House Bill 1177

AN ACT TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROMOTE STUDENT TUTORS WHO PROVIDE PEER-TO-PEER INSTRUCTION; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO PROVIDE A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO ACADEMICALLY SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS WHO SCORED ABOVE CERTAIN LEVELS ON STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS AND END-OF-COURSE SUBJECT AREA TESTS; TO ESTABLISH THE "PEER-TO-PEER STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPROPRIATION AND DEPOSIT OF FUNDS INTO THE FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Each local school board shall be required to develop and implement a program designed to promote student tutors who provide peer-to-peer instruction on areas of the curriculum adopted by the local school district for its schools. The program shall provide a nominal financial incentive, as determined adequate by the board, to academically successful students who are scored as proficient and advanced on the statewide assessments and who score a three (3) or above on end-of-course subject area tests. The board shall include any additional criteria in the policy establishing additional criteria to qualify student tutors for eligibility under the program. Students tutors selected by the school district to provide peer-to-peer instruction shall be given a stipend in the amount determined by the district from funds allocated to the district by the State Department of Education from the Peer-to-Peer Student Assistance Fund established under Section 2 of this act.

SECTION 2. There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the "Peer-to-Peer Student Assistance Fund." The fund shall consist of any monies appropriated by the Legislature as authorized and any other funds deposited therein under the provisions of this act. The principal of the fund shall remain inviolate and shall be invested as provided by law. Interest and income derived from investment of the principal of the fund may be expended by the State Department of Education, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only for the purpose of providing financial incentives to students providing peer-to-peer instruction as authorized under Section 1 of this act. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013.