MS SB2778

Authorizes the State Board of Education to approve public school districts of innovation that gain flexibility from selected board regulations, state law (Title 37), and local school board policies for up to five-year periods with renewal options.

Limits approval to a maximum of five districts per year and requires the State Board to promulgate administrative rules and regulations by December 31, 2015, specifying application procedures, evaluation criteria, and allowable areas of exemption.

Requires applicant districts to establish performance goals, document community and educator support, identify needed changes, and provide detailed rationales for requested waivers while maintaining compliance with health, safety, civil rights, attendance, graduation, assessment, and financial audit requirements.

Permits approved districts of innovation to use capital outlay funds for operations, employ teachers on alternative contracts and salary schedules, establish virtual schools, use flexible calendars, and modify funding distribution formulas for nontraditional programming.

Schools participating must be voluntary (except persistently low-achieving schools may be required to participate) and must maintain the same health, safety, civil rights, compulsory attendance, graduation, assessment, and open records requirements as all other public schools.