House Bill 1144

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-63, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS' SCHOLASTIC YEAR FROM 180 TO 170 DAYS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-13-91, 37-151-5 AND 37-151-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-24, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM TERM ALLOWED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS' CONTRACTS WITH LICENSED PERSONNEL FROM 187 TO 177 DAYS, AND TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SHORTEN THE TERMS OF CONTRACTS PREVIOUSLY EXECUTED FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR, WITHOUT ANY REDUCTION TO THE ANNUAL SALARY SET FORTH IN EACH CONTRACT, ACCORDINGLY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-19-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO SUSPEND THE PAYMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL INCREMENTAL INCREASE PAYABLE TO TEACHERS FOR EARNING AN ADDITIONAL YEAR OF EXPERIENCE FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO CLARIFY THAT THE TEACHER SALARY SCALE IS APPLICABLE FOR ALL TEACHERS WHOSE CONTRACTS ARE FOR A TERM OF NO LESS THAN THE STATUTORILY PRESCRIBED MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVING A LOAN FROM THE EDUCATION LIQUIDITY FUND (ELF) MUST BE ASSIGNED AN INTERIM CONSERVATOR UNTIL THE ELF LOAN IS PAID IN FULL; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN STANDARDS IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM USED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO PROHIBIT HISTORY COURSES FROM BEING REVISED FOR PARTISAN OR PHILOSOPHICAL PURPOSES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-7-343 AND 37-3-4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO TEMPORARILY REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES TO BE DELIVERED TO THE DISTRICT VIA INTERNET, TELEPHONE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS; TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM REIMBURSING EMPLOYEES FOR COSTS INCURRED IN TRAVELING TO AND FROM MEETINGS OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE REPEAL OF THESE PROVISIONS ON JULY 1, 2012; TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM HIRING AS A CONSULTANT ANY EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR WHOSE LAST FULL TIME EDUCATION JOB IN MISSISSIPPI, WITHIN THE PRECEDING TWO YEARS, WAS WITH A FAILING SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS FAILING TO MEET ACCREDITATION STANDARDS; TO CREATE THE "TRUTH IN GRADING ACT"; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL BOARD OF EACH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ADOPT A UNIFORM GRADING POLICY BEFORE EACH SCHOOL YEAR; TO PRESCRIBE THE CRITERIA FOR THE GRADING POLICY ADOPTED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO REQUIRE THE UNIFORM GRADING POLICY TO APPLY TO BOTH ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT AND TO ADOPT APPROPRIATE EQUIVALENTS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AGE AND GRADE LEVEL CURRICULUM OF THE STUDENTS TO WHOM THE GRADING POLICY APPLIES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-148, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP ALTERNATE ASSESSMENTS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO MEASURE THE PROGRESS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-147, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ENCOURAGE FULL INCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ONLY WHEN SUCH INCLUSION WILL BEST FURTHER THE EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF THE CHILD INVOLVED; TO AMEND SECTION 37-16-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP ALTERNATE MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, AND TO EXEMPT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO PARTICIPATE IN AN ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF PARTICIPATING IN UNIFORM BASIC SKILLS TESTS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ABOLISH EACH CHRONICALLY UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS DEFINED AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVING, FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL YEARS, 1,500 OR FEWER ENROLLED STUDENTS AND AN ACCOUNTABILITY LABEL OTHER THAN SUCCESSFUL, HIGH PERFORMING OR STAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Philip Gunn

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 18 – Feb 2

1. Jan 18Referred to the House committee on Education
2. Feb 2Died in committee in the House