House Bill 1407

AN ACT TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ALLOW STUDENTS WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME TO PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN ELECTIVE COURSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The school board of a school district shall permit any student having Down's syndrome who is enrolled in a school within the district to participate in elective courses, subject to the conditions prescribed in this section. Upon the request of a student having Down's syndrome or the student's parent, guardian or legal custodian, the school in which the student is enrolled shall enroll the student in any elective course available at that school which does not require selection through an audition or other competitive application process and which does not require the student's participation in off-campus activities. If enrollment in an elective course is conditioned on a student having satisfied certain requirements, such as completion of a prerequisite course or a certain number of core curriculum units, the student must satisfy all conditions that are applicable to regular education students. A student with Down's syndrome who is enrolled in a general education elective course is entitled to full participation in the lessons and activities that comprise the course in the same manner as all other students in the class.

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