MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representatives Scott (17th), Barnett (92nd), Broomfield, Chaney, Coleman (65th), Fredericks, Markham, McElwain, Miller, Peranich, Reynolds, Shows, Simmons, Thomas, Vince, Holland

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT A PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS AND PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOAL OF FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS AND PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS SHALL BE TO CREATE A BETTER LIFE FOR MISSISSIPPI FAMILIES AND CHILDREN; TO SPECIFY CERTAIN PROGRAMS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PILOT PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO GIVE PRIORITY TO APPLICANTS FROM CERTAIN LEVELS I, II AND III SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO HAVE IN PLACE AN ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT TO USE AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR GRANTS TO PARTICIPATING FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO APPOINT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT IN PROMULGATING REGULATIONS FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO RECOMMEND TO THE LEGISLATURE WHETHER OR NOT THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE PERMANENTLY ESTABLISHED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Education, in its discretion, may develop and implement a pilot program to assist in the establishment of community-based family support centers and individual family or parent education services. The goal of the programs shall be to create a better life for families and children in Mississippi, with emphasis being placed on the emotional, physical, social and mental needs of the whole family. The family support centers and family or parent education service programs shall provide parents with opportunities to voluntarily obtain support and services that will enable them to provide optimum learning environments for their children, particularly from birth to the age of three (3) years, within the home. The family support centers shall serve to build community networks to support children and families through the implementation of the following care activities: parenting classes; developmental programs for prekindergarten-age children during parent education classes; support groups; individual family or parent education services; a resource library; and resource and referral services. Additional services may be provided to meet the identified family needs of the community and in keeping with the goals of the program. The family support centers shall focus on school readiness and early literacy.

(2) Under the pilot program, the department shall establish a procedure for interested school districts and other nonprofit entities in partnership with a school district to apply for assistance in establishing a family support center. In selecting school districts and nonprofit entities for the program, the department shall give priority to applicants that are school districts having Levels I through III accreditation which have high instances of teenage pregnancy, welfare dependency and delinquency. At least one (1) family support center shall be established in each congressional district.

(3) Under the pilot program, the department shall establish a procedure for interested school districts and other nonprofit entities in partnership with a school district to apply for individual family or parent education programs. Programs must use research based, independently evaluated, proven research models that are documented to have a positive impact on reducing special education placements, development of language and social skills, and parental involvement in schools.

(4) As part of the application process for participation in the pilot program, applicants must demonstrate to the department that the family support center is a collaborative undertaking of various community organizations. Each applicant must have created an advisory board for the family support center or parent education services programs, involving the participation of the local school district or districts, the city and county governing authorities, the county health department, regional mental health centers, the extension service, representatives of the Department of Human Services and any other private or public entities participating in the partnership.

(5) The State Department of Education may accept any funds, public or private, made available to the department for the pilot program. The funds shall be used to award grants to the participating family support centers or family or parent education services programs for the support of such programs. A family support center or family or parent education services program may use any available funding to support the administration and programs of the center or education services program.

(6) The State Department of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the proper administration of this section. An advisory group shall be established to assist in the development of the rules and regulations for administration of the program. Members of the advisory group shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of the following categories: parents; local school districts' parent education programs staff; the Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children's Services; Head Start; the cooperative extension services; and USOE funded parental assistance programs.

(7) If the family support center and family or parent education services pilot programs authorized by this section are implemented, the State Department of Education shall report to the Legislature, within three (3) years after the pilot program's implementation, on the desirability of expanding and permanently establishing the program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.