MS HB418

Requires the State Department of Education to grant waivers of accountability and state assessment requirements to school districts where 25% or more of total student enrollment are English language learners.

Limits the waiver to English language learners in grades 9-12 only when determining the district's accreditation level under the performance and accountability rating model.

Provides that school districts with 25% or more English language learners shall be held harmless when calculating graduation rates, dropout rates, and completion rates for cohort classes in grades 9-12 beginning in the 2017-2018 school year by excluding English language learners from these calculations for four years.

Effective July 1, 2017.