MS SB3042

Appropriates $146,270,825.00 from the State General Fund and $38,115,051.00 from the Education Enhancement Fund for aid and support of public community and junior colleges for fiscal year 2012 (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012).

Distributes funds based on full-time equivalency (FTE) enrollment with weighted formulas: Academic and Technical programs at 1.0 weight, Virtual Community College at 0.50 weight, Vocational at 1.0, and Associate Degree Nursing and Allied Health at 1.19 weight each.

Appropriates additional funds for specific purposes: $1,200,000 for nursing and allied health teachers and Rural Health Corps; $23,890,300 for employee life and health insurance; $4,500,000 for Workforce Development Centers; and $7,099,160 for Education Technology Program.

Allocates $1,500,000 for a pilot dropout recovery initiative providing $100,000 to each of the 15 participating community and junior colleges, with reporting requirements by August 1, 2012.

Establishes performance targets for FY2012 including community college transfer student GPA of 2.80, average class size of 21 students, 92% nursing exam pass rate, and 79.1% vocational-technical student placement rate.