Bill Text: MS HB979 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Graduation requirements; require students graduating in 2021 and years thereafter to take a minimum of one online course as condition of.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-02-05 - Died In Committee [HB979 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2019-HB979-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Read

House Bill 979

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-16-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE EACH COHORT OF STUDENTS BEGINNING WITH THOSE GRADUATING IN 2021 TO TAKE A MINIMUM OF ONE ONLINE COURSE, AS DEFINED AND APPROVED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  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)  Completion of a minimum of one (1) online course, as defined and approved by the State Department of Education, beginning with the cohort of students graduating in 2021 and each year thereafter.

          ( * * *cd)  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 State Department of Education to restructure the high school experience to improve graduation rates.

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

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