Dropout Prevention and Student Re-engagement Act; create.
Impact
The bill mandates that LEAs adopt comprehensive dropout prevention and student re-engagement plans, which must be tailored to address the unique challenges faced by students in their district. Each high-priority agency is required to undergo a practices assessment and develop a student graduation and completion plan by specified deadlines. This provision allows for more focused and effective strategies to be implemented based on the needs identified in the assessments. The Office of Dropout Prevention will also provide technical assistance to these agencies to ensure they can successfully enact these plans.
Summary
House Bill 246, known as the 'Dropout Prevention and Student Re-Engagement Act', aims to address the persistent issue of high school dropouts in Mississippi. The bill outlines legislative intent to not only decrease dropout rates but also to enhance the graduation rates among students. It seeks to empower the Office of Dropout Prevention to actively collaborate with local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop strategies aimed at mitigating dropout rates and boosting completion rates through established programs and fiscal support.
Contention
Notably, the act includes provisions for establishing a Student Re-engagement Grant Program Fund, which facilitates financial support for local educational agencies. Concerns may arise regarding the adequacy of funding and the impact of state oversight on local autonomy in education. Critics may argue that while the bill provides a framework for engagement and preventive measures, its requirements may overburden local agencies or lead to uniform approaches that do not take specific local contexts into account. The effectiveness of the grant program and the resultant strategies will likely be pivotal in determining the overall impact of this legislation.