Bill Text: MS HB933 | 2016 | Regular Session | Engrossed


Bill Title: Graduation requirements; require SBE to administer an American Civics assessment as part of statewide testing program and for students to pass as a condition of.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-03-22 - Died In Committee [HB933 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2016-HB933-Engrossed.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representatives Currie, Wilson, Johnson (87th)

House Bill 933

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-1-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT OBJECTIVES THAT FOCUS ON THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN SOCIAL STUDIES, CIVICS AND UNITED STATES HISTORY AND TO REQUIRE THE ADMINISTRATION OF AN AMERICAN CIVICS ASSESSMENT, IDENTICAL TO THE PORTION OF THE EXAMINATION ADMINISTERED BY UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS) REQUIRED BY 8 USCS SECTION 1423 FOR NATURALIZATION, AS A CONDITION OF GRADUATION; TO REQUIRE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO CORRECTLY ANSWER AT LEAST SIXTY PERCENT (60%) OF THE QUESTIONS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR GRADUATION; TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR, THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE THE DEVELOPED OBJECTIVES TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE UNITED STATES HISTORY CURRICULUM REQUIRED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS MEASURED BY THE SUBJECT AREA TEST FOR THAT COURSE; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD TO DETERMINE THE METHOD AND MANNER IN WHICH TO ADMINISTER THE ASSESSMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS SHALL HAVE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE THE ASSESSMENT UNTIL A PASSING SCORE IS OBTAINED; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-3-49 AND 37-16-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; TO AMEND SECTION 37-15-38, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY COURSE REQUIRED FOR THE AMERICAN CIVICS ASSESSMENT AS A REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION FROM A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR CHARTER SCHOOL IN MISSISSIPPI SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR DUAL CREDIT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 37-16-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-16-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT EACH DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR GRADUATION SHALL INCLUDE MASTERY OF MINIMUM ACADEMIC SKILLS AS MEASURED BY THE AMERICAN CIVICS ASSESSMENT, IDENTICAL TO THE PORTION OF THE EXAMINATION ADMINISTERED BY UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS) REQUIRED BY 8 USCS SECTION 1423 FOR NATURALIZATION; TO EXEMPT STUDENTS CLASSIFIED WITH CERTAIN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF OBTAINING A PASSING SCORE ON THE AMERICAN CIVICS ASSESSMENT AS A CONDITION OF GRADUATION AND RECEIPT OF A SPECIAL DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE; TO AMEND SECTION 37-16-11, 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)  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.

     (2)  (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 are 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.

          (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.

          (c)  The State Board of Education shall develop and implement objectives that focus on the academic standards in social studies, civics and United States history for appropriate, existing courses at the secondary level, and shall require the administration of an American Civics assessment, identical to the portion of the examination administered by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) used to demonstrate an applicant-for-naturalization's knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of United States history, principles and form of United States government as required by 8 USCS Section 1423, on which secondary school students must correctly answer at least sixty percent (60%) of the questions as a condition of graduation.  Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, the board shall require the stipulations of this subsection to be incorporated into the United States history curriculum required for high school students as measured by the subject area test for that course.  Additionally, the board may determine the method and manner in which to administer the assessment at no cost to the student, and shall provide additional opportunities for students to take the assessment until a passing score is obtained.

     (3)  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.

     (4)  The State Board of Education shall through its actions seek to implement the policies set forth in Section 37-1-2.

     SECTION 2.  Section 37-3-49, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-3-49.  (1)  The State Department of Education shall provide an instructional program and establish guidelines and procedures for managing such program in the public schools within the school districts throughout the state as part of the State Program of Educational Accountability and Assessment of Performance as prescribed in Section 37-3-46.  Public school districts may (a) elect to adopt the instructional program and management system provided by the State Department of Education, or (b) elect to adopt an instructional program and management system which meets or exceeds criteria established by the State Department of Education for such.  This provision shall begin with the courses taught in Grades K-8 which contain skills tested through the Mississippi Basic Skills Assessment Program and shall proceed through all secondary school courses mandated for graduation, * * * and all secondary school courses in the Mississippi end-of-course testing program and the American Civics assessment.  Other state core objectives must be included in the district's instructional program as they are provided by the State Department of Education along with instructional practices, resources, evaluation items and management procedures.  Districts are encouraged to adapt this program and accompanying procedures to all other instructional areas.  The department shall provide that such program and guidelines, or a program and guidelines developed by a local school district which incorporates the core objectives from the curriculum structure are enforced through the performance-based accreditation system.  It is the intent of the Legislature that every effort be made to protect the instructional time in the classroom and reduce the amount of paperwork which must be completed by teachers.  The State Department of Education shall take steps to insure that school districts properly use staff development time to work on the districts' instructional management plans.

     (2)  The State Department of Education shall provide such instructional program and management guidelines which shall require for every public school district that:

          (a)  All courses taught in Grades K-8 which contain skills which are tested through the Mississippi Basic Skills Assessment Program, all secondary school courses mandated for graduation, and all courses in the end-of-course testing program and the American Civics assessment shall include the State Department of Education's written list of learning objectives.

          (b)  The local school board must adopt the objectives that will form the core curriculum which will be systematically delivered throughout the district.

          (c)  The set of objectives provided by the State Department of Education must be accompanied by suggested instructional practices and resources that would help teachers organize instruction so as to promote student learning of the objectives.  Objectives added by the school district must also be accompanied by suggested instructional practices and resources that would help teachers organize instruction.  The instructional practices and resources that are identified are to be used as suggestions and not as requirements that teachers must follow.  The goal of the program is to have students to achieve the desired objective and not to limit teachers in the way they teach.

          (d)  Standards for student performance must be established for each core objective in the local program and those standards establish the district's definition of mastery for each objective.

          (e)  There shall be an annual review of student performance in the instructional program against locally established standards.  When weaknesses exist in the local instructional program, the district shall take action to improve student performance.

     (3)  The State Board of Education and the board of trustees of each school district shall adopt policies to limit and reduce the number and length of written reports that classroom teachers are required to prepare.

     (4)  This section shall not be construed to limit teachers from using their own professional skills to help students master instructional objectives, nor shall it be construed as a call for more detailed or complex lesson plans or any increase in testing at the local school district level.

     (5)  Districts meeting the highest levels of accreditation standards, as defined by the State Board of Education, shall be exempted from the provisions of subsection (2) of this section. 

     SECTION 3.  Section 37-15-38, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-15-38.  (1)  The following phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

          (a)  A dual enrolled student is a student who is enrolled in a community or junior college or state institution of higher learning while enrolled in high school.

          (b)  A dual credit student is a student who is enrolled in a community or junior college or state institution of higher learning while enrolled in high school and who is receiving high school and college credit for postsecondary coursework.

     (2)  A local school board, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board shall establish a dual enrollment system under which students in the school district who meet the prescribed criteria of this section may be enrolled in a postsecondary institution in Mississippi while they are still in school.

     (3)  Dual credit eligibility.  Before credits earned by a qualified high school student from a community or junior college or state institution of higher learning may be transferred to the student's home school district, the student must be properly enrolled in a dual enrollment program.

     (4)  Admission criteria for dual enrollment in community and junior college or university programs.  The * * * boards of trustees of the community and junior college districts Mississippi Community College Board and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may recommend to the State Board of Education admission criteria for dual enrollment programs under which high school students may enroll at a community or junior college or university while they are still attending high school and enrolled in high school courses.  Students may be admitted to enroll in community or junior college courses under the dual enrollment programs if they meet that individual institution's stated dual enrollment admission requirements.

     (5)  Tuition and cost responsibility.  Tuition and costs for university-level courses and community and junior college courses offered under a dual enrollment program may be paid for by the postsecondary institution, the local school district, the parents or legal guardians of the student, or by grants, foundations or other private or public sources.  Payment for tuition and any other costs must be made directly to the credit-granting institution.

     (6)  Transportation responsibility.  Any transportation required by a student to participate in the dual enrollment program is the responsibility of the parent, custodian or legal guardian of the student.  Transportation costs may be paid from any available public or private sources, including the local school district.

     (7)  School district average daily attendance credit.  When dually enrolled, the student may be counted, for adequate education program funding purposes, in the average daily attendance of the public school district in which the student attends high school.

     (8)  High school student transcript transfer requirements.  Grades and college credits earned by a student admitted to a dual credit program must be recorded on the high school student record and on the college transcript at the university or community or junior college * * * and high school where the student attends classes.  The transcript of the university or community or junior college coursework may be released to another institution or applied toward college graduation requirements.

     (9)  Determining factor of prerequisites for dual enrollment courses.  Each university and community or junior college participating in a dual enrollment program shall determine course prerequisites.  Course prerequisites shall be the same for dual enrolled students as for regularly enrolled students at that university or community or junior college.

     (10)  Process for determining articulation of curriculum between high school, university, and community and junior college courses.  All dual credit courses must meet the standards established at the postsecondary level.  Postsecondary level developmental courses may not be considered as meeting the requirements of the dual credit program.  Dual credit memorandum of understandings must be established between each postsecondary institution and the school district implementing a dual credit program.

     (11)  * * *[Deleted] Ineligible courses for dual credit programs.  Any course that is required for the American Civics assessment as a requirement for graduation from a public school or charter school in Mississippi is not eligible for dual credit.

     (12)  Eligible courses for dual credit programs.  Courses eligible for dual credit include, but are not necessarily limited to, foreign languages, advanced math courses, advanced science courses, performing arts, advanced business and technology, and career and technical courses.  All courses being considered for dual credit must receive unconditional approval from the superintendent of the local school district and the chief instructional officer at the participating community or junior college or university in order for college credit to be awarded.  A university or community or junior college shall make the final decision on what courses are eligible for semester hour credits.

     (13)  High school Carnegie unit equivalency.  One (1) three-hour university or community or junior college course is equal to one (1) high school Carnegie unit.

     (14)  Course alignment.  The universities, community and junior colleges and the State Department of Education shall periodically review their respective policies and assess the place of dual credit courses within the context of their traditional offerings.

     (15)  Maximum dual credits allowed.  It is the intent of the dual enrollment program to make it possible for every eligible student who desires to earn a semester's worth of college credit in high school to do so.  A qualified dually enrolled high school student must be allowed to earn an unlimited number of college or university credits for dual credit.

     (16)  Dual credit program allowances.  A student may be granted credit delivered through the following means:

          (a)  Examination preparation taught at a high school by a qualified teacher.  A student may receive credit at the secondary level after completion of an approved course and passing the standard examination, such as an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate course through which a high school student is allowed CLEP credit by making a three (3) or higher on the end-of-course examination.

          (b)  College or university courses taught at a high school or designated postsecondary site by a qualified teacher who is an employee of the school district and approved as an instructor by the collaborating college or university.

          (c)  College or university courses taught at a college, university or high school by an instructor employed by the college or university and approved by the collaborating school district.

          (d)  Online courses of any public university, community or junior college in Mississippi.

     (17)  Qualifications of dual credit instructors.  A dual credit academic instructor must meet the requirements set forth by the regional accrediting association (Southern Association of College and Schools).  University and community and junior college personnel have the sole authority in the selection of dual credit instructors.

     A dual credit career and technical education instructor must meet the requirements set forth by the Mississippi Community College Board in the qualifications manual for postsecondary career and technical personnel.

     (18)  Guidance on local agreements.  The Chief Academic Officer of the State Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Chief Instructional Officers of the Mississippi Community College Board and the State Department of Education, working collaboratively, shall develop a template to be used by the individual community and junior colleges and institutions of higher learning for consistent implementation of the dual enrollment program throughout the State of Mississippi.

     (19)  Mississippi Works Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Option.  A local school board and the local community colleges board shall establish a Mississippi Works Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Option Program under which potential or recent student dropouts may dually enroll in their home school and a local community college in a dual credit program consisting of high school completion coursework and a community college credential, certificate or degree program.  Students completing the dual enrollment-credit option may obtain their high school diploma while obtaining a community college credential, certificate or degree.  The Mississippi Department of Employment Security shall assist students who have successfully completed the Mississippi Works Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Option in securing a job upon the application of the student or the participating school or community college.  The Mississippi Works Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Option Program will be implemented statewide in the 2012-2013 school year and thereafter.  The State Board of Education, local school board and the local community college board shall establish criteria for the Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Program.  Students enrolled in the program will not be eligible to participate in interscholastic sports or other extracurricular activities at the home school district.  Tuition and costs for community college courses offered under the Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Program shall not be charged to the student, parents or legal guardians.  When dually enrolled, the student shall be counted for adequate education program funding purposes, in the average daily attendance of the public school district in which the student attends high school, as provided in Section 37-151-7(1)(a).  Any transportation required by the student to participate in the Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Program is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian of the student, and transportation costs may be paid from any available public or private sources, including the local school district.  Grades and college credits earned by a student admitted to this Dual Enrollment-Dual Credit Program shall be recorded on the high school student record and on the college transcript at the community college and high school where the student attends classes.  The transcript of the community college coursework may be released to another institution or applied toward college graduation requirements.  Any course that is required for subject area testing as a requirement for graduation from a public school in Mississippi is eligible for dual credit, and courses eligible for dual credit shall also include career, technical and degree program courses.  All courses eligible for dual credit shall be approved by the superintendent of the local school district and the chief instructional officer at the participating community college in order for college credit to be awarded.  A community college shall make the final decision on what courses are eligible for semester hour credits and the local school superintendent, subject to approval by the Mississippi Department of Education, shall make the final decision on the transfer of college courses credited to the student's high school transcript.

     SECTION 4.  Section 37-16-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-16-3.  (1)  The State Department of Education is directed to implement a program of statewide assessment testing which shall provide for the improvement of the operation and management of the public schools.  The statewide program shall be timed, as far as possible, so as not to conflict with ongoing district assessment programs.  As part of the program, the department shall:

          (a)  Establish, with the approval of the State Board of Education, minimum performance standards related to the goals for education contained in the state's plan including, but not limited to, basic skills in reading, writing * * *and, mathematics, science and social studies.  The minimum performance standards shall be approved by April 1 in each year they are established.

          (b)  Conduct a uniform statewide testing program in grades deemed appropriate in the public schools, including charter schools.  The program may test skill areas, basic skills * * *and, high school course content and high school students' knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of United States history, principles and form of United States government.

          (c)  Monitor the results of the assessment program and, at any time the composite student performance of a school or basic program is found to be below the established minimum standards, notify the district superintendent or the governing board of the charter school, as the case may be, the school principal and the school advisory committee or other existing parent group of the situation within thirty (30) days of its determination.  The department shall further provide technical assistance to a school district in the identification of the causes of this deficiency and shall recommend courses of action for its correction.

          (d)  Provide technical assistance to the school districts, when requested, in the development of student performance standards in addition to the established minimum statewide standards.

          (e)  Issue security procedure regulations providing for the security and integrity of the tests that are administered under the basic skills assessment program.

          (f)  In case of an allegation of a testing irregularity that prompts a need for an investigation by the Department of Education, the department may, in its discretion, take complete control of the statewide test administration in a school district or any part thereof, including, but not limited to, obtaining control of the test booklets and answer documents.  In the case of any verified testing irregularity that jeopardized the security and integrity of the test(s), validity or the accuracy of the test results, the cost of the investigation and any other actual and necessary costs related to the investigation paid by the Department of Education shall be reimbursed by the local school district from funds other than federal funds, Mississippi Adequate Education Program funds, or any other state funds within six (6) months from the date of notice by the department to the school district to make reimbursement to the department.

     (2)  Uniform basic skills tests shall be completed by each student in the appropriate grade.  These tests shall be administered in such a manner as to preserve the integrity and validity of the assessment.  In the event of excused or unexcused student absences, make-up tests shall be given.  The school superintendent of every school district in the state and the principal of each charter school shall annually certify to the State Department of Education that each student enrolled in the appropriate grade has completed the required basic skills assessment test for his or her grade in a valid test administration.

     (3)  Within five (5) days of completing the administration of a statewide test, the principal of the school where the test was administered shall certify under oath to the State Department of Education that the statewide test was administered in strict accordance with the Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System as adopted by the State Board of Education.  The principal's sworn certification shall be set forth on a form developed and approved by the Department of Education.  If, following the administration of a statewide test, the principal has reason to believe that the test was not administered in strict accordance with the Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System as adopted by the State Board of Education, the principal shall submit a sworn certification to the Department of Education setting forth all information known or believed by the principal about all potential violations of the Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System as adopted by the State Board of Education.  The submission of false information or false certification to the Department of Education by any licensed educator may result in licensure disciplinary action pursuant to Section 37-3-2 and criminal prosecution pursuant to Section 37-16-4.

     SECTION 5.  Section 37-16-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     37-16-5.  The school board of every district in this state shall periodically assess student performance and achievement in each school.  Such assessment programs shall be based upon local goals and objectives which are compatible with the state's plan for education and which supplement the minimum performance standards approved by the State Board of Education.  Data from district assessment programs shall be provided to the State Department of Education when such data is required in order to evaluate specific instructional programs or processes or when the data is needed for other research or evaluation projects.  Each district may provide acceptable, compatible district assessment data to substitute for any assessment data needed at the state level when the State Department of Education certifies that such data is acceptable for the purposes of Section 37-16-3.

     SECTION 6.  Section 37-16-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-16-7.  (1)  Each district school board shall establish standards for graduation from its schools which shall include as a minimum:

          (a)  Mastery of minimum academic skills as measured by assessments developed and administered by the State Board of Education.

          (b)  Completion of a minimum number of academic credits, and all other applicable requirements prescribed by the district school board.

          (c)  By school, information on high school graduation rates.  High schools with graduation rates lower than eighty percent (80%) must submit a detailed plan to the Mississippi Department of Education to restructure the high school experience to improve graduation rates.

          (d)  (i)  Mastery of minimum academic skills as measured by the American Civics assessment, administered under the statewide testing program, which shall be identical to the portion of the examination administered by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) used to demonstrate an applicant-for-naturalization's knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of United States history, principles and form of United States government as required by 8 USCS Section 1423. 

              (ii)  The provisions of this paragraph shall not be applicable to any student classified under Section 37-16-11 as being entitled to receive a special diploma or certificate based upon any such student's intellectual disability and who has satisfactorily met the requirements established by the district school board in compliance with the minimum graduation requirements prescribed by the State Board of Education for the awarding of such diploma or certificate.

     (2)  A student who meets all requirements prescribed in subsection (1) of this section shall be awarded a standard diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education.

     (3)  The State Board of Education may establish student proficiency standards for promotion to grade levels leading to graduation.

     SECTION 7.  Section 37-16-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-16-11.  (1)  A student who has been properly classified, in accordance with rules established by the state board as "educable person with an intellectual disability," "trainable person with an intellectual disability," "deaf," "specific learning disabled," "physically handicapped whose ability to communicate orally or in writing is seriously impaired" or "emotionally handicapped" shall not be required to meet all requirements of Section 37-16-7, including the requirement to obtain a passing score on the American Civics assessment, and shall, upon meeting all applicable requirements prescribed by the district school board, be awarded a special diploma in a form prescribed by the state board; however, such special graduation requirements prescribed by the district school board shall include minimum graduation requirements as prescribed by the state board.  Any such student who meets all special requirements of the district school board for his exceptionality, but is unable to meet the appropriate special state minimum requirements, shall be awarded a special certificate of completion in a form prescribed by the state board.  Nothing provided in this section, however, shall be construed to limit or restrict the right of an exceptional student solely to a special diploma.  Any such student shall, upon proper request, be afforded the opportunity to fully meet all requirements of Section 37-16-7 through the standard procedures established therein and thereby qualify for a standard diploma upon graduation.

     (2)  The State Board of Education shall develop and issue criteria for a Mississippi Occupational Diploma for students having a disability as defined by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, any such student, upon proper request, shall be afforded the opportunity to fully meet such requirements and qualify for an occupational diploma upon graduation.

     SECTION 8.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.


feedback