House Bill 1397

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS FOR SCHOOLS GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES TO CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH 40% OR MORE OF THE TOTAL STUDENTS ENROLLED RECEIVING FREE LUNCH UNDER THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AND SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUNDS SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO EACH QUALIFYING SCHOOL DISTRICT AS DETERMINED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is established the Mississippi Educational Supports for Schools Grant Program which shall be administered by the State Department of Education.

(2) (a) In order to assist eligible school districts in providing additional instructional materials, educational equipment and education services to classroom teachers and students for purpose of promoting, strengthening, improving and sustaining academic achievement, funds from the program shall be distributed, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each eligible school district as determined by the State Board of Education.

(b) For purposes of this act:

(i) "Instructional materials" means all materials that are designed for use by students and their teachers as a learning resource, and which help students acquire facts, skills or opinions, or to develop cognitive processes. Instructional materials may be printed or nonprinted, and may include textbooks, technology-based materials, other educational materials, and assessments.

(ii) "Educational equipment" means the tools and resources used to facilitate learning and teaching in a formal educational setting, which such tools can include physical equipment, such as laboratory apparatus and audiovisual aids, as well as software and online tools that support classroom instruction by enhancing understanding, encouraging active learning, improving accessibility and saves time.

(iii) "Educational services" means professional services in fulfilling educational functions performed by any licensed professional employed by or contracted by a school district, and acting on behalf of the school district while acting solely in their capacity as such and solely within the scope of their employment with or in representation of the school district.

(3) (a) The department shall distribute grants to each school district that has forty percent (40%) or more of the total students enrolled in the district receiving free lunch under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program in the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00).

(b) The use of any funds received from the department under the Mississippi Educational Supports for Schools Grant Program shall be limited to the purposes described in subsection (2) of this section only, and shall not be used for the payment of any salary compensation of any school district employee.

(4) The department shall adopt such reasonable rules as necessary for the administration of the program, but shall not place additional qualification requirements on school districts other than the minimum requirements in this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.