Senate Bill 2228 Summary

• Establishes the Motivating Parents and Children (MPAC) pilot program within the State Department of Education to provide grants to six selected school districts (three urban, three rural) for parental involvement services targeting at-risk students and juvenile crime prevention.

• Requires participating school districts to employ a program coordinator, three licensed social workers, three certified guidance counselors, and implement family support services based on the Communities In Schools Model, including parenting classes, after-school care, and adult literacy programs.

• Mandates parent or guardian attendance at school conferences and parenting classes for students who violate major school rules, with failure to attend resulting in child suspension and potential misdemeanor charges against the parent.

• Allows automatic one-year driver's license suspension for students under 18 in MPAC districts who are suspended from school or withdraw with more than ten consecutive unexcused absences, with exemption from reinstatement fees.

• Amends Mississippi Code sections 37-11-53, 63-1-10, 63-1-46, and 63-1-53 to implement enforcement mechanisms and parental accountability requirements aligned with the MPAC program.