MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Crawford

House Bill 959

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-147, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PROCESS BY WHICH SCHOOLS PROVIDING FULL INCLUSION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN ALL ACADEMIC AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE RECOGNIZED; TO RENAME THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AS THE MISSISSIPPI SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL; 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 students with disabilities that will promote the purpose of IDEA and are consistent, to the maximum extent appropriate, with other goals and standards for * * *children students 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 students 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 full inclusion of * * * children students with disabilities in all aspects of academic and extracurricular activities, the State Department of Education * * *shall may 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 * * *shall may be awarded to * * *one (1) elementary, * * *one (1) middle * * *school, and one (1) or high schools, based on entries submitted to the Mississippi Special Education Advisory * * *Committee for Special Education Panel by the deadline * * *of March 31 to be determined annually by the panel.  These entries shall be in the form of a report, * * * not to exceed five (5) pages, listing the name, address and telephone number of the school district/school; teacher or staff responsible for administering the program; type of position held by each of these employees including credentials; 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 Inclusion Program contest shall be chosen annually by the Mississippi Special Education Advisory * * *Committee for Special Education in April of each year Panel at a date determined by the panel.

     Recognition * * *shall may be given to these schools during * * *the May a meeting of the Mississippi State Board of Education * * *meeting each year at a date determined by the board.  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, 2016.