MISSION STATEMENT

The mission is to work in collaboration with all Department of Education offices, the community and other organizations to empower school districts to ensure student success in educational and lifelong learning skills.

LEGISLATION

Mississippi Code: Title 37 Education § 37-13-80 was responsible for the creation of the Office of Dropout Prevention. The office is responsible for the administration of Mississippi's statewide dropout prevention program, and any regulations or policies that may be adopted by the State Board of Education pertaining to dropout prevention. Additionally, it is the intent of the Legislature that, through the statewide dropout prevention program and the dropout prevention programs implemented by each school district, the graduation rate for cohort classes will be increased to not less than eigthy-five percent (85%) by the 2018-2019 school year, with established graduation rate benchmarks for each two-year period from the 2008-2009 school year through the forth two additional goals--to reduce both the state dropout rate and state truancy rate by 50% by 2011-2012. To assist with the accomplishment of these goals, the Office of Dropout Prevention also includes the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement, School Counseling, and Alternative Education.

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