MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Frierson
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW COURSE CREDIT TO CERTAIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHO ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND WHO COMPLETE BASIC TRAINING CAMP AT THE END OF THEIR JUNIOR YEAR AND BEFORE THE START OF THEIR SENIOR YEAR; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO AWARD THE STUDENT ONE CARNEGIE CREDIT UNIT UPON RECEIPT OF EVIDENCE OF THE STUDENT'S COMPLETION OF BASIC TRAINING; TO PROVIDE THAT CREDIT AWARDED SHALL BE SYNONYMOUS WITH THE CREDIT EARNED IN A TRADITIONAL JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (JROTC) CLASS; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO REPORT ANY STUDENT QUALIFYING FOR AND EARNING CREDIT TO THE JROTC STATEWIDE COORDINATOR, WHO SHALL MAINTAIN A RECORD OF ALL STUDENTS WHO HAVE EARNED ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR SUCH TRAINING; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-95, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. In addition to the curriculum otherwise required by law or the State Board of Education to be taught in the public schools of this state, the school board of a local school district shall allow course credit to any high school student, who is a member of the National Guard and attends basic training camp during the summer between the end of the student's junior year and the start of the student's senior year of academic instruction. At the conclusion of the student's basic training, the commanding officer of the National Guard unit of which the student is a reserve member shall provide evidence of the student's completion of training to the local school district where the student is in attendance. Upon receipt of the evidence provided by the National Guard, the school district shall award one (1) Carnegie credit unit to the student, which shall be synonymous with the credit earned if the student had taken a traditional Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) class, and which shall be taken into consideration with the total number of Carnegie units required for the student to graduate. The school district shall report any student qualifying for and earning credit under the provisions of this section to the JROTC statewide coordinator employed by the State Department of Education under Section 37-3-95, who shall maintain a record of all students who have earned academic credit for such training.
SECTION 2. Section 37-3-95, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-3-95. (1) Subject to the availability of funding for such purpose, the State Superintendent of Public Education shall employ within the State Department of Education or, in the alternative, contract with the Mississippi Military Department for a statewide coordinator for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs in the public schools. If employed by the State Department of Education, the JROTC statewide coordinator must be an active or retired member of the military and must meet any additional qualifications that may be established for the position by the State Superintendent of Public Education or State Personnel Board.
(2) The following are the powers and duties of the JROTC statewide coordinator:
(a) To coordinate training of new JROTC instructors and continuing education programs for certified instructors;
(b) To facilitate communication between JROTC programs in the various public schools;
(c) To assist in organizing competitions among JROTC units from different high schools;
(d) To assist in the development of the JROTC curriculum;
(e) To compile information on scholarships available to JROTC participants and to solicit support for such scholarships;
(f) To assist in establishing support groups for parents of students participating in a JROTC program;
(g) To solicit and accept financial support for JROTC programs from private sector donors;
(h) To promote the involvement of JROTC units within their local communities;
(i) To facilitate interaction between JROTC units and the Mississippi National Guard and Mississippi Air National Guard;
(j) To promote, in general, the JROTC program in high schools throughout the state;
(k) To assist local schools with the application process for establishing new JROTC programs in high schools; * * * (l) To maintain a record of students, who are also members of the National Guard, who earn academic credit for completing basic training in accordance with Section 1 of this act; and
(m) To perform such other duties relating to the JROTC program established by the State Superintendent of Public Education or State Board of Education.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.