MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Dickson

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-19-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE PERSONS FAILING THE NATIONAL TEACHERS EXAMINATION, OR ANY OTHER REQUIRED EXAMINATION, WITHIN TWO POINTS OF THE MINIMUM SCORE REQUIRED FOR PASSAGE BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO BE AWARDED A CLASS A CERTIFICATE RESTRICTED TO THOSE GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THERE EXISTS A CRITICAL TEACHER SHORTAGE; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-19-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-19-13. (1) (a) All classroom teachers initially employed as teachers after July 1, 1975, and paid under the provisions of the minimum program for the support of education in the State of Mississippi shall be required to take the National Teachers Examination. Scores on the test or tests shall be made a part of the transcript of the applicant by the institution administering the test or tests, and shall be maintained as a part of the teacher's record in the office of Teacher Certification Division of the State Department of Education. The State Board of Education is directed to establish a minimum score on the National Teachers Examination and may also establish, as an alternative, a minimum score on other national examinations deemed reasonably comparable, as a requirement for initial certification.

(b) If a teacher who is required to take the National Teachers Examination or any other examination of achievement fails to achieve the minimum score established for the examination by the State Board of Education within two (2) points, the teacher may be awarded a Class A certificate restricted to teaching in those geographical areas of the state in which there exists a critical shortage of teachers. In order to be eligible for a Class A certificate under this subsection, the teacher must be a graduate of an approved public teacher education program in the state. If the teacher subsequently achieves the minimum score established by the State Board of Education on the examination, the restriction shall be removed from the teacher's Class A certificate, and the teacher will be eligible to teach in any public school district in the state.

(2) Teachers who seek initial employment in Mississippi and have at least one (1) full year teaching experience in another state and hold a valid certificate from that state which is recognized by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Development may receive a provisional certificate for a period of time not to exceed June 30 of the school year without having satisfied the requirements under subsection (1) of this section. Failure to have successfully completed the requirements under subsection (1) by the above date automatically revokes the certificate. All other requirements of the provisional certificate shall apply for individuals affected by this law.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring any classroom teacher who was employed under the minimum program before July 1, 1974, to complete the requirements prescribed under subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 2. Section 37-9-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-11. The State Board of Education may require tests such as the common and teaching areas of the National Teachers Examination or an examination of achievement, as one of the requirements for the issuance of public school professional certificates issued * * * to any person applying for the first time for a professional certificate.

Scores on the test or tests shall be made a part of the record of the applicant and maintained in the files of the office of Teacher Certification Division of the State Department of Education.

The State Board of Education is further authorized, in its discretion, to make determinations of minimum scores required of a person applying for the first time for a professional certificate who is required under this section to take the test or tests.

The State Board of Education, in its discretion, shall determine conditions that would prevail should a person required to take the test or tests under this section desire to take the test or tests more than once.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.