MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations

By: Representative Bell (21st)

House Bill 341

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO ENTER INTO AN ARTICULATION AGREEMENT ON CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS REQUIRING LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING GUIDELINES AND ADMINISTERING PROGRAMS SPECIFIC TO TRANSFERABLE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  (1)  The State Board of Education and the Mississippi Community College Board shall enter into an articulation agreement on career technical education programs requiring local school districts to collaborate with the community colleges for the purpose of providing guidelines and administering programs specific to career and technical education courses that are transferable from secondary instruction and credit to postsecondary instruction and credit.  For the purposes of this section, the term "articulation agreement" means an agreement entered into to provide for the transferability of substantially equivalent courses of study or programs.

     (2)  The articulation agreement required under subsection (1) of this section shall, at a minimum:

          (a)  Establish the duration term of the dual credit collaborative program;

          (b)  Establish the terms of payment for courses offered under the program and specify who shall be responsible for paying the cost, whether independently or under a shared cost agreement by the community or junior college offering the course, the local school district, the parents or guardians of the student, or by grants, foundations or other private or public sources;

          (c)  Specify the career and technical education programs to be offered; and

          (d)  Provide authority to the local school district and the community college offering the career and technical education program to modify provision of the agreement in a manner consistent with those occupations identified by the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB), as an occupation in highest need of additional skilled employees.

     (3)  The State Board of Education and the Mississippi Community College Board shall provide an annual report to SWIB, on or before July 1 of each year, on the number of students participating in career and technical education programs, the community college attended to provide such instruction, the career or technical courses in which high school student were enrolled, the costs of providing instruction to high school students, and the number of students who receive certification in the specific area of instruction upon completion of the program.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.