Senate Bill 2221

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES TO ENTER INTO AN ARTICULATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND THE APPROPRIATE COLLEGE PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, the key to quality programs is the preparation of personnel with whom young children spend a significant portion of their time; and

WHEREAS, during the fall of 2000, there were approximately 1,018 students majoring in child development at the community/junior colleges in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, 12 out of 15 community colleges offer this Child Technology Degree, however, these students cannot transfer their technical degree credits into a 4-year institution within the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the Child Development Technology Degree programs in the community colleges have a sound curriculum and are based on national standards for preparation of professional early childhood personnel; and

WHEREAS, if a student chooses to continue his or her education and obtain a 4-year degree, a system of cooperation needs to exist between the two educational systems: NOW, THEREFORE,

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

SECTION 1. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges are hereby authorized and directed to enter into an articulation agreement providing for the transfer of appropriate credits from the Child Development Technology Degree program at the various community colleges to the appropriate college program at the various universities. The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall jointly develop a report on the articulation agreement required under this section, and submit this report to the Committees on Education and Universities and Colleges of each house of the Legislature, on or before December 1, 2002.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.