House Bill 186

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM OPENING THEIR ANNUAL SCHOOL TERM BEFORE AUGUST 15; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-13-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-13-61. The local school board shall have the power and authority to fix the date for the opening of the school term, which may not be before the fifteenth day of August, and the date for the closing of the school term. In establishing the opening and closing dates of the school term, the school board must satisfy the required minimum number of days which schools must be in session during a scholastic year, as prescribed under Section 37-13-63. However,local school boards are authorized to keep school in session in excess of the minimum number of days prescribed in Section 37-13-63.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.