Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 37 - EDUCATION (§§ 37-NEW-001 — 37-NEW01-004) › Chapter 23 - EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN (§§ 37-23-1 — 37-23-205) › IN GENERAL (§§ 37-23-1 — 37-23-16) › Section 37-23-1 - Purpose of sections 37-23-1 through 37-23-159; design of programs and services; accountability system

The purpose of Sections
37-23-1
through
37-23-159
is to mandate free appropriate public educational services and equipment for exceptional children in the age range three (3) through twenty (20) for whom the regular school programs are not adequate and to provide, on a permissive basis, a free appropriate public education, as a part of the state's early intervention system in accordance with regulations developed in collaboration with the agency designated as "lead agency" under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The portion of the regulations developed in collaboration with the lead agency which are necessary to implement the programs under the authority of the State Board of Education shall be presented to the State Board of Education for adoption. This specifically includes, but shall not be limited to, provision for day schools for the deaf and blind of an age under six (6) years, where early training is in accordance with the most advanced and best approved scientific methods of instruction, always taking into consideration the best interests of the child and his improvement at a time during which he is most susceptible of improvement. Educational programs to exceptional children under the age of three (3) years shall be eligible for total funding formula funds provided in this act
All references in the laws of this state to the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" or to the "IDEA" shall be construed to include any subsequent amendments to that act.
The educational programs and services provided for exceptional children in Sections
37-23-1
through
37-23-15
,
37-23-31
through
37-23-35
,
37-23-61
through
37-23-75
and
37-23-77
shall be designed to provide individualized appropriate special education and related services that enable a child to reach his or her appropriate and uniquely designed goals for success. The State Board of Education shall establish an accountability system for special education programs and students with disabilities. The system shall establish accountability standards for services provided to improve the educational skills designed to prepare children for life after their years in school. These standards shall be a part of the accreditation system and shall be implemented before July 1, 1996.
The State Department of Education shall establish goals for the performance of children with disabilities that will promote the purpose of IDEA and are consistent, to the maximum extent appropriate, with other goals and standards for children established by the State Department of Education. Performance indicators used to assess progress toward achieving those goals that, at a minimum, address the performance of children with disabilities on assessments, drop-out rates, and graduation rates shall be developed. Every two (2) years, the progress toward meeting the established performance goals shall be reported to the public.
Codes, 1942, §§ 6631-01, 6631-02; Laws, 1952, ch. 283, §§ 1, 2; Laws, 1956, ch. 282; Laws, 1978, ch. 461, § 1; Laws, 1991, ch. 415, § 1; Laws, 1993, ch. 602, § 5; Laws, 1994, ch. 477, § 1; Laws, 1995, ch. 572, § 1; Laws, 1999, ch. 582, § 12; Laws, 2009, ch. 368, § 1, eff. 7/1/2009.
Amended by Laws, 2024, ch. 484, HB 4130,§ 60, eff. 7/1/2024.