Bill Text: MS HB1332 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Hope Program; establish and develop system to re-enroll high school dropouts in programs leading to a high school diploma.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2010-02-02 - Died In Committee [HB1332 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-HB1332-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Representative Scott
House Bill 1332
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY PATHWAYS THROUGH EDUCATION (HOPE) PROGRAM, WHICH SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOAL OF THE HOPE PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM IN THIS STATE TO RE-ENROLL SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN PROGRAMS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO EARN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; TO PROVIDE THAT THE HOPE PROGRAM SHALL AWARD GRANTS, SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION FOR THAT PURPOSE, TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ASSIST IN ESTABLISHING INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AND OTHER SERVICES DESIGNED TO RE-ENROLL HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS; TO PROVIDE THAT PROGRAMS FUNDED THROUGH THE HOPE PROGRAM SHALL ALLOW HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS TO RE-ENROLL IN AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN CONFORMANCE WITH RULES ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY STUDENT IN THE HOPE PROGRAM WHO WISHES TO EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA MUST MEET THE PREREQUISITES TO RECEIVING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND ANY OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE STUDENT'S DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY STUDENT WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HIS OR HER GRADUATION SHALL RECEIVE A DIPLOMA IDENTIFYING THE STUDENT AS GRADUATING FROM HIS OR HER DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE; TO PROVIDE THAT IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING UNDER THE HOPE PROGRAM, A SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST DEVELOP A HOPE PLAN TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY OPERATE ITS OWN PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE HOPE PROGRAM OR ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES TO OPERATE A PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT HOPE PROGRAM FUNDING SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED BASED UPON THE PROPORTION OF DROPOUTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DROPOUTS IN THIS STATE; TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY RECEIVE ADEQUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM FUNDS FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE HOPE PROGRAM IF CERTAIN CRITERIA ARE MET; TO SPECIFY CATEGORIES OF PROGRAMMING IN THE HOPE PROGRAM; TO SPECIFY THE MINIMUM COMPONENTS FOR PROGRAMS TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE HOPE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1.
(1) There is established the Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education
(HOPE) Program. The State Board of Education shall implement and administer
the HOPE Program. The goal of the HOPE Program is to develop a comprehensive
system in this State to re—enroll significant numbers of high school dropouts
in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma.
(2) The HOPE Program shall award grants, subject to appropriation for
this purpose, to school districts to assist in establishing instructional
programs and other services designed to
re—enroll high school dropouts.
The HOPE Program shall
provide incentive grant funds for a school district to develop partnerships
with school districts, public community colleges, and community groups to build
comprehensive plans to re—enroll high school dropouts in their regions or
districts.
Programs funded through the HOPE Program shall allow high school dropouts,
up to and including age 21 to re-enroll in an educational program in
conformance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Programs may
include, without limitation, comprehensive year—round programming, evening school,
summer school, community college courses, adult education, vocational training,
work experience, programs to enhance self-concept, and parenting courses. Any
student in the HOPE Program who wishes to earn a high school diploma must meet
the prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma and any other graduation
requirements of the student's district of residence. Any student who
successfully completes the requirements for his or her graduation shall receive
a diploma identifying the student as graduating from his or her district of
residence.
(3) In order to be eligible for funding under the HOPE Program, a school
district must develop a HOPE Plan to be approved by the State Board of
Education. The State Board of Education shall develop rules for the HOPE
Program that shall set forth the requirements for the development of the HOPE
Plan. Each plan shall involve school districts, public community colleges, and
key community programs that work with high school dropouts. No funds may be
distributed to a school district until the State Board has approved the plan.
(4) A school district may operate its own program funded by the HOPE
Program or enter into a contract with other
not-for-profit entities,
including school districts, public community colleges, and not—for—profit
community—based organizations, to operate a program.
A school district that receives a HOPE grant from the State Board of
Education may provide funds under a sub—grant, as specified in the HOPE Plan,
to other not—for-profit entities to provide services according to the HOPE Plan
that was developed. These other entities may include school districts, public
community colleges, or not—for—profit community-based organizations or a
cooperative partnership among these entities.
(5) In order to distribute
funding based upon the need to ensure delivery of programs that will have the
greatest impact, HOPE Program funding shall be distributed based upon the
proportion of dropouts in the school district to the total number of dropouts in
this state. This formula shall employ the dropout data provided by school
districts to the State Board of Education.
A school district may receive adequate education program funds for
students enrolled in a program funded by the HOPE Program, provided that the
State Board of Education has approved the HOPE Plan and that these students are
receiving services that are meeting the requirements for receipt of a high
school diploma and are otherwise eligible to be included for adequate education
program funding, including provisions related to the minimum number of days of
pupil attendance and the minimum number of daily hours of school work and any
exceptions thereto as defined by the State Board of Education in its rules and
regulations.
(6) Categories of
programming in the HOPE Program may include the following:
(a) Full—time programs that are comprehensive,
year-round programs;
(b) Part—time programs combining work and study scheduled at various
times that are flexible to the needs of students;
(c) Online programs and courses in which students take courses and
complete on—site, supervised tests that measure the student's mastery of a
specific course needed for graduation. Students may take courses online and
earn credit or students may prepare to take supervised tests for specific
courses for credit leading to receipt of a high school diploma; and
(d) Dual enrollment in which students attend high school classes in
combination with community college classes or students attend community college
classes while simultaneously earning high school credit and eventually a high
school diploma.
(7) In order to have
successful comprehensive programs re-enrolling and graduating low-skilled high
school dropouts, programs funded through the HOPE Program shall include all of
the following components:
(a) Small programs (70 to 100 students) at a separate school site
with a distinct identity. Programs may be larger with specific need and
justification, keeping in mind that it is crucial to keep programs small to be
effective;
(b) Specific performance-based goals and outcomes and measures of
enrollment, attendance, skills, credits, graduation, and the transition to
college, training, and employment;
(c) Strong, experienced leadership and teaching staff who are
provided with ongoing professional development;
(d) Voluntary enrollment;
(e) High standards for student learning, integrating work
experience, and education, including during the school year and after school,
and summer school programs that link internships, work, and learning;
(f) Comprehensive programs providing extensive support services;
(g) Small teams of students supported by full—time paid mentors who
work to retain and help those students graduate;
(h) A comprehensive technology learning center with Internet access
and broad-based curriculum focusing on academic and career subject areas; and
(i) Learning opportunities that incorporate action into study.
(8) Programs funded through
the HOPE Program must report data to the State Board of Education as
requested. This information shall include, but is not limited to, student
enrollment figures, attendance information, course completion data, graduation
information, and post—graduation information, as available.
(9) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations to set
forth the funding distribution process to school districts, the planning and
the conditions upon which a HOPE Plan will be approved by the State Board, and
other rules and regulations as necessary to develop the HOPE Program.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.
