Mississippi § 37-13-134 - 1.

§ 37-13-134. 1.

Subject to available funding, the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Health, shall establish the school health grant pilot program to improve student health by assisting local school districts in implementing a school health program. In order to qualify for a school health grant, a school district shall submit a detailed implementation plan, developed in accordance with the guidelines for a school health program developed by the State Department of Education, and including the following components: A dedicated school health coordinator and technical and administrative support for collection of data and program evaluation. A description of how the school district currently addresses physical activity, nutrition, and other obesity prevention measures. A description of how the school district would use the state grant to augment what it is currently doing, including defining priorities based on the students’ health need and meeting education performance indicators, developing an action plan for addressing those needs based on realistic goals and measurable objectives, establishing a timeline for implementation, and developing and maintaining a system to evaluate progress and outcomes for the program. All school districts receiving grants will report annually to the State Department of Education progress towards the achievement of state education performance indicators and standards and requirements relating to physical activity and nutrition. The amount in the school health grant pilot program shall be limited to the amount appropriated and shall be available to school districts based on the guidelines developed by the State Department of Education. Any grants made to school district shall be expended to supplement and not supplant any funds already expended as school health programs. For this purpose, expenditures of components enumerated in subsection (2) of this section for the current fiscal year shall be considered the base expenditure on school health and any school district receiving grant funds shall maintain this base. There is created in the State Treasury a fund into which any public or private funds from any source shall be deposited for the support of the activities of coordinated school health grant pilot program. State grants are only for coordination and improvement of school health programs to improve student health in accordance with the detailed plan submitted in accordance with subsection (2) of this section. The State Department of Education and the State Department of Health shall coordinate existing school health programs, grants and initiatives. To the extent possible, existing contracts and waiver requirements and funding, including Medicaid funding, shall also be coordinated. The use of grant funds shall be subject to audit by the Office of the State Auditor.