Senate Bill 2715

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-139-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RELOCATE THE MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TO THE CAMPUS OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY BY THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL COLLABORATE WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO FACILITATE THE RELOCATION; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD TO PRESENT A PLAN RELATED TO THE RELOCATION OF THE SCHOOL TO THE LEGISLATURE BY THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD TO ENSURE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE COLLABORATES WITH THE STARKVILLE OKTIBBEHA CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS NEEDED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-139-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-139-3. (1) There is hereby created the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science which shall be a residential school for eleventh and twelfth grade high school students * * *.

(2) The school shall be governed by the State Board of Education.

(3) * * * ~~The~~ Beginning July 1, 2024, the State Board of Education shall develop a plan relating to the closing of the school's campus located at the Mississippi University for Women, and the reopening, the operation and the funding of the school as it is moved to the campus of Mississippi State University. Such plan shall be presented to the Legislature during the * * * ~~1988~~ 2025 Regular Session and shall include an equitable and reasonable plan for student recruitment without regard to race, creed or color. By the 2026-2027 school year, the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science shall be established on the campus of Mississippi State University. The State Board of Education shall collaborate with the Board of Trustees of the Institutions of Higher Learning to facilitate the provisions of this subsection.

(4) The purpose of the school shall be to educate the gifted and talented students of the state, and its curriculum and admissions policies shall reflect such purpose.

(5) The State Board of Education shall prepare the annual budget for the school.

(6) The State Board of Education shall ensure that the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science collaborates with the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, as needed.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.