Mississippi § 37-31-103 - Development, establishment and administration of programs; advisory committees.

§ 37-31-103. Development, establishment and administration of programs; advisory committees.

The State Board of Education is authorized to develop and establish special education and skill training programs to fill specific employment opportunities in areas of the state that have both employment opportunities and able-bodied unemployed and underemployed groups of adults, with priority to be given to unemployed adults. This program shall be administered by the division of vocational and technical education in community/junior colleges and secondary school systems wherever practical, and shall have general supervision over the programs established by Sections 37-31-101 through 37-31-111. Programs shall parallel, complement and be compatible with the existing structure of all vocational-technical education, both state and federal, as operated under the board. A comprehensive program of educational activity including skill training shall be developed and tailored to meet the needs of each individual student and the needs of industry for specially trained workers, and programs shall be planned and operated flexibly in order that students may progress individually. Specific employment objectives that are practical for each student shall be identified early in the program and the individual trained accordingly. Programs may include, when needed for employment purposes, but not be limited to, basic education, remedial education, attitude training, employability and communications skills, prevocational, vocational and technical education, and supplementary and related instruction for on-the-job training whether conducted at the job site or elsewhere. Local craft advisory committees made up of potential employers shall be established to advise on the validity of the training curriculum being offered. Programs shall be developed on a project basis, with all projects considered temporary, and renewed only as long as the dual needs of qualified students exist and potential job opportunities can be identified. Each project shall consist of a minimum of: (a) statement of need, (b) occupational training plan, (c) budget, and (d) budget backup information. Full-time (forty (40) hours per week), part-time, and upgrading programs are authorized, and all programs as conducted by local school districts shall meet or exceed the standards of the board, and failure to do so by a school district shall result in loss of funds as provided in Sections 37-31-101 through 37-31-111. Utilization shall be made of existing equipment, materials and facilities purchased by previous programs such as the Manpower Development and Training Program, Public Law 87-415, 42 USCS 2571, et seq., whenever practical and legal. The board shall review local public school and community/junior college project proposals to determine appropriateness of content, length of training, hours of instruction per week, and whether estimated costs are realistic, and shall evaluate, monitor and provide needed services in support of the local projects. The board shall be responsible for state level development and coordination of a vocational and technical program which shall include but not be limited to the following: A program which will provide immediate training for established industries and which provides training for prospective employees for new and expanding industry, such program to be characterized with a strong emphasis on the employment needs of the state.