House Bill 866

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-151-8, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO GRANT SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN THE UTILIZATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF AT-RISK FUNDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-151-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-151-8. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations that:

(a) Require school districts that receive allocations of Mississippi Adequate Education Program at-risk funds, as prescribed by Section 37-151-7(1)(d), to specifically target the expenditure of those funds to implement effective programs, as determined by the State Department of Education, to serve at-risk students; * * *~~and~~

(b) Provide maximum flexibility for school districts that receive at-risk funds to use and account for the expenditure of those funds in a manner that provides broad discretion to districts to efficiently meet the needs of at-risk students, including through the use of online learning opportunities and any other options that expand educational access for at-risk students; and

( * * *bc) Provide the methods by which school districts will be expected to account for all expenditures of at-risk funds and how school districts will be held accountable for the expenditure of at-risk funds.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.