MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Chaney

House Bill 1495

AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO BE CODIFIED AS SECTION 37-17-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CONSIDER CERTAIN VARIABLES THAT MAY IMPACT STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS WHEN ACCREDITING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TO AUTHORIZE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A DUAL RATING SYSTEM FOR CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 37-17-15, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-17-15. (1) In the implementation of the performance-based accreditation system, the State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on School Accreditation, may take into account variables that may impact student performance when measuring the educational performance of students in a school district and holding the district accountable for the students' progress. The eligibility rate for participation in the school district's United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Program and the local millage rate shall be included among the factors that may be considered under this subsection.

(2) The State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on School Accreditation, may establish a dual rating system to be used in assigning accreditation levels to school districts that have consolidated with adjoining school districts. Under the dual rating system, any school district comprised of the territory of two (2) or more former school districts that have consolidated into a single school district during the time period for which accreditation levels are being assigned may be assigned two (2) ratings, as follows: (a) a rating considering the consolidated district as a whole, with no consideration given to the fact of the consolidation; and (b) a rating taking into account the fact of the consolidation and the accreditation levels in past years of the former school districts that have consolidated into one (1) district. The dual rating system shall be utilized in assigning accreditation levels to a consolidated school district for a period of three (3) years after the consolidation of the various school districts.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.