MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Universities and Colleges

By: Senator(s) Ferris

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-29-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES TO ESTABLISH A DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM UNDER WHICH ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MAY ENROLL AT A COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE WHILE STILL ENROLLED IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND TO PRESCRIBE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES TO ESTABLISH AN EARLY ADMISSION PROGRAM UNDER WHICH ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS MAY ENROLL FULL-TIME AT A COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-29-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-29-1. (1) The creation, establishment, maintenance and operation of community and junior colleges is authorized. Until May 1, 1996, they shall offer to students, who have completed not less than seventeen (17) high school units, courses correlated to those of senior colleges or professional schools. From and after May 1, 1996, junior colleges shall offer to students who have completed not less than nineteen (19) high school units, courses correlated to those of senior colleges or professional schools. They shall offer education and training preparatory for occupations such as agriculture, industry, business, homemaking and for other occupations on the semi-professional and vocational-technical level. They may offer courses and services to students regardless of their previous educational attainment or further academic plans.

(2) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges is authorized to establish a dual enrollment program under which high school students meeting the requirements prescribed herein may enroll at a community or junior college while they are still attending high school and enrolled in high school courses. Students may be admitted to enroll in community or junior college courses under the dual enrollment program if they meet the following admission requirements:

(a) Students must have completed a minimum of fourteen (14) core high school units;

(b) Students must have a minimum ACT composite score of twenty-one (21) or the equivalent SAT score;

(c) Students must have a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, or better, on all high school courses, as documented by an official high school transcript; a home-schooled student must submit an official transcript from an accredited home school agency to meet the requirement of this paragraph (c); and

(d) Students must have an unconditional written recommendation from their high school principal and/or guidance counselor. A home schooled student must submit a parent or legal guardian's written recommendation to meet the requirement of this paragraph (d).

Students may be considered for the dual enrollment program who have not completed the minimum of fourteen (14) core high school units if they have a minimum ACT composite score of thirty (30) or the equivalent SAT score, and have the required grade point average and recommendations prescribed above.

Students admitted in the dual enrollment program shall be counted for minimum program funding purposes in the average daily attendance of the public school district in which they attend high school. Any additional transportation required by a student to participate in the dual enrollment program shall be the responsibility of the parents or legal guardians of the student. Grades and college credits earned by students admitted to the dual enrollment program shall be recorded on the college transcript at the community or junior college where the student attends classes. The transcript of such college coursework may be released to another institution or used for college graduation requirements only after the student has received his high school diploma.

(3) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges is authorized to establish an early admission program under which applicants meeting all requirements prescribed in subsection (2)(a), (b), (c) and (d) may be admitted as full-time college students if the principal or guidance counsellor of the student recommends in writing that it is in the best educational interest of the student. Such recommendation shall also state that the student's age will not keep him from being a successful full-time college student. Students admitted in the early admission program shall not be counted for minimum program funding purposes in the average daily attendance of the school district in which they reside, and transportation required by a student to participate in the early admission program shall be the responsibility of the parents or legal guardians of the student. Grades and college credits earned by students admitted to the early admission program shall be recorded on the college transcript at the community or junior college where the student attends classes, and may be released to another institution or used for college graduation requirements only after the student has successfully completed one (1) full semester of coursework.

(4) In addition to the foregoing, the community and junior colleges shall provide, through courses or other acceptable educational measures, the general education necessary to individuals and groups which will tend to make them capable of living satisfactory lives consistent with the ideals of a democratic society.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.