MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representatives Moore, Beckett, Boyd, Byrd, Carpenter, Chism, Currie, Denny, Formby, Howell, Martinson, McLeod, Monsour, Rushing
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND CERTAIN OTHER FACULTY, STAFF AND EMPLOYEES OF A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM INFLUENCING THE GRADE RECEIVED BY A STUDENT FROM A TEACHER; TO PRESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A TEACHER MAY CHANGE A STUDENT'S GRADE; TO PROVIDE THAT VIOLATIONS SHALL SUBJECT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR SCHOOLS TO A LOSS OF ACCREDITATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) No school board member, school superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, guidance counselor, other teachers, coaches, or other administrative staff members of the school or the central staff of a local school board shall attempt, directly or indirectly, to change, alter, or otherwise affect the grade received by a student from his teacher except as otherwise specifically allowed by this section.
(2) (a) A teacher's determination of a student's grade as a measure of the academic achievement or proficiency of the student shall not be altered or changed in any manner by any school official or employee other than the teacher except as provided in this subsection.
(b) A school official or employee having authority provided under formally adopted written rules and procedures adopted by the local school board to change a student's grade can take such action only upon it being determined that the grade is an error or that the grade is demonstrably inconsistent with the teacher's grading policy.
(3) Any local school district or personnel employed by the school district who violates the provisions of this act shall cause the local school district or school to be subject to losing its accreditation in the manner determined by the policies and procedures of the State Board of Education. Any personnel employed by the local school district who violates this act shall be fined not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), which such fine shall be deposited into the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Department of Education to be used in conjunction with the Classroom Supply Fund.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.