MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2012 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representatives Buck (5th), Buck (72nd)

House Bill 936

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PLAN, ESTABLISH AND OPERATE DEMONSTRATION MODEL EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS; TO REQUIRE THE CENTERS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN THREE TO SIX YEARS OF AGE; TO REQUIRE THE CENTERS TO DESIGN PROJECTS WITHIN AN EXPERIMENTAL FRAMEWORK OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DAYCARE SUPPORT; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS, ESTABLISH PROCEDURES, EMPLOY PERSONNEL AND TAKE ANY ACTIONS AS DEEMED NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 37-21-51, 37-21-53 and 37-21-55, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH ESTABLISH THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL, CREATE THE "EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE ACT OF 2007," AND CREATE THE INTERAGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  (1)  The State Board of Education is authorized and shall be responsible for the planning, establishment and operation of demonstration model early child development centers which, in cooperation with local school districts or other public agencies, shall concentrate on the cognitive and affective development of children three (3) to six (6) years of age.  The developmental concentration shall include, but not be limited to health, dental hygiene, mental health, language and computation skills development, nutrition, socialization and recreation.

     (2)  The centers shall design projects within an experimental framework of early childhood education and daycare support to objectively test and evaluate educational ideas, equipment, methods and approaches, newly developed curriculum materials and reliable educational techniques which have previously lacked quantitative and qualitative proof in order to have their value demonstrated to local school districts and other early childhood programs.  The early childhood development centers shall be planned and developed to:

          (a)  Demonstrate an educational approach to day care that has widespread use and adaptability to local educational agencies and the Voluntary Preschool Education Program; and

          (b)  Procure and use federal and private resources in combination with state resources to attain state educational goals.

     (3)  The  State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations, establish procedures, employ personnel and take any steps as it deems necessary to ensure the implementation of the provisions of this act.

     SECTION 2.  Sections 37-21-51, 37-21-53 and 37-21-55, Mississippi Code of 1972, which establish the Early Childhood Services Interagency Coordinating Council, create the "Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2007," and create the Interagency Advisory Committee, are hereby repealed.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.