Bill Text: MS SB2526 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Common Core National Education Standards; prohibit State Board of Education from implementing without full evaluation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [SB2526 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SB2526-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Senator(s) Hill, Gandy, Smith, Watson, McDaniel, Sojourner
Senate Bill 2526
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-1-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION TO IMPLEMENT ANY COMMON CORE STANDARDS DEVELOPED BY THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS INITIATIVE UNTIL THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEGISLATURE CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS AND TO ESTABLISH A JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMON CORE STUDY COMMITTEE FOR THAT PURPOSE; TO AMEND SECTION 37-177-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-1-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-1-3. (1) As used in this section:
(a) "Common core standards" refers to educational standards developed for Kindergarten through Grade 12 by the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
(b) "Cut scores" means the scores that define a student's performance on an assessment, including passing, failing or falling into a performance category.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, after July 1, 2014, the State Board of Education may take no further actions to implement as standards for the state or direct the State Department of Education to implement any common core standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative until the State Board of Education conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the common core standards as provided in this section.
(3) The common core standards may not be adopted under subsection (1) of this section until:
(a) The State Board of Education has received and considers:
(i) The department's evaluation of the common core under subsection (4) of this section;
(ii) The final report of the legislative study committee established under subsection (5) of this section;
(iii) The fiscal impact statement prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration under subsection (6) of this section; and
(b) The State Board of Education holds at least three (3) public meetings and takes public testimony regarding the adoption of common core standards after the State Board of Education has received and considered the information described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(4) Before July 1, 2014, the State Department of Education shall provide a written evaluation of the common core standards to the:
(a) Governor;
(b) State Board of Education;
(c) Chairperson of the legislative study committee established in subsection (5) of this section.
The evaluation shall be provided in an electronic format.
(5) There is hereby established a Legislative Common Core Study Committee to study issues relating to common core standards or other standards. Not later than November 1, 2014, the committee shall submit the committee's final report to the Governor, the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education. The report shall:
(a) Compare existing Mississippi standards with the common core standards;
(b) Consider best practices in developing and adopting the standards, seeking information from a broad range of sources, including:
(i) Subject area teachers from elementary and secondary schools in Mississippi;
(ii) Subject area instructors and experts from postsecondary educational institutions; and
(iii) Any other standards the study committee considers to be superior standards; and
(c) Evaluate the cost to the state or school districts associated with implementing Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers assessment or the Smarter Balanced assessment by schools.
The Legislative Common Core Study Committee shall consist of three (3) members of the Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and three (3) members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker. The Chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees shall serve as co-chairmen. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the co-chairmen no later than July 1, 2014, and the study committee shall hold at least three (3) public meetings.
(6) Before September 1, 2014, the Department of Finance and Administration, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall provide an opinion concerning the fiscal impact to the state and school districts if the State Board of Education:
(a) Fully implements the common core standards; and
(b) Discontinues the implementation of the common core standards.
The Department of Finance and Administration must provide its opinion in an electronic format to the Governor, Legislative Education Committees, and the State Board of Education.
(7) The department shall administer assessments under prior accreditation standards during the 2014-2015 school year. The State Board of Education may not require the use of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers assessment or the Smarter Balanced assessment by schools until the State Board of Education receives and considers the reports received under subsections (1) through (6) of this section. This section does not remove academic standards developed or implemented by the State Board of Education before July 1, 2014.
(8) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations and set standards and policies for the organization, operation, management, planning, budgeting and programs of the State Department of Education.
(a) The board is directed to identify all functions of the department that contribute to or comprise a part of the state system of educational accountability and to establish and maintain within the department the necessary organizational structure, policies and procedures for effectively coordinating such functions. Such policies and procedures shall clearly fix and delineate responsibilities for various aspects of the system and for overall coordination of the total system and its effective management.
(b) The board shall establish and maintain a system-wide plan of performance, policy and directions of public education not otherwise provided for.
(c) The board shall effectively use the personnel and resources of the department to enhance technical assistance to school districts in instruction and management therein.
(d) The board shall establish and maintain a central budget policy.
(e) The board shall establish and maintain within the State Department of Education a central management capacity under the direction of the State Superintendent of Public Education.
(f) The board, with recommendations from the superintendent, shall design and maintain a five-year plan and program for educational improvement that shall set forth objectives for system performance and development and be the basis for budget requests and legislative initiatives.
( * * *9) (a) The State Board of Education
shall adopt and maintain a curriculum and a course of study to be used in the
public school districts that is designed to prepare the state's children and
youth to be productive, informed, creative citizens, workers and leaders, and
it shall regulate all matters arising in the practical administration of the
school system not otherwise provided for. Provided, however, that the State
Board of Education shall take no action regarding a statewide curriculum that
is not consistent with the provisions of subsections (1) through (7) of this
section.
(b) Before the 1999-2000 school year, the State Board of Education shall develop personal living and finances objectives that focus on money management skills for individuals and families for appropriate, existing courses at the secondary level. The objectives must require the teaching of those skills necessary to handle personal business and finances and must include instruction in the following:
(i) Opening a bank account and assessing the quality of a bank's services;
(ii) Balancing a checkbook;
(iii) Managing debt, including retail and credit card debt;
(iv) Completing a loan application;
(v) The implications of an inheritance;
(vi) The basics of personal insurance policies;
(vii) Consumer rights and responsibilities;
(viii) Dealing with salesmen and merchants;
(ix) Computing state and federal income taxes;
(x) Local tax assessments;
(xi) Computing interest rates by various mechanisms;
(xii) Understanding simple contracts; and
(xiii) Contesting an incorrect billing statement.
( * * *10) The State Board of Education shall
have authority to expend any available federal funds, or any other funds
expressly designated, to pay training, educational expenses, salary incentives
and salary supplements to licensed teachers employed in local school districts
or schools administered by the State Board of Education. Such incentive
payments shall not be considered part of a school district's local supplement
as defined in Section 37-151-5(o), nor shall the incentives be considered part
of the local supplement paid to an individual teacher for the purposes of
Section 37-19-7(1). MAEP funds or any other state funds shall not be used to
provide such incentives unless specifically authorized by law.
( * * *11) The State Board of Education shall
through its actions seek to implement the policies set forth in Section 37-1-2.
(12) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement this section.
SECTION 2. Section 37-177-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-177-5. The State
Department of Education shall establish a Mississippi Reading Panel to
collaborate with the State Department of Education in recommending appropriate
equitable alternative standardized assessments and cut scores to be used to
determine promotion to the Fourth Grade of those Third Grade students who
scored at the lowest achievement level on the state annual accountability
assessment or who, for unforeseen circumstances, were unable to take the
assessment. The panel should have knowledge and input in the adoption or
development of a universal screener for required use only in select schools
most in need for the leading intervention program to identify reading
deficiencies and determine progress. A suggestive list of no less than four
(4) screening assessments should be available to schools not selected for the
critical leading intervention program taking into consideration those screening
assessments already being used satisfactorily in Mississippi elementary
schools. * * * The panel
shall consist of six (6) members as follows: the State Superintendent of
Education, or his/her designee, who will chair the committee; the Chair of the
House Education Committee, or his designee; the Chairman of the Senate
Education Committee, or his designee; one (1) member appointed by the Governor;
and two (2) additional members appointed by the State Superintendent of
Education.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
