Senate Bill 2343: Modified School Calendar Grant Program

February 22, 2024April 3, 2024 Bill Tracker

Latest Action

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The House Education Committee failed to take action on SB 2343 by the April 2 deadline, causing the bill to die in committee.

Explanation of the Bill

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Senate Bill 2343 would establish the Mississippi Modified School Calendar Grant Program through which districts could apply for grants to offset the initial costs of implementing a modified (“year-round”) school calendar. Under this type of calendar, the traditional summer break is replaced by shorter, more frequent breaks throughout the school year. The required minimum length of the academic year (180 school days) is the same as schools on a traditional calendar. Schools on a modified calendar can choose to offer additional remediation or enrichment sessions to students during breaks.

The stated purpose of SB 2343 is to incentivize school districts to maintain or adopt a modified calendar, which has grown in popularity throughout the state in recent years. While most research on academic benefits of the modified calendar is inconclusive, stakeholders in districts on a modified calendar have indicated satisfaction with the format.  

An almost-identical bill, Senate Bill 2361, was introduced during the 2023 Legislative Session but did not pass. The only difference between the 2023 and 2024 iterations of this bill is in the size of the grants schools may receive. While the version introduced in 2023 offered grants of up to $200,000, the 2024 version would offer grants of up to $250,000.

School District Eligibility and Use of Funds

Any school district planning to implement a modified calendar during the 2024-2025 school year, or any district that has implemented a modified calendar since the 2021-2022 school year, would be eligible to apply for funds through the Mississippi Modified School Calendar Grant Program. SB 2343 cites several potential uses for the funds, including staffing during school breaks; remediation and enrichment programs during school breaks; and additional utilities or transportation costs associated with the modified calendar. Districts could not use the funds to purchase land, construct new facilities, or satisfy existing debt. 

An eligible district could receive up to $250,000 per year for a maximum of three years. The size of a district’s award would be based on its proposed budget and calendar, its number of students, and other cost-related factors (such as the rural nature of the district). 

Administration of Program

As the agency in charge of the program, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) would be responsible for developing and implementing its procedures. This would include creating the application that districts would use to apply for the grant, which would be required to include

• The district’s rationale for adopting a modified calendar
• Evidence of community support to move to a modified calendar
• A detailed budget of operating expenses that could be expected as a result of transitioning to a modified calendar
• A detailed calendar that includes plans for activities during school breaks

MDE would grant funds to districts by July 1 of each year. The agency would be required to provide an annual report on the use of program funds to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations and Education committees by October 1 of each year. 

Funding

SB 2343 would establish the Mississippi Modified School Calendar Grant Fund as a special fund within the State Treasury to provide money for the Mississippi Modified School Calendar Grant Program. Funds not used by the end of the fiscal year would remain in the special fund