MS HB1340

Students who successfully complete the Mississippi National Guard Youth Challenge Program shall be counted toward their last known school district's graduation rate for accountability purposes.

The Mississippi National Guard and State Board of Education must enter into an agreement requiring the National Guard to report student completion data to the State Department of Education.

The National Guard must notify a student's last known school district when the student is accepted into the Youth Challenge Program and of any continued participation in subsequent years.

Students who withdraw from the program or fail to meet minimum academic requirements shall be counted as non-graduates and reported to the school district's dropout rate unless the district confirms re-enrollment within five days.

The agreement must comply with federal requirements and be submitted to the United States Department of Education for approval, effective July 1, 2020.