Bill Text: MS SB2214 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program for underserved students in public schools; establish in the State Dept. of Ed.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-02-05 - Died In Committee [SB2214 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2019-SB2214-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Dawkins

Senate Bill 2214

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT AN "OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND RECREATION GRANT PROGRAM" FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO PRESCRIBE COMPONENTS OF THE GRANT PROGRAM; TO ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ASSIST AND ADVISE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM; TO ESTABLISH AN OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND RECREATION PROGRAM FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to

establish an Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program to provide a large number of underserved students with quality opportunities to directly experience the natural world.  It is the intent of the program to improve students overall academic performance, self-esteem, personal responsibility, community involvement, personal health, and understanding of nature.  Further, it is the intent of the program to empower local communities to engage students in outdoor education and recreation experiences.

     SECTION 2.  (1)  The Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program is hereby established in the State Department of Education, subject to the availability of funds in the Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Fund created in subsection (5).  The State Board of Education shall establish and implement the program by rule to provide opportunities for public school districts, private nonprofit organizations, formal school programs, after-school programs, and community-based programs to receive grants from the fund.  Programs that provide outdoor education opportunities to schools shall be fully aligned with the state's essential academic learning requirements.

     (2)  The program shall be phased in beginning with the schools and students with the greatest needs in suburban, rural, and urban areas of the state.  The program shall focus on students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, who are most likely to fail academically, or who have the greatest potential to drop out of school.

     (3)  The State Superintendent of Education shall set priorities and develop criteria for the awarding of grants to outdoor environmental, ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based education and recreation programs considering at least the following:

          (a)  Programs that contribute to the reduction of academic failure and dropout rates;

          (b)  Programs that make use of research-based, effective

environmental, ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based education curriculum;

          (c)  Programs that contribute to healthy life styles through outdoor recreation and sound nutrition;

          (d)  Various Mississippi state parks as venues and use of the commission's personnel as a resource;

          (e)  Programs that maximize the number of participants that can be served;

          (f)  Programs that will commit matching and in-kind resources;

          (g)  Programs that create partnerships with public and private entities;

          (h)  Programs that provide students with opportunities to directly experience and understand nature and the natural world; and

          (i)  Programs that include ongoing program evaluation, assessment, and reporting of their effectiveness.

     (4)  The State Board of Education shall create an advisory committee to assist and advise the board in the development and administration of the Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program.  The State Superintendent of Education shall solicit representation on the committee from the State Department of Education, the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the business community, outdoor organizations with an interest in education, and any others the board deems sufficient to ensure a cross section of stakeholders.  When the State Board of Education creates such an advisory committee, its members shall be reimbursed from the Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program Fund for travel expenses as provided under state law.

     (5)  The Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program Fund is created within the State Treasury.  Funds deposited in the Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program Fund shall be transferred only to the State Board of Education to be used solely for the board's Outdoor Education and Recreation Program purposes identified in this section, including the administration of the program.  The State Department of Education may accept gifts, grants, donations, or monies from any source for deposit in the Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program Fund.  Any public agency in this state may develop and implement Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Programs.  The State Department of Education may make grants to public school districts and agencies and contract with any public or private agency or person to develop and implement Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Programs.  The Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program Fund is subject to funds appropriated therefor by the Legislature.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.