House Bill 1219

AN ACT TO CREATE A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVING DIFFICULTY MEETING NORMAL ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE STANDARDS DUE TO THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY WILL MEET THOSE STANDARDS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOOL SHALL BE LOCATED ON THE CAMPUS OF MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOOL SHALL BE GOVERNED BY A BOARD COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS OF MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL SERVE AS MENTORS AND TUTORS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created a residential school for high school students who are having difficulty meeting normal academic performance standards due to their home environment, for the purpose of providing the students with an environment that will allow them to meet the normal academic performance standards.

The school shall be located on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University.

(2) The school shall be governed by a board composed of one (1) representative from each of the following:

(a) Mississippi Valley State University,

(b) Delta State University,

(d) Holmes Community College, and

(e) the State Department of Education.

In addition to the representatives specified above, the board shall include representatives of such other colleges or universities as designated by the State Board of Education.

(3) The board established under subsection (2) of this section shall:

(a) Develop a plan relating to the opening, operation and funding of the school. The plan shall be presented to the Legislature during the 2004 Regular Session and shall include an equitable and reasonable plan for student recruitment without regard to race, creed or color;

(b) Select certain students for invitation to enroll in the school and other students shall be admitted by application to the school; and

(4) The curriculum and admissions policies of the school shall reflect the purpose of the school, and students of Mississippi Valley State University shall serve as mentors and tutors for the high school students.

(5) The board established under subsection (2) of this section may prescribe any rules or regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.