary paperwork by public school nurses; and

(j) Take any other actions that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 43-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-43
Status: in_force

The State Superintendent of Public Education shall deposit all funds sent to him from nonpublic schools for lost books or damaged books as well as all other funds accruing under this chapter in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Textbook Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-173 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-173
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-173
Status: in_force

Each school providing instruction or any other presentation on human sexuality in the classroom, assembly or other official setting shall be required to provide no less than one (1) week's written notice thereof to the parents of children in such programs of instruction. The written notice must inform the parents of their right to request the inclusion of their child for such instruction or presentation. The notice also must inform the parents of the right, and the appropriate process, to review the curriculum and all materials to be used in the lesson or presentation. Upon the request of any parent, the school shall excuse the parent's child from such instruction or presentation, without detriment to the student.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 28-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-45
Status: in_force

(1) Charter schools are subject to the same civil rights, health and safety requirements applicable to noncharter public schools in the state, except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter.

(2) Charter schools are subject to the student assessment and accountability requirements applicable to noncharter public schools in the state; however, this requirement does not preclude a charter school from establishing additional student assessment measures that go beyond state requirements if the authorizer approves those measures.

(3) Although a charter school is geographically located within the boundaries of a particular school district and enrolls students who reside within the school district, the charter school may not be considered a school within that district under the purview of the school district's school board. The rules, regulations, policies and procedures established by the school board for the noncharter public schools that are in the school district in which the charter school is geographically located do not apply to the charter school unless otherwise required under the charter contract or any contract entered into between the charter school governing board and the local school board.

(4) Whenever the provisions of Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , relating to the elementary and secondary education of public school students establish a requirement for or grant authority to local school districts, their school boards and the schools within the respective school districts, the language “school districts,” “school boards,” “boards of trustees,” “the schools within a school district,” or any other similar phraseology does not include a charter school and the governing board of a charter school unless the statute specifically is made applicable to charter schools as well as noncharter public schools.

(5) A charter school is not subject to any rule, regulation, policy or procedure adopted by the State Board of Education or the State Department of Education unless otherwise required by the authorizer or in the charter contract.

(6) Charter schools are not exempt from the following statutes:

(a) Chapter 41, Title 25, Mississippi Code of 1972 , which relate to open meetings of public bodies.

(b) Chapter 61, Title 25, Mississippi Code of 1972 , which relate to public access to public records.

(c) Section 37-3-51 , which requires notice by the district attorney of licensed school employees who are convicted of certain sex offenses.

(d) Section 37-3-53 , which requires publication of the Mississippi Report Card by the State Board of Education.

(e) Section 37-11-18 , which requires the automatic expulsion of a student possessing a weapon or controlled substance on educational property.

(f) Section 37-11-18.1 , which requires expulsion of certain habitually disruptive students.

(g) Section 37-11-19 , which requires suspension or expulsion of a student who damages school property.

(h) Section 37-11-20 , which prohibits acts of intimidation intended to keep a student from attending school.

(i) Section 37-11-21 , which prohibits parental abuse of school staff.

(j) Section 37-11-23 , which prohibits the willful disruption of school and school meetings.

(k) Sections 37-11-29 and 37-11-31 , which relate to reporting requirements regarding unlawful or violent acts on school property.

(l) Section 37-11-67 , which prohibits bullying or harassing behavior in public schools.

(m) Section 37-13-3 , which prohibits doctrinal, sectarian or denominational teaching in public schools.

(n) Sections 37-13-5 and 37-13-6 , which require the flags of the United States and the State of Mississippi to be displayed near the school building.

(o) Section 37-13-63(1) , which prescribes the minimum number of days which public schools must be kept in session during a scholastic year.

(p) Section 37-13-91 , which is the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law.

(q) Section 37-13-171(2) and (4) , which requires any course containing sex-related education to include instruction in abstinence-only or abstinence-plus education.

(r) Section 37-13-173 , which requires notice to parents before instruction on human sexuality is provided in public classrooms.

(s) Section 37-13-193 , which relates to civil rights and human rights education in the public schools.

(t) Sections 37-15-1 and 37-15-3 , which relate to the maintenance and transfer of permanent student records in public schools.

(u) Section 37-15-6 , which requires the State Department of Education to maintain a record of expulsions from the public schools.

(v) Section 37-15-9 , which establishes minimum age requirements for kindergarten and first grade enrollment in public schools.

(w) Section 37-15-11 , which requires a parent, legal guardian or custodian to accompany a child seeking enrollment in a public school.

(x) Sections 37-16-1 , 37-16-3 , 37-16-4 and 37-16-9 , which relate to the statewide assessment testing program.

(y) Section 37-18-1 , which establishes the Superior-Performing Schools Program and Exemplary Schools Program to recognize public schools that improve.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-165 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 37-151-203 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 151-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-203
Status: in_force

(1) In fiscal year 2025, the student base amount shall be Six Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-five Dollars and Thirty-four Cents ($6,695.34) per student. In fiscal years 2026, 2027 and 2028, the inflationary adjustment described in this section shall be applied to derive the total funding formula. In fiscal year 2029, and every fourth fiscal year thereafter, the State Board of Education, on or before August 1, with an adjusted estimate no later than January 2, shall submit to the Legislative Budget Office, the Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations and Education Committees, respectively, the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House a new proposed student base amount calculation using the following formula:

(a) Instructional cost. To determine the instructional cost, the department shall first calculate the state's student to teacher ratio. Such ratio shall be determined by dividing the net enrollment for public schools and charter schools in the state by the total number of teachers in such schools, as determined by the department, in months two (2) and three (3) of the school year preceding the year funds are to be appropriated. The student to teacher ratio shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. After determining the student to teacher ratio, the average teacher salary shall be divided by the student-teacher ratio, and the resulting amount shall be considered the instructional cost. The average teacher salary shall be calculated by the department and include district local supplements as provided in Section 37-151-87 , but shall not include the highest five percent (5%) and lowest five percent (5%) of district local supplements.

(b) Administrative cost; which shall be twenty percent (20%) of the instructional cost.

(c) Ancillary personnel and expenses; which shall be thirty percent (30%) of the instructional cost.

(d) Operation and maintenance of plant. For the plant and maintenance cost component, the State Department of Education shall select districts that have a ratio of plant and maintenance expenditures per one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet of building space and a ratio of maintenance workers per one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet of building space that are both between one (1) standard deviation above the mean and two (2) standard deviations below the mean of the statewide average. The plant and maintenance cost component shall be calculated by dividing the latest available months one (1) through nine (9) average daily attendance of the selected districts into the plant and maintenance expenditures of these selected districts. For the purpose of this calculation, the Department of Education shall use the following funds, functions and objects: Fund 1120 Functions 2600-2699, Objects 100-699 and Objects 800-999; Fund 2711 Functions 2600-2699, Objects 100-699 and Objects 800-999; Fund 2430 Functions 2600-2699, Objects 100-699 and Objects 800-999. Net enrollment means the percentage change from the prior year of each year of each school district's months two (2) and three (3) average of net enrollment for the three (3) immediately preceding school years of the year for which funds are being appropriated.

(2) For purposes of these calculations, the State Department of Education shall utilize financial data from the second preceding year of the year for which funds are being appropriated.

(3) For each of the fiscal years between the recalculation of the base student cost, the base student cost shall be increased by an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the base student cost for the previous fiscal year, multiplied by the twenty year average annual change in the rate of inflation rounded up to the nearest tenth of a percent for the State of Mississippi as determined by the State Economist, plus any adjustments for additional state requirements including, but not limited to, teacher pay raises and health insurance premium increases. The calculation shall be performed annually by the Department of Education, and the resulting amount shall replace base student cost from the previous year.

(4) In years when the total revenue of the state does not increase, the Legislature may retain the base student cost from the previous year. If the total revenue increases the following year, the formula shall be recalculated or increased according to inflation as provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 .

(5) Base student cost shall not be lower than the previous year; provided, however, the base student cost may be lowered when the State Fiscal Officer provides notice to the Legislative Budget Office of a revenue shortfall in accordance with Section 27-104-13 .

(6) By November 1, 2024, the department shall submit to the Legislative Budget Office, the Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations and Education Committees, respectively, the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House, a report on the department's plan for implementation of the funding formula as specified under the provisions of Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , and to recommend any technical amendments necessary for its effective administration before the commencement of the 2025 Regular Session of the Legislature.

(7) The annual amount of funding for the operation of each school district and charter school under the total funding formula as provided under Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 is determined by multiplying the student base amount, as determined under Section 37-151-203 , by the final weighted enrollment of the school district or charter school, as determined under Section 37-151-205 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-157 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 101-157
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-157
Status: in_force

All oil, gas and mineral leases provided for in Section 37-101-153 , shall be executed by the President of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and attested by the Commissioner of Higher Education, respectively, on behalf of the institution owning or having the use of such lands as the case may be. The corporate seal of the institution owning or having benefit of such land shall be affixed to all leases. In all such cases such leases shall be executed only upon order or resolution of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in the manner hereinbefore set forth.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 115-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-1
Status: in_force

The University of Mississippi, incorporated on the twenty-fourth of February, A. D., 1844, shall continue to exist as a body-politic and corporate by that name and style, with all its property, real and personal, and with all the franchises, rights, powers and privileges heretofore conferred on it by law or properly incident to such a body and necessary to accomplish the end of its creation; said university may receive, hold and dispose of all real and personal property conveyed to it for such purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-175 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-175
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-175
Status: in_force

Nothing in Sections 37-13-171 and 37-13-173 shall apply to any biological science course or curriculum.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-175 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-175
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-175
Status: in_force

If a junior college now or hereafter establishes facilities for the industrial training of students and it appears to the board of trustees of the junior college district that the training of students will be facilitated by the continuous operation of such facilities, the trustees are authorized to lease to individual firms or corporations such facilities or a part thereof upon such terms and conditions as the trustees may approve, provided that all students desirous of securing training of the kind offered by the lessee shall be given a reasonable opportunity therefor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 47-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-65
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a school district from issuing its bonds, negotiable notes, or certificates of indebtedness for the purposes, in the manner, to the extent, and subject to the limitations provided by Sections 37-59-1 through 37-59-45 , or any other applicable sections, and the authority granted by this chapter shall be construed as being additional, supplemental, and cumulative thereto. The proceeds of the sale of any such bonds, negotiable notes, or certificates of indebtedness so issued by any such school district may be used for the purpose for which they were issued and may be expended in conjunction with funds provided by the state educational finance commission under the provisions of this chapter, or may be expended without such funds, if same be not available.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 106-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-39
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Scholarship.

(2) Except as provided in this section, if any Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time firefighter or volunteer firefighter shall suffer or has suffered fatal injuries or wounds or become permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries or wounds which occurred in the performance of the official and appointed duties of his or her office, his or her spouse, child or children shall be entitled to an eight-semester scholarship without cost, exclusive of books, food, school supplies, materials and dues or fees for extracurricular activities, at any state-supported college or university of his or her choice within this state.

(a) No child shall be entitled to receive benefits during any semester or quarter when said child has reached the age of twenty-three (23) years on the first day of said semester or quarter. However, any child who has begun the process of acquiring college credits under the provisions of this section prior to attaining the age of twenty-three (23) years shall be entitled to the full eight-semester scholarship if his or her college instruction was interrupted for any reason.

(b) Scholarship benefits shall not accrue hereunder to any person if the wounds or injuries suffered by any law enforcement officer, full-time firefighter or volunteer firefighter are self-inflicted or if his death is self-induced.

(3) Eligibility for renewal of the scholarship shall be evaluated each academic year at the end of each semester or term. As a condition for renewal, a student shall:

(a) Make steady academic progress toward a certificate or degree, as outlined in the school Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards and certified by the institution's registrar; and

(b) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 calculated on a 4.0 scale at the end of each academic year.

(4) For the purposes of this section, these words and phrases shall be defined as follows:

(a) “Mississippi law enforcement officers” shall be defined as follows:

(i) “ State highway patrolmen ” means all law enforcement officers, regardless of department or bureau, of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol.

(ii) “ Municipal police officers ” means all law enforcement officers of any municipality who are regular duty personnel on full-time status, auxiliary or reserve officers, or those serving on a temporary or part-time status.

(iii) “ Sheriffs ” and “ deputy sheriffs ” means all law enforcement officers of full-time duty status on a regular basis serving the sheriff's department of any county, deputy sheriffs who are engaged in administrative or civil duty, auxiliary or reserve deputies, or deputy sheriffs serving in a temporary capacity or part-time basis.

(iv) “ Constables ” means all duly elected constables of any beat of any county within the state while actually engaged in the performance of their duties concerning the criminal laws of the county and state.

(v) “ Conservation officers ” means all duly appointed game wardens employed by the State of Mississippi on a full-time duty status while actually engaged in the performance of their duties concerning the game laws of the state.

(vi) “ Alcoholic Beverage Control Division agents and inspectors ” means all duly appointed agents and investigators of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Mississippi Department of Revenue on a full-time duty status while actually engaged in the performance of their duties concerning the alcoholic beverage control laws of the state.

(vii) Members of the National Guard serving as peace officers when ordered to state emergency duty under authority vested in the Governor by the Constitution and laws of the state.

(viii) “ Tax commission scales enforcement officers ” means all duly appointed scales enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Revenue on a full-time duty status while actually engaged in the performance of their duties.

(ix) Duly appointed agents of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

(x) Correctional, probation and parole officers employed by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

(b) “Mississippi full-time firefighters” shall be defined as all firefighters employed by any subdivision of the State of Mississippi on a full-time duty status while actually engaged in the performance of their duties, and volunteer firefighters shall be defined as any volunteer firefighter registered with the State of Mississippi or a political subdivision thereof on a volunteer firefighting status while actually engaged in the performance of firefighting duties.

(c) “ Child ” or “ children ” means natural children, adopted children or stepchildren.

(d) “ Spouse ” means a person who was, at the time of the death of the decedent, legally married to a Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time firefighter, or volunteer firefighter, or in the case of a law enforcement officer, full-time firefighter or volunteer firefighter who suffered fatal injuries or wounds, prior to or after March 13, 1990, who has not remarried.

(5)(a) Any law enforcement officer, full-time firefighter or volunteer firefighter claiming permanent and total disability shall be qualified or disqualified for a claim under this section based on examination and review of the following four (4) documents:

(i) A letter from the officer's or firefighter's former supervisor or employer stating whether the officer or firefighter is disabled as a result of injuries or wounds that occurred in the performance of the official duties of his office;

(ii) A statement from the officer's or firefighter's physician stating whether the officer or firefighter is disabled and the reason for that disability;

(iii) Verification from the Public Employees' Retirement System; and

(iv) Verification from the Social Security Administration.

(b) If the law enforcement officer, full-time firefighter or volunteer firefighter suffered fatal injuries or wounds, a claim under this section shall be based on examination and review of the following two (2) documents:

(i) A letter from the officer's or firefighter's former supervisor or employer stating whether he suffered fatal injuries in the performance of the official duties of his office; and

(ii) A death certificate.

(6) Any applicant qualified and desiring a scholarship under the provisions of this section shall apply in writing to the board. The board shall make inquiries into each application and shall make the investigation as it deems proper to establish and validate all claims before a scholarship is granted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-127 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-127
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-127
Status: in_force

Sections 37-29-121 through 37-29-125 shall be construed as cumulative and no restriction, limitation or prohibition of the general laws shall operate to curtail the authority or prescribe the procedure by which the purposes of said sections shall be effected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 16-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-11
Status: in_force

(1) A student who has been properly classified, in accordance with rules established by the State Board of Education shall, upon meeting all applicable requirements prescribed by the district school board, be awarded a special diploma in a form prescribed by the state board; however, such special graduation requirements prescribed by the district school board shall include minimum graduation requirements as prescribed by the state board. Any such student who meets all special requirements of the district school board for his exceptionality, but is unable to meet the appropriate special state minimum requirements, shall be awarded a special certificate of completion in a form prescribed by the state board. Nothing provided in this section, however, shall be construed to limit or restrict the right of an exceptional student solely to a special diploma. Any such student shall, upon proper request, be afforded the opportunity to fully meet all requirements of Section 37-16-7 through the standard procedures established therein and thereby qualify for a standard diploma upon graduation.

(2) The State Board of Education shall develop and issue criteria for a Mississippi Occupational Diploma for students having a disability as defined by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, any such student, upon proper request, shall be afforded the opportunity to fully meet such requirements and qualify for an occupational diploma upon graduation.

(3) The special Mississippi Occupational Diploma for students with disabilities shall not be available to any student entering the Ninth Grade in the 2017-2018 school year or thereafter, pending State Board of Education approval of new graduation options.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-2 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-2
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-2
Status: in_force

(1) No public institution of higher learning, community/junior college, school district or public school, including public charter schools, shall direct or otherwise compel students to personally affirm, adopt or adhere to any of the following tenets:

(a) That any sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin is inherently superior or inferior; or

(b) That individuals should be adversely treated on the basis of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin.

(2) No public institution of higher learning, community/junior college, school district or public school, including public charter schools, shall make a distinction or classification of students based on account of race, provided that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the required collection or reporting of demographic information by such schools or institutions.

(3) No public institution of higher learning, community/junior college, school district or public school, including public charter schools, shall teach a course of instruction or unit of study that directs or otherwise compels students to personally affirm, adopt or adhere to any of the tenets identified in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section.

(4) No funds shall be expended by the State Department of Education, any entity under the Department of Education's jurisdiction or purview, a school district, public charter school, community/junior college, the Mississippi Community College Board, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or a public institution of higher learning for any purpose that would violate the provisions of this section.

(5) The provisions of this section shall be severable, and if any provision of this section or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid for any reason, such declaration shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 47-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-45
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under the authority of this chapter shall mature annually. None of such bonds shall have a final maturity date of more than twenty (20) years from the date of the issuance thereof, and in no event shall the final maturity date of any such bonds be later than July 1, 2004. In issuing such bonds, the state bond commission shall be authorized and empowered to provide maturities therefor in such amounts and at such times as the state bond commission shall deem appropriate, proper and feasible. No bonds shall be issued and sold under the provisions of this chapter for less than par and accrued interest.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 33-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-67
Status: in_force

The right of an individual who is blind to maintenance under the Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Law shall not be transferable or assignable at law or in equity and shall be exempt from the claims of creditors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-8 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 61-8
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-8
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations prescribing the method by which school district ending fund balances are examined for fiscal stability. Failure to comply with any of the rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education with regard to ending fund balances shall constitute a violation of the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-41
Status: in_force

The salaries of superintendents, principals and licensed employees shall be paid by pay certificates issued by the school district superintendent. Such pay certificates may be issued without additional authorization of the school board where the amount of salary has been fixed and a contract entered into as is provided in this chapter. All pay certificates shall be preserved by him as a part of the official records of his office for the same time and in the same manner as other records are preserved. Except as is herein provided, the said warrants shall be governed in all respects by the same laws regulating the issuance of other warrants for other purposes. All pay certificates and warrants issued shall show the gross amount of the salary and all authorized deductions therefrom for income taxes, Social Security, retirement contributions and other lawful purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 104-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-5
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(h) “ Bond loan agreement ” means an agreement between the participating private institution of higher learning and the Authority for the purposes of: (i) establishing the terms for the payment of the revenue bonds by the participating private institution of higher learning; (ii) establishing the collateral of the participating private institution of higher learning which the parties determine to be necessary to secure the payment of the revenue bonds; (iii) establishing the terms for the payment by the Authority to the participating private institution of higher learning of the proceeds from the sale of the revenue bonds for the payment of the costs of the educational facilities project by the participating private institution of higher learning; and (iv) setting forth all other matters relating to the revenue bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 185-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-5
Status: in_force

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

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

(3) The MDA shall develop regulations, procedures and application forms to govern the administration of the program, which at a minimum, shall require eligible independent schools to:

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

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

(c) Provide an itemized list of reimbursable eligible expenses as defined in Section 37-185-3 , which the independent school has previously incurred, is presently incurring or will incur before December 30, 2020, as such expenses relate to mitigation of the impact of COVID-19.

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

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

(a) The name of each eligible independent school;

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

(c) The total amount of reimbursement received by each eligible independent school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 24-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Youth Concussion Law.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 181-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-19
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education may receive and expend contributions from any public or private source to fund ESAs for participating students.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-65 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 27-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-65
Status: in_force

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

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

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, bonds referred to hereinabove may be issued pursuant to the supplemental powers and authorizations conferred by the provisions of the Registered Bond Act, being Sections 31-21-1 through 31-21-7 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-235 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 29-235
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-235
Status: in_force

A public junior college fraternity, sorority or secret society, as contemplated by Sections 37-29-235 through 37-29-243 is hereby defined to be any organization composed wholly, or in part, of public junior college pupils, which seeks to perpetuate itself by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in such junior college on the basis of the decision of the membership of such fraternity, sorority or secret society, rather than upon the free choice of any pupil in the junior college. However, this does not apply to the Order of DeMolay or a similar organization sponsored by any branch of the Masonic Orders or like adult fraternal organization.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 145-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-33
Status: in_force

Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 37-145-23 through 37-145-41 or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted hereunder, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 37-145-23 through 37-145-41 to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 23-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-105
Status: in_force

There shall be held an election, conforming in all respects to applicable statutes governing special elections, in which the proposition authorized in Sections 37-23-91 through 37-23-103 shall be submitted for approval or rejection by the electorate of said county. The power and authority to levy taxes or to issue bonds as provided in Sections 37-23-101 and 37-23-103 , shall be contingent upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified electors of said county participating in said election.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-111
Status: in_force

When any school district is abolished or altered under the provisions of this article, the abolition or alteration thereof shall not impair or release the property of such school district from liability for the payment of the bonds or other indebtedness of such district and it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of said county to levy taxes on the property of said district so abolished or altered from year to year according to the terms of such indebtedness until same shall be fully paid. No existing school district shall be abolished unless the territory comprising such district shall be annexed to another district in the same order abolishing the former district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 33-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-63
Status: in_force

(1) Vocational rehabilitation services shall be provided to any individual who is blind, (i) who is a resident of the state at the time of filing his or her application therefor and whose vocational rehabilitation the director determines after full investigation can be satisfactorily achieved, or (ii) who is eligible therefor under the terms of an agreement with another state or with the federal government. Except as otherwise provided by law or as specified in any agreement with the federal government with respect to classes of individuals certified to the agency under that agreement, the following rehabilitation services shall be provided to blind individuals, utilizing available financial resources. These may include state, federal and/or personal funds. The services shall include:

(a) Physical restoration;

(b) Transportation not provided to determine the eligibility of the individual for vocational rehabilitation services and the nature and extent of the services necessary;

(c) Occupational licenses;

(d) Placement equipment, tools and supplies;

(e) Maintenance;

(f) Training books and materials;

(g) Supported employment services, rehabilitation engineering services and independent living services.

(2) No person shall be determined ineligible because of financial status.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 31-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-105
Status: in_force

Allowable costs for public schools may include salaries of instructors, cost of equipment, supplies, supervision, rental of space and equipment, utilities, custodial services, and other costs justifiable for the specific programs. There shall be no cost to students for any training received. The necessary books, tools and supplies shall be provided. All items purchased shall remain the property of the state for future programs and shall not be given to the student. Equipment may be transferred between local public training agencies. Rental for private facilities and minor remodeling and maintenance for public facilities are allowable. There shall be no construction of facilities.

Up to One Hundred Dollars ($100) per student may be expended for medical services necessary for vocational rehabilitation if needed to render the person employable and if no other source of funds is available for this purpose.

Funds appropriated for the purpose of Sections 37-31-101 through 37-31-111 , except funds received by virtue of the Fiscal Assistance to State and Local Governments Act, Public Law 92-512 , 31 USCA 1221, et seq., may be used as matching funds to obtain federal funds for similar objectives whenever needed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 26-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-26-11
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Children's Advocacy Centers Fund, which shall be administered by the Office of the Attorney General. The purpose of the fund shall be for training forensic interviewers in child abuse and child sexual abuse cases, training law enforcement officers and prosecutors about child abuse cases, expanding the number of Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi to underserved areas, and other related purposes. Monies in the fund shall be expended by the Attorney General, upon appropriation by the Legislature. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of:

(a) Monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of funding the Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi;

(b) The interest accruing to the fund;

(c) Monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73 ;

(d) Monies received from the federal government;

(e) Donations; and

(f) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.

(2) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Mississippi Foster Care Fund, which shall be administered by the Administrative Office of Courts. The purpose of the fund shall be for supporting the services directly provided to foster families and foster children by programs, persons or entities pursuant to contracts and grants that comply with Mississippi law, and for other related purposes. Monies in the fund shall be expended by the office, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only for the purposes stated in this subsection, and only in such amounts as then exist in the fund. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of:

(a) Monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of funding the Mississippi Foster Care Fund;

(b) The interest accruing to the fund;

(c) Monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73 for the Mississippi Foster Care Fund, ninety percent (90%) of which shall be used directly for supporting the services directly provided to foster families and foster children by programs, persons or entities pursuant to contracts and grants that comply with Mississippi law, and no more than ten percent (10%) of which shall be used for administrative purposes;

(d) Monies received from the federal government;

(e) Donations; and

(f) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.

(3) From and after July 1, 2016, the expenses of the Children's Advocacy Centers Fund Program shall be defrayed by appropriation from the State General Fund and all user charges and fees authorized under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund as authorized by law and as determined by the State Fiscal Officer.

(4) From and after July 1, 2016, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 65-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-5
Status: in_force

Upon the closure of any such school, college, or institution of higher learning, no person shall go or enter upon the premises thereof except with the permission or approval of said governor, and any other person going or entering upon said premises shall be a trespasser and guilty of a misdemeanor under the laws of the State of Mississippi. Upon conviction thereof, such person shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), or be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than thirty days, or be both so fined and imprisoned.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-305 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / 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. § 37-140-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 140-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-3
Status: in_force

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

(2) The 2001-2002 school year shall be the first year that the school shall admit students for enrollment, which shall be limited to students in the eleventh grade during the school's first year. Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, the school shall enroll students in the eleventh and twelfth grades.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-75 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 37-33-73 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 33-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-73
Status: in_force

Budget estimates of the amount of appropriations needed each fiscal year for vocational rehabilitation services for the blind and for the administration of said program shall be submitted in such manner as may be provided by law, and sufficient funds for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Law shall be appropriated by the Legislature. In the event federal funds are available to the State of Mississippi for vocational rehabilitation purposes, the department is authorized to comply with such requirements as may be necessary to obtain said federal funds in the maximum amount and most advantageous proportion possible insofar as this may be done without violating other provisions of the state law and constitution. In the event the national Congress fails in any year to appropriate funds for grants-in-aid to the state for vocational rehabilitation purposes, the State Legislature shall appropriate such funds as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of said law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 51-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-11
Status: in_force

In addition to the requirements set out in Section 37-51-7 , to be eligible for a loan an applicant must:

(a) Be a bona fide actual resident of the State of Mississippi; and

(b) Attend any bona fide approved nonfree elementary or secondary school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-13
Status: in_force

As used in the Vocational Rehabilitation Law:

(a) “ Competitive employment ” means work in the competitive labor market that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis in an integrated setting and for which an individual is compensated at or above the minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by individuals who are not disabled;

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

(c) “ Director ” means the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation;

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

(e) “ Employment outcome ” means, with respect to an individual entering or retaining full-time or, if appropriate part-time competitive employment in the integrated labor market to the greatest extent practicable; supported employment; or any other type of employment, including self-employment, telecommuting, or business ownership, that is consistent with an individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice;

(f) “ Individual with a disability ” means any individual who has a physical or mental impairment, whose impairment constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment, and who can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from the provision of vocational rehabilitation services;

(g) “ 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;

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

(i) “ Office ” means the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services;

(j) “ Personal assistance services ” means assistance in a range of services provided by one or more persons designed to assist an eligible individual with a disability to perform daily living activities on or off the job that the individual would typically perform without assistance. The services must be designed to increase the individual's control in life and ability to perform every day activities on or off the job. The services must be necessary to the achievement of an employment outcome and may be provided only while the individual is receiving other vocational rehabilitation services. The services may include training in managing, supervising, and directing personal assistance services;

(k) “ 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 restoration services, or that are inherent in the condition under treatment; (xv) special services for the treatment of individuals with end-stage renal disease; and (xvi) other medical or medically-related rehabilitation services;

(l) “ 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;

(m) “ Regulations ” means regulations made by the executive director with the approval of the state board.

(n) “ 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;

(o) “ Rehabilitation training ” means all necessary training provided to an eligible individual with a disability to enable him or her to overcome his or her employment handicap, including, but not limited to, manual, preconditioning, prevocational, vocational and supplementary training and training provided for the purpose of developing occupational skills and capacities;

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

(q) “ 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;

(r) “ 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 designated state unit (i) for a period of time not to exceed eighteen (18) months, unless under special circumstances the eligible individual and the rehabilitation counselor 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;

(s) “ Vocational rehabilitation ” and “ vocational rehabilitation services ” mean, for an eligible individual with a disability, services as appropriate and required to assist 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 learning (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. § 37-23-121 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 23-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-121
Status: in_force

Sections 37-23-121 through 37-23-131 shall be cited as the “Mississippi Learning Resources Law of 1974.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 131-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-11
Status: in_force

All demonstration or practice schools established under the provisions of Section 37-131-1 shall, as far as may be practicable, be subject to and governed by the same laws as other public schools of the State of Mississippi, and shall make all reports required by law to be made by public schools to the State Board of Education at the same time and in the same manner as such reports are made by other public schools. However, for the purpose of the allocation of total funding formula funds, the reports of children in net enrollment shall be made to the school district involved by the demonstration or practice school, and a copy thereof shall be filed with the State Board of Education. The school district shall use the reports so filed with it in making its reports to the State Board of Education for the purpose of the allocation of total funding formula funds, but the net enrollment of the pupils attending such demonstration or practice school shall be segregated and separated in such reports from the net enrollment in the regular schools of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-95 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 151-95
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-95
Status: in_force

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

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

The State Department of Education, in accordance with rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education, may withhold a school district's total funding formula funds for failure of the district to timely report student, fiscal and personnel data necessary to meet state and/or federal requirements. The rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education shall require the withholding of total funding formula funds for those districts that fail to remit premiums, interest penalties and/or late charges under the State and School Employees' Life and Health Insurance Plan. Noncompliance with such rules and regulations shall result in a violation of compulsory accreditation standards as established by the State Board of Education and Commission on School Accreditation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-171 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-171
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-171
Status: in_force

Sections 37-23-171 through 37-23-181 shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Gifted Education Act of 1989.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-119 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 57-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-119
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors of any county which imposes the tax authorized by Sections 37-57-111 through 37-57-119 may adopt rules and regulations governing the time and method of payment of the taxes, and may provide by rule or regulation for the withholding of any final or other inspection of the property otherwise required by local building or zoning ordinance until such tax is paid or satisfactory security given for such payment, and may provide for the payment of interest and penalties up to fifty percent (50%) for late payment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-171 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-171
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-171
Status: in_force

No expenditures shall be made under the provisions of the Mississippi Junior College Vocational and Technical Training Law of 1964 for the construction of new buildings, renovation or expansion of existing buildings, the purchase of any new or used instructional equipment, machinery and instructional facilities, or for any other purpose under the provisions of said law until approval of the state building commission is obtained by resolution duly entered upon its minutes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 173-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-173-25
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

(4) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any person or organization from providing funding or other assistance to the establishment or operation of any school authorized under this chapter, except religious or sectarian organizations. The State Board of Education, acting on behalf of the participating schools, is authorized to accept gifts, donations, and grants of any kind made to a participating school and to expend or use such gifts, donations, and grants in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the donor; however, no gift, donation, or grant may be accepted if subject to a condition that is contrary to any provision of state law or board rule.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 104-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-13
Status: in_force

The governing board of any private institution of higher learning is hereby authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to declare by resolution to the Authority the need for an educational facility project at said private institution of higher learning and for the issuance of revenue bonds to finance or refinance said educational facility project.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-104.7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.7
Status: in_force

(1) In Holmes County, Mississippi, in which are located, as of January 1, 2016, two (2) school districts, there shall be an administrative consolidation of all of those school districts in the county into one (1) new countywide school district to be designated as Holmes County Consolidated School District which shall consist of the territory of the former Holmes County School District and the Durant Public School District, effective on July 1, 2018. At such time that the administrative consolidation becomes effective, the central administrative office of the Holmes County Consolidated School District shall be located in Lexington, Mississippi.

(2) Within two (2) years prior to the date of consolidation, or as soon as practicable after July 1, 2016, a financial advisor and/or other facilitator with school district experience may be assigned by the Mississippi Department of Education to oversee the budgeting and financial matters relating to the consolidation of the districts slated for consolidation. The financial advisor and/or facilitator may, at the discretion of the Mississippi Department of Education, continue duties for one (1) year after the consolidation to ensure that all financial matters are in place. All financial expenditures of districts that are closing must be approved by the financial advisor and/or facilitator. If the superintendent and/or school board approves expenditures outside of this approval, they shall be personally liable for the excess expenditures. The State Board of Education shall determine the compensation to be paid to the financial advisor and/or facilitator which shall be paid by the local school district to which the financial advisor and/or facilitator is assigned.

(3)(a) On or before July 1, 2017, the State Board of Education shall serve the local school boards of the Holmes County School District and the Durant Public School District with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to comply with the administrative consolidation required in this section. The State Board of Education shall provide for the administrative consolidation of Holmes County School District and the Durant Public School District on or before July 1, 2018. In the new Holmes County Consolidated School District, there shall be a new county board of education elected in a November 2017 special election, which shall be called by the Governor for that purpose. The new county board of education shall be elected and the terms of office established as provided in Section 37-5-7(3) . The State Board of Education shall declare that the territory embraced by Holmes County, Mississippi, shall be the boundary lines for the territory of the new Holmes County Consolidated School District and shall spread a legal description of the new school district on the minutes of its August 2017 meeting and shall serve the applicable school boards and the board of supervisors with an adequate legal description of these new boundaries. It shall be the responsibility of the board of supervisors of such county to apportion the newly consolidated school district into five (5) new single member board of education election districts, which shall be consistent with the supervisors district lines in the county. The board of supervisors of the county shall thereafter publish the same in some newspaper of general circulation in the county for at least three (3) consecutive weeks and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the school boards of each appropriate school district in the county, the new district lines will thereafter be effective for the November 2017 special election.

(b) Any school district affected by the required administrative consolidation in Holmes County that does not voluntarily consolidate as ordered by the State Board of Education shall be administratively consolidated by the State Board of Education, to be effective on July 1 following the November 2017 special election of the new school board members. The State Board of Education shall promptly move on its own motion to administratively consolidate a school district which does not voluntarily consolidate in order to enable the affected school districts to reasonably accomplish the resulting administrative consolidation into the Holmes County Consolidated School District by July 1, 2018, following the election of the new board of trustees. The affected school districts shall comply with any consolidation order issued by the State Board of Education on or before July 1 following the election of the new board of trustees.

(4)(a) On July 1, 2018, following the election of the new board of trustees of the Holmes County Consolidated School District, the former county board of education for Holmes County and the former board of trustees of the Durant Public School Districts shall be abolished. All real and personal property which is owned or titled in the name of the school district located in such former school districts shall be transferred to the new Holmes County Consolidated School District.

(b) The new board of trustees of the Holmes County Consolidated School District shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for teachers, principals, clerical and administrative staff personnel for the 2018-2019 school year and each school year thereafter.

(c) The new board of trustees for the Holmes County Consolidated School District shall appoint the superintendent of schools for the school district. The superintendent of schools for the Holmes County Consolidated School District may appoint an assistant superintendent of schools for the district, but in no instance shall the administrative leadership of the Holmes County Consolidated School District have more than one (1) assistant superintendent of education. The subsequent superintendent of schools of the consolidated school district shall not be elected, but shall thereafter be appointed by the successor board of trustees in the manner provided in Section 37-9-25 . It shall be the responsibility of the successor board of trustees to prepare and approve the budget of the new consolidated district, and the successor board of trustees may use staff from the former school districts to prepare the budget. Any proposed order of the State Board of Education directing the transfer of the assets, real or personal property of an affected school district in the county, shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation.

(d) Any person or school district aggrieved by an order of the successor newly selected board of trustees of the Holmes County Consolidated School District pursuant to the required administrative consolidation may appeal therefrom within ten (10) days from the date of the adjournment of the meeting at which such order is entered. The appeal shall be taken in the same manner as appeals are taken from judgments or decisions of the board of supervisors as provided in Section 11-51-75 , the provisions of which shall be fully applicable to appeals taken hereunder. The board of trustees of the Holmes County Consolidated School District shall not pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order until the time for an appeal therefrom has expired, nor shall the board pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order from which an appeal is taken until said appeal has been finally determined.

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

(6) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative consolidation of the school districts in Holmes County pursuant to this section. The consolidated districts shall make an election within one (1) year of consolidation concerning the group term life insurance described in subsection (6) of Section 25-15-9 .

(7) The County Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education of the former Holmes County School District and the local school board and Superintendent of Schools of the Durant Public School District shall cooperate with the State Department of Education, as soon as practicable after July 1, 2016, for the planning and transition of programs, services and alignment of curriculum for the administratively consolidated school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-4 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 101-4
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-4
Status: in_force

There shall be a trusteeship, to be known as the Felix La Bauve Scholarship Trust, for the Felix La Bauve Scholarship that exists for the benefit of the University of Mississippi. The trusteeship shall be composed of three (3) persons. The initial composition of the trusteeship shall be the two (2) persons who last filled the position of La Bauve trustee on the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and, as an ex officio voting member, the person holding the office of DeSoto County Superintendent of Education. The term of the trustee who served as La Bauve trustee on the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning from 1980-1984 shall be four (4) years. The term of the trustee who served in that position from 1984-1988 shall be eight (8) years. The term of each of the trustees shall begin on June 1, 1988.

At least one (1) month before the expiration of the term of a trustee, other than the DeSoto County Superintendent of Education, the trusteeship shall choose a successor who shall serve a term of eight (8) years. No trustee other than the DeSoto County Superintendent of Education shall serve more than one (1) term of office. Any person chosen as a trustee other than the Superintendent of Education shall be a resident of DeSoto County and shall hold an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi.

In case of the death, disability or resignation of any trustee, other than the DeSoto County Superintendent of Education, the trusteeship shall appoint a person to serve the remainder of the term of his predecessor who shall be a resident of DeSoto County and shall hold an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi.

The trusteeship shall be responsible for recommending to the Chancellor of the University of Mississippi prospective students who are eligible recipients of the La Bauve Scholarship. The Chancellor shall choose the best qualified student or students from those nominated, depending on the amount of monies available for scholarship awards.

The Legislature shall continue to appropriate the annual sum to the University of Mississippi that has been paid in lieu of the interest earned on the original corpus of the La Bauve Scholarship Fund until such time as the Legislature restores the original corpus of the fund, adjusted to current value at the time of restoration. Once the Legislature has restored the fund as hereinbefore provided, the annual appropriation shall cease, and scholarships shall be awarded from the income on the corpus of the fund. Thereafter, no expenditure shall be made from the corpus of the fund for any purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-2 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 43-2
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-2
Status: in_force

(1) On July 1, 1987, the State Board of Education shall assume all power, authority, duties and functions of the State Textbook Procurement Commission. All records, personnel, property and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations or other funds of the State Textbook Procurement Commission shall be transferred to the State Board of Education on July 1, 1987. All such employee transfers shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board. It is the intent of the Legislature that the number of persons employed by the state as a result of the consolidation required by this section shall be reduced where possible, but that such reduction shall result from attrition of employees and not dismissal.

(2) Each officer or agency subject to the provisions of this section is hereby authorized and empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations not conflicting with this section necessary to accomplish an orderly transition. Each officer or agency subject to this section shall assist, with the fullest degree of reasonable cooperation, any other officer or agency in carrying out the intent and purpose of this section.

(3) All members serving on the Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission as it existed under the provisions of Section 37-43-3 prior to June 30, 1987, shall continue to serve in an advisory capacity to the State Board of Education until December 31, 1987. This advisory board shall be known as the “Mississippi State Textbook Advisory Board,” and shall assist the State Board of Education in assuming its duties under the provisions of this section and shall provide technical assistance as may be requested. The State Department of Education, from any funds appropriated thereto, shall, upon the request of the State Board of Education, timely pay all sums reasonably required for the operation of the Mississippi State Textbook Advisory Board, including per diem and actual expenses of such board, through December 31, 1987.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-66 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 11-66
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-66
Status: in_force

Each local school board shall adopt and implement a written policy with regard to the school district's mandate or requirement for the awarding of a minimum grade which is in compliance with the grading policy requirement established by the State Board of Education Policy 403.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 37-15-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 15-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-21
Status: in_force

If any parent, guardian or other person having custody of any child affected by the assignment of such child to a school or attendance center by the school board shall feel aggrieved at the order of the school board provided for in Section 37-15-17 , such person may, at any time within thirty (30) days from the date of such order, appeal therefrom by filing a petition for appeal in the circuit court of the county in which the school district involved is located. Upon the filing of such petition for an appeal, process shall be issued for and served upon the president of the school board of the school district involved. Upon being served with process, it shall be the duty of the school board to transmit promptly to the court a certified copy of the entire record of the proceedings as shown by the file of the school board. From the judgment of the circuit court, an appeal may be taken to the Supreme Court in the same manner as other appeals are taken from other judgments of such court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-357 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 101-357
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-357
Status: in_force

The board shall submit to the Legislature and report no later than December 1, 1990, and December 1 of the next two (2) years thereafter outlining the status, structure and programs of the institute.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-127 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 65-127
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-127
Status: in_force

Any action or order of the board of trustees provided for in this article or deemed necessary may be taken at any regular or special meeting thereof, held at the place where such board holds its regular meetings, or otherwise as provided in this article and at which a majority of the board of trustees shall be present.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 39-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-21
Status: in_force

The purchasing agent of any school board, before entering upon his official duties in such capacity, shall furnish a good and sufficient surety bond in the penal sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), with sufficient surety. Such bonds shall be payable, conditioned and approved in the manner provided by law, and shall be filed and recorded in the office of the clerk of the chancery court in which the school district is located. The premium on said bond shall be paid out of the school district(s) maintenance fund(s).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-59 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 9-59
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-59
Status: in_force

For incompetence, neglect of duty, immoral conduct, intemperance, brutal treatment of a pupil or other good cause the superintendent of schools may dismiss or suspend any licensed employee in any school district. Before being so dismissed or suspended any licensed employee shall be notified of the charges against him and he shall be advised that he is entitled to a public hearing upon said charges. Provided, however, that a school superintendent whose employment has been terminated under this section shall not have the right to request a hearing before the school board or a hearing officer. Provided, however, that a licensed employee in a conservator school district whose employment has been terminated under this section for good cause as determined by a conservator appointed by the State Board of Education shall not have a right to request a hearing before the school board, a hearing officer or the State Board of Education. The conservator has the right to immediately terminate a licensed employee under this section. In the event the continued presence of said employee on school premises poses a potential threat or danger to the health, safety or general welfare of the students, or, in the discretion of the superintendent, may interfere with or cause a disruption of normal school operations, the superintendent may immediately release said employee of all duties pending a hearing if one is requested by the employee. In the event a licensed employee is arrested, indicted or otherwise charged with a felony by a recognized law enforcement official, the continued presence of the licensed employee on school premises shall be deemed to constitute a disruption of normal school operations. The school board, upon a request for a hearing by the person so suspended or removed shall set a date, time and place for such hearing which shall be not sooner than five (5) days nor later than thirty (30) days from the date of the request. The procedure for such hearing shall be as prescribed for hearings before the board or hearing officer in Section 37-9-111 . From the decision made at said hearing, any licensed employee shall be allowed an appeal to the chancery court in the same manner as appeals are authorized in Section 37-9-113 . Any party aggrieved by action of the chancery court may appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court as provided by law. In the event that a licensed employee is immediately relieved of duties pending a hearing, as provided in this section, said employee shall be entitled to compensation for a period up to and including the date that the initial hearing is set by the school board, in the event that there is a request for such a hearing by the employee. In the event that an employee does not request a hearing within five (5) calendar days of the date of the notice of discharge or suspension, it shall constitute a waiver of all rights by said employee and such discharge or suspension shall be effective on the date set out in the notice to the employee.

The school board of every school district in this state is hereby prohibited from denying employment or reemployment to any person as a superintendent, principal or licensed employee, as defined in Section 37-19-1 , or as a noninstructional personnel, as defined in Section 37-9-1 , for the single reason that any eligible child of such person does not attend the school system in which such superintendent, principal, licensed employee or noninstructional personnel is employed.

The provisions of this section shall be fully applicable to any administrator or employee of the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-461 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 37-185-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 185-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-21
Status: repealed

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Independent Schools Infrastructure Grant Program Act of 2022.”

(2) There is established the Independent Schools Infrastructure Grant Program, to be administered by the Department of Finance and Administration. Under the program, eligible independent schools may apply for reimbursable grants to make necessary investments in water, wastewater, stormwater, broadband and other eligible infrastructure projects to be funded by the Legislature using Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds made available under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The program shall be funded from appropriations by the Legislature to the department from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund.

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

(4) For purposes of this section, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings as defined in this subsection:

(a) “ Program ” means the Independent Schools Infrastructure Grant Program established under this section.

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

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

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

(e) “ Eligible independent school ” means any private or nonpublic school operating within the State of Mississippi that:

(i) Is a member of the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) and located in the State of Mississippi; or

(ii) Is accredited by a state, regional or national accrediting organization; and

(iii) Is not subject to the purview of authority of the State Board of Education.

(5) On or before July 1, 2022, the department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer the program established under this section, including application procedures and deadlines.

(6) Funds under the program shall be awarded for ARPA eligible projects in the following order:

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

(b) Broadband infrastructure projects;

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

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

(7) The governing board of any eligible independent school may submit an application for grant funds under this section. Applicants shall certify to the department that each expenditure of the funds awarded to them by the department under this section is in compliance with the ARPA guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, by the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund. Subsequent submissions will be due by the dates established by the department.

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

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

(10) Grant funds shall be used prospectively, and grants are not available to cover the costs of debt incurred before July 1, 2022.

(11) The maximum amount of grant funds that may be awarded to any eligible independent school under the program is One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00).

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

(13) Grant funds received under this section must be obligated no later than December 31, 2024, and must be expended no later than December 31, 2026. Each grant recipient shall certify for any project for which a grant is awarded that if the project is not completed by December 31, 2026, and the United States Congress does not enact an extension of the deadline on the availability of ARPA funds, then the grant recipient will complete the project using any other funds available.

(14) The department may retain an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) of the total funds allocated to the program to defray its administrative costs.

(15) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2026.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 11-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-23
Status: in_force

If any person shall wilfully disturb any session of the public school or any public school meeting, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) nor more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-279 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 101-279
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-279
Status: in_force

(1) If a borrower defaults on an educational loan or scholarship, the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall bring suit against the defaulting party as soon as practicable.

(2) A suit against a defaulting party under this section may be brought in the county in which the defaulting person resides, in which the lender is located, or in any Hinds County court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-293 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 101-293
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-293
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(6) Within the limits of funds available to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health may grant educational leave to medical residents of the University of Mississippi and pay a stipend in an amount not to exceed the salary of a medical resident. In order to be eligible for paid educational leave under this subsection, the applicant must be approved by the Department of Mental Health Educational Leave Committee and meet all obligations established under agreements between the Department of Mental Health and the University of Mississippi and regulations promulgated by the Board of Mental Health. The recipient shall fulfill his or her obligation under this program on an annual pro rata basis for each year on paid education leave.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 123-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-7
Status: in_force

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

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

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

(b) To transfer funds to the other and expend such funds on mutually agreeable terms and conditions for the construction, maintenance and operation of such school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 141-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-11
Status: in_force

The Department of Economic Development is hereby authorized to cooperate with the planning commissions and development boards, or other similar agencies of other states, and with county, municipal and regional planning commissions or other agencies thereof, for the purposes of securing coordinated community and statewide planning within this state. The Department of Economic Development is further authorized to provide services to include, but not be limited to, planning assistance to cities and other political subdivisions within the state and county; joint municipal, county, regional and metropolitan commissions in the solution of their planning problems; and to contract for, receive and expend federal, state and other funds, whether private or public, for such planning activities, and to that end, there is hereby created within the Department of Economic Development a special fund designated as the “planning fund” to be kept separate and apart from all other funds received by the Department of Economic Development and into which all funds received for planning purposes shall be deposited. Planning assistance, as used in this chapter, shall include the preparation of population, land use, traffic, parking and economic base studies, the preparation of proposed subdivision regulations and zoning ordinances, and the development of plans to guide public and private development.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-83 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 27-83
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-83
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any agricultural high school in the state, which on account of loss or destruction of school property by fire, storm, or other like unforeseen disaster, can no longer be maintained and operated successfully, is, with the approval of the board of supervisors, hereby authorized to sell and dispose of the lands, buildings, and other property belonging to such school, and place the proceeds derived from the sale of same to the credit of the county common school fund.

Sale of said property may be made at public or private sale on such terms as the board of trustees may elect, subject to the approval of the board of supervisors. In case of sale on credit, the deferred payments shall be evidenced by notes payable to the county, for the benefit of the county common school fund and shall bear interest at a rate of not less than six percent (6%) per annum, and the county shall have a lien on the property for the purchase-money, as against all persons, until paid.

The deed or deeds of conveyance shall be executed by the president or chairman and the secretary of the board of trustees, pursuant to an order of the board of trustees, entered on its minutes, and pursuant to an order of approval by the board of supervisors entered on its minutes, and when so executed shall be fully effective to convey title to said property.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-35 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 11-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-35
Status: in_force

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

(2) If any person charged by Section 97-5-24 to make the reports therein provided for shall willfully fail, refuse or neglect to file any such report, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or be imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months, or both.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 145-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-43
Status: in_force

The company, in addition to any other powers and duties, shall have the power to issue student loan revenue bonds as hereinafter provided in Sections 37-145-43 through 37-145-73 in order to provide funds for deposit into the Mississippi Opportunity Loan Fund and to provide funds to the board of trustees to use in support of the board of trustees' student loan guaranty function.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-123 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 29-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-123
Status: in_force

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

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

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

All indebtedness so created shall be paid from first funds derived from tax levies for maintenance and operation of said school coming into the treasury thereof and from fees, rentals and other charges as provided in Section 37-29-125 . In order to secure the prompt payment of any and all indebtedness, whether of principal or interest incurred hereunder, a special fund shall be established in the depository of the funds of said institution, the style of which shall be, “debt retirement fund of __________ junior college district,” and immediately upon receipt of the distribution of said first funds derived from such tax levies, annually hereafter in advance of the due date of each and every installment of said indebtedness, a sufficient sum from said taxes shall be paid into said special fund for the retirement of all principal and interest coming due within said year equal to the difference, if any, between such principal and interest and the amount collected from fees, rentals and other charges, as provided in Section 37-29-125 . Said debt retirement fund shall be used for no other purpose than for the payment of principal and interest of indebtedness incurred hereunder.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 123-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-1
Status: in_force

The body politic and corporate created by Chapter 284, Laws of Mississippi 1924, by the name of “Delta State Teachers' College” is continued to have perpetual succession with power to contract and be contracted with; to receive by any legal method of transfer or conveyance, property of any description, to have, hold and employ the same; to make and use a corporate seal, with power to change the same; to adopt bylaws, rules and regulations for the government of its members, official agents and employees. However, the name of said “Delta State Teachers' College” shall be hereafter changed to “Delta State University” without interference with the rights, powers and prerogatives of said college which shall continue in all respects.

Wherever the name “Delta State Teachers' College” or “Delta State College” appears, the same shall be construed to denote Delta State University.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-169-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 169-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-169-3
Status: in_force

Members of the advisory committee shall be composed of the following:

(a) Five (5) persons who are the parents of children with autism or ASD, with one (1) such person to be appointed by the Governor, two (2) to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and two (2) to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(b) One (1) person who is a member of the governing body of a school district, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

(c) The State Superintendent of Public Education or the Associate Superintendent of the Office of Special Education;

(d) One (1) person who is the director of special education services in a school district, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

(e) Two (2) members of the Mississippi Special Education Advisory Committee, to be selected by the committee;

(f) Two (2) educators or behavioral specialists who work directly with students with ASD, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

(g) Two (2) Mississippi licensed psychologists who perform evaluation or consultation with Mississippi schools, to be appointed by the Mississippi Association of Psychology in the Schools;

(h) The project director of the Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center;

(i) Two (2) persons who are representatives of autism advocacy groups or professionals who work with the advocacy groups and provide services to individuals with autism or ASD, to be appointed by the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health;

(j) One (1) person who is a representative of the State Department of Mental Health, to be appointed by the executive director of the department;

(k) One (1) person who is a representative of a private mental health facility who provides services to youth with ASD, to be appointed by the Executive Director of the State Department of Mental Health;

(l) One (1) person who is a representative of the University of Mississippi Medical Center and who provides medical or other services to individuals with autism or ASD, to be appointed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center;

(m) Two (2) persons who are working in private industry whose business has the potential to employ individuals with autism, to be appointed by the Governor;

(n) One (1) person who is a Transition Specialist, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

(o) One (1) representative of the T.K. Martin Center, to be appointed by the Director of the T.K. Martin Center;

(p) One (1) representative of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services;

(q) Two (2) persons who are licensed therapists, to be appointed by the President of the Mississippi Speech Language and Hearing Association;

(r) One (1) person who is a representative of the Mississippi Department of Insurance, to be appointed by the commissioner; and

(s) One (1) person who is a representative of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, to be appointed by the director of the department.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 15-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-33
Status: in_force

All students seeking to transfer from any school, public, private or homeschool within or outside of the boundaries of the State of Mississippi, to a public school within the state may be required to take a test to determine the grade and class to which the pupil shall be assigned at the time of pupil transfer.

The administrative head of each public school shall administer the test or tests to such pupil or pupils as shall apply for transfer to such public school. Such test or tests shall be administered within thirty (30) days after the filing of each such application for transfer. Notice of the giving of such test shall be given the applicant not less than five (5) days prior to the date of the administration of such test.

No transfer of a pupil shall be effected until the test has been given and the pupil is assigned according to the grade and class for which the test shows he is best suited. No pupil shall be assigned to a grade and class more than three (3) grades above or below the grade or class that the pupil would have been assigned to had the pupil remained in the school from which the transfer is being made. Pending the administration of the test herein provided for and its grading and an assignment based thereon the superintendent of the school district or the attendance center principal to which the pupil seeks admission may assign the pupil temporarily to a grade and class comparable to that in which the pupil would have been had the pupil continued in the school from which the transfer was being made.

If any student is transferred or reassigned within the school district by order of the board of trustees of that school district as designated by law of the State of Mississippi and not at his own request, the requirement of that pupil's taking the standardized test shall be waived. Likewise, if a pupil shall transfer from one school district to another school district in the manner provided and required by the laws of the State of Mississippi, the requirement of such pupil taking the standardized test shall be waived.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-241 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 101-241
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-241
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation. Said commission shall be composed of the Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board, the Commissioner of Higher Education, or their designees, and three (3) additional members, one (1) of whom shall be selected by the foregoing two (2) members and who shall represent the private colleges within the state, and two (2) of whom shall be selected by the Mississippi Association of Colleges. The latter three (3) members shall each serve for a term of three (3) years.

(2) The commission shall meet and organize by electing from among its membership a chairman, a vice chairman and a secretary. The commission shall keep full and complete minutes and records of all its proceedings and actions.

(3) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall appoint staff as may be required for the performance of the commission's duties and provide necessary facilities, support, equipment, supplies, travel and other expenses required to properly manage the duties of the commission.

(4) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may charge the commission for the actual cost incurred by the board to assist in the performance of the commission's duties.

(5) The commission shall have the power and authority, and it shall be its duty, to authorize and maintain an approved list of all public and private postsecondary, academic degree-granting institutions or any other entities domiciled, incorporated or otherwise located in the State of Mississippi which offer postsecondary academic degrees, programs or coursework. For purposes of this chapter, “ domiciled ” shall mean conducting postsecondary academic activity, including field placements, within the State of Mississippi. Postsecondary academic degrees include, but are not limited to, associate, bachelor, masters and doctorate degrees. The commission shall adopt standards which are in keeping with the best educational practices in accreditation and receive reports from the institutions seeking to be placed on the approved list.

(6) The above-described community, junior and senior colleges and universities or other entities must be approved annually by the commission in order to grant diplomas of graduation, degrees or offer instruction.

(7) The commission shall petition the chancery court of the county in which a person or agent offers one or more postsecondary academic degrees subject to the provisions of this chapter or advertises for the offering of such degrees without having first obtained approval by the commission, for an order enjoining such offering or advertising. The court may grant such injunctive relief upon a showing that the respondent named in the petition is offering or advertising one or more postsecondary academic degrees without having obtained prior approval of the commission. The Attorney General or the district attorney of the district, including the county in which such action is brought, shall, upon request of the commission, represent the commission in bringing any such action.

(8) The provisions of subsection (5) shall not apply to community, junior and senior colleges and universities with the main campus in Mississippi that were chartered, authorized or approved by the commission prior to July 1, 1988.

(9) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the proprietary schools and colleges subject to regulation under Section 75-60-1 et seq.

(10) The Commission on College Accreditation may promulgate rules and regulations and establish appropriate fees for the implementation of this section.

(11) The commission shall have the power and authority, and it shall be its duty, to execute site visits when deemed necessary by the commission. The members of the commission and commission-appointed evaluation teams shall receive reasonable traveling expenses and other authorized expenses incurred in the performance of commission duties, together with other expenses of the operation of the commission. The members of the Commission on College Accreditation shall serve without salary compensation but shall receive a per diem and mileage as authorized by law including time of going to and returning from site visits of said commission, together with actual travel and hotel expenses incident to the site visits of the commission, and in the discharge of duties prescribed by the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-35 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 104-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-35
Status: in_force

The Authority is authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance of revenue-refunding bonds for the purpose of refunding any revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter and then outstanding, together with interest thereon to the date of such refunding bonds, and redemption premium thereon, if any. The issuance of such revenue-refunding bonds, the maturity, and all other details thereof, the rights of the holders thereof, and the duties of the Authority in respect thereto shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter insofar as the same may be applicable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 11-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-19
Status: in_force

If any pupil shall wilfully destroy, cut, deface, damage, or injure any school building, equipment or other school property he shall be liable to suspension or expulsion and his parents or person or persons in loco parentis shall be liable for all damages.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-14-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 14-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-14-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known as the Mary Kirkpatrick Haskell-Mary Sprayberry Public School Nurse Act of 2007.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-6 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 15-6
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-6
Status: in_force

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

(a) The name of the student expelled;

(b) The date the student was expelled;

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

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

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

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

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

Any information maintained by the department under the authority of this section shall be strictly confidential. The information shall be available to school officials at a public or private school only upon their request and only when a student seeks enrollment or admission to that school. In no case shall the information be available to the general public; however, aggregate reporting by the department which does not disclose any personally identifiable information is permitted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-47 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 115-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-47
Status: in_force

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

(2) The executive director of the charitable facility or organization, receiving such food, or his authorized designee, shall agree to a waiver of liability in favor of the State of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi Medical Center stating that such donations are being provided in the condition used by the State of Mississippi and the University Medical Center, and without warranty of any nature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-2 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 41-2
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-2
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be unlawful for any individual, other than a student scheduled to be a passenger upon that particular bus, a member of the public school administration or faculty, or a law enforcement official, to directly or indirectly interfere in any way with passenger ingress and egress or the operation, including unauthorized boarding thereof, of a bus used in public school student transportation unless permission has been obtained as prescribed by pertinent rules and regulations promulgated by the state board of education or the local school authorities.

(b) Upon conviction of violation of any provision of this section, such individual shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or both. Any person under the age of seventeen (17) who violates any provision of this section shall be treated as delinquent within the jurisdiction of the youth court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 59-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-23
Status: in_force

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

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