This document provides guidance for schools in their development of local wellness policies to meet state and federal requirements and requires that community members and parents serve on the school health council to participate in school health planning.

Mission. School Districts and schools have the duty and responsibility to build quality first-rate schools accessible to all children regardless of race, ethnicity, class, gender, disability or status. This requires meaningful participation of parents, students and other parts of the community in the formation and implementation of policy at the school district and school levels.

Community Engagement Councils, also known as P-16 Councils, are an essential opportunity to build this process. The Community Engagement Councils are intended to be community-based and independent. The Councils are charged with the duty and responsibility to build strong, healthy communities. In order to build strong, healthy communities it is necessary, among other things, to create a quality public education delivered to students in healthy schools which are accessible to all children, regardless of race, class, status, gender or disability. The Councils shall have participation from a broad-section of the community, with a special emphasis on the inclusion of parents and students who are the primary constituents of any school district and school. Participation should be shared among these six (6) constituent categories, which are broad enough to encompass and represent the widest range of interests:

• 1. Members of local community-based organizations working on public education issues within the local school district;
• 2. Members of local public school district Parent Teacher Associations or Organizations;
• 3. Members of local public school-based student councils and local public school student government associations;
• 4. Community leaders, public officials and members of the business community, all within the local school district;
• 5. Community members at large interested in public education issues who may or may not be part of the other four (4) categories. In a school district wide Council there should be one at large member to represent each school board election district or ward; and
• 6. a. For School District-based Councils : members of the School District, which should be selected from the School District Board of Trustees, the School District Administration, the School District Faculty, and School District staff, including bus drivers and cafeteria workers.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN A plan that a School At-Risk is required to develop based on the findings of the evaluation team report and the results of a public meeting. The Mississippi Department of Education and evaluation team leader shall assist the school principal and other local school officials in the development of a school improvement plan. A local parents/citizens advisory council shall be established by the evaluation team at the school to provide input and guidance into the development of the school improvement plan and its evaluation. The school improvement plan shall be developed and approved by the principal of the School At-Risk, the superintendent of the local school district, the local school board, and a majority of the teachers of the school.

(4) A school district that has been designated as failing as defined by the State Board of Education or a district with a School At-Risk shall also establish a community-based prekindergarten through higher education council comprised of a broad spectrum of the community, including economic developers, elected officials, civic leaders, business leaders, faith-based leaders, social services, nonprofit organizations, school attendance officers, law enforcement officials, health department officials, day care providers, librarians, parents and others with the knowledge and resources that can be leveraged to build strong communities. The State Board of Education shall develop procedures for appointments to the council, which shall not be appointed solely by the school board. The council will serve as a community-led group that is inclusive, accountable and required to publicly report progress to the community as a whole.

The State Board of Education shall establish an awards program to reward parents for becoming involved in school improvement efforts. A process shall be established which shall include, but not be limited to, the designation of a parent of the year in every school district in the state and the designation of one (1) “Parent of the Year” statewide.