Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 18-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-1
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Technology needs;

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

(d) Paid professional leave;

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

(i) Curriculum;

(ii) Chapter 1;

(iii) Special need students;

(iv) Student rights and responsibility;

(v) School and community relations;

(vi) Effective parenting.

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

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

(4) The State Department of Education may benefit from the use of growth expectation measurements under this section in making evaluations under Section 37-19-9 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-73 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-73
Status: in_force

The board of trustees is authorized to execute oil, gas and mineral leases on any of the property owned by the board of trustees of the district, but such leases shall not extend for a term beyond five years unless oil, gas or other minerals shall be in production under said leases at the expiration of said period. The terms and conditions of said lease, within the limitations above set out, shall be for the determination and within the discretion of the board of trustees.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-48 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 115-48
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-48
Status: in_force

(1) The University of Mississippi Medical Center is authorized, in its discretion, to rearrange or disinter, remove or reinter, where applicable, human remains reposing in the potter's field located on the University of Mississippi Medical Center's property to a different location on the medical center's property when the disinterment, removal or reinterment, where applicable, is necessary for proper and efficient maintenance and management.

(2) Markers, headstones, or other identification shall accompany the remains whenever identification exists, and a record of the removal and reinterment, where applicable, shall be maintained in the files of the Chancery Clerk of Hinds County, Mississippi.

(3) Before taking any action authorized under this section, the University of Mississippi Medical Center shall first advertise its intent to rearrange, disinter, remove or reinter, where applicable, remains from the property by publishing notice in a newspaper of the county once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks.

(4) The University of Mississippi Medical Center and its officers and employees shall be immune from any action or suit arising from the maintenance or attempted maintenance of the potter's field and the rearrangement, removal or reinterment, where applicable, of remains, when performed in good faith under authority of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-135 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 13-135
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-135
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to all other authority, duties and powers the school boards of the school districts of this state may now have, each is authorized and empowered to adopt plans for the implementation of the Comprehensive School Health Education Program into the local school curriculum.

(2) School boards shall appoint a local health education council to make recommendations regarding a comprehensive health education curriculum.

(3) There shall be cooperation between the State Department of Education, Office of Comprehensive School Health Education and the school boards of the several school districts in implementing this program as it best suits the needs of the individual districts.

(4) The Commission on School Accreditation shall encourage the development of plans of comprehensive school health education and the implementation thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 113-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-51
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized and directed to establish a college of veterinary medicine at Mississippi State University at Starkville, Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-3-93 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 3-93
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-3-93
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to the availability of funding specifically appropriated for such purpose, there is established a School Crisis Management Program under the State Department of Education. This program is to be initiated and executed by the department using only existing staff and resources. Under this program, the State Department of Education shall create an office making available a quick response team of personnel trained in school safety and crisis management to respond to traumatic or violent situations that impact students and faculty in the public schools in Mississippi. The required School Crisis Management Program shall operate in accordance with the following:

(a) The basic response team shall consist of those personnel designated by the State Superintendent of Public Education, or their designees, depending on the size of the school and the nature of the event.

(b) In order to access the services of a response team, the request must be made by the local school principal or the superintendent of schools, who shall make the request to the State Department of Education or its contact designee.

(c) A response team shall enter a school to work with students and faculty for a period of no more than three (3) days, unless otherwise requested by the school district.

(d) The State Department of Education, or its designee, shall operate a toll-free incoming wide area telephone service for the purpose of receiving reports of suspected cases of school violence and other traumatic situations impacting on students and faculty in the public schools.

(e) The request made by a school district to access the services of a response team following a school safety incident may seek a review of the local school district's safety plan, and the results of this evaluation may be published by the local school board in a newspaper with wide circulation in the district.

(f) Subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, the expenses of the quick response teams and their administrative support shall be provided from state funds. The State Department of Education may apply for and expend funds for the support and maintenance of this program from private and other funding sources.

(2) Local school districts, school superintendents and principals may request and utilize the services of quick response teams provided for under this section; however, this section does not require school officials to request the services of quick response teams.

(3) As a component of the School Crisis Management Program, the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security shall develop a curriculum, train and certify threat assessment officers. A certified threat assessment officer shall conduct an annual inspection and threat assessment of each public school in the state. The threat assessment officer shall develop an improvement plan for each school inspected. The assessment shall include the inspection of surveillance equipment and building-specific floor plans. The findings of the inspection and threat assessment, including a copy of the improvement plan shall be provided to local law enforcement agencies and the local school board within four (4) weeks of completion.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-39
Status: in_force

(1) All school districts shall process a single monthly or a bimonthly payroll for employees, in the discretion of the local school board, consistent with the provisions of Section 37-157-103(1), except for December, when salaries or wages shall be paid by the last working day. Salaries or wages shall be paid at a minimum on a monthly basis. The standard contract for school district employees prescribed by the State Board of Education shall provide that school district employees shall earn a salary payable in equal monthly or bimonthly installments beginning in the first month of employment, regardless of the number of days worked in any particular month by the employee. Any employee failing to complete the contractual obligation of service, and who receives payment in excess of the installment for the period which such employee ceases employment with the school district, shall become liable immediately to the school board of the employing district for the sum of all amounts received in payment less the corresponding amount of any compensation paid for which service has been rendered, plus interest accruing at the current Stafford Loan rate at the time the person discontinues his or her service.

(2) Any school employee whose employment ends during a school term, regardless of the reason(s) the employment ended, shall be paid salary or wages only for that portion of the school term that employee actually worked. Nothing in this subsection (2) shall be construed to entitle any employee to payment of salary or wages when no work has been performed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-160-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 37-25-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 25-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-25-21
Status: in_force

In any case where any person, convicted of any violation punishable by fine and the levy of the penalty assessment specified in this chapter, is imprisoned until the fine is satisfied, the judge may waive all or any part of the penalty assessment where, in his opinion, the payment of said penalty assessment would work a hardship on the person convicted or his immediate family.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-115 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 29-115
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-115
Status: in_force

The boards of trustees, in the issuance of bonds under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 , in order to secure the payment of such bonds and the interest thereon, shall have power by resolution:

(a) To fix and maintain (1) fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members, or officers or employees using or being served by any dormitories, dwellings or apartments erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under the authority of Section 37-29-107 ; (2) fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members, or officers or employees using or being served by any other dormitories, dwellings or apartments or other projects or facilities at any junior college for which bonds are issued under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 , which fees, rentals and other charges shall be the same as those applicable to the dormitories, dwellings or apartments referred to under (1) above; in fixing such fees, rentals and other charges, there may be allowed reasonable differentials based on the condition, type, location and relative convenience of the dormitories, dwellings or apartments or other projects or facilities in question, but such differentials shall be uniform as to all students, faculty members, officers or employees similarly accommodated;

(b) To provide that bonds issued under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 shall be secured by a first lien on, and shall be payable from, all or any part of the income and revenues derived from fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members, officers or employees using or being served by any dormitories, dwellings or apartments, or other projects or facilities operated at such junior colleges, respectively, and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under the authority of Section 37-29-107 or any other law, or otherwise, and not then currently pledged;

(c) To pledge and assign to or in trust for the benefit of the holder or holders of any bond or bonds, coupon or coupons issued under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 , an amount of the income and revenues derived from such fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members, officers or employees, using or being served by any dormitories, dwellings or apartments, or other projects or facilities operated at such junior colleges, and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under the authority of Section 37-29-107 or any other law, or otherwise, and not then currently pledged, which rentals, fees and charges imposed and pledged shall be sufficient to pay when due the bonds issued under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 and interest thereon, to create and maintain a reasonable reserve therefor, and to operate and maintain the project constructed under the terms of Section 37-29-107 , including insurance thereon, and to create and at all times maintain an adequate reserve for contingencies and for major repairs and replacements;

(d) To covenant with or for the benefit of the holder or holders of any bond or bonds, coupon or coupons issued under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 to erect, repair, remodel, maintain, add to, extend, improve or acquire any dormitories, dwellings or apartments, and, so long as any such bonds or coupons shall remain outstanding and unpaid, to fix, maintain and collect fees, rentals or other charges from students, faculty members, officers or employees using or being served by any such facilities erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved, or acquired under the authority of Section 37-29-107 or any other law, or otherwise, which fees, rentals or other charges shall be sufficient to pay when due any bond or bonds, coupon or coupons, issued under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 , and create and maintain a reasonable reserve therefor, and to pay the cost of operation and maintenance of such facilities, including insurance thereon, and to create and at all times maintain an adequate reserve for contingencies and for major repairs and replacements;

(e) To make and enforce and to agree to make and enforce parietal rules that shall insure the use of any such dormitory, dwelling or apartment, by students, faculty members, officers or employees of such junior college to the maximum extent to which such facilities are capable of serving same, so long as such rules are not in conflict with existing covenants;

(f) To covenant that as long as any bonds or coupons issued under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 shall remain outstanding and unpaid, it will not, except upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the resolution issuing such bonds, (1) voluntarily create, or cause to be created, any debt, lien, pledge, assignment, encumbrance, or other charge having priority to or being on a parity with the lien of the bonds so issued upon any of the income and revenues derived from fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members, officers or employees using or being served by any dormitories, dwellings or apartments operated at any such junior college and erected, repaired, remodeled, maintained, added to, extended, improved or acquired under the authority of Section 37-29-107 or any other law, or otherwise, or (2) convey or otherwise alienate any such dormitories, dwellings or apartments, or the real estate upon which the same shall be located, except at a price sufficient to pay all the bonds then outstanding and interest thereon payable from the revenues of such facilities, and then only in accordance with any agreements with the holder or holders of such bonds, or (3) mortgage or otherwise voluntarily create, or cause to be created, any encumbrance on any such dormitory, dwelling or apartment, or the real estate upon which it shall be located;

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

(h) To vest in the holder or holders of any specified amount of percentage of bonds the right to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for and to have granted the appointment of a receiver or receivers of the income and revenues pledged to or for the benefit of the holder or holders of any such bonds, which receiver or receivers may have and be granted such powers and duties as are usually granted under the laws of the State of Mississippi to a receiver or receivers appointed in connection with the foreclosure of a mortgage made by a private corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 45-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-19
Status: in_force

The commission shall promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations as shall be necessary and proper to carry out the provisions of this chapter and of such other laws, the administration of which shall be vested in the commission; however, no such rule or regulation shall be in conflict with any applicable law. It shall be the duty of the commission to furnish the board of trustees or other governing body of all school districts and the attorney general certified copies of all rules and regulations prescribed by the commission, which distribution shall be made not less than thirty days prior to the effective date of all such rules or regulations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-461 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / 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. § 37-65-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / 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. § 37-106-73 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 106-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-73
Status: in_force

(1) There is established a Speech-Language Pathologists Forgivable Loan Program. It is the intent of the Legislature that persons declaring an intention to work in an accredited public school (K-12), including a charter school, located in the State of Mississippi as a speech-language pathologist shall be eligible for a loan for the purpose of acquiring a master's level education in such profession. The board shall enter into contracts with applicants, providing that such loans may be discharged by working as a master's level speech-language pathologist in an accredited public school (K-12), including a charter school, located in the State of Mississippi.

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

(2) The board shall establish rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.

The provisions of this section shall be subject to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 65-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-13
Status: in_force

Upon or during any closure of any school in accordance with the provisions of this article, any and all transportation routes or transportation facilities may be changed or adjusted by the interested board or boards of trustees to accommodate the transportation of children who would be otherwise entitled to transportation had such closure not occurred.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 104-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-9
Status: in_force

The purpose of the Authority shall be to assist private institutions of higher learning in the financing and refinancing of educational facility projects, and for this purpose the Authority is authorized and empowered:

(a) To adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its affairs and business;

(b) To adopt an official seal and alter the same at its pleasure;

(c) To maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate;

(d) To sue and be sued in its own name;

(e) To borrow money for any of the purposes of this chapter, and to issue revenue bonds therefor, and to provide for the rights of the holders of such bonds, all as hereinafter more particularly provided;

(f) To enter into bond loan agreements with participating private institutions of higher learning;

(g) To receive and accept loans, grants, aid or contributions from any source of either money, property, labor or other things of value to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which such loans, grants, aid and contributions are made, provided that the purposes of such loans, grants, aid and contributions are not in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter;

(h) To charge to and apportion among participating private institutions of higher learning its administrative costs and expenses incurred in the exercise of the powers and duties conferred by this chapter;

(i) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter; and

(j) To physically inspect the educational facilities which are financed or refinanced under the provisions of this chapter, in order to determine whether the participating private institutions of higher learning, or any of their voluntary grantees, are using the educational facilities, or any parts thereof, for sectarian instruction or as places of religious worship or in connection with any parts of the programs of schools or departments of divinity of any religious denominations or sects.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-101 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 65-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-101
Status: in_force

In addition to all other power and authority which may now be vested in any board of trustees of any school district by the constitution or statutes, or both, of the State of Mississippi, any such board of trustees is hereby vested with the authority to close any one or more or all schools in any school district when, in its discretion, it determines such closure to be to the best interest of a majority of the educable children of the territory served, or to the best interest of a majority of the children enrolled in any such school or schools. Said board of trustees is also vested with the authority, in its discretion, to close any one or more or all schools in any school district when such board, in its discretion, determines such closure will promote or preserve the public peace, order or tranquility of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-123 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / 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. § 37-12-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 12-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Student Religious Liberties Act of 2013.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 140-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-17
Status: in_force

From and after July 1, 2003, the “Y Hut,” located on the campus of the Mississippi School of the Arts, shall be renamed the “Helen Furlow Scruggs Y Hut.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 16-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-17
Status: in_force

(1) Purpose.(a) The purpose of this section is to create a quality option in Mississippi's high schools for students not wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree, which shall consist of challenging academic courses and modern career-technical studies. The goal for students pursuing the career technical education pathways is to graduate from high school with a standard diploma and credit toward a community college certification in a career-technical field. These students also shall be encouraged to take the national assessment in the career-technical field in which they become certified.

(b) The State Board of Education shall develop and adopt course and curriculum requirements for career technical education pathways offered by local public school boards in accordance with this section. The Mississippi Community College Board and the State Board of Education jointly shall determine course and curriculum requirements for the career technical education pathways. The State Board of Education shall require school districts to provide notice to all incoming middle school students and junior high students of the career technical education pathways offered by local school boards. Such notice shall include the career technical education pathways available, the course requirements of each pathway, how to enroll in the pathway and any other necessary information as determined by the State Board of Education.

(2) Career technical education pathway; description; curriculum.(a) A career technical education pathway shall provide a student with greater technical skill and a strong academic core and shall be offered to each high school student enrolled in a public school district. The career technical education pathway shall be linked to postsecondary options and shall prepare students to pursue either a degree or certification from a postsecondary institution, an industry-based training or certification, an apprenticeship, the military, or immediate entrance into a career field. The career technical education pathway shall provide students with alternatives to entrance into a four-year university or college after high school graduation.

(b) Students pursuing a career technical education pathway shall be afforded the opportunity to dually enroll in a community or technical college or to participate in a business internship or work-study program, when such opportunities are available and appropriate.

(c) Each public school district shall offer a career technical education pathway approved by the State Board of Education.

(d) Students in a career technical education pathway shall complete an academic core of courses and a career and technical sequence of courses.

(e) Students pursuing a career technical education pathway must complete the twenty-four (24) course unit requirements for a regular high school diploma, which may include, but not be limited to the following course content:

(i) English I;

(ii) English II;

(iii) Technical writing;

(iv) Computer programming;

(v) Algebra I;

(vi) Personal Finance;

(vii) Advanced technical mathematics;

(viii) Computer Science;

(ix) Biology;

(x) Earth and Space Science;

(xi) U.S. History;

(xii) Mississippi Studies/U.S. Government;

(xiii) Health;

(xiv) Physical Education;

(xv) Soft skills, which include, but are not limited to, communication ability, language skills, time management, teamwork and leadership traits;

(xvi) Career technical education pathway courses; and

(xvii) Integrated technology.

Academic courses within the career technical education pathway of the standard diploma shall provide the knowledge and skill necessary for proficiency on the state subject area tests.

(f) The courses provided in paragraph (e) of this subsection may be tailored to the individual needs of the school district as long as the amendments align with the basic course requirements of paragraph (e).

(3) Nothing in this section shall disallow the development of a dual enrollment program with a technical college so long as an individual school district, with approval from the State Department of Education, agrees to implement such a program in connection with a technical college and the agreement is also approved by the proprietary school's commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-205 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 33-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-205
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(j) “ State Board ” means the State Board of Rehabilitation Services.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-85 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 151-85
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-85
Status: in_force

(1) Using those funds appropriated by the Legislature for transportation purposes, the amount to be allotted by the State Board of Education for transportation shall be determined as follows:

The State Department of Education shall calculate the cost of transportation in school districts by ascertaining the average cost per pupil in net enrollment of transported pupils in school districts classified in different density groups, as determined by the State Department of Education. Based on these calculations, the State Department of Education shall develop a scale for determining the allowable cost per pupil in different density groups, which scale shall provide greatest allowance per pupil transported in school districts with lowest densities and smallest allowance per pupil in school districts with highest densities. The total allowance under this section for transported children for any school district for the current year shall be the net enrollment of the transported children for months two (2) and three (3) of the prior year, multiplied by the allowance per transported pupil as provided herein. However, the State Department of Education is authorized and empowered to make proper adjustments in allotments, under rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, in cases where major changes in the number of children in net enrollment transported occur from one (1) year to another as a result of changes or alterations in the boundaries of school districts, a change in or relocation of attendance centers, or for other reasons which would result in major decrease or increase in the number of children in net enrollment transported during the current school year as compared with the preceding year. Moreover, the State Board of Education is hereby authorized and empowered to make such payments to all districts and/or university-based programs as deemed necessary in connection with transporting exceptional children as defined in Section 37-23-3 . The State Board of Education shall establish and implement all necessary rules and regulations to allot transportation payments to university-based programs. In developing density classifications under the provisions hereof, the State Department of Education may give consideration to the length of the route, the sparsity of the population, the lack of adequate roads, highways and bridges, and the presence of large streams or other geographic obstacles. In addition to funds allotted under the above provisions, funds shall be allotted to each school district that transports students from their assigned school or attendance center to classes in an approved vocational-technical center at a rate per mile not to exceed the average statewide cost per mile of school bus transportation during the preceding year exclusive of bus replacement. All such transportation must have prior approval by the State Department of Education.

(2) The net enrollment of transported children shall be reported by the school district in which such children attend school. If children living in a school district are transported at the expense of such school district to another school district, the net enrollment of such transported children shall be deducted by the State Department of Education from the aggregate net enrollment of transported children in the school district in which they attend school and shall be added to the aggregate net enrollment of transported children of the school district from which they come for the purpose of calculating transportation allotments. However, such deduction shall not be made for the purpose of calculating total funding formula funding.

(3) The State Department of Education shall include in the allowance for transportation for each school district an amount for the replacement of school buses or the purchase of new buses, which amount shall be calculated upon the estimated useful life of all school buses being used for the transportation of children in such school district, whether such buses be publicly or privately owned.

(4) The school boards of all districts operating school bus transportation are authorized and directed to establish a salary schedule for school bus drivers. No school district shall be entitled to receive the funds herein allotted for transportation unless it pays each of its nonstudent adult school bus drivers paid from such transportation allotments a minimum of One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($190.00) per month. In addition, local school boards may compensate school bus drivers, to include temporary or substitute bus drivers, for actual expenses incurred when acquiring an initial commercial license or any renewal of a commercial license in order to drive a school bus. In addition, local school boards may compensate school bus drivers, to include temporary or substitute bus drivers, for expenses, not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), when acquiring an initial medical exam or any renewal of a medical exam, in order to qualify for a commercial driver's license.

(5) The State Board of Education shall be authorized and empowered to use such part of the funds appropriated for transportation as may be necessary to finance driver training courses as provided for in Section 37-41-1 .

(6) The State Board of Education, acting through the Department of Education, may compensate school bus drivers, to include temporary or substitute bus drivers, who are providing driving services to the various state operated schools, such as the Mississippi School for the Deaf, the Mississippi School for the Blind, the Mississippi School of the Arts, the Mississippi School for Math and Science and any other similar state operated schools, for actual expenses incurred when acquiring an initial commercial license or any renewal of a commercial license in order to drive a school bus, to include the expense, not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), of acquiring an initial medical exam or any renewal of a medical exam in order to qualify for a commercial driver's license.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-53 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 28-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-53
Status: in_force

(1) Each charter school shall certify annually to the State Department of Education its student enrollment, net enrollment and student participation in federal programs.

(2) Each charter school shall certify annually to the school board of the school district in which the charter school is located the number of enrolled charter school students residing in the school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-1
Status: in_force

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

(a) The University of Mississippi;

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

(c) Mississippi University for Women;

(d) The University of Southern Mississippi;

(e) Delta State University;

(f) Alcorn State University;

(g) Jackson State University;

(h) Mississippi Valley State University;

(i) And any other of like kind which may be hereafter established by the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-213 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 153-213
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-213
Status: in_force

The office shall certify to the Department of Finance and Administration that each expenditure of the funds appropriated to the office under this article is in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund in Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law No. 117-1 ).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 109-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-11
Status: repealed

Sections 37-109-1 , 37-109-3 , 37-109-5 , 37-109-7 and 37-109-9 shall stand repealed on July, 1, 2025.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-91 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 27-91
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-91
Status: in_force

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

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

This section is intended to provide an additional method for abolishing agricultural high schools and it will not amend or repeal any other law providing for the abolishing of such schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 177-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-7
Status: in_force

The State Department of Education shall:

(a) Select schools most in need for the reading intervention program and create criteria for selection for participation based on number and percentages of students scoring in the lowest two (2) achievement levels on state-adopted yearly reading assessments, screening results, and other relevant data;

(b) Assign a supervisory position within each school to be responsible for the faithful implementation of the Reading Intervention Program; and

(c) Subject to legislative appropriation, the Mississippi Department of Education shall conduct a program with willing “C” level or low-performing districts and/or schools. The program shall focus on the use of data coaches to improve reading and literacy, to determine the effectiveness of intense data-focused professional development, provide expert support in literacy and early reading instruction but it shall not necessarily be limited to literacy. Data coaches should be experts in both pedagogy and data analysis who facilitate professional learning community meetings, and provide observation and feedback, to help teachers and district leaders build skills in using data to inform instruction. Schools and districts selected by the department to participate in the program shall agree to involve the school and district leadership team as directed by the department. The Mississippi Department of Education is authorized to include pre-school programs it deems appropriate. The department is authorized to contract with a private sector provider to implement the program and work in partnership with four-year institutions of higher learning to develop and implement the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-203 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 33-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-203
Status: in_force

Sections 37-33-203 through 37-33-223 shall be known as the “Special Disability Programs Law of Mississippi.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-69-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 69-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-69-7
Status: in_force

(1) The Board of Trustees of the Vicksburg-Warren School District and the Claiborne County Board of Education are authorized to make application to the Mississippi Development Authority for the approval of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with a nuclear facility and Warren County and the State of Mississippi for the establishment of a partnership for the operation of an Energy High School Academy. The purpose of the Energy High School Academy shall be to provide qualified students attending school in Warren and/or Claiborne County in the eighth through twelfth grade with career education, potential student internships and continuing education for careers in the energy industry.

(2)(a) The Energy High School Academy shall be under the administrative direction of the Energy High School Academy Partnership Council (Partnership Council) consisting of one (1) member from each of the following entities:

(i) The Chief Executive Officer of an enterprise engaged in the generation of nuclear energy located in Claiborne County, or his designee, who shall serve for four (4) years;

(ii) The superintendent of the Vicksburg-Warren School District, who shall serve for four (4) years;

(iii) The superintendent of the Claiborne County School District, who shall serve for four (4) years;

(iv) A designee of the Mississippi Development Authority, appointed by the executive director of MDA, and who may be the executive director, who shall serve three (3) years;

(v) A member of the Board of Trustees of the Vicksburg-Warren School District, appointed by the Vicksburg Mayor and Board of Alderman, who shall serve two (2) years;

(vi) A member of the Claiborne County Board of Education, appointed by the Claiborne County Board of Supervisors, who shall serve two (2) years;

(vii) A member of the Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce, appointed by the chairman of the board of directors, who may appoint himself or herself, and who shall serve one (1) year; and

(viii) A member of the Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce, appointed by the chairman of the board of directors, who may appoint himself or herself, and who shall serve one (1) year.

(b) Members of the Partnership Council shall serve staggered terms, as prescribed in paragraph (a) of this subsection, commencing with the initial appointments made in 2019, and shall thereafter, upon the expiration of the initial term, the succeeding appointees shall serve a term of four (4) years. Members of the council may be reappointed to the council by the original appointing authority without limitation on the number of terms served. In the event of a vacancy on the council, the original appointing authority shall appoint a replacement to complete the unexpired term of the member creating the vacancy.

(c) The Partnership Council shall meet on or before August 1, 2019, and organize for business, elect officers and adopt necessary regulations for the operation of the Energy High School Academy. Meetings shall be held upon the call of the chairman.

(3) The Energy High School Academy Partnership Council shall promulgate administrative rules and regulations to prescribe the criteria to be used in the establishment of the Energy High School Academy, which shall include student qualifications, application requirements and curriculum components.

(4)(a) There is established in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the “Energy High School Academy Fund.” The purpose of the fund is to provide necessary financial support to Vicksburg-Warren/Claiborne County School Districts and the Mississippi Development Authority for start-up costs and costs associated with implementing and operating the Energy Academy established under this section. The fund may consist of monies obtained from grants from any public or private source. The Mississippi Development Authority shall administer the fund pursuant to appropriation by the Legislature, and may apply for any grants from the federal government or private sources.

(b) The Mississippi Development Authority shall prepare a three-year budget proposal for the operation of the Energy Academy which shall include staff and liaison salary estimates, equipment and facility costs and job demand estimates. This budget shall be submitted to the Governor, the Legislative Budget Office and the Partnership Council and updated annually.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 18-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-5
Status: in_force

(1) Based on the findings of the evaluation report and the results of the public meeting, the State Department of Education and the evaluation team leader shall assist the school principal and other local school officials in the development of a school improvement plan to improve its deficiencies.

(2) The school improvement plan shall be developed and approved by the principal of the School At-Risk, the superintendent of the local school district, the local school board and a majority of the teachers of the school, within a time period to be determined by the evaluation team. If the plan is not approved, the State Board of Education may approve and implement the plan in the school.

(3) The State Department of Education shall provide technical assistance and shall assist in identifying funding to the School At-Risk in the implementation of the school improvement plan, including the implementation of any recommended professional development plan, and the department may contract with the institutions of higher learning to provide such technical assistance. The assistance team shall collaborate with school and school district employees in the implementation and monitoring of the school improvement plan and the State Department of Education shall ensure that a report is issued monthly to the local school board and the local community-based advisory council.

(4) A school district that has been designated as failing as defined by the State Board of Education or a district with a School At-Risk shall also establish a community-based prekindergarten through higher education council comprised of a broad spectrum of the community, including economic developers, elected officials, civic leaders, business leaders, faith-based leaders, social services, nonprofit organizations, school attendance officers, law enforcement officials, health department officials, day care providers, librarians, parents and others with the knowledge and resources that can be leveraged to build strong communities. The State Board of Education shall develop procedures for appointments to the council, which shall not be appointed solely by the school board. The council will serve as a community-led group that is inclusive, accountable and required to publicly report progress to the community as a whole.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 37-146-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 146-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-13
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to the availability of funding, students in the program who successfully matriculate to dental school are eligible for ongoing financial support in accordance with policies and requirements of the commission and in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. The number of students to be supported at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry and at other schools will be established by policy prescribed by the commission.

(2) Subject to the availability of funding, students enrolled at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry may receive tuition support, funding to assist with the cost of books and a living stipend, as prescribed by policy of the commission and in accordance with applicable regulations. Preferences for ongoing funding must be given to those students admitted to the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry.

(3) For each year that a student in dental school receives financial assistance, the student is obligated for one (1) year of practice as a dentist in a rural or underserved area in Mississippi. Breach of the agreement at any stage of training shall invoke the repayment of all financial assistance provided to the student through the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program along with other penalties that may be prescribed in policy by the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-509 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-509
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-509
Status: in_force

(1) The Meridian Junior College District shall be under the executive direction of a president elected by the board of trustees of such district.

(2) The president of the community college shall be general manager of all fiscal and administrative affairs of the district with full authority to select, employ, direct and discharge any and all employees other than faculty. He shall have the power to recommend to the board of trustees all faculty to be employed, and he may remove or suspend any member of the faculty subject to the approval of the board of trustees. The president shall have the authority, subject to the approval of the board of trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules and establish and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of faculty and students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 28-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-33
Status: in_force

(1) A charter may be renewed for successive five-year terms of duration. The authorizer may grant renewal with specific conditions for necessary improvements to a charter school and may lessen the renewal term based on the performance, demonstrated capacities and particular circumstances of each charter school.

(2) Before September 30, the authorizer shall issue a charter school performance report and charter renewal application guidance to any charter school whose charter will expire the following year. The performance report must summarize the charter school's performance record to date, based on the data required by this chapter and the charter contract, and must provide notice of any weaknesses or concerns perceived by the authorizer which may jeopardize the charter school's position in seeking renewal if not timely rectified. The charter school must respond and submit any corrections or clarifications for the performance report within ninety (90) days after receiving the report.

(3) The charter renewal application guidance must provide, at a minimum, an opportunity for the charter school to:

(a) Present additional evidence, beyond the data contained in the performance report, supporting its case for charter renewal;

(b) Describe improvements undertaken or planned for the school; and

(c) Detail the school's plans for the next charter term.

(4) The charter renewal application guidance must include or refer explicitly to the criteria that will guide the authorizer's renewal decision, which must be based on the performance framework set forth in the charter contract and consistent with this chapter.

(5) Before February 1, the governing board of a charter school seeking renewal shall submit a renewal application to the authorizer pursuant to the charter renewal application guidance issued by the authorizer. The authorizer shall adopt a resolution ruling on the renewal application no later than ninety (90) days after the filing of the renewal application.

(6) In making each charter renewal decision, the authorizer must:

(a) Ground its decision in evidence of the school's performance over the term of the charter contract in accordance with the performance framework set forth in the charter contract;

(b) Ensure that data used in making the renewal decision is available to the school and the public; and

(c) Provide a public report summarizing the evidence that is the basis for the renewal decision.

(7) A charter contract must be revoked at any time or not renewed if the authorizer determines that the charter school has done any of the following or otherwise failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter:

(a) Committed a material and substantial violation of any of the terms, conditions, standards or procedures required under this chapter or the charter contract;

(b) Failed to meet or make sufficient progress toward the performance expectations set forth in the charter contract;

(c) Failed to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management; or

(d) Substantially violated any material provision of law which is applicable to the charter school.

(8) The authorizer shall develop revocation and nonrenewal processes that:

(a) Provide the governing board of a charter school with a timely notification of the prospect of revocation or nonrenewal and of the reasons for such possible closure;

(b) Allow the governing board a reasonable amount of time in which to prepare a response;

(c) Provide the governing board with an opportunity to submit documents and give testimony challenging the rationale for closure and in support of the continuation of the school at an orderly proceeding held for that purpose;

(d) Allow the governing board access to representation by counsel and to call witnesses on the school's behalf;

(e) Permit the recording of such proceedings; and

(f) After a reasonable period for deliberation, require a final determination to be made and conveyed in writing to the governing board.

(9) Notwitstanding 1 any provision to the contrary, the authorizer may not renew the charter of any charter school that, during the school's final operating year under the term of the charter contract, is designated an “F” school under the school accreditation rating system.

(10) If the authorizer revokes or does not renew a charter, the authorizer must state clearly, in a resolution of adopted by the authorizer board, the reasons for the revocation or nonrenewal.

(11) Within ten (10) days after taking action to renew, not renew or revoke a charter, the authorizer shall provide a report to the charter school. The report must include a copy of the authorizer board's resolution setting forth the action taken, reasons for the board's decision and assurances as to compliance with all of the requirements set forth in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 101-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-25
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Small Farm Development Center shall develop a plan to foster and encourage the development in this state of small enterprises which process “cash crops,” timber, or food and fiber products produced in Mississippi. The plan shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Means to identify small entrepreneurs who are in the business of processing, or are interested in starting a business to process, “cash crops,” timber, or food and fiber products;

(b) Means to encourage participation by such small entrepreneurs in available business management and technical assistance programs; and

(c) Any appropriate financial assistance to assist such small entrepreneurs in financing their business, such as interest-free state loans similar to existing Department of Economic and Community Development programs administered out of the Emerging Crops Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-150 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 23-150
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-150
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the Legislature that none of the provisions of Sections 37-16-9 , 37-23-1 through 37-23-9 and 37-23-133 through 37-23-149 shall create mandates that impose financial or legal requirements upon local school districts that are greater or more restrictive upon local school districts as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 and any later amendments or regulations thereunder, or any other relevant federal legislation. Furthermore, it is not the intent of the Legislature to impose any additional state unfunded mandates for the implementation of Sections 37-16-9 , 37-23-1 through 37-23-9 and 37-23-133 through 37-23-149 . Any provisions of Sections 37-16-9 , 37-23-1 through 37-23-9 and 37 -- 23 -133 through 37-23-149 that are inconsistent, create additional unfunded state mandates, or that are more restrictive upon school districts than federal requirements shall be expressly unenforceable and have no effect.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-133 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 13-133
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-133
Status: in_force

Under the provisions of Section 37-13-131 , the State Department of Education may provide for the services of a School Health Services Coordinator, School Instruction Coordinator, School Environmental Specialist, and such other professional and nonprofessional staff as may be needed and as funds available to the department will permit. The State Department of Education, subject to the availability of funds specifically for such purpose, shall employ a physical activity coordinator K-12 not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of such funds, in accordance with the provisions of Section 37-13-134 . It shall be the responsibility of that professional staff to coordinate efforts of the personnel of the State Department of Education, the state's colleges and universities, local public schools and other appropriate agencies to provide the comprehensive health education curriculum.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 175-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-21
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

(2) The qualified personnel to provide speech-language services for children with speech-language impairment who attend the nonpublic special purpose schools shall consist of speech-language pathologists.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-159-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 159-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-159-17
Status: in_force

There is established in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated the “Mississippi Critical Teacher Shortage Fund,” into which shall be deposited those funds appropriated by the Legislature, and any other funds that may be made available, for the purpose of implementing the programs established under Sections 37-159-5 , 37-9-77 , 37-3-91 and 37-159-9 through 37-159-13 . Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the General Fund, and interest earned on any amounts deposited into the fund shall be credited to the special fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 27-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-5
Status: in_force

Boards of supervisors are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to levy on the taxable property in the county at the time the annual tax levy is made, a tax for the building, repair, and equipment of agricultural high schools, as well as for the purchase of suitable lands or buildings, or both, or for the payment of debts heretofore created for any of said purposes, not to exceed three mills. Within twenty (20) days after levy has been made, twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of said county may file with the clerk of the board of supervisors a petition asking that the tax be not levied; thereupon, the question shall be submitted to an election of the people, which election shall be decisive to the levy for that year only. The maximum levy for maintenance purposes as fixed by the law for the agricultural high school, shall not be deemed a limitation on the tax levy for the building, repair, and equipment of agricultural high schools hereinbefore mentioned, nor the levy under this section, a limitation on the levy for maintenance purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 41-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-29
Status: in_force

(1) It shall be the duty of the school boards, as existing private contracts providing for transportation of school pupils expire, to replace such private transportation with publicly owned transportation unless publicly owned transportation is deemed impractical. The school boards may acquire, when so requested by holders of private transportation contracts, from such holders of private transportation contracts, all buses which, in the opinion of the school boards, can be practicably operated as units of the public transportation system. The actual market value shall be paid therefor, said value to be determined by an appraisal by three (3) experienced and impartial citizens, the selection of whom shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties thereto.

(2) It shall be the duty of the school boards to approve the continuation of present private contracts providing for transportation of school pupils, or to approve new contracts entered into whenever it is deemed that the needs of the pupils can best be served by such method of transportation. However, in no case shall the amount allotted per pupil from state funds for transportation in facilities provided by private contracts exceed the amount allowed per pupil from state funds for public transportation in the same county and district.

(3) Before any money is allocated or disbursed from the state transportation funds to any school board which is transporting children under private contracts, written contracts shall be entered into by and between the respective carriers and school boards. A copy of each contract shall be filed with the superintendent of schools. The aforesaid contract shall contain, at a minimum, the cost of services to be provided to include all necessary bus routes as well as the cost of school-approved activities such as field trips, the length of the contract, the terms of the utilization of existing pupil transportation facilities and existing fleet of buses, if applicable, the necessary types and amounts of limits of insurance that will protect the district, to include Workers' Compensation Insurance, and the stipulation for the placement of district-identifying signage on all buses under contract, as required under Section 37-41-43 . Certificates of insurance shall provide that a thirty-day prior notice of cancellation will be given to the district. The contractor shall comply with all state laws and the State Board of Education policies pertaining to pupil transportation services, including the requirement that (a) school buses used by such contractor shall comply with the Mississippi Minimum Standards for School Buses established by the State Board of Education, and (b) all school bus drivers employed by such contractor shall be trained and certified by the State Department of Education.

(4) Local school boards are not required to file a copy of any private contract for the transportation of exceptional children or the transportation of children under extraordinary circumstances with the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 175-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-27
Status: in_force

No liability shall arise on the part of the state based on the award or use of a Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 106-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-21
Status: in_force

Unless otherwise required to secure a guarantee of a loan, all funds disbursed under the provisions hereof shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(a) The annual award to any recipient may be paid as required by federal laws and regulations governing the Guaranteed Student Loan Program.

(b) Payments under this chapter shall be made by the State Treasurer upon certification by the board of final approval of the recipient of each loan.

(c) Payments shall be made directly to the approved institution attended or to be attended by the student named in such certificate by check or transfer of funds made payable to the institution and accompanied by a student roster.

(d) In the event a student on whose behalf an award has been paid shall not be enrolled and carrying a minimum academic load or program as of the fifteenth classroom day following the beginning of the term for which such award was paid, the institution shall refund to the state the amount paid on behalf of such student. If at any time during the period of the loan, the student withdraws and is entitled to any refund or remittance of fees or tuition, such amount shall be repaid into the fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 175-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-27
Status: in_force

No liability shall arise on the part of the state based on the award or use of a Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 105-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-5
Status: in_force

Violation of any rules or regulations promulgated under the authority granted in Section 37-105-1 shall constitute a misdemeanor. Any person charged with a violation of such rules or regulations may be charged with such violation in the justice court of the county in which such violation occurred. Any person convicted of a violation of any such rule or regulation may be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 113-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-27
Status: in_force

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

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

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

In the event similar diversions are already made from the avails of the state ad valorem tax levy in such a county, then this section shall be considered as supplemental thereto, and such laws authorizing such diversions shall not apply to the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 115-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-71
Status: in_force

Any such county as is provided for in Section 37-115-69 is hereby authorized and empowered to issue and sell its bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of providing funds with which to make the contribution or donation authorized under the provisions of said section. Such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness shall not be issued in an amount which will exceed the limit of indebtedness of said county as such limit is prescribed by Sections 19-9-1 through 19-9-31, Mississippi Code of 1972 . Before issuing any such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, the board of supervisors acting for such county shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to issue the same, stating the amount and purpose thereof and fixing the date upon which an election will be held on the proposition. Notice of such election shall be given by publication of such resolution once a week for at least three consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper published in said county. The first publication of such notice shall be made not less than twenty-one days prior to the date fixed in such resolution for the holding of said election as aforesaid and the last publication shall be made not more than seven days prior to such date. At such election all qualified electors of said county may vote and the ballots used shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the amount and purpose of the bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness proposed to be issued and the voter shall vote by placing a cross (x) or check (✓) opposite his choice on the proposition. The bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness authorized herein shall not be issued unless authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified voters of said county who vote on the proposition at such election.

Such election shall be conducted and the returns thereof made, canvassed, and declared as nearly as may be in like manner as is now or may hereafter be provided by law in the case of general elections in counties. In the event that the question of the issuance of such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness be not authorized at such election, such question shall not again be submitted to a vote until the expiration of a period of six months, from and after the date of such election.

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

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

All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued hereunder shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of such county. There shall annually be levied upon all taxable property within said county an ad valorem tax in addition to all other taxes, sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and the interest on said bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness as the same respectively mature and accrue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 9-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-33
Status: in_force

(1) In employing and contracting with appointed superintendents, principals and licensed employees, the school board shall in all cases determine whether the amount of salary to be paid such superintendent, principals and licensed employees is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and Section 37-19-7 . No contract shall be entered into where the salary of a superintendent, principal or licensed employee is to be paid, in whole or in part, from the total funding formula funds provided in this act except where the statutory requirements as to the amount of such salary are fully met. Nothing herein shall be construed, however, to prohibit any school district from increasing the salaries of appointed superintendents, principals and licensed employees above the amounts fixed by Section 37-19-7 . Provided further, that school districts are authorized, in their discretion, to negotiate the salary levels applicable to licensed employees employed after July 1, 2009, who are receiving retirement benefits from the retirement system of another state. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit any school district from complying with the school district employee furlough provisions of Section 37-7-308 .

(2) Each school district shall provide an annual report to the State Department of Education on the number of licensed and nonlicensed employees receiving a salary from the school district who are also receiving retirement benefits from the Public Employees' Retirement System. This report shall include the name of the employee(s), the hours per week for which the employee is under contract and the services for which the employee is under contract. Said required annual report shall be in a form and deadline promulgated by the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-49 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 27-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-49
Status: in_force

All conveyances of property under the authority of Section 37-27-47 shall be for a cash consideration and the proceeds of such sale shall be placed in the maintenance fund of the agricultural high school. If any sale embraces realty, and the agricultural high school selling same owes outstanding bonds or notes, then in that event the proceeds of such sale shall be placed to the credit of the bond and interest sinking fund of such agricultural high school, or used to construct, renovate or purchase, under provisions elsewhere provided by law, similar type property or property of comparable value at attendance centers to be used for the same or other reasonably necessary purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-319 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-319
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-319
Status: in_force

All public school boards may purchase group insurance coverage for the liability of all of its active full-time instructional and noninstructional personnel. Such policy shall be paid for with any funds available other than the total funding formula funds provided for in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 115-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-25
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be built, equipped and operated as a part of the medical school, a teaching hospital of the size of not less than three-hundred-fifty-bed capacity, together with all ancillary buildings and physical facilities needful or proper for the establishment, operation and maintenance of such a hospital as a part of a fully accredited four-year medical school, including, clinical and outpatient services and all types of services deemed to be necessary or desirable as a part of the functioning of such a teaching hospital. Said teaching hospital shall be known as the University Hospital. There shall also be acquired and installed all needed equipment and supplies for the proper operation and maintenance of such medical school and hospital and other facilities for the purposes aforesaid. There shall be employed all needed personnel and services to operate said medical school and hospital and other facilities.

(2) As part of employing appropriate professional staff, the University Medical Center and University Hospital are authorized to enter into recruitment agreements to provide for needed faculty physicians and staff. Said agreements may include, but are not limited to, salary supplements, transfer and moving expenses and payment of medical school loans. Any amount so advanced shall be forgiven over not less than a three-year period of a year-for-year pro rata basis. In the event that the physician should leave University of Mississippi Medical Center employment, said physician shall repay any remaining sum(s) so advanced plus interest as negotiated in the agreement. Said amounts to be repaid over no more than a two-year period.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-319 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-319
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-319
Status: in_force

All public school boards may purchase group insurance coverage for the liability of all of its active full-time instructional and noninstructional personnel. Such policy shall be paid for with any funds available other than the total funding formula funds provided for in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-263 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-263
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-263
Status: in_force

Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the various junior colleges of the state are authorized to defray the cost of providing electronic data processing equipment out of any available funds acquired from taxes levied within the junior college district, whether designated for capital expenditures or operating costs, whether such equipment is acquired by purchase, lease or under any other form of contract. However, no such funds shall be expended unless the acquisition of such equipment has been approved by the central data processing authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-232 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-232
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-232
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section:

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

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

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

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

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

(5) No health care professional/vocational technical academic program or academic program employee shall be held liable in any admissions discrimination suit in which an allegation of discrimination is made regarding an admissions decision authorized under this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-45 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 113-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-45
Status: in_force

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

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

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

All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued hereunder shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of such county. There shall annually be levied upon all taxable property within said county an ad valorem tax in addition to all other taxes, sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and the interest on said bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness as the same respectively mature and accrue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 41-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-3
Status: in_force

Pupils of legal school age, which shall include kindergarten pupils, and in actual attendance in the public schools who live a distance of one (1) mile or more by the nearest traveled road from the school to which they are assigned by the school district in which they are enrolled shall be entitled to transportation within the meaning of this chapter. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to bar any child from such transportation where he or she lives less than one (1) mile and is on the regular route of travel of a school bus and space is available in such bus for such transportation. No state funds shall be paid for the transportation of children living within one (1) mile of the school, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, and such children shall not be included in transportation reports. In the development of route plans, economy shall be a prime consideration. There shall be no duplication of routes except in circumstances where it is totally unavoidable. The State Department of Education shall have authority to investigate school bus routing when there is reason to believe the provisions of this statute are being violated. The State Board of Education shall have authority to withhold transportation funds when school districts fail to correct unnecessary route duplication. Provided further, that all school districts are hereby authorized to lease or contract with any public or private individual, partnership, corporation, association, agency or other organization for the implementation of transportation of pupils as provided for in this section.

The school boards may provide transportation to such crippled and physically handicapped children as may be designated by such boards, when the failure to do so would result in undue hardship, even though the children are not otherwise entitled to transportation under the provisions of this chapter. The State Department of Education shall require all school districts during the 1993-1994 school year to equip school buses with properly designed seat belts to protect such physically handicapped children, and school districts are authorized to expend funds therefor from nonminimum program or other sources.

Where space is available, students attending junior colleges shall be allowed transportation on established routes in district-owned buses. However, no additional funds shall be allocated or expended for such purposes, and such persons shall not be included in transportation reports.

Children enrolled in special or alternative programs approved by school boards may be provided transportation even though such children are not otherwise entitled to transportation under the provisions of this chapter. No additional funds shall be allocated or expended for such purpose, and such children shall not be included in transportation reports.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-129 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 33-129
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-129
Status: in_force

(1) Every city, county, nonprofit corporation, state-supported institution, or combination thereof establishing a community rehabilitation program shall appoint a community rehabilitation program board of directors of not less than nine (9) members before becoming eligible for the assistance provided by Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 . When any city or county singly establishes such a community rehabilitation program, the board shall be appointed by the governing authorities of the city or county. When any combination of cities, counties, state-supported institutions, or nonprofit corporations establishes such a community rehabilitation program, the governing authorities of the county, city, or nonprofit corporations and directors of state-supported institutions shall appoint the board. If a nonprofit corporation singly establishes such a community rehabilitation program, the corporation shall appoint the board of directors. Membership on a board shall be representative of the community served and shall include an individual with a disability. One-third ( 1 / 3 ) to one-half ( 1 / 2 ) of the board shall be representative of lay associations for individuals with disabilities, labor, the general public and education, welfare, medical and health professions. Nothing in Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 shall be construed to preclude the appointment of elected or appointed public officials or members of the board of directors of the sponsoring nonprofit corporation to the board, so long as representation described above is preserved.

(2) The term of office of each member of the community rehabilitation program board shall be for four (4) years, measured from the first day of the year of appointment, except as follows: Of the members first appointed, at least three (3) shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, at least three (3) for a term of three (3) years, and at least three (3) for a term of four (4) years. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. Any member of a board may be removed by the appointing authority for neglect of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance in office, after being given written statement of charges and an opportunity to be heard on the charges.

(3) Subject to the provisions of Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 and the rules and regulations of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, each community rehabilitation program board shall:

(a) Review and evaluate the need for a community rehabilitation program provided by Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 and report thereon to the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the administrator of the local program, and, when indicated, the public, together with recommendations for additional services and facilities;

(b) Recruit and promote local financial support for the program from private sources such as united funds, business, industrial and private foundations, voluntary agencies and other lawful sources and promote public support for municipal and county appropriations;

(c) Promote, arrange and implement working agreements with other educational and social service agencies both public and private and any other allied agencies;

(d) Advise the local administrator of the community rehabilitation program on the adoption and implementation of policies to stimulate effective community relations;

(e) Review the annual plan and budget and make recommendations thereon;

(f) When so determined by the authority establishing the program, act as the local administrator of the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-68-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 68-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-68-9
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall:

(a) Inform each school of its portion of the funds appropriated to this grant program as provided for in Section 37-68-7(2) ;

(b) Develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of this grant program, to include:

(i) A reimbursement process for schools to submit expenditures and receive reimbursement for eligible expenses from the department up to the total amount allocated to each school in Section 37-68-7 ;

(ii) Provide guidance to schools in the development of a technology sustainability plan, addressing how devices and other technology purchased and used by the school district, and students, teachers and other administrators and staff, will be maintained throughout their usage and replaced before the expiration of the term of their expected useful life;

(iii) Provide guidance to schools in the development of a responsible use policy for students, teachers and administrators or other staff to govern the use of devices and other technology purchased under this grant program;

(c) Provide guidance to schools on the development and implementation of a distance learning plan;

(d) Solicit bid proposals from vendors to establish an EPL; and

(e) Seek an emergency exemption from the procurement laws and bidding procedures established in Section 31-7-13 to expedite the compilation of an EPL and to minimize the cost of relevant devices or other technology for school districts through bulk purchasing.

(2) The department may:

(a) Revise the adopted EPL based upon purchasing demands as needed to provide schools with choice in the selection of the electronic devices; and

(b) Use the federal ESSER funds set aside for administration of the program to administer this grant program, to the extent permissible under federal law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-20 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 113-20
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-20
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section unless the context otherwise clearly requires:

(a) “ Wireless communication device ” means any handheld, portable or mobile electronic device capable of transmitting or exchanging data in the form of multimedia, graphics, text, or voice that meets all the following criteria:

(i) The device has a wireless communication capability and is mobile;

(ii) The device requires an upfront or periodic charge or fee to utilize the wireless communications capability; and

(iii) The wireless communication capability that requires an upfront or periodic fee is activated.

For purposes of this section, a notebook or laptop computer is not considered a wireless communication device.

(b) “ Director ” means the Mississippi State University Extension Service Director, the Mississippi State University Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Director, the Mississippi State University Forestry and Wildlife Research Center Director or the Dean of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

(2) The director or his designee may, at his discretion, assign or otherwise make available for usage one or more wireless communications devices to a faculty member or an agent of the Mississippi State University Extension Service under his direct or indirect supervision after the director, or his designee, signs a statement certifying the need or purpose for issuing the device. No faculty member or extension service agent to whom has been assigned a wireless communication device under this paragraph shall use the assigned device for personal use except in those cases where the personal use does not incur additional charges or fees as a result of the personal use. A detailed billing of wireless services for devices referred to in this paragraph shall be obtained on a periodic basis and reviewed by the director, or his designee, to audit usage and verify compliance with this section.

(3) No state-appropriated funds shall be used to pay for the acquisition or use of a wireless communication device issued under this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 131-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-1
Status: in_force

The president or executive head of any state-supported institution of higher learning of the State of Mississippi, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, is hereby authorized and empowered to establish, operate, maintain, and conduct teachers demonstration and practice schools in connection with the operation of such institution of higher learning. The president or executive head of any such institution, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, shall have full power and authority to regulate and conduct the affairs of such schools and to establish rules and regulations for their government.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-285 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 101-285
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-285
Status: in_force

For the purposes of Section 37-101-291 , the following terms shall have the following meanings unless context shall prescribe otherwise:

(1) “ State health institution ” or “ state health institutions ” means all facilities operated within the Department of Mental Health, mental health/intellectual disability facilities under the administration of a regional commission as established under Section 41-19-31 , that are certified by the Department of Mental Health, University of Mississippi Hospital, the State Board of Health, health care facilities operated by the Department of Corrections, and any other public health care facility.

(2) “ Health care professions ” means nurses, nurse practitioners, speech pathologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and any other critical need profession determined by the sponsoring state health institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-57 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 43-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-57
Status: in_force

Except as may otherwise be provided in this chapter, any person willfully violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment not to exceed twelve (12) months in the county jail, or by both, in the discretion of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 131-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-3
Status: in_force

The president or executive head of any institution of higher learning which has established a demonstration or practice school, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, shall have the power and authority to enter into contracts and agreements with the board of trustees of any school district providing for the attendance of pupils, or one or more, or parts of, grades, from the educable children of such school district at such demonstration or practice school. The board of trustees of any school district is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into contracts and agreements with the president or executive head of an institution of higher learning for such purpose. All such contracts shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by and between the president or executive head of the institution of higher learning and the board of trustees of the school district involved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-35 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 61-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-35
Status: in_force

There is hereby created a special fund in the State Treasury to be designated School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund into which proceeds collected pursuant to Sections 27-65-75(7) and 27-67-31(a) shall be deposited. Beginning with the 1994 state fiscal year, the entire amount of monies in such special fund shall be appropriated annually to the State Department of Education which shall distribute the appropriated amount to the various school districts in the proportion that the net enrollment of each school district bears to the net enrollment of all school districts within the state. On or before June 1 of each year, the State Department of Education shall notify each school district of the amount to which such district is entitled pursuant to this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 24-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-7
Status: in_force

The State Department of Health shall endorse one (1) concussion recognition education course to provide information to Mississippians of the nature and risk of concussions in youth athletics, which shall be available online. Such course may include education and training materials made available, at no charge, by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other training materials substantively and substantially similar to those materials.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 16-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-17
Status: in_force

(1) Purpose.(a) The purpose of this section is to create a quality option in Mississippi's high schools for students not wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree, which shall consist of challenging academic courses and modern career-technical studies. The goal for students pursuing the career technical education pathways is to graduate from high school with a standard diploma and credit toward a community college certification in a career-technical field. These students also shall be encouraged to take the national assessment in the career-technical field in which they become certified.

(b) The State Board of Education shall develop and adopt course and curriculum requirements for career technical education pathways offered by local public school boards in accordance with this section. The Mississippi Community College Board and the State Board of Education jointly shall determine course and curriculum requirements for the career technical education pathways. The State Board of Education shall require school districts to provide notice to all incoming middle school students and junior high students of the career technical education pathways offered by local school boards. Such notice shall include the career technical education pathways available, the course requirements of each pathway, how to enroll in the pathway and any other necessary information as determined by the State Board of Education.

(2) Career technical education pathway; description; curriculum.(a) A career technical education pathway shall provide a student with greater technical skill and a strong academic core and shall be offered to each high school student enrolled in a public school district. The career technical education pathway shall be linked to postsecondary options and shall prepare students to pursue either a degree or certification from a postsecondary institution, an industry-based training or certification, an apprenticeship, the military, or immediate entrance into a career field. The career technical education pathway shall provide students with alternatives to entrance into a four-year university or college after high school graduation.

(b) Students pursuing a career technical education pathway shall be afforded the opportunity to dually enroll in a community or technical college or to participate in a business internship or work-study program, when such opportunities are available and appropriate.

(c) Each public school district shall offer a career technical education pathway approved by the State Board of Education.

(d) Students in a career technical education pathway shall complete an academic core of courses and a career and technical sequence of courses.

(e) Students pursuing a career technical education pathway must complete the twenty-four (24) course unit requirements for a regular high school diploma, which may include, but not be limited to the following course content:

(i) English I;

(ii) English II;

(iii) Technical writing;

(iv) Computer programming;

(v) Algebra I;

(vi) Personal Finance;

(vii) Advanced technical mathematics;

(viii) Computer Science;

(ix) Biology;

(x) Earth and Space Science;

(xi) U.S. History;

(xii) Mississippi Studies/U.S. Government;

(xiii) Health;

(xiv) Physical Education;

(xv) Soft skills, which include, but are not limited to, communication ability, language skills, time management, teamwork and leadership traits;

(xvi) Career technical education pathway courses; and

(xvii) Integrated technology.

Academic courses within the career technical education pathway of the standard diploma shall provide the knowledge and skill necessary for proficiency on the state subject area tests.

(f) The courses provided in paragraph (e) of this subsection may be tailored to the individual needs of the school district as long as the amendments align with the basic course requirements of paragraph (e).

(3) Nothing in this section shall disallow the development of a dual enrollment program with a technical college so long as an individual school district, with approval from the State Department of Education, agrees to implement such a program in connection with a technical college and the agreement is also approved by the proprietary school's commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-49 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 28-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-49
Status: in_force

(1) Charter school teachers and other school personnel, as well as members of the governing board and any education service provider with whom a charter school contracts, are subject to criminal history record checks and fingerprinting requirements applicable to employees of other public schools. The authorizer shall require that current criminal records background checks and current child abuse registry checks are obtained, and that the criminal record information and registry checks are on file at the charter school for any new hires applying for employment. In order to determine an applicant's suitability for employment, the applicant must be fingerprinted. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the fingerprints must be forwarded by the Department of Public Safety to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. Under no circumstances may a member of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board, member of the charter school governing board or any individual other than the subject of the criminal history record checks disseminate information received through the checks except as may be required to fulfill the purposes of this section. The determination whether the applicant has a disqualifying crime, as set forth in subsection (2) of this section, must be made by the appropriate state or federal governmental authority, which must notify the charter school whether a disqualifying crime exists.

(2) If the fingerprinting or criminal record checks disclose a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23(g) , child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust or aggravated assault which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the new hire is not eligible to be employed at the charter school. However, the charter school, in its discretion, may allow any applicant aggrieved by the employment decision under this section to show mitigating circumstances that exist and may allow, subject to the approval of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board, the new hire to be employed at the school. The authorizer may approve the employment depending on the mitigating circumstances, which may include, but need not be limited to: (a) age at which the crime was committed; (b) circumstances surrounding the crime; (c) length of time since the conviction and criminal history since the conviction; (d) work history; (e) current employment and character references; and (f) other evidence demonstrating the ability of the person to perform the employment responsibilities competently and that the person does not pose a threat to the health or safety of children.

(3) No charter school, charter school employee, member of the charter school governing board, the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board or member or employee of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board employee may be held liable in any employment discrimination suit in which an allegation of discrimination is made regarding an employment decision authorized under this section.

(4) A charter school shall terminate any teacher or administrator for committing one or more of the following acts:

(a) Engaging in unethical conduct relating to an educator-student relationship as identified by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board;

(b) Fondling a student as described in Section 97-5-23 or engaging in any type of sexual involvement with a student as described in Section 97-3-95 ; or

(c) Failure to report sexual involvement of a charter school employee with a student as required by Section 97-5-24 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-119-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 119-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-119-11
Status: in_force

There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the DuBard School for Language Disorders Fund, which shall be administered by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The purpose of the fund shall be to support the DuBard School for Language Disorders at the University of Southern Mississippi. Monies in the fund shall be expended by the board of trustees, 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 DuBard School for Language Disorders;

(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.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-25-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 25-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-25-3
Status: in_force

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the school board of any school district maintaining a secondary school which includes any of the grades nine (9) through twelve (12) inclusive, shall establish and maintain driver education and training programs for pupils enrolled in the day secondary schools in that district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-69 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 31-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-69
Status: in_force

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

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

(3) Students successfully completing a vocational apprenticeship program established pursuant to this section are entitled to a diploma evidencing graduation from a high school in Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 47-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-51
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter and all interim certificates issued under the provisions of this chapter, except those fully registered, shall be fully negotiable within the meaning and for all the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-229 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 7-229
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-229
Status: in_force

For the purpose of holding such election, it shall be the duty of the county election commissioners to prepare from the records in the office of the county registrar a list of the qualified electors of the school district in which such election is to be held who are eligible to participate in the election. The list shall be furnished to the poll managers in each precinct, together with the ballots and other election supplies.

In the event that any election precinct embraces parts of two (2) or more school districts it shall be the duty of the county election commissioners to prepare from the records in the office of the county registrar separate lists of the qualified electors of each school district who reside in the precinct and who are eligible to participate in the election. The election commissioners shall furnish to the poll managers in the precinct separate ballots and separate ballot boxes and separate voting lists for each school district.

For each day spent in carrying out the provisions of Sections 37-7-225 through 37-7-229 the county election commissioners shall be paid at the rate prescribed by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-20 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 11-20
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-20
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person to intimidate, threaten or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten or coerce, whether by illegal force, threats of force or by the distribution of intimidating, threatening or coercive material, any person enrolled in any school for the purpose of interfering with the right of that person to attend school classes or of causing him not to attend such classes.

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 jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or both. Any person under the age of seventeen (17) years who violates any provision of this section shall be treated as a delinquent within the jurisdiction of the youth court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-139 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / 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. § 37-59-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 59-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-43
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever any school district or levying authority, as defined in Section 37-57-1(1)(b) , acting on behalf of a school district, shall have on hand any bond and interest funds, any funds derived from the sale of bonds, or any other funds in excess of the sums which will be required for payment of current obligations and expenses as they come due, and which are not needed or cannot by law be used for the payment of the current obligations or expenses of the school district, the school board of the district shall have the power and authority to invest such excess funds in any bonds or other direct obligations of the United States of America or the State of Mississippi, or of any county or municipality of this state, which such county or municipal bonds have been approved by a reputable bond attorney or have been validated by a decree of the chancery court; or in interest-bearing time certificates of deposit or interest-bearing accounts with or through any financial institution approved for the deposit of state funds; and such institution shall be eligible to hold school district funds to the extent that it is qualified as a depository for state funds; or in any type of investment permitted by Sections 27-105-33(d) and 27-105-33(e) . The rate of interest on such time certificates of deposit and interest-bearing accounts may be negotiated. The negotiated rate of interest shall be at the highest rate possible at the date of purchase or investment for such time certificates of deposit or interest-bearing accounts. In any event, the bonds or obligations in which such funds are invested shall mature or be redeemable prior to the time the funds so invested will be needed for expenditure. When bonds or other obligations have been so purchased, the same may be sold or surrendered for redemption at any time, except certificates of deposit which must mature, by order or resolution of such school board, and the president of the school board, when authorized by such order or resolution, shall have the power and authority to execute all instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the sale or redemption thereof. In addition to the foregoing, any school board may invest any such funds in the same manner as provided for the investment of sixteenth section principal funds pursuant to Section 29-3-113 .

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall also apply to funds of community and junior college districts, and the governing authorities of such districts are vested with all power and authority with respect to such funds and matters herein mentioned as are vested in the other boards mentioned above with respect to such matters.

(3) All earnings from funds other than bond funds or bond sinking funds in excess of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in any fiscal year, invested according to the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall be deposited in the district fund from which the investment was made, or the treasury of the junior college, as the case may be. Earnings from such school district funds which are less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in any fiscal year may be deposited in the school district maintenance fund, or in the district fund from which the investment was made, in the discretion of the school board. Earnings from funds invested out of bond funds or bond sinking funds, together with the principal thereof, shall be deposited in the fund from which the investment was made.

(4) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent the payment of a portion of the earnings derived from the investment of bond proceeds or any other amounts in the bond fund or related reserve or sinking funds to the federal government to the extent required by the federal laws applicable to such bonds or the interest income thereon in order to maintain their tax exempt status.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 117-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-9
Status: in_force

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

The certificate of selection shall be attested by the clerk of the board of supervisors, under its seal, and shall entitle the holder to admission into the said college, with all the privileges thereof, to pursue all the industrial branches selected, and to enter the subclass or class for which she is fitted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 65-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-7
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of any such school district, agricultural high school district or agricultural high school and junior college district, and the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, respectively, as the case may be, may, in their discretion, pay all or any part of the salary of all superintendents, principals, teachers and other employees during or for the period when any of the said schools, agricultural high schools, agricultural high schools and junior colleges, or institutions of higher learning are closed in accordance with the terms of this article, and funds shall be drawn from the same source or sources as such funds would be drawn to pay such items if the schools, agricultural high schools, agricultural high schools and junior colleges, or institutions of higher learning had not been closed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-68-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 68-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-68-9
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall:

(a) Inform each school of its portion of the funds appropriated to this grant program as provided for in Section 37-68-7(2) ;

(b) Develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of this grant program, to include:

(i) A reimbursement process for schools to submit expenditures and receive reimbursement for eligible expenses from the department up to the total amount allocated to each school in Section 37-68-7 ;

(ii) Provide guidance to schools in the development of a technology sustainability plan, addressing how devices and other technology purchased and used by the school district, and students, teachers and other administrators and staff, will be maintained throughout their usage and replaced before the expiration of the term of their expected useful life;

(iii) Provide guidance to schools in the development of a responsible use policy for students, teachers and administrators or other staff to govern the use of devices and other technology purchased under this grant program;

(c) Provide guidance to schools on the development and implementation of a distance learning plan;

(d) Solicit bid proposals from vendors to establish an EPL; and

(e) Seek an emergency exemption from the procurement laws and bidding procedures established in Section 31-7-13 to expedite the compilation of an EPL and to minimize the cost of relevant devices or other technology for school districts through bulk purchasing.

(2) The department may:

(a) Revise the adopted EPL based upon purchasing demands as needed to provide schools with choice in the selection of the electronic devices; and

(b) Use the federal ESSER funds set aside for administration of the program to administer this grant program, to the extent permissible under federal law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-105
Status: in_force

In the event that bonds shall have been authorized for projects determined by the board of trustees and such bonds validated, the board of trustees is authorized to utilize any available funds for the immediate commencement of such project and to reimburse the funds from which any such expenditures are made from the proceeds of the bonds when the same are received.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-49 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 28-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-49
Status: in_force

(1) Charter school teachers and other school personnel, as well as members of the governing board and any education service provider with whom a charter school contracts, are subject to criminal history record checks and fingerprinting requirements applicable to employees of other public schools. The authorizer shall require that current criminal records background checks and current child abuse registry checks are obtained, and that the criminal record information and registry checks are on file at the charter school for any new hires applying for employment. In order to determine an applicant's suitability for employment, the applicant must be fingerprinted. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the fingerprints must be forwarded by the Department of Public Safety to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. Under no circumstances may a member of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board, member of the charter school governing board or any individual other than the subject of the criminal history record checks disseminate information received through the checks except as may be required to fulfill the purposes of this section. The determination whether the applicant has a disqualifying crime, as set forth in subsection (2) of this section, must be made by the appropriate state or federal governmental authority, which must notify the charter school whether a disqualifying crime exists.

(2) If the fingerprinting or criminal record checks disclose a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23(g) , child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust or aggravated assault which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the new hire is not eligible to be employed at the charter school. However, the charter school, in its discretion, may allow any applicant aggrieved by the employment decision under this section to show mitigating circumstances that exist and may allow, subject to the approval of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board, the new hire to be employed at the school. The authorizer may approve the employment depending on the mitigating circumstances, which may include, but need not be limited to: (a) age at which the crime was committed; (b) circumstances surrounding the crime; (c) length of time since the conviction and criminal history since the conviction; (d) work history; (e) current employment and character references; and (f) other evidence demonstrating the ability of the person to perform the employment responsibilities competently and that the person does not pose a threat to the health or safety of children.

(3) No charter school, charter school employee, member of the charter school governing board, the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board or member or employee of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board employee may be held liable in any employment discrimination suit in which an allegation of discrimination is made regarding an employment decision authorized under this section.

(4) A charter school shall terminate any teacher or administrator for committing one or more of the following acts:

(a) Engaging in unethical conduct relating to an educator-student relationship as identified by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board;

(b) Fondling a student as described in Section 97-5-23 or engaging in any type of sexual involvement with a student as described in Section 97-3-95 ; or

(c) Failure to report sexual involvement of a charter school employee with a student as required by Section 97-5-24 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 59-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-5
Status: in_force

No school district shall, except as provided in Section 37-59-7 , hereafter issue bonds for the purposes authorized by law in an amount which, added to all of its then outstanding bonded indebtedness, shall result in the imposition on any of the property in such district of an indebtedness for school purposes of more than fifteen per cent of the assessed value of the taxable property within such district, according to the then last completed assessment for taxation, regardless of whether any of such indebtedness shall have been incurred by such district or by another school district or districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 138-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-3
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the accreditation and certification of persons who perform inspections and reinspections, prepare management plans and perform as air monitors, contractors, project designers, supervisors and workers in abatement projects for the purpose of identifying, evaluating and abating the hazard of asbestos-containing material in public and private elementary and secondary school buildings and in all public and commercial buildings in this state. It is the intent of this chapter that the cost of the administration of this chapter shall be borne fully by the certification fees provided for herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 155-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-103
Status: in_force

The following are the purposes of this article:

(a) To provide a program of savings trust agreements to apply distributions toward qualified higher education expenses at eligible educational institutions, as defined in Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code , as amended, or other applicable federal law.

(b) To provide for the creation of a trust fund, as an instrumentality of the State of Mississippi, to assist qualified students in financing costs of attending institutions of higher education.

(c) To encourage timely financial planning for higher education by the creation of savings trust accounts.

(d) To provide a choice of programs to persons who determine that the overall educational needs of their families are best suited to a prepaid tuition contract under the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (MPACT) Program, a savings trust agreement under this article, or both.

(e) To provide a savings program for those persons who wish to save to meet post secondary educational needs beyond the traditional baccalaureate curriculum.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / 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. § 37-140-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 140-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-15
Status: in_force

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

(2) The State Board of Education is encouraged to enter into contractual agreements with professional arts organizations, including the Mississippi Museum of Art, New Stage Theatre and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, for providing instruction, concerts, exhibits, performances and other outreach programs at the Mississippi School of the Arts or at any other public school facility in Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 177-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-13
Status: in_force

Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, each school district shall take the following actions for retained Third-Grade students:

(a) Provide Third-Grade students who are not promoted with intensive instructional services, progress monitoring measures, and supports to remediate the identified areas of reading deficiency, as outlined in the student's individual reading plan, including a minimum of ninety (90) minutes during regular school hours of daily, scientifically research-based reading instruction that includes phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, and other strategies prescribed by the school district, which may include, but are not limited to:

(i) Small group instruction;

(ii) Reduced teacher-student ratios;

(iii) Tutoring in scientifically research-based reading services in addition to the regular school day;

(iv) The option of transition classes;

(v) Extended school day, week or year; and

(vi) Summer reading camps.

(b) Provide written notification to the parent or legal guardian of any Third-Grade student who is retained that the student has not met the proficiency level required for promotion and the reasons the student is not eligible for a good cause exemption. The notification must include a description of proposed interventions and supports that will be provided to the child to remediate the identified areas of reading deficiency, as outlined in the student's individual reading plan. This notification must be provided to the parent or legal guardian in writing, in a format adopted by the State Board of Education in addition to report cards given by the teacher.

(c) Provide Third-Grade students who are retained with a high-performing teacher, as determined by student performance data, particularly related to student growth in reading, above-satisfactory performance appraisals, and/or specific training relevant to implementation of this chapter.

(d) Provide parents and legal guardians of Third-Grade students with a “Read at Home” plan outlined in a parental contract, including participation in regular parent-guided home reading.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-131 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 115-131
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-131
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

(d) Continue to be governed and advised in accordance with the Center governing structure described in the last paragraph of the Center mission statement signed by the Chancellor, Provost and founding Director of the Center and received in the Office of the Chancellor on March 1, 2023.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-317 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 101-317
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-317
Status: in_force

The State Treasurer is hereby authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Fiscal Management Board the necessity for warrants, and the board is hereby authorized and directed to issue such warrants payable out of any funds authorized by Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 for such purpose, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of and interest on all bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 37-101-301 through 37-101-331 ; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-67
Status: in_force

(1) The duties of the board of trustees shall be the general government of the community/junior college and directive of the administration thereof. Subject to the provisions of Sections 37-29-1 through 37-29-273 , the board shall have full power to do all things necessary to the successful operation of the district and the college or colleges or attendance centers located therein to insure educational advantages and opportunities to all the enrollees within the district.

(2) The board of trustees shall be authorized to designate a personnel supervisor or other person employed by the district to recommend teachers and to transmit such recommendations to the board of trustees; however, this authorization shall be restricted to no more than two (2) positions for each employment period in the district.

(3) The delineation and enumeration of the powers and purposes set out in Sections 37-29-1 through 37-29-273 shall be deemed to be supplemental and additional, and shall not be construed to restrict the powers of the board of trustees of the district or of any college located therein so as to deny to the said district and the college or colleges therein the rights, privileges and powers previously authorized by statute.

(4) The board of trustees shall have the power to enter into an energy performance contract, energy services contract, a shared-savings, lease or lease-purchase basis, for energy efficiency services and/or equipment as prescribed in Section 31-7-14 .

(5) The board of trustees shall be authorized, with the approval of the Mississippi Community College Board, to change the name of the junior college to community college. The Mississippi Community College Board shall establish guidelines for the implementation of any junior college name change. Any reference to junior college district in this chapter shall hereinafter refer to the junior college district or its successor in name as changed by the board of trustees.

(6) The boards of trustees shall purchase and maintain business property insurance and business personal property insurance on all college-owned buildings and/or contents as required by federal law and regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as is necessary for receiving public assistance or reimbursement for repair, reconstruction, replacement or other damage to such buildings and/or contents caused by the Hurricane Katrina Disaster of 2005 or subsequent disasters. The boards of trustees are authorized to expend funds from any available source for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining that property insurance. The boards of trustees are authorized to enter into agreements with the Department of Finance and Administration, local school districts, other community/junior college districts, state institutions of higher learning, community hospitals and/or other state agencies to pool their liabilities to participate in a group business property and/or business personal property insurance program, subject to uniform rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Department of Finance and Administration.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 104-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-41
Status: in_force

All monies received by the Authority pursuant to this chapter, from any source whatever, shall be deemed to be trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 104-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-21
Status: in_force

All revenue bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of this chapter shall have and are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the Mississippi Uniform Commercial Code. The revenue bonds and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation within the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 109-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-109-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program Act of 2023.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-115 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 57-115
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-115
Status: in_force

In addition to mobile home ad valorem taxes assessed and collected under authority of Chapter 53 of Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972 , the boards of supervisors are hereby authorized and empowered to levy a ten dollar ($10.00) ad valorem tax upon each mobile home or house trailer used as a family dwelling not heretofore occupied or used for residential purposes within the county as defined in Section 27-53-1, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to be collected by the county tax assessor-collector annually and deposited into a county trust fund entitled “county school building and repair fund” and expended by the county board of education for capital improvements and equipment only in such compacted areas.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-601 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-601
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-601
Status: in_force

Whenever the Mississippi Community College Board shall, by a proper resolution, declare the necessity of the formation of nonprofit corporations for the purpose of acquiring or constructing facilities for community and junior colleges under its jurisdiction, any number of natural persons, not less than three (3), who are residents of the State of Mississippi may file with the Secretary of State an application in writing for authority to incorporate a public nonprofit corporation, known as an “educational building corporation.” If it shall be made to appear that each of the persons is a duly qualified resident of this state, then the persons filing such application shall be authorized, subject to the prior approval by the board of the form of the articles of incorporation and bylaws thereof, to proceed to form the corporation as provided by the general law of this state with respect to corporations organized not-for-profit except as provided in Sections 37-29-601 through 37-29-613 . The Secretary of State, upon receipt of the application, shall forthwith issue a certificate of incorporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 121-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-3
Status: in_force

All the provisions in Chapter 113 of this title, being sections applicable to the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, that can reasonably apply to Alcorn State University, shall apply to the college, except those sections on the subject of apportioning students among the several counties of the state and dormitory privileges for them and those sections on the subject of agricultural experimental stations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-63 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 27-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-63
Status: in_force

The municipalities of Mississippi and the municipal separate school districts in Mississippi are hereby authorized and empowered to issue municipal bonds or municipal separate school district bonds to aid in procuring the establishment, location, and maintenance of agricultural high schools which have been or may hereafter be established. Such bonds shall be issued as provided by law. The proceeds of the sale of said bonds may be used for the purchase of lands, buildings or for erecting buildings, or in any way to aid in the establishment and maintenance of county agricultural high schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 131-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-1
Status: in_force

The president or executive head of any state-supported institution of higher learning of the State of Mississippi, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, is hereby authorized and empowered to establish, operate, maintain, and conduct teachers demonstration and practice schools in connection with the operation of such institution of higher learning. The president or executive head of any such institution, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, shall have full power and authority to regulate and conduct the affairs of such schools and to establish rules and regulations for their government.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-119 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 155-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-119
Status: in_force

This article is not a promise or guarantee that the beneficiary will be:

(a) Admitted to any institution of higher education;

(b) Admitted to a particular institution of higher education after admission;

(c) Allowed to continue enrollment at an institution of higher education; or

(d) Graduated from an institution of higher education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-59 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 47-59
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-59
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under the authority of this chapter may, in the discretion of the state bond commission, be validated in the chancery court of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect now or hereafter provided by Chapter 13, Title 31, of the Mississippi Code of 1972 . In the event of such validation, the necessary papers shall be transmitted to the state bond attorney by the secretary of said state bond commission and the required notice shall be addressed to the taxpayers of the State of Mississippi and shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 28-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-23
Status: in_force

(1) A charter school must be open to:

(a) Any student residing in the geographical boundaries of the school district in which the charter school is located; and

(b) Any student who resides in the geographical boundaries of a school district that was rated “C,” “D” or “F” at the time the charter school was approved by the authorizer board, or who resides in the geographical boundaries of a school district rated “C,” or “D” or “F” at the time the student enrolls.

(2) A school district may not require any student enrolled in the school district to attend a charter school.

(3) Except as otherwise provided under subsection (8)(d) of this section, a charter school may not limit admission based on ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, income level, disabling condition, proficiency in the English language, or academic or athletic ability.

(4) A charter school may limit admission to students within a given age group or grade level, including pre-kindergarten students, and may be organized around a special emphasis, theme or concept as stated in the school's application.

(5) The underserved student composition of a charter school's enrollment collectively must reflect that of students of all ages attending the school district in which the charter school is located, to be defined for the purposes of this chapter as being at least eighty percent (80%) of that population. If the underserved student composition of an applicant's or charter school's enrollment is less than eighty percent (80%) of the enrollment of students of all ages in the school district in which the charter school is located, despite the school's best efforts, the authorizer must consider the applicant's or charter school's recruitment efforts and the underserved student composition of the applicant pool in determining whether the applicant or charter school is operating in a nondiscriminatory manner. A finding by the authorizer that a charter school is operating in a discriminatory manner justifies the revocation of a charter.

(6) A charter school must enroll all students who wish to attend the school unless the number of students exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level or building.

(7) If capacity is insufficient to enroll all students who wish to attend the school based on initial application, the charter school must select students through a lottery.

(8)(a) Any noncharter public school or part of a noncharter public school converting to a charter school shall adopt and maintain a policy giving an enrollment preference to students who reside within the former attendance area of that public school. If the charter school has excess capacity after enrolling students residing within the former attendance area of the school, students outside of the former attendance area of the school, but within the geographical boundaries of the school district in which the charter school is located, are eligible for enrollment. If the number of students applying for admission exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level or building of the charter school, the charter school must admit students on the basis of a lottery.

(b) A charter school must give an enrollment preference to students enrolled in the charter school during the preceding school year and to siblings of students already enrolled in the charter school. An enrollment preference for returning students excludes those students from entering into a lottery.

(c) A charter school may give an enrollment preference to children of the charter school's applicant, governing board members and full-time employees, so long as those children constitute no more than ten percent (10%) of the charter school's total student population.

(d) A charter school shall give an enrollment preference to underserved children as defined in Section 37-28-5 to ensure the charter school meets its required underserved student composition.

(e) This section does not preclude the formation of a charter school whose mission is focused on serving students with disabilities, students of the same gender, students who pose such severe disciplinary problems that they warrant a specific educational program, or students who are at risk of academic failure. If capacity is insufficient to enroll all students who wish to attend the school, the charter school must select students through a lottery.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 33-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-19
Status: in_force

Except as may be otherwise provided by law for the vocational rehabilitation of the blind, the state board, through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, shall provide vocational rehabilitation services to eligible individuals with disabilities determined by the director to be eligible therefor, and in carrying out the purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation Law, the office is authorized among other things:

(a) To cooperate with other departments, agencies and institutions, both public and private, in providing for the vocational rehabilitation of eligible individuals with disabilities, in studying the problems involved therein, and in establishing, developing and providing, in conformity with the purposes of that law, such programs, facilities and services as may be necessary or desirable;

(b) To conduct research and compile statistics relating to the vocational rehabilitation of eligible individuals with disabilities;

(c) To prescribe and provide such courses of vocational training as may be necessary for the vocational rehabilitation of eligible individuals with disabilities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 153-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-5
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

(d) “ Office ” means the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development, housed at the Department of Finance and Administration.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 59-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-29
Status: in_force

The proceeds of any bonds issued by a school district shall be placed in the county or municipal treasury or depository, as the case may be, if there be one, as a special fund, and shall be used for no other purpose than that for which such bonds were authorized to be issued. If the school board of the school district or any member thereof, or any other officer, shall wilfully divert or aid or assist in diverting any such fund, or any part thereof, to any purpose other than that for which such bonds were authorized to be issued, then such person shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a term not exceeding five (5) years. In addition, he shall be liable personally and on his official bond for the amount so diverted. Any member of such school board may escape the penalty provided for above by requesting and having his vote recorded in the negative on any illegal diversion of the proceeds of such bonds. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent the payment or rebate of a portion of the earnings derived from the investment of the bond proceeds to the federal government to the extent required by the federal laws applicable to such bonds or the interest income thereon in order to maintain their tax exempt status.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-111
Status: in_force

Bonds issued under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 , may be refunded, in whole or in part, in any of the following circumstances, to wit:

(a) When any such bonds by their terms become due and payable and there are not sufficient sums in the fund established for their payment to pay such bonds and the interest thereon;

(b) When any such bonds are by their terms callable for payment and redemption in advance of their date of maturity and shall have been duly called for payment and redemption;

(c) When any such bonds are voluntarily surrendered by the holder or holders thereof in exchange for refunding bonds; and

(d) When, in connection with the issuance of any additional bonds under the provisions of Section 37-29-109 for the purpose of financing any additional construction authorized under the provisions of Section 37-29-107 , any such board shall determine to combine such new issue of bonds with any issue or issues of bonds of the same board then outstanding, for the purpose of unifying such indebtedness and utilizing the income and revenues derived from all projects or facilities operated by such board to the payment of such indebtedness, and such board shall determine that such outstanding bonds are by their terms then callable for redemption or are obtainable by and through the voluntary surrender thereof by the holder or holders thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-268 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 29-268
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-268
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

(3) For the purposes of this section, the term “ furniture and equipment ” shall be limited to the types of furniture and equipment items previously recorded in the community college's inventory.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 115-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-103
Status: in_force

The object and purpose of the establishment of a school of dentistry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center shall be the encouragement of the study of dentistry toward the doctor of dental medicine degree, as well as the continued education of the state's dental health professions; and the encouragement of dental research and the improvement of dental health.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 181-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-17
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

(3) In any legal proceeding challenging the application of this chapter to an eligible school, postsecondary institution or educational service provider the state bears the burden of establishing that the law is necessary and does not impose any undue burden on the eligible school, postsecondary institution or educational service provider.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-60.1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-60.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-60.1
Status: in_force

(1) The Mississippi State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, hereinafter “SOICC,” is hereby designated as the entity responsible for the operation and management of an occupational information system to support career development in elementary schools, middle/junior high schools, high schools, postsecondary institutions and human service agencies pursuant to the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984, Public Law 98-524 , Section 422(b).

(2) SOICC shall develop and incorporate Mississippi-specific occupational and educational information to implement a career information delivery system for this state.

(3) SOICC shall train local staff in the use and operation of the career information delivery system in the career development process.

(4) SOICC shall establish the criteria pursuant to which appropriated funds will be distributed to local users of the career information delivery system.

(5) On or before January 1 of each year, SOICC shall report to the Senate Education Committee and the House Education Committee of the Mississippi Legislature its assessment of the effectiveness and usefulness of the career information delivery system in the advancement of career development for state public school students.

(6) SOICC is authorized to impose reasonable fees on users of the career information delivery system in order to defray a portion of the expense incurred in the operation and management of the career information delivery system.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 11-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-27
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any member of the board of trustees of any school district, any member of the county board of education, the county superintendent of education, or any superintendent, principal or other school district administrator with authority to negotiate school district contracts, to have or own any direct or indirect interest individually or as agent or employee of any person, partnership, firm, or corporation in any contract made or let by the county board of education, the county superintendent of education or the board of trustees of the school district for the construction, repair, or improvement of any school facility, the furnishing of any supplies, materials, or other articles, the doing of any public work or the transportation of children or upon any subcontract arising therefrom or connected therewith in any manner. The board of trustees of any school district shall be authorized to contract with a teacher or school district employee to perform extra work without being in violation of the provisions of this section. The board of trustees shall make a case-by-case determination of the possible conflicts of interest arising from any extra work contracts and such decision by the board shall be final. Any contract entered into in violation of the provisions of this section shall be void and of no effect. Any person who shall authorize or enter into any contract in violation of the provisions hereof, or who shall knowingly or willfully pay out or receive any money upon any such contract shall be civilly liable for the amount so paid or received, and, in the case of an official who has furnished a bond, the surety upon such bond shall likewise be liable for such amount. In addition thereto, any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-169-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 169-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-169-5
Status: in_force

(1) The advisory committee shall:

(a) Review the recommendations of the Caring for Individuals with Autism Task Force of 2007;

(b) Evaluate, study and identify any and all current relevant information and make legislative recommendations regarding the development and implementation of a continuum of educational and medical services for individuals with autism or ASD; and

(c) File a report with those standing committees of the Mississippi Legislature and present the report to those state agencies having jurisdiction over specific recommendations of the task force, not later than July 1 of each year.

(2) The advisory committee shall hold its first meeting not later than April 1, 2011, with the date, time and location of the meeting to be designated by the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health. At that first meeting, the advisory committee shall elect from among its membership a chairman, vice chairman and any other officers determined to be necessary, and shall set the date, time and location of its next meeting.

(3) The terms of advisory committee members shall run for two (2) years, concurrent with the term of members of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation elected to the United States House of Representatives.

(4) The State Department of Mental Health shall provide the staff and other support necessary for the Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee to perform its duties.

(5) Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation in the form of a per diem or any other expense for service on the committee.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-10 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 63-10
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-10
Status: in_force

No individual who sits on any board or authority empowered to contract with the Educational Television Authority or to appoint members to the board which shall govern the use of the ITFS channels shall own or be interested in, directly or indirectly, any interest in any private organization doing business under the FCC license herein approved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 181-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-17
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

(3) In any legal proceeding challenging the application of this chapter to an eligible school, postsecondary institution or educational service provider the state bears the burden of establishing that the law is necessary and does not impose any undue burden on the eligible school, postsecondary institution or educational service provider.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 138-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-29
Status: in_force

The commission may establish requirements for reciprocity for accreditation and certification of management planners, project designers, contractors, supervisors, inspectors and workers with other states that have established accreditation and certification programs that meet or exceed the Model Plan and the accreditation and certification requirements of this chapter. The commission shall have the authority to issue orders and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-283 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 101-283
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-283
Status: in_force

Each male applicant for any scholarship or loan funded in whole or in part by this state, whether granted by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, the post-secondary education financial assistance board, or otherwise granted by any state-supported college or university, and whether to be used at a state-supported institution of higher learning or at a private institution, shall within six (6) months after he attains the age of eighteen (18) years submit to the person, commission, board or agency in which his application for scholarship or loan is or has been made satisfactory evidence of his compliance with the draft registration requirements of the military selective service act. Such evidence shall consist of a signed affirmation under penalty of perjury from the scholarship or loan applicant that he has complied with the requirements of the federal selective service act. If an applicant for or holder of any such scholarship or loan fails to submit a copy of his draft registration acknowledgment letter in the manner and within the time allowed therefor, any pending application of such person for the award, grant or renewal of any such scholarship or loan shall be denied, and any such scholarship or loan currently held by such person shall be revoked to the extent that no further payments under that scholarship or loan may be made to him or on his behalf. The person, commission, board or agency to which an application for the award, grant or renewal of such scholarship or loan is made, or by or through which any such scholarship or loan is administered or issued shall notify the applicant or holder and the chief executive officer of any institution at which a holder of a scholarship or loan so revoked is enrolled of its action, and upon request of the scholarship or loan applicant or holder shall afford him the opportunity, either in person, in writing or by counsel of his choice to present evidence against such action.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-121 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 33-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-121
Status: in_force

The purpose of Sections 37-33-121 through 37-33-131 is to improve rehabilitation services for severely disabled individuals in Mississippi by providing for the development and continuation of community rehabilitation programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-139 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / 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.