House Bill 973 Summary

• Creates the Mississippi High School Dropout Prevention Act of 2011 requiring the State Department of Education to work with school districts having the lowest high school graduation rates and develop targeted intervention methods.

• Authorizes intervention strategies including early intervention for students failing Algebra I or Grade 9 math, alternative programs, dual enrollment courses, advanced placement courses, course fee waivers for low-income students, and teacher advisories targeting at-risk youth.

• Requires the Department of Education to gather data on truancy suspensions, alternative program enrollment, remedial programming, Grade 9 repeaters, and graduation rates of children in the Department of Human Services care.

• Restricts school withdrawal for students ages 16-18 to documented cases of financial hardship requiring employment, documented illness, or court order, with written acknowledgment that withdrawal reduces future earnings and increases unemployment risk.

• Establishes graduation rate benchmarks aiming for 85% graduation rates by the 2018-2019 school year, and requires annual written reports documenting dropout prevention strategy outcomes and necessary modifications based on data.