Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-231 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-231
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-231
Status: repealed

(1) The provisions of Sections 37-103-1 through 37-103-29 relating to the legal residence of and tuition to be charged any student applying for admission to state educational institutions shall be applicable to the boards of trustees of each junior college district in the state and to the administrative authorities of each such junior college governed by said board.

(2)(a) The board of trustees of each community or junior college is authorized, in its discretion and as deemed necessary, to enter into contract with a municipality as authorized under Section 21-25-23 , or into an interlocal agreement with the county governing authority of the county wherein the community or junior college is located if situated outside of the incorporated limits of any city or municipality therein, to provide fire protection and first responder services to the main campus of the community or junior college for which the contract or interlocal agreement was entered. In addition to fire protection services, first responder services shall also include law enforcement services and emergency medical transportation services.

(b) Upon entering such contract or interlocal agreement, the board of trustees of the community or junior college receiving services under the contract or interlocal agreement may assess each student a fee not to exceed Five Dollars ($5.00), each semester to offset the cost associated with the services provided, which shall be allocated by the board of trustees to the local governing authority providing first responder services. This paragraph (b) shall stand repealed on July 1, 2027.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-459 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 7-459
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-459
Status: in_force

(1) Upon a resolution duly adopted by a majority of its members, the board of trustees of local public school districts may adopt a policy authorizing the sale of computers, peripheral equipment and adaptive devices to students to whom such devices and equipment have been issued during the course of an academic school year. However, the sale of computers by a public school district shall be limited to those students enrolled in Grade 12, who are in possession of a district-issued computer device or equipment, and who have satisfied all the requirements for graduation, as established by the school district. Students meeting the criteria established in this paragraph who verify to the school of enrollment before graduation an official document of acceptance to any Mississippi two-year or four-year college or university, whether public or private, shall be required to pay One Dollar ($1.00) for the cost of the district-issued computer device or peripheral equipment or adaptive device. Students meeting the requirements of this section who cannot sufficiently verify acceptance to a Mississippi two-year or four-year college or university shall be required to pay Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) for the cost of the district-issued computer device or peripheral equipment. Verification of college acceptance must be submitted before the deadline for finalizing graduation eligibility established by each school district adopting a policy authorizing the sale of such devices to students.

(2) All sales shall be final and without warranty of merchantability, given the prior and extended use of the computer, equipment or adaptive device by the purchasing student. All proceeds received from the sale of property authorized under paragraph (1) of this section shall be deposited into the school maintenance fund as provided under Section 37-7-457 .

(3) For purposes of this section the term “ school board ” also means the governing board of a charter school authorized by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board. As used in this section, the term “ school of enrollment ” also means a charter school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-241 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 101-241
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-241
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(11) The commission shall have the power and authority, and it shall be its duty, to execute site visits when deemed necessary by the commission. The members of the commission and commission-appointed evaluation teams shall receive reasonable traveling expenses and other authorized expenses incurred in the performance of commission duties, together with other expenses of the operation of the commission. The members of the Commission on College Accreditation shall serve without salary compensation but shall receive a per diem and mileage as authorized by law including time of going to and returning from site visits of said commission, together with actual travel and hotel expenses incident to the site visits of the commission, and in the discharge of duties prescribed by the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-471 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-471
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-471
Status: in_force

All of the property belonging to the board of trustees of Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and all of the property belonging to any or all of the counties, prior to and as of the effective date hereof, cooperating in the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College or the agricultural high school-junior college located at Wesson, Mississippi or the campus in Adams County, Mississippi, and utilized or held for the present or future use and benefit of said junior college and/or agricultural high school-junior college, shall be and the same is hereby transferred to and vested in the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District as created by Sections 37-29-451 through 37-29-471 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 104-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-11
Status: in_force

All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter shall be payable solely from funds provided under the authority of this chapter, and no liability shall be incurred by the Authority hereunder beyond the extent to which monies shall have been provided under the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / 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. § 37-5-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-3
Status: in_force

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

The provisions of this section shall be applicable in the case of a special municipal separate school district and a line consolidated school district of which another county is the home county which together occupy all of the territory of a supervisors district of the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 11-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-41
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any pupil attending the public schools of this state to become a member of or to belong to or participate in the activities of any high school fraternity, sorority, or secret society as defined in Section 37-11-37 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 63-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-63-11
Status: in_force

(1) The Authority for Educational Television is empowered to request and to receive such state funds for educational television construction and operation as may be appropriated or allocated to it, and to solicit and receive contributions, matching funds, gifts, bequests and devises from any source, whether federal, state, public or private. It may enter into agreements with federal, state, public or private agencies, departments, institutions, firms, corporations or persons for the production, transmission, sale, lease or purchase of educational television and educational radio programs, or any research and development projects, joint ventures pertaining to content or other projects that do not duplicate communication facilities or services utilized under contract by the state and that the authority determines are in its best interests. The authority may enter into any contracts and other agreements necessary for those purposes, and in doing so, the authority may agree to terms of indemnification, the law of another state or jurisdiction or other necessary terms when, in the judgment of the authority, that would be in its best interests. The authority may delegate to its executive director its power to enter into these contracts or other agreements, or to exercise any of its other powers, in accordance with guidelines established by the authority. All materials produced or received by the authority in the exercise of its power, in the preceding provisions of this subsection, that are protected by copyright or considered confidential or proprietary information of third parties, shall not be public records. All such materials shall not be subject to release under the Public Records Act. The authority may also lease antenna space on television towers which it owns. Before the authority is empowered to contract for communication facilities to carry television signals, it shall obtain written authority to do so from the Department of Finance and Administration in order to ensure that there be no duplication of state communication facilities.

(2) There is hereby established in the State Treasury a special fund for the purpose of providing for the payment of all expenses in respect to the administration of this chapter. Such fund shall be administered by the authority. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of such funds and all monies and securities in such fund shall be held in trust by such Treasurer and shall not be the money or property of the state. The State Treasurer is authorized to disburse monies from such fund only upon order of the authority. The official bond of the State Treasurer shall be conditioned for the faithful performance of his duty hereunder. The State Treasurer shall deposit any monies paid into such fund into such qualified depository banks as the authority may designate and is authorized to invest any portion of the fund which, in the opinion of the authority, is not needed for current requirements in the same manner and subject to all provisions of the law with respect to the deposit of state funds by such Treasurer. All interest earned by such portion of the fund as may be invested by the State Treasurer shall be collected by him and placed to the credit of such fund.

(3) The Authority for Educational Television is empowered to provide noncommercial production or reproduction services for other public agencies, and may collect the costs of providing the services from the public agency. These costs shall be deposited into the special fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 138-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-25
Status: in_force

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

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

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

(4) The commission shall have authority to promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of and expenditures from the fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 145-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-31
Status: in_force

Upon the issuance and sale of such bonds, the State Bond Commission shall transfer the proceeds of any such sale to the State Treasurer. Immediately upon receipt of a resolution from the board of directors of the company requesting same, the State Fiscal Officer shall issue a warrant to the State Treasurer to cause to be paid into the Mississippi Opportunity Loan Fund of the company the proceeds of said bonds, less cost of issuance thereafter and accrued interest on the bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 146-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-7
Status: in_force

(1) The commission shall develop and implement policies and procedures designed to recruit, identify and enroll undergraduate students who demonstrate necessary interest, commitment, aptitude and academic achievement to pursue careers as dentists in rural or dentally underserved areas of Mississippi, and to develop and implement the programs designed to foster successful entry of participants into dental school, completion of dental school, and establishment and maintenance of a career in dentistry in a rural or underserved area of Mississippi.

(2) The commission shall have the authority through use of generally applicable definitions, to designate an area of the state as underserved or rural.

(3) The commission, in conjunction with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, shall have the authority to provide students selected for scholarship funding with faculty mentors and other programs designed to enhance the students' likelihood of admission to the dental school. The commission and the University of Mississippi Medical Center will develop coursework that will help provide scholarship students with the skills necessary for sustained and successful dental practice in rural Mississippi.

(4) Each applicant for admission to the program must submit an application to the commission that conforms to requirements established by the commission.

(5) In selecting participants for the program, the board may only accept an applicant if his or her academic record and other characteristics, if given consideration by the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry Admissions Committee, would be considered credible and competitive.

(6) An applicant for the program may be admitted only upon a majority vote of the members of the commission.

(7) Up to three (3) students will be admitted to the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program each year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-553 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-553
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-553
Status: in_force

The Coahoma Community College District shall be under the executive direction of a president elected by the board of trustees of the district for a term not to exceed four (4) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 45-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-17
Status: in_force

The commission shall select an executive secretary, who shall be the administrative officer of the commission. The executive secretary shall perform such duties as are required of him by law, and such other duties as may be assigned to him by the commission. He shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the commission. He shall hold, or be eligible to secure, a Class AA certificate for administrators as defined in the rules and regulations of the state department of education covering the certification of instructional personnel. He shall have had ten years' experience as a teacher, supervisor or administrator in the public schools, of which not less than five years shall have been in a responsible administrative position. He shall have had broad professional education experience and shall have recognized ability as a school administrator. He shall have no vote in the decisions of said commission, and shall have no voice in the making or fixing of policies by said commission. Said executive secretary, in order to qualify for his position, shall be required to make a good and sufficient bond in some surety company qualified and doing business in the State of Mississippi, in the penal sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties as required by law and the directives of said commission. The premium on said bond shall be paid from any funds available to the commission for such purpose. Said executive secretary may be removed at any time upon a majority vote of the membership of said commission.

The commission shall have the power and authority to employ such technical, professional, and clerical help as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter and for the performance of such other duties as may be imposed upon the commission by law, and to define the duties and fix the compensation of such employees.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-135 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 23-135
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-135
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section, each local educational agency is eligible for assistance under IDEA Part B for a fiscal year if, in providing for the education of children with disabilities within its jurisdiction, policies, procedures and programs are in effect that are consistent with the regulations established by the State Department of Education.

(2) The local educational agency shall have in effect policies and procedures, and programs that are consistent with the State Department of Education's policies and procedures to ensure:

(a) A free appropriate public education is available to all children with disabilities residing in the state between the ages of three (3) and twenty (20), inclusive. Educational services for children with disabilities who have been suspended or expelled from school shall be provided based on the requirements of IDEA, applicable federal regulations and state regulations;

(b) The full educational opportunity goal established by the state is implemented;

(c) All children with disabilities, who are in need of special education and related services, including children with disabilities attending private school, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, are identified, located, and evaluated;

(d) An individualized education program is developed, reviewed and revised for each child with a disability;

(e) Children with disabilities are provided services within their least restrictive environment;

(f) Children with disabilities and their parents are afforded the procedural safeguards required under IDEA;

(g) Children with disabilities are evaluated as required under IDEA;

(h) The State Department of Education and local education agencies will assure the protection of the confidentiality of any personally identifiable data, information and records collected or maintained as required under IDEA and the Family Rights and Privacy Act.

(i) Children with disabilities participating in early intervention programs assisted under IDEA Part C who will participate in preschool programs assisted under IDEA Part B shall experience a smooth transition. An individualized educational program shall be developed and implemented by the child's third birthday;

(j) Children with disabilities enrolled in private schools by their parents shall be provided special education and related services to the extent required under IDEA;

(k) Children with disabilities who are placed in private schools or facilities by the local educational agency shall be provided special education and related services, in accordance with an individualized education program, at no cost to their parents;

(l) A comprehensive system of personnel development has been developed to ensure appropriately qualified personnel are available and personnel are trained in accordance with the requirements of the State Department of Education and IDEA;

(m) Personnel providing educational services to children with disabilities meet the personnel standards of the State Department of Education;

(n) The performance goals and indicators shall be implemented as established by the State Board of Education; and

(o) Children with disabilities are included in statewide and district-wide assessment programs, with appropriate accommodations, in accordance with regulations established by the State Board of Education.

(3) The local educational agency shall make available to parents of children with disabilities and to the general public all documents relating to the agency's eligibility under IDEA.

(4) If the State Department of Education determines that a local educational agency is not eligible to receive federal funds due to compliance violations not being resolved within a specified timeline, the local educational agency shall be notified of that determination and shall be provided with reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The local educational agency in receipt of such notice, shall, by means of public notice, take such measures as may be necessary to bring the pendency of an action to withhold funds to the attention of the public within the jurisdiction of such agency.

(5) The State Department of Education, after reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing, shall reduce or shall not provide any further payments to the local educational agency until the department is satisfied that the violations have been corrected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-179-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 179-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-179-1
Status: in_force

(1) For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ District of innovation ” means a district that has developed a plan of innovation in compliance with this section and has been approved by the State Board of Education to be exempted from certain administrative regulations and statutory provisions to improve the educational performance of students within the district;

(b) “ Innovation ” means a new or creative alternative to existing instructional and administrative practices intended to improve student learning and student performance of all students;

(c) “ School of innovation ” means a school that voluntarily participates in a district of innovation plan to improve instruction, including waivers and exemptions from local school board policies, selected provisions of rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education, and selected sections of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as permitted under this section and Section 37-179-3 ;

(d) “ Board ” means the State Board of Education;

(e) “ Department ” means the State Department of Education.

(2) The State Board of Education is authorized to approve districts of innovation for the purposes of improving students' educational performance. Districts of innovation shall be provided flexibility from selected board regulations, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , and local school board policies for school administrators, teachers and staff to meet the diverse needs of students. The initial approval of a district of innovation shall be for a five-year period. Each renewal of a district of innovation shall not exceed five (5) years and shall comply with administrative regulations promulgated by the board pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

(3) The board shall promulgate administrative rules and regulations to prescribe the conditions and procedures to be used by a local school board to be approved as a district of innovation and shall publish the same on or before December 31, 2015.

(4) Administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the board under subsection (3) of this section shall specify:

(a) The regulatory areas which may be exempted or modified if approved by the board, except as provided in Section 37-179-3(2) , and in addition to those areas identified in Section 37-179-3(3) ;

(b) The application, plan review, approval and amendment process for a district;

(c) Timelines for initial approval as a district of innovation, the renewal process and ongoing evaluative procedures required of the district;

(d) Acceptable documentation of a critical mass of parental, community, educator and business support and capacity to effect a change;

(e) Evidence of teacher collaboration and shared leadership within the district and the schools to be designated as schools of innovation;

(f) The process of revocation of the designation of district of innovation or school of innovation;

(g) Reporting and oversight responsibilities of the district and the State Department of Education;

(h) The financial detail relating to budgets of schools and evidence of sound fiscal management practices;

(i) Acceptable areas of emphasis for innovation;

(j) Acceptable documentation of job-embedded professional development within the proposed innovation design; and

(k) Other components deemed necessary to implement this section and Section 37-179-3 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-49 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 145-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-49
Status: in_force

Any resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds pursuant to Sections 37-145-43 through 37-145-73 may contain provisions as to:

(a) Pledging all or any part of the revenues of the company to secure the payment of the bonds subject to the terms of the proceedings relating to other bonds of the company as may then exist;

(b) Pledging all or any part of the assets of the company, including the Mississippi Opportunity Loan Fund, including loans and obligations securing the same, to secure the payment of the bonds, subject to the terms of the proceedings relating to other bonds of the company as may then exist;

(c) The use and disposition of the gross income from loans owned by the company and payment of the principal of loans owned by the company;

(d) The setting aside of reserves or sinking funds and the regulations and disposition thereof;

(e) Limitations on the purposes to which the proceeds from the sale of bonds may be applied and pledging the proceeds to secure the payment of the bonds;

(f) Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds, the terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the refunding of outstanding or other bonds;

(g) The procedure, if any, by which the terms of any of the proceedings under which the bonds are being issued may be amended or abrogated, the number or percentage of bondholders who or which must consent thereto, and the manner in which the consent may be given;

(h) The vesting in a trustee or trustees of such property, rights, powers and duties in trust as the company may determine, and limiting or abrogating the right of bondholders to appoint a trustee or limiting the rights, powers and duties of the trustee;

(i) Defining the act or omissions to act which shall constitute a default and the obligations or duties of the company to the holders of the bonds, and providing for the rights and remedies of the holders of the bonds in the event of default, which rights and remedies may include the general laws of the state and other provisions of Sections 37-145-43 through 37-145-73 ; or

(j) Any other matter, of like or different character, which in any way affects the security or protection of the holders of the bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-207 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 153-207
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-207
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Accelerate Mississippi Physician Residency and Fellowship Start-Up Grant Program, which shall be directed by the office for the purpose of creating new or increasing capacity in existing physician residency and fellowship programs in hospitals, which were severely impacted by the disruption to the economy and workforce caused by COVID-19.

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

(a) “Grant program” means the program established in this section, which provides funding, as determined by the office, from federal COVID-19 relief funds to create new or increase capacity in existing physician residency and fellowship programs at general acute care hospitals in the State of Mississippi which are licensed by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

(b) “Recipient” means a general acute care hospital in the State of Mississippi which is licensed by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

(c) “Residency and fellowship programs” means advanced training programs in medical or surgical specialty areas which are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or a similar accreditation body.

(d) “COVID-19” means the Coronavirus Disease 2019.

(e) “Federal COVID-19 relief funds” means funds allocated to the State of Mississippi from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund in Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law No. 117-2 ).

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

(i) Equipment or other supplies necessary for accreditation;

(ii) Necessary infrastructure, including building, renovation or construction, for accreditation;

(iii) Curricula or other academic or training materials necessary for accreditation;

(iv) Stipends for the recruitment, hiring and development of program directors, program coordinators, faculty and/or teaching staff and clinic staff necessary for accreditation; and

(v) Remote learning or other classroom technology.

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

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

(a) Evidence that the applicant is in the process of preparing for accreditation, has applied for accreditation or has received accreditation for a new residency or fellowship program, or increased capacity in an existing residency or fellowship program;

(b) A detailed explanation of the residency or fellowship program the applicant intends to use awarded funds to create or expand, to include:

(i) A description of the workforce shortage the residency or fellowship program is intended to address, including specific information from health care providers in the region;

(ii) Any relevant waitlist or other information demonstrating high demand for medical school graduates to enter the residency or fellowship program;

(iii) The number of residents who will be served by the residency or fellowship program;

(iv) The budget for the residency or fellowship program, including a plan showing sustainability after accreditation and any required federal approval of the program; and

(v) The average wage rate for residents or fellows receiving employment after completing the program;

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

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

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

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

(6) The office shall:

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

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

(c) Prioritize residency or fellowship programs within medical or surgical specialties which are currently experiencing staffing shortages in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and other health care providers across the state;

(d) Prioritize residency or fellowship programs which produce graduates in high-demand medical and surgical fields;

(e) Establish a schedule of application deadlines and a system for considering applications on a rotating basis; and

(f) Ensure that every effort be made, in accordance with the priorities in this subsection, to provide funds for the placement of one (1) resident with each recipient before considering awarding funds for the placement of additional residents in the same round of consideration.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 139-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-11
Status: in_force

For the operation and support of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, the board is authorized and empowered to receive contributions, donations, gifts, bequests of money, other forms of financial assistance and/or property, equipment, materials or manpower from persons, foundations, trust funds, corporations, organizations and other sources, private or public, to be expended and utilized by said board in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-161-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 161-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-161-5
Status: in_force

(1) There is established a commission to be known as the “Lifelong Learning Commission.”

(2) The commission shall consist of four (4) members, who shall serve ex officio, as follows:

(a) The Governor of the State of Mississippi, who shall serve as chairman;

(b) The State Superintendent of Public Education;

(c) The Commissioner of the Mississippi Community College Board; and

(d) The Commissioner of Higher Education.

(3) The duties of the Lifelong Learning Commission shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

(a) To assess the dropout crisis in Mississippi and recommend action steps to address it;

(b) To create a set of common definitions for graduation and dropout rates which can be used to compare the commission's progress relative to other states;

(c) To facilitate agreements that will make the Mississippi high school experience more meaningful;

(d) To encourage more rigor and relevance in the high school experience;

(e) To facilitate the transferability of education from secondary to postsecondary institutions;

(f) To raise state awareness on the need for improving Mississippi's high schools;

(g) To develop a series of best practices policy actions that state policymakers and legislators can implement to achieve system-wide high school reform; and

(h) To convene town hall meetings around the state, when the commission determines necessary, where students, teachers, administrators and parents can discuss high school, the senior year and impediments to greater success.

(4) The commission may prepare an annual report for the consideration of the Chairmen of the House and Senate Education and Universities and Colleges Committees pertaining to the information gathered in the performance of its duties.

(5) The commission members shall meet at those times and places deemed necessary by the commission. The commission may use any available resources to fulfill its mission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 16-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-15
Status: in_force

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

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

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

(2) The State Department of Education is authorized to determine and/or develop any reasonably comparable assessment to be administered to persons seeking to obtain a diploma from the last Mississippi public high school of attendance under the authority granted under subsection (1) of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 45-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-29
Status: in_force

All notices or other process authorized or required to be served upon the commission shall be served upon the chairman and the executive secretary.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-10 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 19-10
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-10
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature finds that there is a need for a performance incentive program for outstanding teachers and staff in highly productive schools.

(2) Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, the School Recognition Program is created to provide financial awards to public schools that:

(a) Sustain high performance by earning a school accountability rating of “A” which shall be funded at One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per pupil in average daily attendance;

(b) Sustain high performance by earning a school accountability rating of “B” which shall be funded at Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) per pupil in average daily attendance; or

(c) Demonstrate exemplary performance by improving at least one (1) letter grade, which shall be funded at One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per pupil in average daily attendance.

(3) All public schools, including charter schools, earning the appropriate school rating are eligible to participate in the program.

(4) School recognition awards must be used for nonrecurring salary supplements to the teachers and staff employed in the school receiving the financial award. Any nonrecurring salary supplements paid to teachers and staff shall be prospective, shall be paid over the remainder of the year, and shall not be considered part of the local supplement. For contracted individuals, there shall be an amendment to the existing contract.

(5) School recognition awards shall not be used for administrators.

(6) There is hereby created in the State Treasury, the School Recognition Program Fund which shall be used by the State Department of Education, depending on the availability of funds as appropriated, to provide financial awards to schools under this section. It shall be the duty of the State Department of Education to file with the State Treasurer and the State Fiscal Officer such data and information as may be required to enable the said State Treasurer and State Fiscal Officer to distribute the School Recognition Program Funds by electronic funds transfer to the several school districts at the time required and provided under the provisions of this section. Such data and information so filed shall show in detail the amount of funds to which each school district is entitled from the School Recognition Program Fund. Such data and information so filed may be revised from time to time as necessitated by law. At the time provided by law, the State Treasurer and the State Fiscal Officer shall distribute to the several school districts the amounts to which they are entitled from the School Recognition Program Fund as provided by this section. Such distribution shall be made by electronic funds transfer to the depositories of the several school districts designated in writing to the State Treasurer based upon the data and information supplied by the State Department of Education for such distribution. In such instances, the State Treasurer shall submit a request for an electronic funds transfer to the State Fiscal Officer, which shall set forth the purpose, amount and payees, and shall be in such form as may be approved by the State Fiscal Officer so as to provide the necessary information as would be required for a requisition and issuance of a warrant. A copy of the record of said electronic funds transfers shall be transmitted by the school district depositories to the Treasurer, who shall file duplicates with the State Fiscal Officer. The Treasurer and State Fiscal Officer shall jointly promulgate regulations for the utilization of electronic funds transfers to school districts from the School Recognition Program Fund.

(7) It is the intent of the Legislature to develop a plan to reward high-performing teachers in schools with an accountability rating of “C,” “D” and “F” by July 1, 2016.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 185-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-1
Status: in_force

Sections 37-185-1 through 37-185-9 shall be known, and may be cited as the “Independent Schools' COVID-19 Assistance Grant Program Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-101 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 115-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-101
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby directed and authorized to establish a school of dentistry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-203 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 151-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-203
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(7) The annual amount of funding for the operation of each school district and charter school under the total funding formula as provided under Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 is determined by multiplying the student base amount, as determined under Section 37-151-203 , by the final weighted enrollment of the school district or charter school, as determined under Section 37-151-205 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 18-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-18-3
Status: in_force

(1) Upon full implementation of the statewide testing programs developed by the State Board of Education pursuant to Chapter 16, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , not later than December 31, 2002, the board shall establish for those individual schools failing to meet accreditation standards established under this chapter for Schools At-Risk, a program of development to be complied with in order to receive state funds. The Legislature shall, subject to the availability of funds, annually appropriate adequate funds to implement the provisions of this chapter. The State Board of Education may, in its discretion, assess local school districts for the costs of implementing the provisions of this chapter.

(2) Following a thorough analysis of school data each year, the State Department of Education shall identify those schools that are deficient in educating students and are in need of improvement. This analysis shall measure the individual school performance by determining if a school met its assigned yearly growth expectation and by determining what percentage of the students in the school are proficient. A school shall be identified as a School At-Risk and in need of assistance if the school: (a) does not meet its growth expectation and has a percentage of students functioning below grade level, as designated by the State Board of Education; (b) is designated as a Level 1 school, or other future comparable performance designation by the State Board of Education; or (c) is designated as a Level 2 school, or other future comparable performance designation by the State Board of Education, for two (2) consecutive years.

(3) Within fifteen (15) days after a School At-Risk has been identified, written notice shall be sent by the State Board of Education by certified mail to both the school principal and the local board of education. Within fifteen (15) days after notification the State Board of Education shall assign an evaluation team to the school, subject to the availability of funding. The evaluation team shall be independent of the school being evaluated and may include employees of the State Department of Education. The team may include retired educators who have met certain standards and have completed all necessary training.

(4) An approved evaluation team shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) The evaluation team may request any financial documentation that it deems necessary, and the School At-Risk, with the assistance and cooperation of the school district central office, shall submit such requested financial information to the evaluation team.

(b) The evaluation team shall analyze the School At-Risk data to determine probable areas of weakness before conducting an on-site audit. The evaluation team shall proceed to conduct an on-site audit and shall prepare an evaluation report. If necessary, the evaluation team may request additional individuals in specialty areas to participate as team members in preparing the evaluation. After completing the evaluation of the School At-Risk, the team shall prepare and adopt its school evaluation report, which shall be submitted to the State Superintendent of Public Education for approval within ninety (90) calendar days. The school evaluation report shall identify any personnel who were found by the evaluation team to be in need of improvement and need to participate in a professional development plan. Evaluation instruments used to evaluate teachers, principals, superintendents or any other certified or classified personnel will be instruments which have been validated for such purposes.

(5) Following the approval of the evaluation report by the State Superintendent of Public Education, a representative of the State Superintendent of Public Education and the evaluation team leader shall present the evaluation report to the principal of the School At-Risk and to the superintendent and school board members of the local school district. Following this presentation, the evaluation report shall be presented to the community served by the School At-Risk at an advertised public meeting.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 59-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-23
Status: in_force

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

In the case of school bonds issued under the provisions of Section 37-59-21 , it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of the county having the greater assessed valuation of taxable property within such district to annually levy upon all of the taxable property within such district, without regard to county lines, a special tax, which shall be sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds according to the terms thereof. Such board shall annually certify to the board of supervisors of the other county or counties in which a portion of the district is situated the rate of taxation so fixed, and it shall be the duty of such other board or boards to cause such rate of taxation to be levied upon all of the taxable property within the boundaries of such district situated within their respective counties. Said taxes shall be collected and deposited as other taxes are collected and deposited in such county or counties, and the tax collector thereof shall thereupon cause such taxes to be remitted to the county depository of the county for which the bonds were issued.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 115-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-51
Status: in_force

The legislature hereby finds that there is great need of additional and better trained nurses in Mississippi and the purpose of this section is to meet that need to the extent herein provided.

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized and directed to establish a school of nursing at the University of Mississippi under the jurisdiction of the dean of the school of medicine or such other authority as said board of trustees may determine, and other regularly constituted administrative authorities of the university.

Said board of trustees shall provide for such school, such buildings and equipment, and such teaching staff and other personnel as may be deemed appropriate for the establishment and operation of such school of nursing and for the performance of the other functions herein provided for, all of which shall, however, be done within the appropriations made for such purposes.

Such school of nursing shall, under the direction and supervision of the dean of the school of medicine and the other regularly constituted administrative authorities of the university and of said board of trustees and under curricula to be prescribed by said board, and beginning each of its functions at such time as may be determined by said board, carry on a teaching course, looking to the conferring of bachelor's or master's degrees in nursing.

Such school of nursing shall under the same direction, supervision, control and conditions as set forth in the fourth paragraph hereof, have authority, in its discretion, to arrange and contract with hospitals, hospital schools of nursing or other similar institutions, for students in the school of nursing to take clinical training and practice in such institutions. It shall have the further authority to contract with hospitals, hospital schools of nursing or other similar institutions with respect to providing to any such institution instructors or instruction services from the university school of nursing upon full or part time basis and upon such basis of compensation or reimbursement of costs as may be deemed reasonable and proper in view of the public interests involved.

Under the same supervision, direction, control and conditions as are set forth in the fourth paragraph hereof, said school of nursing shall also administer such scholarship programs in nursing education and such activities with respect to recruitment of nursing students and counseling work with such students and prospective students as may be provided for by the legislature from time to time.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 106-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-51
Status: repealed

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

From and after July 1, 1991, the sums maintained in the respective revolving funds being repealed by Chapter 547, Laws of 1991, or other revolving funds being maintained by the board shall become and constitute the monies of the consolidated revolving fund created by this section, wherever such funds may be physically located. The board is hereby authorized to transfer said funds to an official state depository, as aforesaid.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 5-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-3
Status: in_force

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

The provisions of this section shall be applicable in the case of a special municipal separate school district and a line consolidated school district of which another county is the home county which together occupy all of the territory of a supervisors district of the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-607 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-607
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-607
Status: in_force

(1) All bonds issued by an educational building corporation shall be solely and exclusively obligations of the corporation and shall not create an obligation or debt of the State of Mississippi. The state shall not pledge its full faith or credit for the payment of any debt incurred or bonds issued by such corporation.

(2) All such bonds shall not constitute a debt of the community or junior college for which the facilities are to be constructed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-121 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 115-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-121
Status: in_force

The new building, currently under construction at the University of Mississippi School of Law, located in Oxford, Mississippi, shall be named the “Robert C. Khayat Law Center.” The University of Mississippi School of Law shall prepare a distinctive plaque, to be placed in a prominent place within the building, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Dr. Khayat.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-273 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-273
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-273
Status: in_force

The county superintendent of education of a county in which there is located and operated a legally constituted municipal junior college may provide for the attendance of pupils residing in the county of which he is superintendent of education at such municipal junior college, and pay for same by certificate drawn by him on the special junior college fund. Said fund shall be raised by a levy made by the board of supervisors upon the recommendation of the county board of education. However, the amount so paid shall not be greater than the pro rata share of such pupils in the actual cost of incidentals and tuition of such municipal junior college.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 45-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-21
Status: in_force

The commission shall distribute and disburse, subject to the provisions of law, such funds as may be appropriated by the legislature, and such funds as may otherwise become available, for constructing, improving, equipping, renovating, and repairing school buildings or other school facilities, as authorized and directed by chapter 47 of this title. No funds shall be distributed by said commission to any school district operating a school in the State of Mississippi until such school district shall have conclusively shown that it has complied with all the requirements of the laws of the State of Mississippi for the operation of schools or school districts, and until such school district shall have complied with all the applicable regulations of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 141-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-19
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall require that the president of each university under its jurisdiction designate, at the level of vice-president, a person responsible for economic development activities at the university. The person so designated shall be the primary contact at each university for the center in carrying out its responsibilities related to coordinating, assisting, monitoring and reporting on economic development activities at the universities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-159 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-159
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-159
Status: in_force

The consideration and proceeds derived or received from all oil, gas and mineral leases provided for in Section 37-101-153 , including, but not limited to bonuses, rentals, royalties and delay rentals, shall be paid to the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning for the use and benefit of the institution owning or having the use and benefit of the land from which said money was derived. All such money or funds shall be allocated to or used for the benefit of such institution or institutions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 103-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-9
Status: in_force

Children of parents who are members of the faculty or staff of any institution under the jurisdiction of the board of trustees of any junior college in this state or the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may be classified as residents for the purpose of attendance at the institution where their parents are faculty or staff members.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-57 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 27-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-57
Status: in_force

Any additional or supplemental expenses incurred by the agricultural high school or community or junior college in the instruction of such pupils above that defrayed by total funding formula funds as provided in Section 37-27-55 , shall be paid either from the amounts received from the state appropriation for the support of agricultural high schools or from the tax levy for the support of such agricultural high school or community or junior college or from any other funds which such agricultural high school or community or junior college may have available for such purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 33-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-31
Status: in_force

The State Treasurer is designated as the custodian of all funds received by the state from appropriations made by the Congress of the United States or from other sources for the purpose of carrying out any state or federal statutes pertaining to vocational rehabilitation. The State Treasurer is authorized to receive and provide for the proper custody of such funds and to establish such special funds and accounts as may be necessary. He shall make disbursements therefrom for vocational rehabilitation purposes upon requisition by the executive director or when so authorized by the director on behalf of the executive director and upon the issuance of warrants thereunder by the State Fiscal Officer.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-185 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 101-185
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-185
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized to cooperate with the state building commission, in the discretion of both agencies, in the employment of technical and professional personnel for supervising the planning and constructing or repairs of physical plant facilities located on the campuses of the several institutions of higher learning. Upon determination by the state building commission as to the proportionate amount due from the board of trustees for salaries and other expenses of such employees, said board is authorized and empowered to pay over to the state building commission such sums from funds available to the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning for such purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-61
Status: in_force

The executive head of a junior college shall be the president of the college who shall be selected by the board of trustees for a term not to exceed four years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-129 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 37-153-223 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 153-223
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-223
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Individual Training Account Workforce Reinforcement Assistance (ITA-WRAP) Program, which shall be directed by the Office of Workforce Development for the purpose of providing education and training to citizens seeking employment in high-wage, high-demand industries with documented workforce shortages prioritized by the office. This program shall be subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature.

(2) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings as defined herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Recipient ” means a community college, institution of higher learning, local workforce development area or other eligible recipient of grant funding under this section.

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

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

(d) “ Eligible expenses ” means a cost incurred by a recipient, pursuant to this section, to include trainee support, including tuition or registration expenses and supportive services such as childcare or transportation assistance.

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

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

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

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

(ii) The number of trainees who will be served by the program and how each will be tracked for reporting; and

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

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

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

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

(5) The office shall:

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

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

(6) The office may use a minimal amount of funds allocated for this section for the administration of the grant program, to be approved by the State Workforce Investment Board Executive Committee.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-12 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 17-12
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-12
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Effective July 1, 2006, principals and administrators with career level certifications at schools with the highest levels of accreditation standards, as defined by the State Board of Education, shall be exempted from the provisions pursuant to Section 37-3-4 , subject to approval of the local superintendent.

(b) Effective July 1, 2006, school districts meeting the highest levels of accreditation standards, as defined by the State Board of Education, shall be exempted from the provisions pursuant to Sections 37-3-46 , 37-3-49(2) , 37-7-337 , 37-17-8 and 37-21-7(4) .

(c) The State Department of Education shall develop a policy to determine reevaluation of exemption status.

(2) The State Department of Education is directed to provide a report of all exempted process standards and nonexempted process standards to the Office of the Governor, the Chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees, and the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents by December 1, 2007.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 59-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-1
Status: in_force

The word “bonds” as used in this article shall be deemed to mean and include bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-143 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 101-143
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-143
Status: reserved

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is also authorized and empowered to lease those lands referred to in Section 37-101-141 , or any part thereof, for oil, gas and mineral development, or for any other purpose, for such consideration, upon such terms and conditions as said board of trustees shall deem proper, and for the best advantage of the respective institutions. Any such oil, gas or mineral lease shall not be for a primary term of more than six years and so long thereafter as oil, gas or other minerals are produced from said lands. The royalties reserved in such lease or leases shall be not less than the following:

(a) On oil, one-eighth part produced and saved from said land;

(b) On gas, including casinghead gas, or other gaseous substances, produced from said land and sold or used off the premises, or for the extraction of gasoline or other products therefrom, the market value at the well of one-eighth of the gas so sold or used; and

(c) On all other minerals mined and marketed, one-eighth part in kind or value at the well or mine except sulphur on which the royalty shall be two dollars ($2.00) per long ton.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 103-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-103-27
Status: in_force

The responsibility for registering under his proper residence status is placed upon the student. In addition to any administrative action which may be taken by the governing authorities of the state-supported institutions of higher learning or junior colleges concerned, any student who wilfully presents false evidence as to his residence status shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof may be fined not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 115-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-41
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section:

(a) “ Applicant ” means any person who is applying to become an employee of UMMC.

(b) “ Employee ” means an employee, contractor, temporary worker or consultant.

(c) “ UMMC ” means the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

(2) The University of Mississippi Medical Center shall fingerprint and perform a criminal history record check on all new employees that work in or provide direct patient care. In addition, UMMC shall perform a disciplinary check with the professional licensing agency of the employee, if any, to determine if any disciplinary action has been taken against the employee by that agency. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no employee of UMMC hired on or after July 1, 2004, shall be permitted to provide direct patient care until the results of the criminal history record check have revealed no disqualifying record or the employee has been granted a waiver. In order to determine the applicant's suitability for employment, the applicant shall be fingerprinted. Fingerprints shall be submitted to the Department of Public Safety by UMMC via scanning or other electronic method, with the results processed through the Department of Public Safety's Criminal Information Center. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the applicant's fingerprints shall be forwarded by the Department of Public Safety to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. If the criminal history record check discloses a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23(h) , child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust or aggravated assault, 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 applicant shall not be eligible to be employed at UMMC.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, any such applicant may be employed on a temporary basis pending the results of the criminal history record check. Any employment contract with an applicant during the application process shall be voidable upon receipt of a disqualifying criminal history record check if no waiver is granted under subsection (4) of this section.

(4) UMMC may, in its discretion, allow any applicant aggrieved by an employment decision under this section to appear before the UMMC hiring officer, or his or her designee, to show mitigating circumstances that may exist and allow the applicant to be employed at UMMC. UMMC, upon report and recommendation of the hiring officer, 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; and (f) other evidence demonstrating the ability of the individual to perform the employment responsibilities competently and that the individual does not pose a threat to the health or safety of the patients admitted to UMMC.

(5) Upon the receipt of an applicant's criminal history record check that reveals no disqualifying event, UMMC shall, within two (2) weeks of the notification of no disqualifying event, provide the applicant with a notarized letter signed by the vice chancellor, or his or her authorized designee, confirming the applicant's suitability for employment based on his or her criminal history record check. An applicant or employee may use that letter for a period of two (2) years from the date of the letter to seek employment at any covered entity, as defined in Section 43-11-13(5) , without the necessity of an additional criminal history record check under Section 43-11-13(5) . Any covered entity presented with the letter may rely on the letter for a period of two (2) years from the date of the letter without having to conduct or have conducted a criminal history record check on the applicant or employee.

(6) UMMC may charge a fee not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for fingerprinting applicants, students, employees, contractors, consultants, outside agency personnel, visiting faculty, researchers or any other individual(s) that may provide direct services to UMMC.

(7) UMMC and its agents, officers, employees, attorneys and representatives shall be presumed to be acting in good faith for any employment decision or action taken under this section. The presumption of good faith may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence in any civil action. UMMC or its agents, officers, employees, attorneys and representatives shall not be held liable in any employment decision or action based in whole or in part on compliance with or attempts to comply in good faith with the requirements of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-20-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 20-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-20-7
Status: in_force

(1) To be eligible to receive funds under this chapter a school district shall describe in writing its remedial education program. The description shall include all special remedial and compensatory instruction to be provided by the district from all fund sources. The district description shall include a description of the program to be conducted at each separate school or location in the district and shall include the estimated number of students to participate in the program; the estimated number of teachers, volunteers and others to be utilized in the program; and the estimated budget for each such program.

(2) The programs provided by funds received under this chapter shall meet the following criteria:

(a) Each participating student must be determined by the school district, on the basis of the district's assessment tests, to need special educational assistance in order that the student's level of educational attainment in basic skills may be raised to that appropriate for children of the student's age.

(b) The program must be based on performance objectives related to educational achievement in the basic skills and provide supplementary services designed to meet the special educational needs of each participating student.

(c) The program must be evaluated in a manner consistent with the performance objectives and include a pretest and a post-test for each participating student. The evaluation may use local measures designed to measure the local instructional management plan.

(d) The state and local funds expended in the program must be accounted for separately from all other funds expended by the district.

(e) The program must establish a teacher support team in each building wherein the program is implemented to play a key role in determining the instructional services required by a child.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 5-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-5-1
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby established a county board of education in each county of the State of Mississippi. Said county board of education shall consist of five (5) members, one (1) of which, subject to the further provisions of this chapter and except as is otherwise provided in Section 37-5-1(2) , shall be elected by the qualified electors of each board of education district of the county. Except as is otherwise provided in Section 37-5-3 , each member so elected shall be a resident and qualified elector of the district from which he is elected.

(2) The county board of education shall apportion the county school district into five (5) single member board of education districts. The county board of education shall place upon its minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) board of education districts. The board of education of said county shall thereafter publish the same in some newspaper of general circulation within said county for at least three (3) consecutive weeks and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the board of education of said county, said new district lines will thereafter be effective. The board of education of said county shall reapportion the board of education districts in accordance with the procedure described herein for the original apportionment of districts as soon as practicable after the results of the 2000 decennial census are published and as soon as practicable after every decennial census thereafter.

(3) In counties where the office of “administrative superintendent” as defined in Section 37-6-3, Mississippi Code of 1972 , has been abolished, there shall be no county board of education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-232 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / 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. § 37-59-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 37-140-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 140-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-11
Status: in_force

The board shall prepare the annual budget for the school. For the operation and support of the school, the board may receive contributions, donations, gifts, bequests of money, other forms of financial assistance and property, equipment, materials or manpower from persons, foundations, trust funds, corporations, organizations and other sources, public or private, to be expended and utilized by the board in carrying out this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-183 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-183
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-183
Status: in_force

Assessment of the students' understanding of the character traits chosen to be taught in public school shall be limited to and must reflect the material taught in the classroom. Students shall not be evaluated in any way as to whether or not the students evidence a specific character trait in their own lives.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 15-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-29
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5) of this section, no minor child may enroll in or attend any school except in the school district of his residence, unless such child be lawfully transferred from the school district of his residence to a school in another school district in accord with the statutes of this state now in effect or which may be hereafter enacted.

(2) Those children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are instructional personnel or certificated employees of a school district may at such employee's discretion enroll and attend the school or schools of their parent's or legal guardian's employment regardless of the residence of the child.

(3) No child shall be required to be transported in excess of thirty (30) miles on a school bus from his or her home to school, or in excess of thirty (30) miles from school to his or her home, if there is another school in an adjacent school district located on a shorter school bus transportation route by the nearest traveled road. Those children residing in such geographical situations may, at the discretion of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), enroll and attend the nearer school, regardless of the residence of the child. In the event the parent or legal guardian of such child and the school board are unable to agree on the school bus mileage required to transport the child from his or her home to school, an appeal shall lie to the State Board of Education, or its designee, whose decision shall be final. The school districts involved in the appeal shall provide the Mississippi Department of Education with any school bus route information requested, including riding the buses as necessary, in order to measure the bus routes in question, as needed by the State Board of Education in considering the appeal.

(4) Those children lawfully transferred from the school district of his residence to a school in another school district prior to July 1, 1992, may, at the discretion of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), continue to enroll and attend school in the transferee school district. Provided further, that the brother(s) and sister(s) of said children lawfully transferred prior to July 1, 1992, may also, at the discretion of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), enroll and attend school in the transferee school district.

(5)(a) Those children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are active members of the United States Armed Forces may, at the discretion of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), enroll and attend the school district and school campus of their parent's or legal guardian's choosing, regardless of the residence of the child.

(b) Those children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are civilian military personnel and reside on a military base may, at the discretion of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), enroll and attend the school district and school campus of their parent's or legal guardian's choosing, regardless of the residence of the child.

(c) For purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection (5):

(i) A school district is not required to provide transportation to a student who enrolls in or transfers to another school district or school campus within the district of chosen attendance;

(ii) A student eligible for enrollment or transfer shall be allowed only one (1) school transfer per academic year;

(iii) Once admitted, and unless expelled, the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of students transferring under the authority of this subsection shall not be required to reapply for admission for continued enrollment in the school district or school campus of last attendance for any subsequent years of attendance therein; and

(iv) If the school district is unable to accommodate a request for enrollment for transfer due to a lack of capacity to accept the student in to the district or a specific school campus, the school board shall deny the request and spread the same upon its minutes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-149-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 149-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-149-1
Status: in_force

(1) There is established within the State Department of Education, the Mississippi Teacher Center for the purpose of insuring that the children of our state are taught by quality professionals. The center shall serve as an interagency center focused on teacher recruitment, enhanced training and initial instructional support.

(2) The center shall have a staff which shall consist of one (1) director, one (1) administrative assistant and professional teacher recruiters. A steering committee shall be established which shall consist of one (1) member from each of the following: the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Community College Board, the State Board of Education, the Board of the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges, the Board of the Mississippi Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, trustees of the local school boards, teachers and the private sector. The members of the steering committee shall be appointed by the State Superintendent with the approval of the board. The steering committee shall direct the work and establish policies for the purpose of operating the center.

(3) The center shall provide leadership for the following initiatives:

(a) The initiation and monitoring of high school programs for teacher recruitment;

(b) The initiation and monitoring of college level programs for teacher recruitment;

(c) The establishment of a Beginning Teacher/Mentoring program, as authorized in Sections 37-9-201 through 37-9-213 ;

(d) The sponsorship of a teacher renewal institute;

(e) The continuation of the Teacher Corps program;

(f) The enhancement of the William Winter Scholarship program;

(g) Research for the development of professional teaching standards;

(h) Provide additional scholarships for any targeted populations needing potential teachers; and

(i) Provide assistance to local school districts in identifying and locating specific teacher needs.

(4)(a) The Legislature recognizes that a highly qualified teacher in every public classroom in this state is fundamental to a quality education. The Legislature also recognizes that Mississippi has a serious shortage of qualified teachers to serve in the public schools of this state and that it has a responsibility to enact public policy in an effort to remedy that shortage of qualified teachers.

(b) There is hereby established a Mississippi “Troops to Teachers” pilot program in the State Department of Education to assist in the recruitment, licensure, referral, placement and compensation of military personnel interested in beginning a second career in public education as a teacher. The Teacher Center in the State Department of Education shall collaborate with the national “Troops to Teachers” program to establish the criteria and procedures for allocation of funds provided by the federal government to administer the pilot program to ensure the most effective placement of such teachers around the state taking into consideration the degree of teacher shortage in each school district.

(c) The Legislature shall appropriate funds necessary for the support of this pilot program which will not supplant federal funds provided for that purpose. The Office of the Governor shall transfer any federal funds provided for the Mississippi “Troops to Teachers” program to the State Department of Education for the administration of this program.

(d) The Department of Education shall report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2009, on the status of the implementation of the Mississippi “Troops to Teachers” program and the need for its continuation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-21
Status: in_force

It shall be illegal for any superintendent, principal or other licensed employee to be elected by the school board if such superintendent, principal or licensed employee is related within the third degree by blood or marriage according to the common law to a majority of the members of the school board. No member of the school board shall vote for any person as a superintendent, principal or licensed employee who is related to him within the third degree by blood or marriage or who is dependent upon him in a financial way. Any contract entered into in violation of the provisions of this section shall be null and void.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 61-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-31
Status: in_force

The boards of supervisors of the various counties in Mississippi which are entitled to share in the distribution of the Chickasaw school funds, are hereby authorized and empowered to make settlement with any separate school district in said counties which has received more or less than its proportionate part of said funds, and the boards of supervisors may appropriate any money now on hand or that may be allotted to said counties in the future in the payment of any amount due to such separate school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-73 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 113-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-73
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 37-113-71 through 37-113-81 , the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless context of use clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Veterinary student ” means a student enrolled in the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

(b) “ Dean ” means the Dean of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

(c) “ Food supply animal ” includes cattle, hogs, sheep, goats and poultry.

(d) “ Food supply animal veterinarian ” means a veterinarian who is engaged in general or food supply animal practice as his or her primary focus of practice and who has thirty percent (30%) of his or her practice devoted to food supply animal veterinary medicine.

(e) “ Large animal veterinarian ” means a veterinarian whose practice is focused primarily on the health and safety of farm animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses, who must spend sixty percent (60%) of their time providing care for large animals.

(f) “ Program ” means the Dr. Elton Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinarian Scholarship Program administered by the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

(g) “ Rural community ” means an area of the state with a population density less than five hundred (500) people per square mile as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.

(h) “ Rural mixed animal veterinarian ” means a veterinarian who practices in a rural community with provision of care to both small animals, i.e., dogs or cats, and large animals, i.e., cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or horses, within which the veterinarian must spend a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of his or her time providing care to large animals.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-59 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 37-16-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 16-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-7
Status: in_force

(1) Each district school board shall establish standards for graduation from its schools which shall include as a minimum:

(a) Mastery of minimum academic skills as measured by assessments developed and administered by the State Board of Education.

(b) Completion of a minimum number of academic credits, and all other applicable requirements prescribed by the district school board.

(c) By school, information on high school graduation rates. High schools with graduation rates lower than eighty percent (80%) must submit a detailed plan to the Mississippi Department of Education to restructure the high school experience to improve graduation rates.

(2) A student who meets all requirements prescribed in subsection (1) of this section shall be awarded a standard diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education.

(3) The State Board of Education may establish student proficiency standards for promotion to grade levels leading to graduation.

(4) The State Board of Education shall develop a curriculum related to the study of sign language. Any such class developed by the board may count as an academic credit for foreign languages for the purposes of high school graduation requirements.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-69-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 69-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-69-3
Status: in_force

The intent of the Legislature is to provide an opportunity for motivated students to participate in a curriculum that will prepare them for a career of employment in the energy industry in their home state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 115-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-5
Status: in_force

The lands belonging to the University of Mississippi shall not be leased without a provision in the lease for the payment of an annual rent to the treasurer of the institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-49-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 49-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-49-3
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(a) “person” means any individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity;

(b) “educational institution” means a university, college, community college, junior college, high school, technical, vocational or professional school, or similar institution, wherever located, approved or accredited by the state department of education for the purposes of this chapter, or by the appropriate official, department or agency of the state in which the institution is located; and

(c) “educational loan” means a loan or other aid or assistance for the purpose of furthering the obligor's education at an educational institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-72.1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 11-72.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-72.1
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Beginning on July 1, 2025, the local school board of each public school district shall have at least one (1) school employee at each school who has met the training requirements necessary to administer or assist with the self-administration of a seizure rescue medication or medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms as approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and any successor agency.

(b) A local school district shall be permitted to use any adequate and appropriate training program or guidelines for training of school personnel in the seizure disorder care tasks covered under this section.

(2)(a) Before administering a seizure rescue medication or medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms, the student's parent, guardian or responsible adult shall:

(i) Provide the school with a written authorization to administer the medication at school;

(ii) Provide a written statement from the person's health care practitioner, which shall contain the following information:

1. Full name;

2. The name and purpose of the medication;

3. The prescribed dosage;

4. The route of administration;

5. The frequency that the medication may be administered; and

6. The circumstances under which the medication may be administered;

(iii) Provide the prescribed medication to the school in its unopened, sealed package with the label affixed by the dispensing pharmacy intact.

(b) In addition to the statements required in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the parent or guardian, or adult shall collaborate with school personnel to create a seizure action plan.

(3) The statements and seizure action plan required in subsection (2) of this section shall be kept on file in the office of the school nurse or school administrator.

(4) The permission for the administration of any of the medications authorized under subsection (1)(a) of this section shall be effective for the school year in which it is granted and shall be renewed each following school year upon fulfilling the requirements of subsections (2) through (3) of this section.

(5) The requirements of this section shall apply only to schools that have an adult employee or enrolled student who has a seizure disorder, a seizure rescue medication or medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and any successor agency prescribed by the student's health care provider.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-104.7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-104.7
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(7) The County Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education of the former Holmes County School District and the local school board and Superintendent of Schools of the Durant Public School District shall cooperate with the State Department of Education, as soon as practicable after July 1, 2016, for the planning and transition of programs, services and alignment of curriculum for the administratively consolidated school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 144-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-5
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Developing the administrative policy for the commission and the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program;

(b) Promulgating rules and regulations, with the advice and consent of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, pertaining to the implementation and operation of the Rural Physicians Scholarship Program;

(c) Developing and implementing strategies and activities for the identification and recruitment of students and for marketing the program and for the implementation of the program. In developing these strategies, the board shall seek the input of various organizations and entities, including the Mississippi State Medical Association, the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians, the Mississippi Chapters of the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of OB-GYN, Mississippi Psychiatric Association, the Mississippi Medical and Surgical Association, the Mississippi Osteopathic Medicine Association and the American Psychiatric Association;

(d) Establishing a budget, with the advice and consent of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, to support the activities of the program and periodically reviewing and if appropriate, revising, the scholarship and other stipends offered through the program;

(e) Advising the University of Mississippi Medical Center regarding hiring an executive director and support staff necessary for the commission's work. The commission shall nominate at least two (2) individuals to serve as executive director;

(f) Reviewing participants progress in the program and mentoring students and physicians participating in the program;

(g) Developing and participating in programs that provide initial practice support in collaboration with other interested professional organizations;

(h) The commission shall have the authority through use of generally applicable definitions, to designate an area of the state as underserved or rural. The method by which these designations shall be made shall be contained in rules and regulations promulgated by the commission.

(i) The commission shall produce an annual report to the Legislature showing certain information relating to the program for the previous fiscal year, including the following:

(i) Budget, including funds provided in addition to legislative appropriations;

(ii) Number of participants enrolled in medical or osteopathic school along with their matriculation status;

(iii) The status of, to include location of practice, participants who have entered a medicine or other generalist residency program;

(iv) The number and cause of participants who breached their obligation(s) to the program; and

(v) The status of, to include location of practice, participants who have entered into the practice of medicine in a rural or medically underserved area in Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 155-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-105
Status: in_force

As used in this article, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ MACS Program ” means the Mississippi Affordable College Savings Program established under this article.

(b) “ MACS Trust Fund ” means a special fund in the State Treasury established under Section 37-155-111 , and administered by the Treasury Department.

(c) “ Account owner ” means a resident or nonresident person, corporation, trust, charitable organization or other entity which contributes to or invests money in a savings trust account under the MACS Program on behalf of a beneficiary and which is listed as the owner of the savings trust account.

(d) “ Beneficiary ” means a resident or nonresident beneficiary of a savings trust agreement who meets the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, or other applicable federal law, and any regulations established by the board.

(e) “ Institution of higher education ” means an eligible educational institution as defined in Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, or any other applicable federal law.

(f) “ Tuition ” means the quarter, semester or term charges and all required fees imposed by an institution of higher education as a condition of enrollment by all students.

(g) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the College Savings Plans of Mississippi Trust Funds established under Section 37-155-7 .

(h) “ Payor ” means a person, corporation, trust, charitable organization or other such entity which contributes money or makes a payment to either a savings trust account established pursuant to this article or a prepaid tuition account established under Sections 37-155-1 through 37-155-27 on behalf of a beneficiary.

(i) “ Savings trust account ” means an account established by an account owner pursuant to this article on behalf of a beneficiary in order to apply distributions from the account toward qualified higher education expenses at eligible educational institutions, as defined in Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, or other applicable federal law.

(j) “ Savings trust agreement ” means the agreement entered into between the board and the account owner establishing a savings trust account.

(k) “ Qualified higher education expense ” means any higher education expense, as defined in Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, or other applicable federal law.

( l ) “ Qualified withdrawal ” means a withdrawal by an account owner or beneficiary for qualified higher education expenses or as otherwise permitted under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, without a penalty required under the Internal Revenue Code.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-150 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / 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. § 37-106-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 106-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-61
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created the state medical forgivable loan program. The purpose of such program shall be to enable eligible applicants who desire to become physicians to obtain a medical education in the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, which will qualify them to become licensed, practicing physicians and surgeons.

(2) The board shall establish, by rule and regulation, the maximum annual award which may be made under this program at an amount not to exceed the cost of tuition and other expenses, and shall establish the maximum number of awards which may be made not to exceed the length of time required to complete the degree requirements and internship or residency.

(3) Repayment and conversion terms shall be the same as those outlined in Section 37-106-53 and shall include the following:

(a) Payment in full of principal and interest must be made in sixty (60) or less equal monthly installments;

(b) In lieu of payment in full of both principal and interest, a loan recipient may elect to repay by entry into public health work at a state health institution as defined in Section 37-106-67(2) , or community health centers that are grantees under Section 330 of the United States Public Health Service Act;

(c) In lieu of payment in full of both principal and interest, a loan recipient may elect to repay by entry into the practice of medicine in a primary health care field in an area outside of a metropolitan statistical area, as defined and established by the United States Census Bureau, and within a region ranking between 1 and 54, inclusively, on the Relative Needs Index of Five Factors for Primary Care Physicians, as annually determined by the State Board of Health, for a period of five (5) years.

(4) The board shall establish the rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-235 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-235
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-235
Status: in_force

A public junior college fraternity, sorority or secret society, as contemplated by Sections 37-29-235 through 37-29-243 is hereby defined to be any organization composed wholly, or in part, of public junior college pupils, which seeks to perpetuate itself by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in such junior college on the basis of the decision of the membership of such fraternity, sorority or secret society, rather than upon the free choice of any pupil in the junior college. However, this does not apply to the Order of DeMolay or a similar organization sponsored by any branch of the Masonic Orders or like adult fraternal organization.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-17
Status: in_force

(1) On or before April 1 of each year, the principal of each school shall recommend to the superintendent of the local school district the licensed employees or noninstructional employees to be employed for the school involved except those licensed employees or noninstructional employees who have been previously employed and who have a contract valid for the ensuing scholastic year. If such recommendations meet with the approval of the superintendent, the superintendent shall recommend the employment of such licensed employees or noninstructional employees to the local school board, and, unless good reason to the contrary exists, the board shall elect the employees so recommended. If, for any reason, the local school board shall decline to elect any employee so recommended, additional recommendations for the places to be filled shall be made by the principal to the superintendent and then by the superintendent to the local school board as provided above. The school board of any local school district shall be authorized to designate a personnel supervisor or another principal employed by the school district to recommend to the superintendent licensed employees or noninstructional employees; however, this authorization shall be restricted to no more than two (2) positions for each employment period for each school in the local school district. Any noninstructional employee employed upon the recommendation of a personnel supervisor or another principal employed by the local school district must have been employed by the local school district at the time the superintendent was elected or appointed to office; a noninstructional employee employed under this authorization may not be paid compensation in excess of the statewide average compensation for such noninstructional position with comparable experience, as established by the State Department of Education. The school board of any local school district shall be authorized to designate a personnel supervisor or another principal employed by the school district to accept the recommendations of principals or their designees for licensed employees or noninstructional employees and to transmit approved recommendations to the local school board; however, this authorization shall be restricted to no more than two (2) positions for each employment period for each school in the local school district.

When the licensed employees have been elected as provided in the preceding paragraph, the superintendent of the district shall enter into a contract with such persons in the manner provided in this chapter.

If, at the commencement of the scholastic year, any licensed employee shall present to the superintendent a license of a higher grade than that specified in such individual's contract, such individual may, if funds are available from the total funding formula funds of the district as provided for in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 , or from district funds, be paid from such funds the amount to which such higher grade license would have entitled the individual, had the license been held at the time the contract was executed.

(2) Superintendents/directors of schools under the purview of the State Board of Education, the superintendent of the local school district and any private firm under contract with the local public school district to provide substitute teachers to teach during the absence of a regularly employed schoolteacher shall require, through the appropriate governmental authority, that current criminal records background checks and current child abuse registry checks are obtained, and that such criminal record information and registry checks are on file for any new hires applying for employment as a licensed or nonlicensed employee at a school and not previously employed in such school under the purview of the State Board of Education or at such local school district prior to July 1, 2000. In order to determine the applicant's suitability for employment, the applicant shall be fingerprinted. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the fingerprints shall be forwarded by the Department of Public Safety to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. The fee for such fingerprinting and criminal history record check shall be paid by the applicant, not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00); however, the State Board of Education, the school board of the local school district or a private firm under contract with a local school district to provide substitute teachers to teach during the temporary absence of the regularly employed schoolteacher, 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 a member of the State Board of Education, superintendent/director of schools under the purview of the State Board of Education, local school district superintendent, local school board member 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. Any nonpublic school which is accredited or approved by the State Board of Education may avail itself of the procedures provided for herein and shall be responsible for the same fee charged in the case of local public schools of this state. The determination whether the applicant has a disqualifying crime, as set forth in subsection (3) of this section, shall be made by the appropriate governmental authority, and the appropriate governmental authority shall notify the private firm whether a disqualifying crime exists.

(3) If such 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(h) , child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust or aggravated assault which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the new hire shall not be eligible to be employed at such school. Any employment contract for a new hire executed by the superintendent of the local school district or any employment of a new hire by a superintendent/director of a new school under the purview of the State Board of Education or by a private firm shall be voidable if the new hire receives a disqualifying criminal record check. However, the State Board of Education or the school board may, in its discretion, allow any applicant aggrieved by the employment decision under this section to appear before the respective board, or before a hearing officer designated for such purpose, to show mitigating circumstances which may exist and allow the new hire to be employed at the school. The State Board of Education or local school board may grant waivers for such 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 person to perform the employment responsibilities competently and that the person does not pose a threat to the health or safety of the children at the school.

(4) No local school district, local school district employee, member of the State Board of Education or employee of a school under the purview of the State Board of Education shall be held liable in any employment discrimination suit in which an allegation of discrimination is made regarding an employment decision authorized under this Section 37-9-17 .

(5) The provisions of this section shall be fully applicable to licensed employees of the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA), established in Section 37-140-3 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-69 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 29-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-69
Status: in_force

Any junior college district is hereby authorized and empowered to operate junior college attendance centers at existing sites of junior college plants and facilities and at such other places within the district, subject to the approval of the Mississippi Community College Board, as the board of trustees shall determine to be in the best interest of the district.

Two (2) or more boards of trustees may cooperate in establishing, operating and maintaining attendance centers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-59 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-59
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-59
Status: in_force

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-13-58 , the state department of education is hereby authorized to provide for the services of a state coordinator of career education and such other professional and nonprofessional staff as may be needed and as funds available to the department will permit. It shall be the responsibility of the state coordinator of career education 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 services embraced by Sections 37-13-58 through 37-13-60 . The state department of education and the state coordinator of career education will be responsible for the development of teacher education courses, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels, designed to familiarize teachers and prospective teachers with the career education concept and its application to their roles as teachers and prospective teachers. The state colleges and universities will consult and cooperate with the state department of education and state coordinator of career education in the development of these courses and in the responsibilities under Sections 37-13-58 through 37-13-60 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 31-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-33
Status: in_force

For the purpose of enabling the state board of education to comply with the provisions of the federal social security act and to continue to extend and improve as far as practicable the services now maintained by said state board for locating crippled children and for providing medical, surgical, corrective, and other services, care and treatment, and facilities for diagnosis, hospitalization, and after-care for children who are crippled or who are suffering from conditions which lead to crippling, any and all funds appropriated for physical restoration of crippled children for the above purposes may be used for the purposes set forth in this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 37-121-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 121-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-13
Status: in_force

The baseball field within the Willie E. “Rat” McGowan, Sr., Baseball Stadium, as designated in Section 37-121-11 , located on the campus of Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be named the William “Bill” Foster Baseball Field. The Department of Finance and Administration shall prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place on the William “Bill” Foster Baseball Field, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Mr. Foster.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 175-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-3
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship for Students with Speech-Language Impairments Program, which may also be cited as the Nate Rogers Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program, is established to provide a scholarship to a nonpublic school of choice, for students with an eligibility ruling of a speech-language impairment. Students in kindergarten through Grade 6 or its equivalent who have been properly evaluated and received an eligibility ruling of speech-language impairment shall be eligible to receive scholarship assistance under this program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 151-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-61
Status: in_force

Any school board of any school district which may be aggrieved by any final rule, regulation or order of the State Board of Education adopted under the provisions of this chapter shall have the right to appeal therefrom to the chancery court of the county in which the school district involved or any part thereof is located in like manner, within the same time, with like effect, and subject in all other respects to appeals from orders, rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, the provisions of which are hereby made applicable in all respects to appeals from orders, rules and regulations of the commission under the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-17
Status: in_force

The director, with the approval of the executive director and the state board, may accept and use gifts and donations made unconditionally or otherwise for carrying out the purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation Law, from either public or private sources. Gifts made under such conditions as in the judgment of the state board are proper and consistent with the provisions of that law may be so accepted and shall be held, invested, reinvested and used in accordance with the conditions of the gift. All monies received as gifts or donations, except conditional gifts requiring other treatments, shall be deposited in the State Treasury and shall constitute a permanent fund to be called the “Special Fund for the Vocational Rehabilitation of Individuals with Disabilities” and shall be used by the state board for such purposes. The state board shall make a report annually to the Legislature setting forth the condition of vocational rehabilitation of eligible individuals with disabilities in Mississippi, the expenditures made from state and federal funds in carrying out the provisions of that law or its purpose, and a detailed statement of all gifts and donations offered and accepted, together with the names of donors and the respective amounts prescribed by each and all the disbursements made therefrom.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-27 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 145-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-27
Status: in_force

All general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 37-145-23 through 37-145-41 shall have and are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the negotiable instruments law of the State of Mississippi. Such bonds and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation within the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / 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. § 37-101-153 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 101-153
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-153
Status: reserved

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized and empowered in its discretion to lease any lands, or any part thereof, belonging to any of the institutions of higher learning, either of said institutions or other institutions under its control and supervision, for oil, gas and mineral development, upon such terms, conditions and considerations as said board of trustees shall deem proper and for the best interest of the institution or institutions. Any such oil, gas or mineral lease shall be for a primary term of not more than six years and so long thereafter as oil, gas or other mineral is produced from said land. The royalty reserved in such lease or leases shall not be less than the following:

(a) On oil, one-eighth part produced and saved from said land;

(b) On gas, including casinghead gas, or other gaseous substances, produced from said land and sold or used off the premises, or for the extraction of gasoline or other products therefrom the market value at the well of one-eighth of the gas so sold or used; and

(c) On all other minerals mined and marketed, one-eighth part in kind or value at the well or mine except sulphur on which the royalty shall be two dollars ($2.00) per long ton.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-71
Status: in_force

The superintendent of schools and the principal of a school shall have the power to suspend or expel a pupil for good cause, including misconduct in the school or on school property, as defined in Section 37-11-29 , on the road to and from school, or at any school-related activity or event when such conduct by a pupil, in the determination of the superintendent or principal, renders that pupil's presence in the classroom a disruption to the educational environment of the school or a detriment to the best interest and welfare of the pupils and teacher of such class as a whole, or for any reason for which such pupil might be suspended, dismissed or expelled by the school board under state or federal law or any rule, regulation or policy of the local school district. For any suspension of more than ten (10) days or expulsions, a student shall have the right to a due process hearing, be represented by legal counsel, to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses presented by the district. The student and the student's parent, legal guardian or person in custody of the student may appeal suspension of more than ten (10) days and expulsions to the school board. The standard of proof in all disciplinary proceedings shall be substantial evidence. The parent or guardian of the child shall be advised of this right to a hearing by the appropriate superintendent or principal and the proper form shall be provided for requesting such a hearing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-69-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / 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. § 37-28-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 28-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-17
Status: in_force

(1) The following are the purposes of a charter application:

(a) To present the proposed charter school's academic and operational vision and plans;

(b) To demonstrate the applicant's capacities to execute the proposed vision and plans; and

(c) To provide the authorizer a clear basis for assessing the applicant's plans and capacities.

(2) An approved charter application may not serve as the school's charter contract.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 45-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-41
Status: in_force

When the reporter's notes shall have been transcribed, the reporter shall certify same and file an original and one copy with the commission and give notice by registered mail of the fact of such filing to the county board or county boards of education and the board of trustees of any municipal separate school district involved in the proceeding covered by the transcript, and their respective counsel of record, if any, and to the commission.

Any correction of the transcript shall be made in the same manner provided for correcting a transcript in Section 9-13-35, Mississippi Code of 1972 , with the commission exercising the rights and power of the trial judge mentioned therein, and the executive secretary of the commission exercising the duties of the clerk mentioned in said section. The written agreement provided by said section concerning the transcript therein provided to be filed in the supreme court may be entered into and filed in the chancery court to which the appeal is taken from any final rule, regulation or order of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-99 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 101-99
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-99
Status: in_force

The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is hereby authorized to supervise the contracting for, and the erection of, all buildings erected as a result of the provisions of Sections 37-101-91 through 37-101-103 which the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning does not self-administer or allow a state institution of higher learning to administer.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 138-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-21
Status: in_force

(1) It shall be unlawful for an individual who does not possess a valid worker certificate to work as a worker on an asbestos project.

(2) It shall be unlawful for a contractor to employ a person as a worker on an asbestos project who does not possess a valid worker certificate in accordance with this section.

(3) To qualify for a worker certificate an individual shall:

(a) Satisfactorily complete a commission-approved training course for abatement workers, except that a worker training course approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency satisfactorily completed shall be sufficient to meet this requirement;

(b) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant is familiar with and is capable of complying fully with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations; and

(c) Provide written proof satisfactory to the commission, on forms prepared by the commission, of a physical examination by a physician licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure or by a physician licensed to practice medicine in any other state approving the applicant to work on an asbestos project. Requirement (c) of subsection (3) shall be renewed every three (3) years. A chest X-ray is not required for either the initial or any renewal application.

(4) Any certificate issued by the commission pursuant to this section and requirements (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of this section shall be renewed on an annual basis.

(5) Applicants for a worker certificate shall submit to the commission, on forms prepared by the commission, an application for issuance or renewal of the certificate, whichever is applicable, and a certificate that shows satisfactory completion of training course(s) specified in subsection (3)(a) above and shall pay the applicable annual fee.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-3-83 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 3-83
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-3-83
Status: in_force

(1) There is established within the State Department of Education, using only existing staff and resources, a School Safety Grant Program, available to all eligible public school districts, to assist in financing programs to provide school safety. However, no monies from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant may be used for the School Safety Grant Program.

(2) The school board of each school district, with the assistance of the State Department of Education School Safety Center, shall adopt a comprehensive local school district school safety plan and shall update the plan on an annual basis.

(3) Subject to the extent of appropriations available, the School Safety Grant Program shall offer any of the following specific preventive services, and other additional services appropriate to the most current school district school safety plan:

(a) Metal detectors;

(b) Video surveillance cameras, communications equipment and monitoring equipment for classrooms, school buildings, school grounds and school buses;

(c) Crisis management/action teams responding to school violence;

(d) Violence prevention training, conflict resolution training, behavioral stress training and other appropriate training designated by the State Department of Education for faculty and staff; and

(e) School safety personnel.

(4) Each local school district of this state may annually apply for school safety grant funds subject to appropriations by the Legislature. School safety grants shall include a base grant amount plus an additional amount per student in net enrollment in the school or school district. The base grant amount and amount per student shall be determined by the State Board of Education, subject to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature. In order to be eligible for such program, each local school board desiring to participate shall apply to the State Department of Education by May 31 before the beginning of the applicable fiscal year on forms provided by the department, and shall be required to establish a local School Safety Task Force to involve members of the community in the school safety effort. The State Department of Education shall determine by July 1 of each succeeding year which local school districts have submitted approved applications for school safety grants.

(5) As part of the School Safety Grant Program, the State Department of Education may conduct a pilot program to research the feasibility of using video camera equipment in the classroom to address the following:

(a) Determine if video cameras in the classroom reduce student disciplinary problems;

(b) Enable teachers to present clear and convincing evidence of a student's disruptive behavior to the student, the principal, the superintendent and the student's parents; and

(c) Enable teachers to review teaching performance and receive diagnostic feedback for developmental purposes.

(6) Any local school district may use audio/visual-monitoring equipment in classrooms, hallways, buildings, grounds and buses for the purpose of monitoring school disciplinary problems.

(7) As a component of the comprehensive local school district school safety plan required under subsection (2) of this section, the school board of a school district may adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse of children, to be known as “Erin's Law Awareness.” Any policy adopted under this subsection may include or address, but need not be limited to, the following:

(a) Methods for increasing teacher, student and parental awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse of children, including knowledge of likely warning signs indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse;

(b) Educational information for parents or guardians, which may be included in the school handbook, on the warning signs of a child being abused, along with any needed assistance, referral or resource information;

(c) Training for school personnel on child sexual abuse;

(d) Age-appropriate curriculum for students in prekindergarten through fifth grade;

(e) Actions that a child who is a victim of sexual abuse should take to obtain assistance and intervention;

(f) Counseling and resources available for students affected by sexual abuse; and

(g) Emotional and educational support for a child who has been abused to enable the child to be successful in school.

(8) As part of the school safety grant program, the State Department of Education shall establish three (3) pilot programs in six (6) school districts utilizing an evidence-based curriculum to provide students in Grades K-5 with skills to manage stress and anxiety in order for them to be better equipped to handle challenges in a healthy way and build resiliency. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health shall be responsible for the selection of the content of the evidence-based curriculum. The results of this pilot program shall be measured and reported, and such results shall be used in consideration of the implementation of this curriculum statewide.

(9) As a component of the comprehensive local school district safety plan required under subsection (2) of this section, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, the State Department of Education shall require local school districts to conduct, every two (2) years, refresher training on mental health and suicide prevention for all school employees and personnel, including all cafeteria workers, custodians, teachers and administrators. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health shall be responsible for the development and/or selection of the content of the training, which training shall be provided at no cost to school employees. School districts shall report completion of the training to the State Department of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 15-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-31
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Before September 1 of each year, the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district shall certify to the State Department of Education the number of students in the added territory of the municipal separate school district who are transferred to the adjacent school district under this subsection. The municipal separate school district also shall certify the total number of students in the school district residing in the added territory plus the number of those students who are transferred to the adjacent school district. Based upon these figures, the department shall calculate the percentage of the total number of students in the added territory who are transferred to the adjacent school district and shall certify this percentage to the levying authority for the municipal separate school district. The levying authority shall remit to the school board of the adjacent school district, from the proceeds of the ad valorem taxes collected for the support of the municipal separate school district from the added territory of the municipal separate school district, an amount equal to the percentage of the total number of students in the added territory who are transferred to the adjacent school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-19 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 28-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-19
Status: in_force

(1) In reviewing and evaluating charter applications, the authorizer shall employ procedures, practices and criteria consistent with nationally recognized principles and standards for quality charter authorizing. The application review process must include thorough evaluation of each written charter application and in-person interview with the applicant group.

(2) In deciding whether to approve charter applications, the authorizer must:

(a) Grant charters only to applicants that have provided evidence of competence in each element of the authorizer's published approval criteria, and in the case of an applicant that currently operates one or more schools in any state or nation, clear evidence that the management or leadership team of the charter school or schools currently operated by the applicant has produced statistically significant gains in student achievement or consistently produced proficiency levels as measured on state achievement test;

(b) Base decisions on documented evidence collected through the application review process; and

(c) Follow charter-granting policies and practices that are transparent, based on merit and avoid conflicts of interest or any appearance thereof.

(3) Before the expiration of one hundred eighty (180) days after the filing of a charter application, the authorizer must approve or deny the charter application; however, an application submitted by a public historically black college or university (HBCU), in partnership with a national nonprofit public HBCU support organization, for a charter school to be operated on or near the campus of the HBCU must be considered for expedited approval by the authorizer. The authorizer shall adopt by resolution all charter approval or denial decisions in an open meeting of the authorizer board.

(4) An approval decision may include, if appropriate, reasonable conditions that the charter applicant must meet before a charter contract may be executed pursuant to Section 37-28-21 .

(5) For a charter denial, the authorizer shall state clearly, for public record, its reasons for denial. A denied applicant may reapply subsequently with the authorizer.

(6) Before the expiration of ten (10) days after taking action to approve or deny a charter application, the authorizer shall provide a report to the applicant. The report must include a copy of the authorizer's resolution setting forth the action taken and reasons for the decision and assurances as to compliance with all of the procedural requirements and application elements set forth in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-171 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 33-171
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-171
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby established an Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing within the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, hereinafter referred to as “ODHH.”

(2) The ODHH shall have the following responsibilities:

(a) To work to make interpreter services available to people who are deaf or hard of hearing;

(b) To work to increase the number of qualified interpreters in the state and to increase the certification level of interpreters in the state;

(c) To maintain a registry of available and qualified interpreters in the state;

(d) To provide community outreach, training and education to the public and private sectors, including business, governmental entities, schools and political subdivisions, on issues related to the deaf and hard of hearing;

(e) To serve as a collection point and clearinghouse for information and data related to deafness, including program and service options available for adults and children who are deaf and hard of hearing;

(f) To encourage, participate in and conduct studies and research on issues related to the deaf and hard of hearing;

(g) To provide advice and information to the Mississippi Legislature;

(h) To work with public and private entities, including community and four-year colleges and universities, to accomplish the responsibilities of the ODHH;

(i) To discharge such other duties, responsibilities and powers as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

(3) A service center for ODHH shall be established and operated according to policies established by the ODHH and approved by the State Board of Rehabilitation Services.

(4) The ODHH shall be staffed by an office director, an administrative assistant and full-time and part-time interpreters. These staff members shall be employees of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services. The ODHH shall also have the power to contract with free lance interpreters as needed.

(5) The ODHH shall establish and utilize an advisory council made up of a majority of members who are deaf or hard of hearing. The first members of the ODHH Advisory Council shall be appointed for a one-year term; subsequent appointments or reappointments shall be made for two-year terms.

(6) The ODHH is authorized to apply for and accept funds from any source and to receive contributions, gifts or any other funds from any private or public source.

(7) The ODHH shall be funded subject to appropriation by the Legislature and in operation by July 1, 1998.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 123-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-123-1
Status: in_force

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

Wherever the name “Delta State Teachers' College” or “Delta State College” appears, the same shall be construed to denote Delta State University.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-77 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 27-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-77
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors of any county wherein there is located an agricultural high school not located upon the campus of a junior college may, in its discretion, purchase a bus for the use and benefit of said agricultural high school to be used in connection with various school activities and to be paid for from the general fund of the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 141-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-141-9
Status: in_force

(1) The center is authorized and empowered to solicit and accept financial support from sources other than the state, including private sources and foundations. All funds received shall be deposited upon receipt thereof into a special fund in the State Treasury to be known and designated as the “University Research Center Fund.” Expenditures from such special fund shall be made in the manner as provided in subsection (3) of Section 37-141-21 . Any funds received and deposited from sources other than the state to the special fund may be utilized for research grants to the center or to other Mississippi institutions; for graduate research fellowships; for buildings and equipment; for library facilities; for permanent exhibits; for advanced studies by research personnel of the center or any of the institutions of higher learning; for honoraria for visiting lecturers; and for like purposes.

(2) From and after July 1, 1988, any monies remaining in the special fund in the State Treasury known as the Research and Development Center Fund shall be transferred into the University Research Center Fund created in subsection (1) of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 17-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-17-7
Status: in_force

Any nonpublic school may, through its governing body, request that the State Board of Education approve such institution. Approval shall be based upon a process promulgated by the State Board of Education; provided, however, that in no event shall the State Board of Education adopt more stringent standards for approval of nonpublic schools than the accreditation standards applied to public schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 61-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-23
Status: in_force

The superintendent of schools of each school district shall open and keep regular sets of books, as prescribed by the State Department of Education, which shall be subject to inspection during office hours by any citizen so desiring to inspect the same. The books for each fiscal year shall be kept separately and same shall be safely preserved by the superintendent of schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-209 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 151-209
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-209
Status: in_force

Allocations to school districts or charter schools made by the State Department of Education on the basis of the count of students in student categories established for the purpose of applying various weights under Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 are intended only to generate total appropriation amounts for school funding. Except as otherwise required by applicable state or federal law or by applicable rules, regulations, policies, or order of the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education, a school district or charter school may exercise full autonomy in the spending of all funds allocated under the formula to the district or charter school so long as funds are expended in the manner determined by the school board or governing board to best meet the needs of the student population of the school district or charter school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-28 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 113-28
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-28
Status: in_force

Neither the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, nor any person acting on behalf thereof, shall lease or rent hunting rights on any land located in Washington County, Mississippi, under the jurisdiction, ownership or trusteeship of the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Delta Branch at Stoneville, but shall allow the public to hunt on such lands in accordance with the rules, regulations and permits as shall be adopted by the Delta Branch Experiment Station. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall assist in the enforcement of such rules, regulations and permits as adopted by the Delta Branch Experiment Station, as well as enforcing the general hunting statutes of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 12-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-7
Status: in_force

Students in public schools may pray or engage in religious activities or religious expression before, during and after the school day in the same manner and to the same extent that students may engage in nonreligious activities or expression. Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, “see you at the pole” gatherings, or other religious gatherings before, during and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities and groups. Religious groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other noncurricular groups without discrimination based on the religious content of the students' expression. If student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce meetings of the groups, the school district may not discriminate against groups that meet for prayer or other religious speech. A school district may disclaim school sponsorship of noncurricular groups and events in a manner that neither favors nor disfavors groups that meet to engage in prayer or religious speech.

Students in public schools may wear clothing, accessories and jewelry that display religious messages or religious symbols in the same manner and to the same extent that other types of clothing, accessories and jewelry that display messages or symbols are permitted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 27-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-23
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of each county shall be the judges of the eligibility of all applicants for admission to any agricultural high school in the county. They shall not permit any applicant to become a student therein, when in the opinion of the said trustees the moral and mental characteristics of the applicant are such as would prove detrimental to the good morals of the institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 28-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-13
Status: in_force

(1) Upon request, the State Department of Education shall assist the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board with implementing the authorizer's decisions by providing such technical assistance and information as may be necessary for the implementation of this chapter.

(2) Before July 1 of each year, the authorizer shall publish a pamphlet, which may be in electronic form, containing:

(a) All statutes in Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , which are applicable to the charter schools;

(b) Any rules, regulations and policies adopted by the State Superintendent of Public Education, the State Board of Education or the State Department of Education with which charter schools must comply by virtue of the applicability to charter schools, as well as other public schools, of the state law to which those relevant rules, regulations and policies pertain; and

(c) Any other state and federal laws and matters that are relevant to the establishment and operation of charter schools in the State of Mississippi.

The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board shall make the pamphlet available to the public on the board's website and shall notify all prospective applicants of the pamphlet.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 177-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-177-11
Status: in_force

(1) A Third-Grade student who does not meet the academic requirements for promotion to the Fourth Grade may be promoted by the school district only for good cause. Good cause exemptions for promotion are limited to the following students:

(a) Limited English proficient students who have had less than two (2) years of instruction in an English Language Learner program;

(b) Students with disabilities whose individual education plan (IEP) indicates that participation in the statewide accountability assessment program is not appropriate, as authorized under state law;

(c) Students with a disability who participate in the state annual accountability assessment and who have an IEP or a Section 504 plan that reflects that the individual student has received intensive remediation in reading for more than two (2) years but still demonstrates a deficiency in reading or previously was retained in Kindergarten or First, Second or Third Grade;

(d) Students who demonstrate an acceptable level of reading proficiency on an alternative standardized assessment approved by the State Board of Education; and

(e) Students who have received intensive intervention in reading for two (2) or more years but still demonstrate a deficiency in reading and who previously were retained in Kindergarten or First, Second or Third Grade for a total of two (2) years and have not met exceptional education criteria. A student who is promoted to Fourth Grade with a good cause exemption shall be provided an individual reading plan as described in Section 37-177-1(2) , which outlines intensive reading instruction and intervention informed by specialized diagnostic information and delivered through specific reading strategies to meet the needs of each student so promoted. The school district shall assist schools and teachers in implementing reading strategies that research has shown to be successful in improving reading among students with persistent reading difficulties.

(2) A request for good cause exemptions for a Third-Grade student from the academic requirements established for promotion to Fourth Grade must be made consistent with the following:

(a) Documentation must be submitted from the student's teacher to the school principal which indicates that the promotion of the student is appropriate and is based upon the student's record. The documentation must consist of the good cause exemption being requested and must clearly prove that the student is covered by one (1) of the good cause exemptions listed in subsection (1)(a) through (e) of this section.

(b) The principal shall review and discuss the recommendations with the teacher and parents and make a determination as to whether or not the student should be promoted based on requirements set forth in this chapter. If the principal determines that the student should be promoted, based on the documentation provided, the principal must make the recommendation in writing to the school district superintendent, who, in writing, may accept or reject the principal's recommendation. The parents of any student promoted may choose that the student be retained for one (1) year, even if the principal and district superintendent determines otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-407 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 29-407
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-407
Status: in_force

The president of the junior college shall have the power to recommend to the trustees all teachers to be employed and he may remove or suspend any member of the faculty subject to the approval of the trustees. He shall be the general manager of all fiscal and administrative affairs of the district with full authority to select, direct, employ and discharge any and all employees other than teachers.

The president shall have the authority, subject to the provisions of Sections 37-29-401 thorugh 37-29-437 and the approval of the trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules, and establish and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of teachers and students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 39-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-21
Status: in_force

The purchasing agent of any school board, before entering upon his official duties in such capacity, shall furnish a good and sufficient surety bond in the penal sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), with sufficient surety. Such bonds shall be payable, conditioned and approved in the manner provided by law, and shall be filed and recorded in the office of the clerk of the chancery court in which the school district is located. The premium on said bond shall be paid out of the school district(s) maintenance fund(s).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-177 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 29-177
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-177
Status: in_force

Specialized programs in vocational and vocational-technical education which are not available to students in their home districts, but which are offered in other districts, shall be available to such students on a non-out-of-district fee basis.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 24-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-3
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings as defined in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Health care provider ” means a licensed physician or a licensed nurse practitioner, licensed physician assistant or licensed health care professional working within the person's scope of practice and under the direct supervision or written consultation of a physician. All health care providers referred to in this chapter also must be trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

(b) “ School athletic event ” means activities sanctioned by the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) or the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), and school-sponsored activities in Grades 7 through 12 of schools that are not members of the MHSAA or the MAIS which activities are organized and conducted in a manner substantially similar to activities that are sanctioned by the MHSAA or the MAIS.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-53 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 45-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-53
Status: in_force

The beneficiary in all appeal bonds shall be the State of Mississippi. Said bonds shall secure the payment of the cost accruing in the proceeding, including the cost of appeal and the performance of any other acts required by the chancellor in granting of supersedeas appeal from any final rule, regulation or order of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-4-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 4-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-4-5
Status: in_force

(1) The terms “ Junior College Commission ” and “ State Board for Community and Junior Colleges ,” whenever they appear in the laws of the State of Mississippi, mean the “Mississippi Community College Board.”

(2) The term “ High School Equivalency Diploma ,” whenever it appears in the laws of the State of Mississippi, means a high school diploma that has been approved by the Mississippi Community College Board.

(3) The terms “ general educational development ,” “ general education development ” and “ GED ,” whenever they appear in the laws of the State of Mississippi, mean a high school equivalency diploma as defined in subsection (2) of this section.