House Bill 871

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT AN ALTERNATIVE DIPLOMA FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN A CAREER-TECHNICAL COURSE OF STUDY IN PREPARATION FOR A CAREER OR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS IN THAT AREA OF STUDY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION; TO PRESCRIBE THE ACADEMIC CORE AND A CAREER AND TECHNICAL SEQUENCE OF COURSES REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS FOR THE RECEIPT OF A CAREER-TECHNICAL DIPLOMA; TO REQUIRE STUDENTS PURSUING A CAREER-TECHNICAL DIPLOMA TO TAKE AND SUCCESSFULLY PASS THE SUBJECT AREA TESTS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-99, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Education shall design alternative curriculum choices within the current requirements for a high school diploma for students who are interested in a career-technical course of study in preparation for a career or post-secondary educational pursuits in that area of study immediately following high school graduation. It is the intent of the Legislature that the curriculum for this program be rigorous, meeting the requirements based on research outlining the skills needed for entry into the workforce. The program shall comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The diploma program must be made available for eligible students entering Grade 9 beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. Students who choose the curriculum under the program shall receive a career-technical diploma, which shall be considered a regular standard diploma and must be recognized by all public community and junior colleges. The first year that this diploma may be awarded to graduating seniors is 2014.

(2) Students who choose the curriculum under the program for a career-technical diploma shall be required to complete an

academic core and a career and technical sequence of courses totaling twenty-one (21) Carnegie units, which shall consist of the following:

(a) Four (4) English Carnegie units, including English I, English II, Integrated English III and Integrated English IV;

(b) Three (3) mathematics Carnegie units, including Algebra I, Integrated Mathematics and a survey of mathematical topics, as approved by the State Board of Education;

(c) Three (3) science Carnegie units, including one (1) unit of Biology and two (2) additional courses selected from a list of integrated science courses, as approved by the State Board of Education;

(d) Three (3) social studies Carnegie units, including one (1) unit of American History, one-half (1/2) unit of Mississippi Studies, one-half (1/2) unit of American Government and one (1) additional course selected from a list of integrated social studies courses approved by the State Board of Education;

(e) Four (4) career-technical Carnegie units earned through dual enrollment courses offered by a public community or junior college to local school districts, as provided by Section 37-15-38;

(f) One (1) technology Carnegie unit in an integrated technology course approved by the State Board of Education;

(g) One-half (1/2) Carnegie unit in health and one-half (1/2) Carnegie unit in a physical education; and

(h) Two (2) elective Carnegie units chosen from a list of selected course appropriate to a career-technical curriculum, as approved by the State Board of Education.

(3) Students who choose the curriculum under the program for a career-technical diploma shall be required to take and successfully pass the four (4) subject area tests required for graduation in the subjects of English II, Biology I, Algebra I and American History as administered by the State Board of Education under the authority of Section 37-16-7.

SECTION 2. Section 37-3-99, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-3-99. (1) The State Department of Education shall design curriculum choices within the current requirements for a high school diploma for students who are interested in direct entry into the work force immediately following high school graduation, which shall be separate and distinct from the curriculum choices made available to students pursuing a career-technical diploma under Section 1 of this act. It is the intent of the Legislature that the curriculum for this program be rigorous, meeting the requirements based on research outlining the skills needed for entry into the work force. The program shall comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The department shall design the program for entering ninth graders. The department shall report to the Legislature on January 1, 2007, on its plan for the program. Students who choose the curriculum under the program will receive a standard diploma.

(2) The State Board of Education shall develop and pilot a program to redesign secondary schools in Mississippi to function not only as curriculum and educational entities but also as work force development centers. Contingent upon appropriations, the State Board of Education shall pilot a minimum of fifteen (15) sites to be selected through a process developed by the State Board of Education and to be implemented during the 2007-2008 school year. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall phase in additional sites, based upon the criteria and selection process developed by the board, through the 2013-2014 school year.

This section shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2013.

SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act shall be codified as a new section in Chapter 3, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.