Senate Bill 2685

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE GRANT AWARDS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO INCENTIVIZE THE ADOPTION OF A MODIFIED SCHOOL CALENDAR AND TO OFFSET COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADOPTING A MODIFIED SCHOOL CALENDAR; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOLS TO USE THE FUNDS PROVIDED IN A WAY THAT BEST FACILITATES THEIR PLAN TO TRANSITION TO A MODIFIED SCHOOL CALENDAR AND MAXIMIZE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT; TO SET RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN ADMINISTERING THE GRANT PROGRAM; TO SET THE ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT FUNDS TO BE BASED ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS' AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP; TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO BE KNOWN AS THE MISSISSIPPI YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE USE OF FUNDS DISTRIBUTED AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MODIFIED CALENDAR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND EDUCATION COMMITTEES BY OCTOBER 1, 2022; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Year-Round School Grant Program."

SECTION 2. (1) The Mississippi Legislature finds the following:

(a) A modified calendar reducing the number of days during summer break and apportioning required instructional days throughout the school year can increase student achievement and provide staff with a more flexible schedule.

(2) Therefore, the intent of the Mississippi Legislature is to incentivize public school districts to consider adopting a modified school calendar and to offset costs associated with adopting a modified school calendar.

SECTION 3. For purposes of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Grant program" means the Mississippi Year-Round School Grant Program established in this act.

(b) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Education.

SECTION 4. (1) There is established the Mississippi Year-Round School Grant Program which shall be administered by the department for the purpose of offsetting costs incurred by schools in adopting a modified school calendar and to incentivize schools that are considering adopting a modified school calendar.

(2) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, allocations to schools shall be made based on average daily membership, as defined in Section 37-151-5. For any school not funded under the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, the department shall calculate the average-daily-membership equivalent or fund the school based on enrollment.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this act and other applicable state law and regulations, schools have the authority to use the funds provided in this grant program in a way that best facilitates their plan to transition to a modified school calendar and maximizes student achievement.

SECTION 5. (1) The department shall:

(a) Inform all public school districts about the grant program;

(b) Develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the grant program, including application requirements and a proposed budget; and

(c) Subject to appropriation, award districts meeting the requirements of the program a grant for expenses related to the adoption of a modified school calendar.

(2) An application for an award from the grant program shall include evidence of community support, a proposed budget and any other criteria required by the department.

(3) Participating school districts shall agree to maintain a modified school calendar for at least three (3) school years.

(4) Grants awarded shall be used for expenses incurred as a result of the adoption of a modified school calendar as approved by the department, including, but not limited to:

(a) Transportation;

(b) Certified and noncertified staffing;

(d) Utilities.

SECTION 6. (1) Grants shall be awarded according to a school district's average daily membership as defined in Section 37-151-5, and shall be set as follows:

(a) Public school districts with up to five thousand (5,000) enrolled students shall receive Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00);

(b) Public school districts with between five thousand one (5,001) and ten thousand (10,000) enrolled students shall receive Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00);

(c) Public school districts with between ten thousand one (10,001) and fifteen thousand (15,000) enrolled students shall receive Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00);

(d) Public school districts with between fifteen thousand one (15,001) and twenty thousand (20,000) enrolled students shall receive Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($450,000.00); and

(e) Public school districts with more than twenty thousand one (20,001) enrolled students shall receive Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00).

(2) Grants received by public school districts under this chapter shall not be used to purchase land, construct new facilities, or to finance or satisfy any existing debt.

SECTION 7. There is created a special fund in the State Treasury, to be known as the "Mississippi Year-Round School Grant Fund," from which the grants authorized by this act shall be disbursed by the department. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.

SECTION 8. The department shall provide a comprehensive report on the use of funds distributed under this grant program and the effectiveness of modified calendar public school districts to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations and Education Committees by October 1, 2022, and October 1 of each year thereafter.

SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.