Bill Text: MS HB959 | 2016 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Students with disabilities; revise process by which schools enhancing full inclusion of in all educational areas are recognized.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-03-22 - Died In Committee [HB959 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2016-HB959-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Crawford
House Bill 959
(As Passed the House)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-147, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PROCESS BY WHICH SCHOOLS PROVIDING FULL INCLUSION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN ALL ACADEMIC AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE RECOGNIZED; TO RENAME THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AS THE MISSISSIPPI SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-23-147, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-23-147. (1) The State
Department of Education shall establish goals for the performance of * * * students with disabilities that
will promote the purpose of IDEA and are consistent, to the maximum extent
appropriate, with other goals and standards for * * * students established by the
State Department of Education. Performance indicators used to assess progress
toward achieving those goals that, at a minimum, address the performance of * * * students with disabilities on
assessments, drop-out rates, and graduation rates shall be developed. Every
two (2) years, the progress toward meeting the established performance goals
shall be reported to the public.
(2) To encourage the full
inclusion of * * * students with disabilities in all aspects of academic and
extracurricular activities, the State Department of Education * * * may provide special recognition to
the schools receiving such designation and their school districts. Examples of
such recognition may include, but not be limited to: public announcements and
events, certificates of recognition and plaques for teachers, principals,
superintendents and parents, and media announcements utilizing the services of
Mississippi Educational Television. This special recognition * * * may be awarded to * * * elementary, * * * middle * * * or high schools,
based on entries submitted to the Mississippi Special Education Advisory * * * Panel by
the deadline * * * to be determined annually by the panel. These entries
shall be in the form of a report, * * * listing the
name, address and telephone number of the school district/school; teacher or
staff responsible for administering the program; type of position held by each
of these employees including credentials; description of the program; number of
students with disabilities included; type and level of severity of
disabilities; number of students without disabilities involved in the program;
how long the program has been in operation; benefit of program to all students;
and a description of how this program could be replicated by other school
districts. Winners of the Exemplary Inclusion Program contest shall be chosen annually
by the Mississippi Special Education Advisory * * *
Panel at a date determined by the panel.
Recognition * * * may be given to these schools
during * * *
a meeting of the Mississippi State Board of Education * * * at a date determined by
the board. Information on these exemplary programs shall be provided to
other school districts and the general public through news releases, the state
department website, and other similar avenues.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.
