MS HB1536

Appropriates $2,252,976,329.00 in General Funds and $1,172,982,173.00 in Special Funds to the State Board of Education for K-12 education and related programs for fiscal year 2016 (July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016).

Allocates $2,026,855,223.00 from General Funds to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program with a base student cost of $5,354.98 per student.

Establishes performance targets across multiple education metrics including 2% increase in high school graduation rate, 67.20% of students with disabilities in general education settings, and 96% of school districts complying with state testing regulations.

Authorizes 378 permanent and 85 time-limited full-time positions for State Department of Education, 51 permanent and 5 time-limited positions for Vocational and Technical Education Division, and 170 permanent and 1 time-limited position for School for the Blind and Deaf.

Allocates specific funding for programs including $22,600,000.00 for National Board Certification, $15,058,000.00 for Educable Child Program, $6,541,650.00 for School Attendance Officers, and $3,600,000.00 for Public School Nurse Program.