House Bill 956

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM ACT OF 2017"; TO DEFINE THE TERMS USED HEREIN; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM WHICH SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES ON A VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION BASIS; TO PRESCRIBE THE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF EDUCATION REQUIRED TO BE OFFERED TO CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM; TO PRESCRIBE THE MANNER BY WHICH PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE TO PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS WHETHER SUCH PROGRAMS BE OFFERED THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE, AN OUTSIDE DISTRICT OR THROUGH A PREQUALIFIED PRIVATE PROVIDER; TO ESTABLISH THE MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR THE PREQUALIFICATION OF PRIVATE PROVIDERS; TO PRESCRIBE THE MANNER BY WHICH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL ACCOUNT FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE TO CALCULATE ITS ANNUAL BUDGET REQUEST; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE JOINTLY ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE DIVISION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH SHALL JOINTLY PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPANSION OF SCHOOL-BASED PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD AND THE DIVISION TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO CALCULATE THE ANNUAL STATEWIDE TUITION RATE FOR PREKINDERGARTEN EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES PROCESS FOR ENTITIES AGGRIEVED BY ACTIONS OF THE BOARD AND DIVISION; TO REQUIRE ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE EFFICACY OF THE PROGRAMS AND ANY RECOMMENDATION FOR IMPROVEMENT OR DISCONTINUATION TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 37-21-51, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Edward Blackmon, Jr.

  Sponsor

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

In the House of Representatives Jan 16 – Jan 31

1. Jan 16Referred to the House committees on Education and on Revenue and Expenditure General Bills
2. Jan 31Died in committee in the House