House Bill 421

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI INITIATIVE FOR RURAL TURNAROUND LEADERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING LEADERSHIP IN POORLY PERFORMING RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP POLICIES GOVERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Initiative for Rural Turnaround Leadership pilot program within the State Department of Education for the purpose of improving leadership in chronically low and underperforming rural school districts across the state. Under the program, school principals and licensed teachers desiring to become licensed as a school administrator who are employed in a rural school district, as defined by the State Board of Education, may apply for acceptance into the program in order to increase their capacity to engage in evidence-based practices in support of improved teaching and learning in struggling schools.

(2) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, shall develop and implement the Mississippi Initiative for Rural Turnaround Leadership pilot program. The board shall adopt policies governing the program which must include, at a minimum, the following:

(a) Eligibility criteria for the selection of school districts and schools for participation in the pilot program, including a definition of the term "rural";

(b) An application process to be used by eligible school's principals and licensed teachers desiring to participate in the program;

(c) Criteria and rules and regulations governing the process by which individual principals and licensed teachers will be selected for participation in the program by the State Department of Education;

(d) Online and site-based components of the pilot program which foster individual school leader development and build a network of rural districts and schools for improved capacity development and support structures, including, but not limited to, resource alignment, leadership and teacher pipeline support, shared best practices and problem solving;

(e) The creation of micro-credentials designed to recognize participants' specifically demonstrated leadership abilities;

(f) A research component of the pilot program designed to document the impact of training delivered through the program;

(g) Obligations of a participant to the school district in which he or she is employed during the period of time the participant is in the pilot program and upon completion of the program, including any required period of service which must be rendered upon completion of the program; and

(h) Such other matters determined by the board as necessary and desirable for the successful implementation of the pilot program.

(3) Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, and each year thereafter, the Legislature shall appropriate to the State Department of Education funds in the amount of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) for the implementation and support of the Mississippi Initiative for Rural Turnaround Leadership pilot program.

(4) Before January 1, 2023, the State Board of Education shall submit a report to the Education and Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate on the Mississippi Initiative for Rural Turnaround Leadership pilot program. The report must include information documenting the effectiveness of the pilot program and a recommendation on whether or not the program should be expanded to include additional participants and school districts.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.