View APA submissions in the Mississippi Administrative Bulletin on the Secretary of State’s website.
Division of Safe and Orderly Schools
Office of Chief Accountability Officer
Proposed revision of Miss. Admin. Code Title 7: Part 240: Minimum Bus Specifications
On December 18, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise Miss. Admin. Code Title 7: Part 240: Minimum Bus Specifications by amending certain existing criteria and establishing new criteria for minimum bus specifications for the sale of new buses effective July 1, 2026.
Background and Purpose:
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-1 authorizes, empowers, and directs the State Board of Education to promulgate rules and regulations relating to the transportation of students enrolled in the public-school districts, including rules and regulations for setting standards for public school district buses. The Mississippi Minimum School Bus Standards and Specifications provide state and federal regulations governing school bus body and chassis specifications, specially equipped school bus specifications, pupil transportation service vehicle specifications, multi-function school activity bus specifications, alternative power specifications, and equipment for the transportation of Pre-K children.
With respect to specifications for school buses and related equipment, after each National Congress on School Transportation publishes its adopted changes in the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures (available at https://nasdpts.org/NCST-NSTSP) or distributes interim addenda to that document, the Mississippi Department of Education may review the recommendations and revise the Mississippi School Bus Specifications accordingly.
The temporary rule and final action are necessary to implement the revisions immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State in accordance with Miss. Code Ann. § 25-43-3.113(2)(b)(ii). Specifically, to allow for the procurement of competitive bus bids from various vendors for prices to be effective July 1, 2026, based on the revisions to the Mississippi Minimum School Bus Standards and Specifications.
Please submit written comments to Mr. Jonathan Tillman, Office of Safe and Orderly Schools, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at schoolsafety@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Safe and Orderly Schools no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 23, 2026. APA comments will be presented to the SBE on February 19, 2026.
Office of Educational Accountability
Mississippi Department of Education Seeks Public Comment on the revision of State Board Policy Chapter 63, Rule 63.1
On December 18, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to amend State Board Policy Chapter 63, Rule 63.1. This policy is being amended in accordance with Miss. Code Ann. § 25-43-3.114 which requires an agency to review all of its rules at least every five years to determine whether any rule should be repealed, amended, or a new rule adopted.
Please submit written comments to Donna Hales, Director, Office of Public Reporting, via email at dhales@mdek12.org or regular mail to 359 N. West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Public Reporting no later than 5:00 PM on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on February 19, 2026.
