MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Representative Myers
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-151-77, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO LOWER THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PUPIL-TEACHER RATIO IN GRADES ONE THROUGH FOUR IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM 27:1 TO 24:1; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-151-77, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-151-77. To qualify for
funds provided in this chapter, each school district shall not exceed a pupil-teacher
ratio based on enrollment in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 as follows: * * * 24:1.
For Grades Kindergarten and 5 through 12, the pupil-teacher ratio shall be determined based on appropriate accreditation standards developed by the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation.
Any local district may apply
to the State Board of Education for approval of a waiver to this section by
submitting and justifying an alternative educational program to serve the needs
of enrollment in Grades Kindergarten and 1 through 4. The State Board of
Education shall approve or disapprove of such waiver forty-five (45) days after
receipt of such application. If a school district violates the provisions of
this section, the state aid for the ensuing fiscal year to such school district
shall be reduced by the percentage variance that the actual pupil-teacher
ratios in such school district has to the required pupil-teacher ratios
mandated in this section. * * * However, notwithstanding
the provisions of this section, the State Board of Education is authorized to
waive the pupil-teacher requirements specified * * * in this section upon a finding
that a good faith effort is being made by the school district concerned to
comply with the ratio provisions but that * * * due to a lack of classroom space
which * * * is
beyond its control, it is physically impossible for the district to
comply, and the cost of temporary classroom space cannot be justified. In the
event any school district meets the highest levels of accreditation standards
as determined by the State Board of Education in the state's accountability
system, the State Board of Education may, in its discretion, exempt such school
district from the maximum pupil-teacher ratio in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4
prescribed * * *
in this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.