Bill Text: MS HB315 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Gifted education; require school districts to provide for students in Grades 7 and 8.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2021-02-02 - Died In Committee [HB315 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2021-HB315-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Bennett
House Bill 315
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-179, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER GIFTED EDUCATION FOR INTELLECTUALLY GIFTED STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 AND 8 BEGINNING WITH THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-23-179, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-23-179. (1) The board shall specifically promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines which establish model programs of gifted education and also establish minimum criteria for gifted education programs. In providing programs of gifted education, the local district may use the model programs prepared by the board or may itself develop programs of gifted education which, prior to being implemented, shall be approved by the board, provided, that no such plan or program shall be approved or continued unless it meets the minimum criteria established by the board.
(2) There is hereby created within the department an office for gifted education which shall be staffed by such professional, support and clerical personnel as may be necessary to implement the provisions of Sections 37-23-171 through 37-23-181.
(3) All local school
districts may have programs of gifted education for intellectually, creatively
and/or artistically gifted students in Grades 2 through 12 and for academically
gifted students in Grades 9 through 12 approved by the board. Beginning with
the * * *
2021-2022 school year, all local school districts shall have programs of
gifted education for intellectually gifted students in Grade 2, subject to the
approval of the State Board of Education and the availability of funds
appropriated therefor by line-item. Beginning with the 1994-1995 school year,
all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for
intellectually gifted students in Grades 2 and 3, subject to the approval of
the State Board of Education. Beginning with the 1995-1996 school year, all
local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for
intellectually gifted students in Grades 2, 3 and 4 subject to the approval of
the State Board of Education. Beginning with the 1996-1997 school year, all
local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for intellectually
gifted students in Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5, subject to the approval of the State
Board of Education. Beginning with the * * * 2021-2022 school year,
all local school districts shall have programs of gifted education for
intellectually gifted students in Grades 2, 3, 4, 5, * * * 6, 7 and 8 subject to the approval
of the State Board of Education. The programs shall be funded as a part of the
exceptional child programs in accordance with Section 37-19-5(3). Each local
school district shall include as a part of its five-year plan a description of
any proposed gifted education programs of the district. State funded teacher
units for gifted education programs for fiscal year 1994 and thereafter shall
be at least the number funded for gifted education programs for fiscal year
1993 and any additional numbers that may be funded by appropriation of the
Legislature for those programs. Additional programs above the number
authorized statewide and expansion of programs using state funds shall be
allowed only in years in which the funding for gifted education teacher units
exceeds the number funded for fiscal year 1993. In the * * * Adequate Education Program
appropriation bill each year, there shall be a line item specifying the number
of special education teacher units that are to be used for gifted education
programs.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.
