MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Senator(s) Johnson (38th)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO HOLD SCHEDULED PARENTAL VISITATION SESSIONS DURING EACH SEMESTER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR; TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO ARRANGE SPECIAL VISITATION SESSIONS FOR PARENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE SCHEDULED SESSIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT A CHILD HAVING NO PARENT WHO ATTENDS AT LEAST ONE VISITATION SESSION PER SEMESTER SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO REMAIN ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. (1) Beginning with the 1998-1999 school year, each school district shall hold parental visitation sessions in each school in the district. The school district shall designate no less than one (1) day and one (1) evening during each semester that the school district officials and faculty and staff at the school will be available to visit with the parents, guardians or custodians of children enrolled in that particular school. The school district shall provide adequate notice to the parent, guardian or custodian of each child enrolled in the school of the date and time of the scheduled visitation sessions. If a parent, guardian or custodian is unable to attend any of the designated parental visitation sessions due to his job schedule or other justifiable reasons, the school shall arrange, in cooperation with the parent, guardian or custodian, a special visitation session for the parent, guardian or custodian to meet with the child's teachers and school administrators.

(2) At least one (1) parent, guardian or custodian of each child enrolled in a school must attend no less than one (1) parental visitation session during each semester of the school year. If no parent, guardian or custodian of a child enrolled in a school attends at least one (1) parental visitation session during a semester, the child will not be eligible to remain enrolled in the school district.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.