MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Frierson
AN ACT TO REVISE THE NUMBER OF CARNEGIE UNITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BEGINNING WITH THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2019; TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE EVIDENCE-BASED REMEDIATION TO TENTH GRADE STUDENTS SCORING AT OR BELOW BASIC ON THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) ASSESSMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-16-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY NOT REQUIRE FOR GRADUATION MORE ACADEMIC CREDITS THAN THE NUMBER REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW; TO AMEND SECTION 37-16-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, for those students entering the ninth grade and comprising the graduating class of 2019, the total number of Carnegie units required for graduation from a public school in the State of Mississippi is sixteen (16). The state requirements for those students graduating during or after the year 2019 consist of the following sixteen (16) core courses:
(a) Four (4) English credits, including English I and English II.
(b) Three (3) mathematics credits, including Algebra I.
(c) Two (2) natural or physical science credits, including one (1) unit in a class containing a lab component.
(d) Two (2) social studies credits, which must include studies in U.S. History, Mississippi Studies and United States Government.
(e) One (1) credit of additional English, mathematics or natural or physical science credit.
(f) Four (4) credits in courses required under state law and electives made available in the school district.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that all public high school students have access to a substantive and rigorous curriculum. The courses offered in each high school before July 1, 2015, which are in addition to the minimum requirements established under subsection (1) of this section must continue to be made available to students in that high school after July 1, 2015, notwithstanding the revisions to the graduation requirements effective for students entering the ninth grade in the 2015-2016 school year. A school district may not eliminate any course that, before the 2018-2019 school year, is mandatory for graduation due solely to the reason that the course is no longer a requirement for students graduating during or after the year 2019. A school district shall continue to make those courses, particularly any advanced courses, available to students and shall encourage all students to pursue the most rigorous course of study available, notwithstanding the revisions to the graduation requirements under this section.
SECTION 2. Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, a student enrolled in the tenth grade who scores at or below the achievement level of basic on any of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments administered to tenth grade students must be provided intensive remediation by the school district in which the student is enrolled. The remedial instruction made available by the school district must be intensive, evidence-based remediation designed to help underprepared students acquire academic knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their remaining years in high school. A school district shall select a program of remediation that has been recognized nationally for its proven record of success by a reputable independent research organization, such as the What Works Clearinghouse of the Institute of Education Sciences or any other similar entity that researches different programs and practices in education to provide educators with information needed to make evidence-based decisions.
SECTION 3. Section 37-16-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-16-7. (1) Each district school board shall establish standards for graduation from its schools which shall include as a minimum:
(a) Mastery of minimum academic skills as measured by assessments developed and administered by the State Board of Education.
(b) Completion of a minimum number of academic credits, which number may be no greater than the number required under Section 1 of House Bill No. , 2015 Regular Session, and all other applicable requirements prescribed by the district school board.
(c) By school, information on high school graduation rates. High schools with graduation rates lower than eighty percent (80%) must submit a detailed plan to the Mississippi Department of Education to restructure the high school experience to improve graduation rates.
(2) A student who meets all requirements prescribed in subsection (1) of this section shall be awarded a standard diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education.
(3) The State Board of Education may establish student proficiency standards for promotion to grade levels leading to graduation.
SECTION 4. Section 37-16-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-16-17. (1) Purpose. (a) The purpose of this section is to create a quality option in Mississippi's high schools for students not wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree, which shall consist of challenging academic courses and modern career-technical studies. The goal for students pursuing the career track is to graduate from high school with a standard diploma and credit toward a community college certification in a career-technical field. These students also shall be encouraged to take the national assessment in the career-technical field in which they become certified.
(b) The State Board of Education shall develop and adopt course and curriculum requirements for career track programs offered by local public school boards in accordance with this section. The Mississippi Community College Board and the State Board of Education jointly shall determine course and curriculum requirements for the career track program.
(2) Alternative career track; description; curriculum. (a) A career track shall provide a student with greater technical skill and a strong academic core and shall be offered to each high school student enrolled in a public school district. The career track program shall be linked to postsecondary options and shall prepare students to pursue either a degree or certification from a postsecondary institution, an industry-based training or certification, an apprenticeship, the military, or immediate entrance into a career field. The career track shall be designed primarily for those students who are not college bound and shall provide them with alternatives to entrance into a four-year university or college after high school graduation.
(b) Students pursuing a career track shall be afforded the opportunity to dually enroll in a community or technical college or to participate in a business internship or work-study program, when such opportunities are available and appropriate.
(c) Each public school district shall offer a career track program approved by the State Board of Education.
(d) Students in a career track program shall complete an academic core of courses and a career and technical sequence of courses.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (f) of this subsection, the twenty-one (21) course unit requirements for those students in the career track who are on schedule to graduate before the 2018-2019 school year shall consist of the following:
(i) At least four (4) English credits, including English I and English II.
(ii) At least three (3) mathematics credits, including Algebra I.
(iii) At least three (3) science credits, including one (1) unit of biology.
(iv) At least three (3) social studies credits, including one (1) unit of U.S. History and one (1) unit of Mississippi Studies/United States Government.
(v) At least one-half (1/2) credit in health or physical education.
(vi) At least four (4) credits in career and technical education courses in the dual enrollment-dual credit programs authorized under Section 37-15-38.
(vii) At least one (1) credit in integrated technology with optional end of course testing.
(viii) At least two and one-half (2-1/2) credits in additional electives or career and technical education courses required by the local school board, as approved by the State Board of Education. Academic courses within the career track of the standard diploma shall provide the knowledge and skill necessary for proficiency on the state subject area tests.
This subsection (e) shall stand repealed on July 1, 2018.
(f) Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, for those students entering the ninth grade and comprising the graduating class of 2019, the career track course requirements shall be the same as those graduation requirements prescribed under Section 1 of House Bill No. , 2015 Regular Session.
(3) Nothing in this section shall disallow the development of a dual enrollment program with a technical college so long as an individual school district, with approval from the State Department of Education, agrees to implement such a program in connection with a technical college and the agreement is also approved by the proprietary school's commission.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.