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S. B. No. 2243 *SS08/R939* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Boyd, McCaughn, Williams,
McLendon, Suber, Wiggins, Butler, Gillespie
Isom
SENATE BILL NO. 2243
AN ACT TITLED THE "DON TRIPLETT ACT"; TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE 1
OF THE OMBUDSMAN FOR PARENTAL ASSISTANCE WITHIN THE STATE 2
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE 3
OMBUDSMAN BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION WITH THE 4
APPROVAL OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE 5
OMBUDSMAN SHALL REPORT TO THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION; 6
TO ESTABLISH THE MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK 7
EXPERIENCE, TOGETHER WITH KNOWLEDGE, COMPETENCIES AND 8
RESPONSIBILITIES, REQUIRED FOR THE OMBUDSMAN POSITION; TO PROVIDE 9
FOR CONFIDENTIALITY OF OMBUDSMAN OFFICE RECORDS, AND TO EXEMPT 10
SUCH RECORDS FROM THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC RECORDS ACT OF 1983; TO 11
ALLOW THE OMBUDSMAN OFFICE TO SEEK AND ACCEPT CERTAIN GRANTS, 12
GIFTS OR OTHER FUNDS TO SUPPORT ITS OPERATIONS; TO AUTHORIZE THE 13
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS 14
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED 15
PURPOSES. 16
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 17
SECTION 1. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited 18
as the "Don Triplett Act." 19
(2) As used in this section: 20
(a) "Department" means the State Department of 21
Education. 22
(b) "Ombudsman office" means the Office of the 23
Ombudsman for Parental Assistance within the department. 24
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(3) The ombudsman office is hereby established within the 25
department. The ombudsman shall be appointed by the State 26
Superintendent of Education with the approval of the State Board 27
of Education. The ombudsman shall report to the State 28
Superintendent of Education. 29
(4) The ombudsman shall possess the following minimum 30
educational qualifications and work experience: 31
(a) A master's degree from an accredited four-year 32
college or university, and eight (8) years of relevant experience, 33
including four (4) years in a line or functional administrative or 34
advanced technical supervisory role; or 35
(b) A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year 36
college or university, and nine (9) years of relevant experience, 37
including four (4) years in a line or functional administrative or 38
advanced technical supervisory role. 39
(5) The ombudsman shall demonstrate interpersonal skills and 40
shall be able to communicate effectively in a variety of social 41
and cultural contexts. In addition, the ombudsman shall have the 42
knowledge and competencies enabling fulfillment of the following 43
responsibilities: 44
(a) Communicating with educational stakeholders, and 45
providing information to parents, teachers, administrators and 46
citizens regarding federal and state statutes, State Board of 47
Education policies, Mississippi Public School Accountability 48
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Standards, and other educational policies, procedures and 49
practices; 50
(b) Investigating inquiries and complaints by parents 51
and educational stakeholders concerning the actions or decisions 52
of schools or school districts, and composing written responses 53
and recommendations; 54
(c) Mediating and facilitating communication between 55
parents and schools to resolve disputes; 56
(d) Tracking and identifying systemic issues in school 57
districts, and providing recommendations to address them; 58
(e) Collecting and utilizing data regarding department 59
activities to improve services and identify areas for systemic 60
improvement; 61
(f) Establishing and maintaining collaborative 62
relationships with department program offices, school districts, 63
nonpublic schools and other educational stakeholders; 64
(g) Understanding and monitoring compliance with 65
federal and state education statutes and regulations; 66
(h) Planning, directing, coordinating and evaluating 67
activities to achieve State Board of Education objectives; and 68
(i) Preparing and publishing an annual report to the 69
Governor, the Legislature and the public on the ombudsman's 70
activities, findings and recommendations. 71
(6) The ombudsman shall have the authority to: 72
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ST: Don Triplett Act; enact to create ombudsman
office in State Department of Education.
(a) Access necessary records, data and personnel within 73
schools and school districts, subject to applicable 74
confidentiality laws; 75
(b) Conduct investigations and issue findings or 76
recommendations to schools and districts; and 77
(c) Propose policy recommendations to the department 78
for improving parental engagement and compliance with education 79
laws. 80
(7) All communications with the ombudsman office shall be 81
confidential unless written consent is provided by the parent or 82
legal guardian. Records of the ombudsman office shall be exempt 83
from the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983. Except as 84
otherwise required by law, the ombudsman office and its staff 85
shall maintain the confidentiality of all records and information 86
obtained in the course of their duties. 87
(8) In addition to monies appropriated by the Legislature, 88
the ombudsman office may seek and accept grants, gifts or other 89
funds to support its operations, provided such funds do not 90
compromise its independence or impartiality. 91
(9) By December 31, 2026, the department shall adopt any 92
rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of 93
this section. 94
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 95
and after July 1, 2026. 96