House Bill 1135

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-1-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT OBJECTIVES THAT FOCUS ON AMERICAN CIVICS FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM STANDARDS OF EXISTING COURSES PROVIDED AT THE SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL; TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-1-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-1-3. (1) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations and set standards and policies for the organization, operation, management, planning, budgeting and programs of the State Department of Education.

(a) The board is directed to identify all functions of the department that contribute to or comprise a part of the state system of educational accountability and to establish and maintain within the department the necessary organizational structure, policies and procedures for effectively coordinating such functions. Such policies and procedures shall clearly fix and delineate responsibilities for various aspects of the system and for overall coordination of the total system and its effective management.

(b) The board shall establish and maintain a system-wide plan of performance, policy and directions of public education not otherwise provided for.

(c) The board shall effectively use the personnel and resources of the department to enhance technical assistance to school districts in instruction and management therein.

(d) The board shall establish and maintain a central budget policy.

(e) The board shall establish and maintain within the State Department of Education a central management capacity under the direction of the State Superintendent of Public Education.

(f) The board, with recommendations from the superintendent, shall design and maintain a five-year plan and program for educational improvement that shall set forth objectives for system performance and development and be the basis for budget requests and legislative initiatives.

(2) (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt and maintain a curriculum and a course of study to be used in the public school districts that * * *is are designed to prepare the state's children and youth to be productive, informed, creative citizens, workers and leaders, and it shall regulate all matters arising in the practical administration of the school system not otherwise provided for.

(b) * * * ~~Before the 1999‑2000 school year,~~ The State Board of Education shall develop personal living and finances objectives that focus on money management skills for individuals and families for appropriate, existing courses at the secondary level. The objectives must require the teaching of those skills necessary to handle personal business and finances and must include instruction in the following:

(i) Opening a bank account and assessing the quality of a bank's services;

(ii) Balancing a checkbook;

(iii) Managing debt, including retail and credit card debt;

(iv) Completing a loan application;

(v) The implications of an inheritance;

(vi) The basics of personal insurance policies;

(vii) Consumer rights and responsibilities;

(viii) Dealing with salesmen and merchants;

(ix) Computing state and federal income taxes;

(x) Local tax assessments;

(xi) Computing interest rates by various mechanisms;

(xii) Understanding simple contracts; and

(xiii) Contesting an incorrect billing statement.

(c) Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, the State Board of Education shall develop and implement objectives that focus on American Civics, specifically the fundamental concepts of the United States as a constitutional republic and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship for incorporation into the social studies curriculum standards of existing courses provided at the secondary educational level. The objectives shall reflect knowledge necessary to successfully obtain a passing score on the Civics of the Naturalization Test administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCIS), as required by 8 USCS Section 1423, if such assessment was administered. The board shall determine the method and manner in which to implement the objectives as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection, to be formally indentified in codified state law and board policy as American Civics, and directed under the authority of subsection (1) of this section.

(3) The State Board of Education shall have authority to expend any available federal funds, or any other funds expressly designated, to pay training, educational expenses, salary incentives and salary supplements to licensed teachers employed in local school districts or schools administered by the State Board of Education. Such incentive payments shall not be considered part of a school district's local supplement as defined in Section 37-151-5(o), nor shall the incentives be considered part of the local supplement paid to an individual teacher for the purposes of Section 37-19-7(1). MAEP funds or any other state funds shall not be used to provide such incentives unless specifically authorized by law.

(4) The State Board of Education shall through its actions seek to implement the policies set forth in Section 37-1-2.

SECTION 2. Section 37-13-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-13-5. (1) The flag of the State of Mississippi and the flag of the United States shall be displayed in close proximity to the school building at all times during the hours of daylight when the school is in session when the weather will permit without damage to the flag. It shall be the duty of the board of trustees of the school district to provide for the flags and their display.

(2) Whenever the flag of the United States is to be flown at half-staff by order or instructions of the President or pursuant to federal law, all public schools shall lower the United States flag in accordance with the executive order or instructions or federal law. The school shall announce the reason that the flag is being flown at half-staff to all students in assembly or by teachers in the various classrooms or by prominently displaying written notice throughout the school stating the reason that the flag has been lowered.

(3) In all public schools there shall be given a course of study concerning the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Mississippi. The course of study shall include the history of each flag and what they represent and the proper respect therefor. There also shall be taught in the public schools the duties and obligations of citizenship, patriotism, Americanism and respect for and obedience to law, which shall be components of the objectives for American Civics developed and implemented by the State Board of Education for incorporation into the social studies curriculum standards of existing courses provided at the secondary educational level.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.