MCA Chapter 161

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-161-1 Short title; findings and determinations.

This act [Laws of 2006, Chapter 504] shall be known and may be referred to as the “Mississippi Education Reform Act of 2006.” The Legislature finds and determines that the quality and accountability of public education and its effect upon the social, cultural and economic enhancement of the people of Mississippi is a matter of public policy, the object of which is the education and performance of its children and youth.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-161-3 Legislative findings and declarations; Mississippi Virtual Public School Program created; definitions; necessary instructional materials and access to necessary technology provided to students enrolled in virtual school; qualifications of teachers; enrollment to be free of charge to students subject to availability of funds; responsibility of parents or guardians for cost.

The Legislature finds and declares the following: Meeting the educational needs of children in our state’s schools is of the greatest importance to the future welfare of the State of Mississippi; Closing the achievement gap between high-performing students, including the achievement gap among at-risk students, is a significant and present challenge; Providing a broader range of educational options to parents and utilizing existing resources, along with technology, may help students in the state improve their academic achievement; and Many of the state’s school districts currently lack the capacity to provide other public school choices for students whose schools are low performing. There is created the Mississippi Virtual Public School Program, which is the responsibility of the State Department of Education. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Mississippi Virtual Public School established under this section provides Mississippi families with an alternative choice to access additional educational resources in an effort to improve academic achievement. The Mississippi Virtual Public School must be recognized as a public school and provide equitable treatment and resources as are other public schools in the state. Private providers, overseen by the State Department of Education, may be selected by the State Board of Education to administer, manage or operate virtual school programs in this state, including the total operation of the Mississippi Virtual Public School Program. Any private provider chosen to provide services under the provisions of this subsection shall be chosen through the Mississippi Online Course Application Process. Nothing in this section may be interpreted as precluding the use of computer- and Internet-based instruction for students in a virtual or remote setting utilizing the Mississippi Virtual Public School. As used in this section, the following words and phrases have the meanings respectively ascribed unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Mississippi Virtual Public School” means a public school in which the state uses technology in order to deliver instruction to students via the Internet in a virtual or remote setting. “Sponsor” means the public school district is responsible for the academic process for each student, including, but not limited to, enrollment, awarding of credit and monitoring progress. The State Board of Education shall establish the Mississippi Virtual Public School beginning in school year 2006-2007. Students who enroll in the Mississippi Virtual Public School may reside anywhere in the State of Mississippi. Subject to appropriation, the Mississippi Virtual Public School shall provide to each student enrolled in the school all necessary instructional materials. Subject to appropriation, the sponsored school must ensure that each student is provided access to the necessary technology, such as a computer and printer, and to an Internet connection for schoolwork purposes. The Mississippi Department of Education shall have approval authority for all coursework and policy of the Mississippi Virtual Public School. Each teacher employed by or participating in the delivery of instruction through the Mississippi Virtual Public School must meet all qualifications for licensure in the State of Mississippi. Any student who meets state residency requirements may enroll in the Mississippi Virtual Public School. Enrollment in the Mississippi Virtual Public School shall be free of charge to students. The costs associated with the operations of the virtual school must be shared by the State Department of Education, subject to appropriation, and/or the local school districts. Once the State Department of Education appropriation and the local school district budgeted funds for Mississippi Virtual Public School have been expended and students choose to enroll in online courses, the costs of the online courses may be the responsibility of the students’ parents or guardians.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-161-5 Creation of Lifelong Learning Commission; composition; duties; annual report; meetings.

There is established a commission to be known as the “Lifelong Learning Commission.” The commission shall consist of four (4) members, who shall serve ex officio, as follows: The Governor of the State of Mississippi, who shall serve as chairman; The State Superintendent of Public Education; The Commissioner of the Mississippi Community College Board; and The Commissioner of Higher Education. The duties of the Lifelong Learning Commission shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: To assess the dropout crisis in Mississippi and recommend action steps to address it; 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; To facilitate agreements that will make the Mississippi high school experience more meaningful; To encourage more rigor and relevance in the high school experience; To facilitate the transferability of education from secondary to postsecondary institutions; To raise state awareness on the need for improving Mississippi’s high schools; To develop a series of best practices policy actions that state policymakers and legislators can implement to achieve system-wide high school reform; and 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. 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. 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. § 37-161-7 Wellness curriculum to be developed by State Board of Education; board shall adopt implementation rules and regulations.

The State Board of Education shall develop a wellness curriculum for use by each school district and the board shall establish rules and regulations to be followed by the districts whereby the districts shall implement the curriculum. Such wellness curriculum shall include educating students about the value of exercise, proper diet and abstinence from use of tobacco and alcohol. The state board shall also adopt regulations for districts’ compliance concerning what products may be sold in vending machines on campus and when they can be sold.