House Bill 1196

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-151-8, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO USE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR AT-RISK PUPIL PROGRAMS TO BE SPENT FOR PURPOSES OF OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ANY SCHOOL YEAR IN WHICH THE MISSISSIPPI ADEQUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM IS NOT FULLY FUNDED BY THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-151-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-151-8. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations that:

(a) Require school districts that receive allocations of Mississippi Adequate Education Program at-risk funds, as prescribed by Section 37-151-7(1)(d), to specifically target the expenditure of those funds to implement effective programs, as determined by the State Department of Education, to serve at-risk students; * * *

(b) Provide the methods by which school districts will be expected to account for all expenditures of at-risk funds and how school districts will be held accountable for the expenditure of at-risk funds; and

(c) Allow school districts to use funds allocated for at-risk pupil programs to be spent for purposes of operation of the school district in any school year in which the Mississippi Adequate Education Program is not fully funded by the Legislature. This paragraph shall stand repealed on July 1, 2012.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.