Bill Text: MS HB1071 | 2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Education Achievement Council; establish to increase educational attainment of the state's working-age population by 2025.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-03-24 - Approved by Governor [HB1071 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2010-HB1071-Enrolled.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2010 Regular Session

To: Universities and Colleges

By: Representatives Buck (5th), Brown, Scott, Clark, Espy

House Bill 1071

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL TO REQUIRE THE COUNCIL TO WORK TOWARD INCREASING THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND SKILL LEVELS OF THE STATE'S WORKING-AGE POPULATION BENCHMARK TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE BY 2025; TO REQUIRE THE COUNCIL TO PREPARE AN ANNUAL STATE REPORT CARD AND MAKE THE REPORT AVAILABLE IN CERTAIN MEDIUMS AND AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature and the expectation of the Board of Trustees for State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, as well as each institution of higher learning and community and junior college in the state that all students in those institutions receive a quality education and graduate from those institutions; and

     WHEREAS, the Mississippi Legislature, during the 2009 Regular Session, established the Graduation Rate Task Force to assist the Legislature in shaping public policy to improve student outcomes and educational opportunities for all students in the institutions of higher learning by focusing on the means and methods to improve graduation rates and numbers; and

     WHEREAS, the Graduation Rate Task Force completed its work on December 16, 2009, and submitted its report, recommending the need to increase the educational attainment and skill levels of the state's working-age population benchmark to the national average by 2025 to prepare a globally competitive workforce, enhance the state's future economy, and improve the quality of life for the

state's citizens; and

     WHEREAS, the Graduation Rate Task Force further recommended establishing the Education Attainment Council to sustain attention by leading this agenda in partnership with the governing and coordinating roles of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges; and

     WHEREAS, the Graduation Rate Task Force identified several key components of this agenda to include:  the alignment of K-12 and higher education expectations for college-level learning; teacher preparation; reviewing admissions requirements and developmental education; implementation of a longitudinal data system; revising and strengthening transfer and articulation processes and policies; creating incentives for regional collaboration to ensure more students get through the system to higher levels of achievement; improving academic advisement at state institutions of higher learning; redesigning student financial aid; aligning financing policy with these long-term goals; and improving student recruitment, retention, persistence and completion; NOW, THEREFORE,

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

     SECTION 1.  (1)  There is created an Education Achievement Council whose purpose is to sustain attention to the state's goal of increasing the educational attainment and skill levels of the state's working-age population benchmark to the national average by 2025.

     (2)  The Education Achievement Council shall consist of twenty-three (23) members:

          (a)  The Chairmen of the House and Senate Universities and Colleges Committees;

          (b)  The Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees;

          (c)  A representative of the Governor's office appointed by the Governor;

          (d)  Two (2) members of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning;

          (e)  The Chairman of the State Board of Education, or his designee;

          (f)  The Chairman and one (1) member of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, or his designee;

          (g)  The State Superintendent of Public Education, or his designee;

          (h)  The Commissioner of Higher Education, or his designee;

          (i)  The Executive Director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, or his designee;

          (j)  Three (3) presidents of state institutions of higher learning appointed by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, one (1) of which must be from a historically black institution of higher learning;

          (k)  Three (3) community and junior college presidents appointed by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges;

          (l)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, or his designee; 

          (m)  The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mississippi Economic Council; and

          (n)  The Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriation Committees, or their designees.

     (3)  The Education Achievement Council shall work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges to achieve the state's goal, and shall not displace any governing or coordinating responsibilities.

     (4)  The Education Achievement Council shall:

          (a)  Establish the education achievement goals for the state;

          (b)  Develop and prescribe appropriate planning processes;

          (c)  Establish appropriate benchmarks to measure progress, including degrees awarded per one hundred (100) full-time equivalent (FTE) students calculated using completed credit hours; conduct the necessary studies and analysis; and

          (d)  Contract for any professional services that it deems necessary to complete its work.

     (5)  The Education Achievement Council shall monitor and report on the state's progress toward these education achievement goals by preparing an annual state report card compiled from the annual reports prepared and submitted by each state institution of higher learning and community and junior college in the state.  The state's annual report shall be made available on the Education Achievement Council Web site, as well as the Web sites of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.

     (6)  Each state institution of higher learning and community and junior college shall be required to develop and publish an annual report as prescribed by the Education Achievement Council. By November 1 of each year, as prescribed by the Education

Achievement Council, each institution's annual report shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county and posted on the institution's Web site in printable form.  The public notice shall include information on the report's availability on the institution's Web site, with the Web site address, and the locations where a copy of the report may be obtained.

     (7)  Within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this act, the Education Achievement Council shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a chairman, vice chairman and secretary each for a one-year term of office.  A majority of the membership will constitute a quorum.  In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative majority vote shall be required.  All members must

be notified in writing of all meetings at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting is scheduled.

     (8)  The Legislature may appropriate funds to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the administrative, contractual costs, travel and other expenses of the Education Achievement Council.

     (9)  Members of the Education Achievement Council who are not legislators, state officials or state employees may be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-41 for mileage and actual expense incurred in the performance of their duties.  Legislative members of the Education Achievement Council may be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses, but only with the specific approval of the Senate Rules Committee or House Management Committee; however, no per diem or expense is authorized for attending meetings of the Education Achievement Council when the Legislature is in session.  Nonlegislative members may be paid from any funds made available for that purpose.

     (10)  The Commissioner of Higher Education, or his designee, shall serve as the principal staff to support the Education Achievement Council.  The Commissioner of Higher Education and the Executive Director of the State Board for Community and Junior

Colleges shall provide appropriate staff to support the work of the Education Achievement Council.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.