MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative McInnis

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-8, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO HAVE FIVE YEARS OF ACTUAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS TO HAVE TEN YEARS OF CLASSROOM OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-9-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-8. Recognizing teaching as a profession, preparation to teach in Mississippi Grades 7 through 12 shall require a major in an academic field other than education, or a combination of disciplines other than education. Students preparing to teach a subject shall complete a major in the respective subject discipline.

Certification to teach in Mississippi kindergarten through Grade 4 shall require the completion of an interdisciplinary program of studies. Certificates for Grades 4 through 8 shall require the completion of a program of studies with two (2) or more areas of concentration.

It shall be a requirement for any person to be certified as a teacher in Mississippi that the person meet and comply with the requirements set forth in the foregoing part of this section. In addition, the person applying for teacher certification must demonstrate that such person's college preparation in those fields was in accordance with the standards set forth by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC).

Persons applying for certification as a teacher before July 1, 1996, shall be exempt from * * * this section.

Preparation to be a principal in elementary or secondary schools in Mississippi shall include an AA certificate in administration plus five (5) years actual teaching experience.

SECTION 2. Section 37-9-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-13. (1) Each school district shall have a superintendent of schools, selected in the manner provided by law. No person shall be eligible to the office of superintendent of schools unless that person shall hold a valid Class AA administrator's certificate issued by the State Department of Education and shall have * * * not less than ten (10) years of either classroom or administrative experience, or a combination both; however, in no event shall the person have less than five (5) years of actual classroom experience.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to superintendents of schools elected before nor during l995.  * * * However, * * * if a vacancy shall occur in the office of county superintendent of education, the qualifications prescribed in subsection (1) of this section shall apply to any person filling the vacancy.

SECTION 3. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is hereby directed to submit Section 2 of this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 4. Section 1 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997. Section 2 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997, or the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, whichever is later.