Bill > HB820

This bill amends Mississippi's law regarding school attendance officers by establishing a new formula for allocating state funding and significantly increasing their minimum base salary. Specifically, the bill introduces a funding allocation method that provides one school attendance officer for every 2,000 compulsory-school-age children (or a major fraction thereof) enrolled in a county's public schools. The legislation dramatically raises the minimum annual salary for school attendance officers across different education and experience levels, with entry-level salaries increasing from around $24,000 to $41,500, and salaries for more experienced officers rising to over $50,000 depending on their educational background (bachelor's degree, social work license, or master's degree). School attendance officers are state employees responsible for identifying children not attending school, investigating non-attendance cases, counseling students and families, and working with courts and social services to ensure student enrollment and attendance. The bill also maintains existing provisions about background checks, job qualifications, and professional duties for these officers. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, providing a substantial improvement in compensation and a more structured approach to funding school attendance officer positions across Mississippi.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0820.xml