37-18-5 - School improvement plan; local parent advisory committee; assistance team; community-based prekindergarten through higher education council.
§ 37-18-5. School improvement plan; local parent advisory committee; assistance team; community-based prekindergarten through higher education council.
(1) Based on the findings of the evaluation report and the results of the public meeting, the State Department of Education and the evaluation team leader shall assist the school principal and other local school officials in the development of a school improvement plan to improve its deficiencies. A local parents/citizens advisory council shall be established by the evaluation team at the school in order to provide input and guidance into the development of the school improvement plan and its evaluation during the implementation period. Local parent-teacher associations and other community-based organizations shall have input in the selection of the parents/citizens advisory council. Where no active local parent-teacher group exists, the State Department of Education may request assistance from the Mississippi Parent-Teacher Association and other community-based organizations in the selection of the local parents/citizens advisory council. The local parents/citizens advisory council shall consist of representatives from each of the following local groups: (a) five (5) representatives of the local PTA, PTSA or other parent organization, (b) two (2) local elected officials or community activist, (c) two (2) students, (d) two (2) local business leaders. Persons who are employed by the local school district are not eligible for membership on the parents/citizens advisory council.
(2) The school improvement plan shall be developed and approved by the principal of the School At-Risk, the superintendent of the local school district, the local school board and a majority of the teachers of the school, within a time period to be determined by the evaluation team. If the plan is not approved, the State Board of Education may approve and implement the plan in the school.
(3) The State Department of Education shall provide technical assistance and shall assist in identifying funding to the School At-Risk in the implementation of the school improvement plan, including the implementation of any recommended professional development plan, and the department may contract with the institutions of higher learning to provide such technical assistance. The assistance team shall collaborate with school and school district employees in the implementation and monitoring of the school improvement plan and the State Department of Education shall ensure that a report is issued monthly to the local school board and the local parents/citizens advisory council.
(4) A school district that has been designated as failing as defined by the State Board of Education shall also establish a community-based prekindergarten through higher education council comprised of a broad spectrum of the community, including economic developers, elected officials, civic leaders, business leaders, faith-based leaders, social services, nonprofit organizations, school attendance officers, law enforcement officials, health department officials, day care providers, librarians, parents and others with the knowledge and resources that can be leveraged to build strong communities. The State Board of Education shall develop procedures for appointments to the council, which shall not be appointed solely by the school board. The council will serve as a community-led group that is inclusive, accountable and required to publicly report progress to the community as a whole.
Sources: Laws, 2000, ch. 533, § 3; Laws, 2000, ch. 610, §§ 3, 7; Laws, 2008, ch. 462, § 3; Laws, 2009, ch. 516, § 9, eff from and after passage (approved Apr. 8, 2009.)