HB1433: The "Flexible and Rightful Education Enrollment (FREE) Act;" establish for students in "D" and "F" schools and districts.

Legislative Summary

An Act To Establish The "mississippi Quality Desert Educational Enrollment And Transfer Scholarship Act" (qdesa) For The Purpose Of Expanding Access To Higher Performing Schools And Accredited Nonpublic Schools For Students Enrolled In Certain Schools And Districts Rated As "d" Or "f" By The State Department Of Education; To Prescribe Terms And Definitions; To Prescribe The Qualifications Of Eligibility; To Provide That A Parent Or Legal Guardian Whose Child Has Been Enrolled In A "d" Or "f" Rated School Or District Within The Last Five Years, Beginning With The 2020 Academic Year, May Make Application To Enroll His Or Her Child In A Higher Performing Public School, School District Or Accredited Nonpublic School; To Provide That Funding For Transferred Students Shall Be Equivalent To The Full Base Per-pupil State Funding As Determined Under Mississippi Student Funding Formula; To Provide The Purposes For Which Qdesa Funds May Be Used; To Provide That If A Parent Or Legal Guardian Chooses To Enroll His Or Her Child In An Accredited Nonpublic School, Qdesa Funds Shall Be Paid As A Reimbursement For Certain Educational Related Expenses; To Provide That Reimbursement Payment Shall Be Made On A Monthly Basis Upon Approval Of Submitted Expenses; To Provide That The Siblings Of Eligible Students Who Qualify To Receive A Qdesa May Also Receive A Qdesa Upon The Submission Of An Application By The Parent Or Legal Guardian; To Provide That A Transferee District Or Nonpublic School May, But Is Not Required To, Provide Transportation For Transferring Students; To Require Applications To Be Submitted To The Transferee School, District Or Nonpublic School During An Annual Enrollment Period Established By The State Department Of Education; To Provide That A Transferee School District Or Nonpublic School May Accept Students Based On Capacity To Enroll The Child For Attendance; To Require Transferee Districts And Nonpublic Schools To Establish Publicly Accessible Transparent Capacity Policies; To Require That The State Department Of Education Shall Develop Rules, Annually Review And Report On Specified Information Submitted By Public Schools, Districts And Accredited Nonpublic Schools; To Require The State Department Of Education To Audit Reimbursements For Nonpublic School Expenses To Ensure Compliance And Publish Findings And Recommendations For Legislative Or Regulatory Adjustments; To Establish The Quality Desert Enrollment And Transfer Scholarship Fund And To Provide For Its Manner Of Funding; To Amend Sections 37-15-29 And 37-15-31, Mississippi Code Of 1972, In Conformity To The Preceding Provisions, To Authorize Transfers Without School Board Consent In Certain Circumstances; To Create The "mississippi Foster Child Education Scholarship Account Program Act" For The Purpose Of Establishing Education Scholarship Accounts (fesas) For Foster Parents, Guardians Or Responsible Agency Officials Of The Department Of Child Protection Services For Foster Children; To Prescribe The Criteria For Determining Eligibility For Participation In The Program And Receipt Of Program Funds; To Provide For The Funding Of Each Student's Fesa; To Stipulate The Obligations Of Foster Parents, Legal Guardians, Responsible Cps Officials, Students And Schools To Become And Remain Eligible For Participation; To Prescribe The Duties Of The Department Of Education Regarding The Administration Of The Funds; To Require Peer To Prepare A Biennial Report On The Sufficiency Of Funding For Fesas And Student Performance And Assessment Evaluation Beginning In 2027 And Every Two Years Thereafter; To Provide For The Administrative, Financial And Academic Accountability Standards To Be Adhered To By Participating Schools; And For Related Purposes.