House Bill 1141

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-147, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXEMPLARY INCLUSIVE SCHOOL AWARD PROGRAM BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR SCHOOLS PROVIDING FULL INCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-23-147, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-23-147. (1) The State Department of Education shall establish goals for the performance of children with disabilities that will promote the purpose of IDEA and are consistent, to the maximum extent appropriate, with other goals and standards for children established by the State Department of Education. Performance indicators used to assess progress toward achieving those goals that, at a minimum, address the performance of children with disabilities on assessments, drop-out rates, and graduation rates shall be developed. Every two (2) years, the progress toward meeting the established performance goals shall be reported to the public.

(2) To encourage the * * * inclusion of children with disabilities in all aspects of academic and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate, the State Department of Education shall provide special recognition to the schools receiving such designation and their school districts. Examples of such recognition may include, but not be limited to: public announcements and events, certificates of recognition and plaques for teachers, principals, superintendents and parents, and media announcements utilizing the services of Mississippi Educational Television. This special recognition may be awarded to one (1) elementary, one (1) middle school, and one (1) high school, based on the Exemplary Inclusive School applications submitted to the Mississippi Advisory Committee for Special Education by the deadline of March 31. These applications shall be in the form of a report, not to exceed five (5) pages, listing name, address and telephone number of the school district/school; teachers and staff responsible for administering the program; types of positions held by each of these employees * * *; description of the program; number of students with disabilities included; type and level of severity of disabilities; number of students without disabilities involved in the program; how long the program has been in operation; benefit of program to all students; and a description of how this program could be replicated by other school districts. Winners of the Exemplary Inclusive School Award shall be chosen by the Mississippi Advisory Committee for Special Education in April of each year.

Recognition may be given to these schools during the May Mississippi State Board of Education meeting each year. Information on these exemplary programs shall be provided to other school districts and the general public through news releases, the state department website, and other similar avenues.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.