House Bill 1294 - Mississippi Education Funding

• Requires State Department of Education to develop annual reports to the Legislature and public detailing educational programs, student outcomes, fiscal data, and district comparisons with sortable rankings by school district.

• Mandates Department revise statewide accounting manual and chart of accounts by December 31, 2017 to align with weighted student funding formula and establish rules requiring districts to target and account for weighted fund expenditures.

• Establishes that departments must collect annual financial data from school districts by August 15 each year and create opportunities for superintendents and business officers in peer districts to meet annually to discuss spending best practices.

• Brings forward 95 existing Mississippi Code sections related to public education funding for possible amendments, covering topics including teacher salaries, transportation costs, special education programs, charter schools, and various education programs and requirements.