MS HB471

Changes funding calculation methodology for Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) from average daily attendance (ADA) to average daily membership (ADM) beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.

Requires State Auditor to conduct actual student counts in months two and three of each school year, with authority to reduce MAEP funding if reported attendance exceeds 103% of actual counted enrollment.

Establishes 94.5% attendance threshold; districts falling below this threshold revert to ADA-based funding rather than ADM-based funding.

Removes the 37% instructional day absence rule that previously required students absent more than 37% of the instructional day to be marked absent for the entire day.

Reduces minimum school term requirement from 63% to 60% of the normal school day for both teachers and pupils in regular attendance for scheduled classroom instruction.