HB1435: Student transfers; provide greater access to open enrollment and remove requirement for home district approval of release.

Legislative Summary

An Act To Amend Section 37-15-31, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Remove The Requirement For The School Board Of The School District Of A Child's Residence Consent To The Release Of The Student For Transfer To Another School District; To Only Require That The Transferee School Board Approve Or Refuse The Transfer Of A Student Upon Receiving Notice And Official Meeting Of The Board To Act On Such Transfer; To Authorize The Siblings Of A Lawfully Transferred Student To Enroll In The Transferee School District At The Discretion Of Their Parent(s) Or Legal Guardian(s); That A Transfer Student's Athletic Eligibility Shall Be Determined In Accordance With Rules And Regulations Promulgated By Mhsaa Governing Student Eligibility To Provide For The Allocation And Disbursement Of Funds To A Receiving School District Upon The Completion And Certification Of A Student Transfer Request; To Stipulate That A School Or District May Not Accept Or Deny Students For Transfer Based On The Student's Ability Or Disability; To Require School Districts To Publish The Number Of Available Seats Open To Transfers Within The District And Individualized By School Facility; To Require The District To Publish Such Information At A Reasonable Time Before The Start Of The School Year; To Require Districts To Adopt And Publish The Processes Used To Choose Students For Transfer; To Require The State Department To Collect And Publish Student Transfer Data, Categorized By Acceptance, Denials And Reasons For Denials; To Provide That Transfer Authority Of A District To Receive Or Deny The Acceptance Of A Student Requesting Transfer Into The District Shall Not Supersede Any Provision Of An Enforceable Desegregation Order Or A Court-approved Desegregation Plan; To Create The Student Portability And Open Enrollment Fund As A Special Fund In The State Treasury; To Provide That Monies In The Fund Shall Be Expended By The State Department Of Education, Upon Appropriation Of The Legislature, For The Purpose Of Paying The Cost Of The State Portion Of Total Funding Formula Base-student Cost For The Transferring Student At The Transferee District's Rate; And For Related Purposes.