Mississippi
Department of Education
2002 Annual Report, School Year 2000-2001
Mississippi Adequate Education Program
The basic funding for Mississippi schools
has long been provided through the Minimum Education Program (MEP) enacted
in the 1950's. In addition to the MEP, the Uniform Millage Assistance Grants
Program (1989), the Education Enhancement Fund (1992 sales tax increase
legislation), and the Ad Valorem Reduction Grants were established to address
long-overlooked needs in school districts in the areas of building, buses,
textbooks, instructional supplies and other special needs. Because disparity
still exists in the funds available for educating every child at an adequate
level, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program addresses these disparities
and ensures that every school district will have sufficient funds available
to provide a Level III accreditation or adequate education for every child.
As of January 15, 1999, the MAEP funds have resulted in State Aid Capital
Improvement Bonds issued by 111 school districts in the amount of $507,272,543.00.
Proposed School Facility Construction
Based on Approved MAEP Applications *
(437 Applications from 122 School Districts
as of 10/19/01)
| Projects | New Construction | Repairs/Renovations | TOTALS |
| Classrooms | 2,398 | 6,122 | 8,520 |
| Subject Area Labs | 120 | 87 | 207 |
| Tech Prep Labs | 140 | 294 | 434 |
| Library/Media Centers | 60 | 64 | 124 |
| Cafeterias/Kitchen/Dining | 66 | 82 | 148 |
| Fine Arts Facilities | 70 | 29 | 99 |
| Auditoriums | 6 | 22 | 28 |
| Multi-Purpose Buildings | 18 | 4 | 22 |
| Health/Physical | 17 | 55 | 72 |
* This report does not reflect all school construction in the state, as school districts that chose "Option 2 - Interim Pledge" were not required by State Board Policy to submit an Application for the Expenditure of MAEP Funds for a Capital Improvement Project.
Additional support for capital improvement
of schools has been provided on the local level through local bond elections.
The following shows the results of local bond elections during 2000 - 2001:
Record of School Bond Elections
2000 - 2001
| School District | Amount | Passed/Failed | Percentage of Voters For/Against |
| New Albany | $ 9,850,000 | Passed | 82% / 18% |
The State Public School Building Fund was created to provide state funds for the capital improvement of schools in the state. Such capital improvements include the cost of erecting, repairing, equipping, remodeling and enlarging school buildings and related facilities.
The financial structure of the State Public
School Building Fund is made up of three interlocking, yet distinct features:
(1) annual grants to school districts; (2) legislative funding of the program;
and (3) state school bonds. The Mississippi Board of Education approved
building projects as follows during 2000 - 2001:
| Number Approved | Total Cost | Public School Building Funds | |
| Long Range Plans | 12 | $45,625,153.53 | |
| Applications | 56 | $26,097,921.49 | $11,974,584.19 |
| Supplementary Applications | 4 | $233,867.22 | |
| Contracts | 54 | $22,240,439.26 | $8,914,336.67 |
| Change Orders | 72 | $364,863.21 | $47,565.75 |
| Final ProjectApprovals | 54 | $25,561,929.63 | $9,887,252.12 |
| Project Cancellations | 4 | $1,219,024.38 | $517,550.82 |
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