Current through March 14, 2024
ADMINISTRATION AND
PERSONNEL
1. The
school is governed through official policies approved by the local governing
body under which the school operates.
Note: Some differences exist between public boards and
state agencies that have responsibilities for disbursing public funds and the
privately funded local governing body, which may delegate more fiscal freedom
to the chief administrator of the school. Advisory councils or boards of
parochial and church-related schools must meet requirements of the church as
established by the churches' religious leaders. For Catholic schools, the
Bishop may veto any council action or, in extreme cases, may dissolve the
council. The Choctaw Tribal Schools are governed by policies of the Tribal
Council in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Mississippi Band
of Choctaw Indians.
1.1. The
local governing body maintains records of all official actions in minutes dated
and signed or approved by the local governing body.
Note: The local governing body may be able to fulfill its
leadership and policy roles with less than monthly meetings.
1.2. The official policies of the
local governing body are in writing, on file in the school's administrative
office, and ensure that rules and regulations are established under which the
school is administered.
1.3. School
policy establishes written procedures for placement of students in the program
and procedures for students to exit the program.
1.4. School policy addresses the development
of guidelines for school-wide student disciplinary practices.
1.5. Employment and dismissal of all
personnel follow written procedures and regulations established by the local
governing body.
2. All
professional positions are required to be filled by licensed staff that are
properly endorsed as required by state law. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-9-7 7, Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
80.1 and 80.2. State Board Policy Chapter 80, Rules 80.1 and 80.2.
Note: Upon approval from the MDE Office of Licensure,
teachers certified or working towards certification in a nationally recognized
alternative licensure program, such as but not limited to, Alliance for
Catholic Education (ACE), Teach for America, AmeriCorps, and Association of
Christian Schools International, will be exempt from a Mississippi licensure
for a maximum of three (3) years.
2.1 Each school is administered by a
full-time, appropriately licensed, administrator (principal, superintendent,
director, or headmaster) who is located at the school site and operates the
school in accordance with established policies and procedures. Miss. Code Ann.
§
37-9-7,
37-9-15, and
37-151-5(g).
Administrators may have other roles such as lead teacher or coordinator of
programs and limited to no more than one (1) program.
2.2 With the exception of academic core
subjects, the professional staff in each school is comprised of no more than
10% of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) units working outside the area or areas of
endorsement. Assistant principals and administrative interns who are not
properly endorsed may be included in the 10% FTE working outside their area of
endorsement, provided that they do not act in the place of the
principal.
2.3 The school has access
to library/media services.
Note: This may not apply to Special Purpose Schools which
may be identified as schools that offer no regular high school diploma
but offer other certifications of completion when completing their high school
career.
2.4 Each school will
design and implement student support services appropriate to its particular
situation and students. Student support personnel may include school guidance
counselors and/or other appropriately licensed student support staff, including
nurses, social workers, psychometrists, psychologists, etc. Student support
personnel may only provide those services and activities in the area(s) that
each individual is specifically qualified to provide. Qualified personnel may
be defined as those professionals who provide a specialty service to those
students aside from the regular classroom teacher. These specialty services
include but may not be limited to areas such as appraisal, academic, and/or
personal advisement and educational and/or career planning,
etc.
3. The school
implements an annual, formal personnel appraisal system for licensed staff that
includes an assessment of employees' on-the-job performance. Miss. Code Ann.
§
37-3-46(b)
4. The school is operated under an annual
budget or revision approved by the local governing body.
4.1 The school has adequate written
procedures describing its administrative and accounting controls, which ensures
the accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of the
school's operation and the effective control of and accountability for cash
property and other assets.
5. The local governing body budgets funds
available for classroom supplies, materials, and equipment.
SCHOOL
OPERATIONS
6. The school complies with state law and
State Board of Education policy on enrollment requirements.
6.1 Immunization requirements Miss. Code Ann.
§§
37-7-301(i),
37-15-1, and
41-23-37
6.2 Age of entry requirements Miss. Code Ann.
§
37-15-9
7. Any transfer student from a school or
program not accredited regionally or by a state board of education (or its
designee[s]) is given either a standardized achievement test(s) or teacher-made
special subject test(s) to determine the appropriate classification of the
student within thirty (30) days after filing for transfer. Notice of the
administering of such test(s) shall be given to the applicant not less than
five (5) days prior to the date of the administration of such test. Miss. Code
Ann. §
37-15-33, Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
36.2, 36.4, State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rules 36.2-36.4.
8. Permanent records and cumulative folders
for individual students contain all required data and are collected,
maintained, and disseminated in compliance with state law, the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, and the Confidentiality Section of
the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 1997 Amendments. (See Appendix E and the
current edition of the Mississippi Cumulative Folders and Permanent
Records Manual of Directions.) Miss. Code Ann. §
37-15-1 through 3; 37-15-6;
37-15-10
9. The school engages in
annual strategic planning, such as the current School Improvement Plan, to
review the educational status of the school and to address specific actions to
improve the quality of its educational programs. ( S e e Ap p e n d ix G )
Miss. Code Ann. §
37-3-49(2)(e).
10. The school implements procedures for
monitoring and reporting student absences as specified in the Mississippi
Compulsory Attendance Law. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-13-91, Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
30.1 and 30.2, State Board Policy Chapter 30, Rules 30.1 and 30.2. The schools
of the Choctaw Tribal School System will monitor, and report student absences
as specified by the Bureau of Indian Education and in the Choctaw Tribal Code.
Miss. Code Ann. §
3-3-36. This standard does not
apply to correctional facilities.
11. The academic year provides a minimum of
180 teaching days in which both teachers and pupils are in regular attendance
for scheduled classroom instruction. Any request for an exception to this
standard must be submitted in writing to the State Board of Education for
review and action. If the Governor has declared a disaster emergency or the
President of the United States has declared an emergency or major disaster to
exist in this state, the local governing body may request approval from the
State Board of Education to operate the school(s) for less than one hundred
eighty (180) days. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-151-7(3)(c),
Miss. Code Ann. §
37-3-49, §§
37-13-61 through 69, §
37-151-5(j), and
§
37-151-7(3)(c).
11.1. The teaching day must provide at least
330 minutes of instruction per day or 27.5 hours per five-day week. Miss. Code
Ann. §
37-13-67.
11.2. The school must ensure that during the
academic school year a minimum of 140 hours of instruction is provided for each
Carnegie unit of credit offered and 70 hours for each one-half (1/2) unit
offered, except for remedial instructional programs, dual enrollment/dual
credit, correspondence courses, MS Virtual Public School courses, and
innovative programs authorized by the State Board of Education.
11.3. No more than two (2) of the 180 days
may be 60% days. Both teachers and pupils must be in attendance for not less
than 60% of the normal school day. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-151-5(j).
11.4. The school schedules preparation for
graduation ceremonies in such manner that graduating seniors are absent from
classes for no more than three (3) days prior to the end of the school year.
11.5. The summer school/extended
year program [not Extended School Year (ESY) provided through special education
programs] meets all applicable requirements of the regular school program.
Miss. Code Ann. §
37-3-49.
11.6.
11.6.1. Students from other schools enrolled
in summer programs provide written approval from the principal of their home
schools.
11.6.2 Students enrolled
in an extended year program complete all remaining course/subject
requirements/objectives before credit for the course/subject is issued. Miss.
Code Ann. §
37-3-49.
11.6.3 Students enrolled in a summer program
are limited to earning one (1) Carnegie unit of credit during a traditional
summer school session, which does not apply to extended year programs and
approved virtual courses.
12. The school requires each student, in
order to receive a high school diploma, to have met the requirements
established by its local governing body and by the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. §
37-16-7, Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
34.1, 36.3, and 36.4, State Board Policy Chapter 34, Rule 34.1, State Board
Policy Chapter 36, Rules 36.3, and 36.4.
12.1
Each student receiving a standard high school diploma has earned the minimum
number of Carnegie units as specified in
Appendix A of the current
edition of the
Mississippi Public
School
Accountability Standards. See Appendix A., Miss. Admin. Code 7- 3:
28.2 and 28.3, State Board Policy Chapter 28, Rules 28.2 and 28.3.
12.1.1. Entering ninth graders in 2018-2019
and thereafter, are required to have a minimum of 24 Carnegie units as
specified in Appendix A-6.
12.1.2
.Entering ninth graders in 2018-2019 and thereafter, are required to have a
minimum of 26 Carnegie units and meet additional requirements as specified in
Appendix A-7 to earn a Traditional Diploma with a Career and Technical
Endorsement.
12.1.3. Entering
ninth graders in 2018-2019 and thereafter, are required to have a minimum of 26
Carnegie units and meet additional requirements as specified in Appendix A-8 to
earn a Traditional Diploma with an Academic Endorsement.
12.1.4. Entering ninth graders in 2018-2019
and thereafter, are required to have a minimum of 28 Carnegie units and meet
additional requirements as specified in Appendix A-9 to earn a Traditional
Diploma with a Distinguished Academic Endorsement.
12.1.5. Entering ninth graders with a
significant cognitive disability in 2018-2019 and thereafter, are required to
have a minimum of 24 Credits as described in Appendix A-10 to earn an Alternate
Diploma
12.2. Beginning
with incoming ninth graders of 2018-2019, each student who has met the criteria
for the certificate of completion, may be issued a certificate of completion.
Student receiving a certificate of completion may participate in high school
graduation exercises. (Appendix A-11) Miss. Code Ann. §
37-16-11(1).
12.3. Ending with the incoming ninth grade
class of 2016-2017, each student with disabilities receiving a Mississippi
Occupational Diploma has successfully completed all minimum requirements
established by the State Board of Education. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-16-11(2). See
Appendix G.
12.4. The student who
fails to meet the graduation requirements is not permitted to participate in
the graduation exercises.
Note: Carnegie units may be awarded in the seventh grade
for the following courses: Algebra I, Biology I, ICT II (Information and
Communication Technology), and first-year Foreign Language provided course
content is the same as the high school course. Effective with 2014-15, Carnegie
units may be earned for CCSS Compacted Math Grade 7, CCSS Math Grade 8, CCSS
Compacted Math Grade 8 (with Integrated Math 1), and CCSS Math Grade 8 (with
Algebra I/Traditional).
Note: Carnegie units may be awarded in the eighth grade
for the following courses: Algebra I, Geometry, Mississippi Studies, Geography,
Biology I, ICT II (Information & Communication Technology), STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering & Science), Introduction to Agriscience, first-year
Foreign Language, and second-year Foreign Language provided course content is
the same as the high school course. Carnegie units may be earned for CCSS
Compacted Math Grade 7, CCSS Math Grade 8, CCSS Compacted Math Grade 8 (with
Integrated Math 1), and CCSS Math Grade 8 (with Algebra
I/Traditional).
Note: Students enrolled in grades 7 " 12 may be awarded a
Carnegie unit credit provided the course content is a Carnegie unit bearing
course in the current edition of the Approved Courses for Secondary Schools of
Mississippi Manual.
13. The school implements a professional
development program Miss. Code Ann. §
37-17-8, 7 Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
44.1, State Board Policy Chapter 44, Rule, Ch. 44, R. 44.1.
INSTRUCTIONAL
PRACTICES
14. The school is in compliance with state
and/or federal requirements for the following programs:
14.1. Early Childhood Programs (kindergarten
and teacher assistant) Miss. Code Ann. §
37-21-1, et seq., Miss. Admin.
Code 7-3: 42.1, State Board Policy Chapter 42, Rule 42.1, and Miss. Admin. Code
7-3: 62.6, State Board Policy Chapter 62, Rule 62.6, Refer to the Mississippi
Kindergarten Guidelines. Districts Meeting the Highest Levels of Performance
are exempted from Miss. Code Ann. §
37-21-7(4).
Pre-Kindergarten Miss. Code Ann. §
37-7-301(ss),
Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 28.4, State Board Policy Chapter 28, Rule 28.4. Refer to
the Mississippi Early Learning Guidelines. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-7-301(zz).
14.2. Career-Technical Education
Miss. Code Ann. §
37-31-1, et seq., Miss. Admin.
Code 7-3: 83-96, State Board Policy Chapters 83 through 96, and Federal
Code.
14.3. Special Education Miss.
Code Ann. §
37-23-1 through §
37-23-9, Miss. Admin. Code 7- 3:
74.1, 74.3 through 74.6, 74.8, 74.10 through 74.14, and 74.19, State Board
Policy Chapter 74, Rules 74.1, 74.3 through 74.6, 74.8, 74.10 through 74.14,
and 74.19, and Federal Code. See State Policies Regarding Children with
Disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004
(IDEA 2004).
14.4. Child Nutrition
Miss. Code Ann. §
37-11-7, Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
17.1, 17.2, 17.4, 17.7, and 17.9, State Board Policy Chapter 17, Rules 17.1,
17.2, 17.4, 17.7, and 17.9 and Federal Code.
14.4.1. School Wellness Policy
14.5. Elementary and Secondary
Education Act: Titles I, II, III, IV, V, VI, X, and any other federally funded
programs and grants Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 80.1-80.3, State Board Policy
Chapter 80, Rules 80.1 through 80.3, and Federal Code.
14.6. Driver Education Miss. Code Ann. §
37-25-1, et seq., Miss. Admin.
Code 7-3: 29.1, State Board Policy Chapter 29, Rule 29.1.
14.7. Gifted Education Miss. Code Ann.
§§
37-23-171 through 181, Miss.
Admin. Code 7-3: 35.1, State Board Policy Chapter 35, Rule 35.1. Refer to the
current edition of the Regulations for Gifted Education Programs in
Mississippi and the Gifted Education Program Standards.
15. Each school has a library
media center. Refer to the current edition of the Mississippi School Library
Media Guide. Miss. Code Ann. §§
37-17-6(3)(a-e).
15.1. Each school has a library-media center
with an organized collection of materials and equipment that represents a broad
range of current learning media, including instructional technology. Special
purpose schools provide library/media center services in conformity with the
mission and curriculum of the school and as indicated on each student's
Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
15.2. The library staff offers a systematic
program of service to students and staff by providing access to the materials
and equipment, by providing instruction in the use of the materials and
equipment, and by working with teachers and other staff members to provide
learning activities for the students.
16. The school district is in compliance with
state law and State Board of Education policies for state adopted textbooks.
{Miss. Code Ann. §§
37-43-1,
37-43-24,
37-43-31(2),
37-43-51,
37-9-14(2)(b),
and 37-7-301(ff)} (7
Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 3, Ch. 79, R. 79.1, R. 79.2) (Refer to the current
edition of the Textbook Administration Handbook Rules and Regulations.)
16.1. Each school provides students in each
school with access to current or otherwise appropriate textbooks that are in
good condition. (See glossary for definition of textbook.) Miss. Code Ann.
§§
37-43-1,
37-9-14(2)(b),
and 37-7-301(ff).
16.2. Each school shall keep an active and
surplus inventory for each school in the district to be completed by June 15 of
each year. The district shall report the inventory in the Textbook Inventory
Management System. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-43-51. Refer to the current
edition of the Textbook Administration Handbook Rules and
Regulations.
17.
The school curriculum is in conformity with the mission statement and is in
keeping with the needs, aptitudes, and potential of the students enrolled.
17.1. The school has a written instructional
management plan developed jointly by teachers and administrators and approved
by the local governing body or an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) that
has been developed for each student.
Note: Students with disabilities who are placed by a
public educational agency in a nonpublic school in order to meet the public
educational agency's obligation to provide a free appropriate public education,
must have a current Individualized Education Program (IEP) that has been
developed in accordance with IDEA and all State and Federal regulations
pertaining to students with disabilities.
Note: Students with disabilities who have been placed by
their parent(s) in a private school without the agreement of the public
educational agency will not have an IEP. Students with disabilities who have
been parentally-placed in a private school and for whom the public educational
agency has elected to serve will have a Services Plan which describes the
special education and related services to be provided to the private school
student.
18. The school follows an established policy
that defines criteria for the academic promotion, progression, and retention of
students. Such criteria prohibit the retention of students for extracurricular
activities.
18.1. The school implements a
uniform grading policy. Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: Ch. 2, R. 2.3, State Board
Policy Chapter 2, Rule 2.3, Miss. Code Ann. §
37-11-64 and
37-11-66.
18.2. A student who is enrolled in any grade
higher than Grade 6 in a school must be suspended from participation in any
extracurricular or athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by the school
after a semester in which the student's cumulative grade point average is below
2.0 on a 4.0 scale in accordance with the Mississippi High School Activities
Association (MHSAA). This portion of the standard will be jointly monitored and
enforced by the State Board of Education and the MHSAA. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-11-65.
19. The school, in its discretion, may
provide access to a GED Option program that meets the program guidelines
outlined in Miss. Code Ann. §
37-13-92(4) and
the guidelines established by the State Board of Education. Miss. Admin. Code
7-3:7.1, State Board Policy, Chapter 7, Rule 7.1. See guidelines for
Alternative/GED School Programs.
20. Each classroom teacher has an
unencumbered period of time during the teaching instructional day to be used
for individual or departmental planning.
20.1. If the school utilizes a traditional
six-period or seven-period day schedule, the instructional planning time for
the secondary teachers is a minimum of 225 minutes per week, exclusive of the
lunch period. If the school utilizes any form of a modular/block schedule, the
instructional planning time provided is a minimum of either 225 minutes per
week or an average of 225 minutes per week per instructional cycle, exclusive
of the lunch period.
20.2.
Instructional planning time for the elementary school teacher is no less than
150 minutes per week, exclusive of the lunch period.
Special Purpose School
Exemption: Due to the individualized needs of students placed in
special purpose school programs, planning time may be before and/or after the
teaching day.
21. Individual
teachers (grades 9-12) teaching regular education courses are limited to three
(3) course preparations per scheduling cycle or five (5) in the same
subject/content area. Any assignment of more than five (5) course preparations
must be submitted in writing to the State Board of Education for review and
action.
22. The curriculum of each
diploma-granting secondary school (grades 9-12) consists of approved courses
from Approved Courses for the Secondary Schools of Mississippi
necessary to meet graduation requirements as specified in Appendix A.(See
Appendix B.)(Miss. Code Ann. §
37-1-3(2), and
Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 28.2 and 28.3, State Board Policy Chapter 28, Rules 28.2
and 28.3.)
23. The curriculum of
each elementary or middle school (any configuration of grades K-8) at a minimum
consists of reading/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, the
arts, health education, and physical education, which may be
taught by a regular classroom teacher. Miss. Code Ann. §§
37-1-3(2) and
37-13-134.
Note: If the basic academic areas are deemed
inappropriate for students with disabilities, a suitable curriculum meeting
individual needs of students must be developed and implemented.
24. A one-year waiver may be
requested for classes that do not exceed more than two (2) students beyond the
allowable student teacher ratio. Student teacher ratios do not exceed the
following: Miss. Code Ann. §
37-151-77.
24.1. Student teacher ratios do not exceed 22
to 1 in kindergarten, except in instances in which a full-time assistant
teacher is in the classroom. If a full-time assistant teacher is employed, 27
may be enrolled. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-151-77, See Mississippi
Kindergarten Guidelines, Miss. Admin. Code 7-3: 19.1, State Board Policy
Chapter 19, Rule 19.1.
24.2.
Student teacher ratios do not exceed 27 to 1 in classrooms serving grades 1
through 4 unless approved by the State Board of Education. Miss. Code Ann.
§
37-151-77. Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
19.1, State Board Policy Chapter 19, Rule 19.1.
24.3. Student teacher ratios do not exceed 30
to 1 in self-contained classes serving grades 5-8. Miss. Code Ann. §
37-151-77.
24.4. Student teacher ratios do not exceed 33
to 1 in departmentalized academic core classes serving grades 5-12. Miss. Code
Ann. §
37-151-77.
24.5. The total number of students taught by
an individual teacher in academic core subjects at any time during the school
year shall not exceed 150. A teacher who provides instruction through
intra-district or inter-district distance learning or supervises students
taking virtual courses will be exempt from the 150-student limitation. A lab
facilitator or principal designee will be responsible for the assignment of
grades and related activities at the receiving school.
24.6. The caseload of each teacher in a
special purpose school will be based on the needs of the student population and
the mission of the school.
SAFE AND HEALTHY
SCHOOLS
25. The
school complies with the applicable policies of the State Board of Education
and state and federal laws in the operation of its transportation program. The
school implements Nathan's Law as a priority for promoting school bus safety.
Miss. Code Ann. §§
37-41-53,
63-3-615,
63-1-73,
97-3-7, and
63-1-33, Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
81.3, 81.4, 81.6, 81.7, 81.9, State Board Policy Chapter 81, Rules 81.3, 81.4,
81.6, 81.7, and 81.9.
25.1. All buses are
inspected on a quarterly basis and are well-maintained and clean. Miss. Admin.
Code 7-3: 81.9, State Board Policy Chapter 81, Rule 81.9.
25.2. Each bus driver has a valid bus driver
certificate and a commercial driver's license and operates the bus according to
all specified safety procedures. The school district has on file a yearly motor
vehicle report on each driver and evidence that each driver has received two
(2) hours of in-service training per semester. Miss. Code Ann. §
63-3-615, Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
81.3 and 81.6, State Board Policy Chapter 81, Rules 81.3 and 81.6.
25.3. Bus schedules ensure arrival of all
buses at their designated school sites prior to the start of the instructional
day
25.4 .Emergency bus evacuation
drills are conducted at least two (2) times each year. Miss. Admin. Code 7-3:
81.4, State Board Policy Chapter 81, Rule 81.4.
26. The school district provides
clean/sanitary facilities in a safe and secure environment. All classrooms in
each school will be air conditioned. Miss. Code Ann. §§
37-7-301(c) (d) and
(j),
37-11-5,
37-11-49; and 45-11-101.
27. Each school has a comprehensive School
Safety Plan on file that has been approved annually by the local governing body
Miss. Code Ann. §§
37-3-81; 37-3-83(2); 37-11-67; and
37-11-69, the Mississippi School Safety Manual and the MDE Occupational Safety
and Crisis Response Planning Manual.
ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL
FACILITIES
Boarding Schools and Residential Programs with Dormitory
Facilities
28. Dormitory
facilities meet the following criteria:
28.1.
All state and local fire and safety codes/standards are enforced.
28.2 .Facilities are clean, comfortable, and
adequately furnished for the personal and academic needs of the
students.
28.3. Continuous and
responsible adult supervision is provided.
State Licensed Facility
29. special purpose school operated in
conjunction with a residential facility must meet minimum state requirements to
operate a state licensed facility as verified by an appropriate and current
license or certificate as follows:
29.1.
Intermediate care facility for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
(ICF/IDD);
29.2. Skilled nursing
facility;
29.3. Residential
psychiatric treatment facility/nursing facility (RPTF); or
29.4. Other required state license or
certificate.
Note: When a special purpose school operated in
conjunction with a residential facility is also designed to provide day
treatment services as a specific program option, a license to operate a
Therapeutic Day Treatment Facility is required. The requirement for a
Therapeutic Day Treatment Facility license does not apply to the school when
students placed in residential treatment facility are in the process of being
transitioned from a residential treatment facility to an out-patient treatment
program.
