MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Carter

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A PRE-KINDERGARTEN "PARENTS AS TEACHERS PILOT PROGRAM" IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE TO ASSIST PARENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEARNING SKILLS OF THEIR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE FIVE; TO SET FORTH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM; TO SET FORTH THE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM; TO SET FORTH PROCEDURES FOR APPLICATION; TO PROVIDE FOR FUNDING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The State Board of Education shall provide for the establishment of a pre-kindergarten pilot program in the public schools of Mississippi for children under the age of five (5) years, which shall be designated the "Parents as Teachers Pilot Program" following the procedures set forth in this section. The Parents as Teachers Pilot Program shall provide parent education services, including resource materials on home learning activities, private and group educational guidance, individual and group learning experiences for the parent and child, and other activities that enable the parent to improve learning in the home. The objectives of the Parents as Teachers Pilot Program shall be as follows:

(a) The program shall be an early childhood parent education and family support program designed to empower all parents to give their child the best possible start in life, based on the philosophy that parents are their children's first and most influential teachers.

(b) The program shall be a home-school-community partnership providing parents with information on child development from birth to age five (5) which suggests learning opportunities that encourage language and intellectual growth, basic skills leading to reading instruction, and physical and social skills.

(c) The program shall be voluntary.

(2) Components of the Parents as Teachers Pilot Program shall include, but shall not be limited to:

(a) Personalized home visits by certified parent educators, trained in child development, who assist parents in understanding what to expect in each stage of their child's development, and recommend methods to encourage learning and promote strong parent-child relationships.

(b) Parent group meetings in which parents share concerns and successes and participate in group parent-child activities.

(c) Periodic screening services of the child's overall development, language, hearing and vision, in order to provide early detection of potential learning problems.

(d) Provide families with access to other early childhood services and related community services.

(3) The State Board of Education shall establish rules and regulations for the submission of school district applications for the Parents as Teachers Pilot Program and criteria and procedures for the operation of the program by local school districts. The State Board of Education shall receive and review applications for the program from local school boards and may award program funding to up to six (6) local school districts throughout the state, with one (1) district in each Mississippi congressional district as such districts exist on the effective date of this and at least one (1) local school district situated in the Delta region of the state, unless there are no applications submitted from a particular congressional district or the Delta.

(4) A Parents as Teachers Pilot Program may be funded by: federal funds, nonminimum or nonadequate education program school district funds, grants, gifts or donations from any private sources, and any state funds appropriated for the support of the Parents as Teachers Pilot Program. Any state funds shall be specifically appropriated for the purpose of supporting the Parents as Teachers Pilot Program.

(5) School districts that offer an approved Parents as Teachers Pilot Program shall be eligible for state reimbursement subject to appropriations therefor for each participating family. If a school district fails or is unable to offer an approved program the district shall enter into a contract which meets the requirements of this subsection with another district or public agency offering an approved program for such services. If the district finds that no approved program is available in another district or through public agencies, it shall request the State Department of Education to assist it in obtaining from an approved program services at the reimbursable rate. Costs of contractual arrangements shall be the obligation of the school district of residence of each preschool child. Costs of contractual arrangements shall not exceed an amount equal to an amount reimbursable to the school districts under the provisions of this section. No program shall be approved or contract entered into which requires any additional payment by participants or their parents or guardians. Payments for participants for Parents as Teachers Pilot Programs shall be uniform for all districts or public agencies.

(6) No person shall be required to participate in any Parents as Teachers Pilot Program.

(7) The State Board of Education shall evaluate the Parents as Teachers Pilot Program in participating school districts and shall report to the Legislature and the Governor on or before August 1, 2000, identifying exemplary programs and making recommendations regarding methods and criteria for funding such programs.

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