MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Senator(s) Jones
AN ACT TO REQUIRE A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF THE ASSIGNMENT OF AN IMPROPERLY OR NONLICENSED TEACHER TO THE SAME CLASSROOM FOR MORE THAN 30 CONSECUTIVE DAY TO A STUDENT'S PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN; TO SPECIFY THE TIME WITHIN WHICH THE NOTICE MUST BE PROVIDED; TO EXEMPT CERTAIN SCHOOLS FROM THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT RULES PROVIDING FOR TEACHER PREPARATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE LICENSING OF NONTRADITIONAL TEACHERS; TO EXEMPT CERTAIN TEACHERS WITH CERTAIN EXPERIENCE FROM THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION; TO AUTHORIZE A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ISSUE A TEACHING PERMIT AND EMPLOY CERTAIN PERSONS WHO DOES NOT HOLD A VALID LICENSE; TO PROVIDE RECIPROCITY FOR LICENSURE TO CERTAIN PERSONS; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD TO ADOPT RULES ALLOWING A LICENSED TEACHER TO QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-89, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE BOARD TO ADOPT RULES ESTABLISHING THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN A LICENSE OR ENTER A TEACHER INTERNSHIP; TO ESTABLISH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-149-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATION, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND RECRUIT PERSON TO BECOME TEACHERS, TO PRESCRIBE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THOSE ENTITIES WITH RESPECT TO TEACHER RECRUIT, AND TO PRESCRIBE THE USE OF ANY FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE FOR TEACHER RECRUITMENT PURPOSES; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-149-3, 37-149-7 AND 37-159-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH ESTABLISH THE GOALS AND FUNCTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI TEACHER CENTER, PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT AND PRESCRIBES THE DUTIES OF TEACHER RECRUITERS AND CREATES THE TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION GRANT PROGRAM RESPECTIVELY, OR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 37-19-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR TEACHER COMPENSATION, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) A school district that assigns an improperly licensed or nonlicensed teacher to the same classroom for more than thirty (30) consecutive instructional days during the same school year shall provide written notice of the assignment to a parent or legal guardian of each student in that classroom.
(2) The superintendent of the school district shall provide the notice required by subsection (1) not later than the thirtieth instructional day after the date of the assignment of the improperly licensed or nonlicensed teacher.
(3) The school district shall:
(a) Make a good-faith effort to ensure that the notice required by this section is provided in a bilingual form to any parent or legal guardian whose primary language is not English;
(b) Retain a copy of any notice provided under this section; and
(c) Make information relating to teacher licensure available to the public on request.
(4) This section shall not apply if a school is required, in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and its later amendments, to provide notice to a student's parent or legal guardian regarding a teacher who is not highly qualified, provided the school provides notice as required by that act.
SECTION 2. Section 37-3-2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-3-2. (1) There is established within the State Department of Education the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development. It shall be the purpose and duty of the commission to make recommendations to the State Board of Education regarding standards for the certification and licensure and continuing professional development of those who teach or perform tasks of an educational nature in the public schools of Mississippi.
(2) The commission shall be composed of fifteen (15) qualified members. The membership of the commission shall be composed of the following members to be appointed, three (3) from each congressional district: four (4) classroom teachers; three (3) school administrators; one (1) representative of schools of education of institutions of higher learning located within the state to be recommended by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning; one (1) representative from the schools of education of independent institutions of higher learning to be recommended by the Board of the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges; one (1) representative from public community and junior colleges located within the state to be recommended by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges; one (1) local school board member; and four (4) laypersons. All appointments shall be made by the State Board of Education after consultation with the State Superintendent of Public Education. The first appointments by the State Board of Education shall be made as follows: five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year; five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; and five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years.
(3) The State Board of Education when making appointments shall designate a chairman. The commission shall meet at least once every two (2) months or more often if needed. Members of the commission shall be compensated at a rate of per diem as authorized by Section 25-3-69 and be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses as authorized by Section 25-3-41.
(4) An appropriate staff member of the State Department of Education shall be designated and assigned by the State Superintendent of Public Education to serve as executive secretary and coordinator for the commission. No less than two (2) other appropriate staff members of the State Department of Education shall be designated and assigned by the State Superintendent of Public Education to serve on the staff of the commission.
(5) It shall be the duty of the commission to:
(a) Set standards and criteria, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education, for all educator preparation programs in the state;
(b) Recommend to the State Board of Education each year approval or disapproval of each educator preparation program in the state;
(c) Establish, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education, standards for initial teacher certification and licensure in all fields;
(d) Establish, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education, standards for the renewal of teacher licenses in all fields;
(e) Review and evaluate objective measures of teacher performance, such as test scores, which may form part of the licensure process, and to make recommendations for their use;
(f) Review all existing requirements for certification and licensure;
(g) Consult with groups whose work may be affected by the commission's decisions;
(h) Prepare reports from time to time on current practices and issues in the general area of teacher education and certification and licensure;
(i) Hold hearings concerning standards for teachers' and administrators' education and certification and licensure with approval of the State Board of Education;
(j) Hire expert consultants with approval of the State Board of Education;
(k) Set up ad hoc committees to advise on specific areas; and
(l) Perform such other functions as may fall within their general charge and which may be delegated to them by the State Board of Education.
(6) (a) Standard License - Approved Program Route. An educator entering the school system of Mississippi for the first time and meeting all requirements as established by the State Board of Education shall be granted a standard five-year license. Persons who possess two (2) years of classroom experience as an assistant teacher or who have taught for one (1) year in an accredited public or private school shall be allowed to fulfill student teaching requirements under the supervision of a qualified participating teacher approved by an accredited college of education. The local school district in which the assistant teacher is employed shall compensate such assistant teachers at the required salary level during the period of time such individual is completing student teaching requirements. Applicants for a standard license shall submit to the department:
(i) An application on a department form;
(ii) An official transcript of completion of a teacher education program approved by the department or a nationally accredited program, subject to the following: Licensure to teach in Mississippi prekindergarten through kindergarten classrooms shall require completion of a teacher education program or a bachelor of science degree with child development emphasis from a program accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) or by the National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Licensure to teach in Mississippi kindergarten, for those applicants who have completed a teacher education program, and in Grade 1 through Grade 4 shall require the completion of an interdisciplinary program of studies. Licenses for Grades 4 through 8 shall require the completion of an interdisciplinary program of studies with two (2) or more areas of concentration. Licensure 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. All applicants for standard licensure shall 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) or, for those applicants who have a bachelor of science degree with child development emphasis, the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS);
(iii) A copy of test scores evidencing satisfactory completion of nationally administered examinations of achievement, such as the Educational Testing Service's teacher testing examinations; and
(iv) Any other document required by the State Board of Education.
(b) Standard License - Nontraditional Teaching Route. Beginning January 1, 2004, an individual who has a passing score on the Praxis I Basic Skills and Praxis II Specialty Area Test in the requested area of endorsement may apply for the Teach Mississippi Institute (TMI) program to teach students in Grades K through 12 if the individual meets the requirements of this paragraph (b). The State Board of Education shall adopt rules requiring that teacher preparation institutions which provide the Teach Mississippi Institute (TMI) program for the preparation and continuing education of nontraditional teachers shall meet the standards and comply with the provisions of this paragraph.
(i) The Teach Mississippi Institute (TMI) shall include an intensive eight-week, nine-semester-hour summer program or a curriculum of study in which the student matriculates in the fall or spring semester, which shall include, but not be limited to, instruction in education, effective teaching strategies, classroom management, state curriculum requirements, planning and instruction, instructional methods and pedagogy, using test results to improve instruction, and a one (1) semester three-hour supervised internship to be completed while the teacher is employed as a full-time teacher intern in a local school district. The TMI shall be implemented on a pilot program basis, with courses to be offered at up to four (4) locations in the state, with one (1) TMI site to be located in each of the three (3) Mississippi Supreme Court districts.
(ii) The school sponsoring the teacher intern shall enter into a written agreement with the institution providing the Teach Mississippi Institute (TMI) program, under terms and conditions as agreed upon by the contracting parties, providing that the school district shall provide teacher interns seeking a nontraditional provisional teaching license with a one-year classroom teaching experience. The teacher intern shall successfully complete the one (1) semester three-hour intensive internship in the school district during the semester immediately following successful completion of the TMI and prior to the end of the one-year classroom teaching experience.
(iii) Upon completion of the nine-semester-hour TMI or the fall or spring semester option, the individual shall submit his transcript to the commission for provisional licensure of the intern teacher, and the intern teacher shall be issued a provisional teaching license by the commission, which will allow the individual to legally serve as a teacher while the person completes a nontraditional teacher preparation internship program.
(iv) During the semester of internship in the school district, the teacher preparation institution shall monitor the performance of the intern teacher. The school district that employs the provisional teacher shall supervise the provisional teacher during the teacher's intern year of employment under a nontraditional provisional license, and shall, in consultation with the teacher intern's mentor at the school district of employment, submit to the commission a comprehensive evaluation of the teacher's performance sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the nontraditional provisional license. If the comprehensive evaluation establishes that the provisional teacher intern's performance fails to meet the standards of the approved nontraditional teacher preparation internship program, the individual shall not be approved for a standard license.
(v) An individual issued a provisional teaching license under this nontraditional route shall successfully complete, at a minimum, a one-year beginning teacher mentoring and induction program administered by the employing school district with the assistance of the State Department of Education.
(vi) Upon successful completion of the TMI and the internship provisional license period, applicants for a Standard License - Nontraditional Route shall submit to the commission a transcript of successful completion of the twelve (12) semester hours required in the internship program, and the employing school district shall submit to the commission a recommendation for standard licensure of the intern. If the school district recommends licensure, the applicant shall be issued a Standard License - Nontraditional Route which shall be valid for a five-year period and be renewable.
(vii) At the discretion of the teacher preparation institution, the individual shall be allowed to credit the twelve (12) semester hours earned in the nontraditional teacher internship program toward the graduate hours required for a Master of Arts in Teacher (MAT) Degree.
(viii) The local school district in which the nontraditional teacher intern or provisional licensee is employed shall compensate such teacher interns at Step 1 of the required salary level during the period of time such individual is completing teacher internship requirements and shall compensate such Standard License - Nontraditional Route teachers at Step 3 of the required salary level when they complete license requirements.
Implementation of the TMI program provided for under this paragraph (b) shall be contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated specifically for such purpose by the Legislature. Such implementation of the TMI program may not be deemed to prohibit the State Board of Education from developing and implementing additional alternative route teacher licensure programs, as deemed appropriate by the board. The emergency certification program in effect prior to July 1, 2002, shall remain in effect.
The provisions of this paragraph (b) shall not be applicable to a teacher holding a standard-nontraditional license under this paragraph who has been employed by a local school district for three (3) years before the effective date of Senate Bill No. 2996, 2010 Regular Session, as determined by the date on which the teacher entered into a contract of employment with a school district.
The State Department of Education shall compile and report, in consultation with the commission, information relating to nontraditional teacher preparation internship programs, including the number of programs available and geographic areas in which they are available, the number of individuals who apply for and possess a nontraditional conditional license, the subject areas in which individuals who possess nontraditional conditional licenses are teaching and where they are teaching, and shall submit its findings and recommendations to the legislative committees on education by December 1, 2004.
A Standard License - Approved Program Route shall be issued for a five-year period, and may be renewed. Recognizing teaching as a profession, a hiring preference shall be granted to persons holding a Standard License - Approved Program Route or Standard License - Nontraditional Teaching Route over persons holding any other license.
(c) Special License - Expert Citizen. In order to allow a school district to offer specialized or technical courses, the State Department of Education, in accordance with rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education, may grant a one-year expert citizen-teacher license to local business or other professional personnel to teach in a public school or nonpublic school accredited or approved by the state. Such person may begin teaching upon his employment by the local school board and licensure by the Mississippi Department of Education. The board shall adopt rules and regulations to administer the expert citizen-teacher license. A Special License - Expert Citizen may be renewed in accordance with the established rules and regulations of the State Department of Education.
(d) Special License - Nonrenewable. The State Board of Education is authorized to establish rules and regulations to allow those educators not meeting requirements in subsection (6)(a), (b) or (c) to be licensed for a period of not more than three (3) years, except by special approval of the State Board of Education.
(e) Nonlicensed Teaching Personnel. A nonlicensed person may teach for a maximum of three (3) periods per teaching day in a public school or a nonpublic school accredited/approved by the state. Such person shall submit to the department a transcript or record of his education and experience which substantiates his preparation for the subject to be taught and shall meet other qualifications specified by the commission and approved by the State Board of Education. In no case shall any local school board hire nonlicensed personnel as authorized under this paragraph in excess of five percent (5%) of the total number of licensed personnel in any single school.
(f) Special License - Transitional Bilingual Education. Beginning July 1, 2003, the commission shall grant special licenses to teachers of transitional bilingual education who possess such qualifications as are prescribed in this section. Teachers of transitional bilingual education shall be compensated by local school boards at not less than one (1) step on the regular salary schedule applicable to permanent teachers licensed under this section. The commission shall grant special licenses to teachers of transitional bilingual education who present the commission with satisfactory evidence that they (i) possess a speaking and reading ability in a language, other than English, in which bilingual education is offered and communicative skills in English; (ii) are in good health and sound moral character; (iii) possess a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree in teacher education from an accredited institution of higher education; (iv) meet such requirements as to courses of study, semester hours therein, experience and training as may be required by the commission; and (v) are legally present in the United States and possess legal authorization for employment. A teacher of transitional bilingual education serving under a special license shall be under an exemption from standard licensure if he achieves the requisite qualifications therefor. Two (2) years of service by a teacher of transitional bilingual education under such an exemption shall be credited to the teacher in acquiring a Standard Educator License. Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to prohibit a local school board from employing a teacher licensed in an appropriate field as approved by the State Department of Education to teach in a program in transitional bilingual education.
(g) In the event any school district meets the highest accreditation standards as defined by the State Board of Education in the accountability system, the State Board of Education, in its discretion, may exempt such school district from any restrictions in paragraph (e) relating to the employment of nonlicensed teaching personnel.
(h) Highly Qualified Teachers. Beginning July 1, 2006, any teacher from any state meeting the federal definition of highly qualified, as described in the No Child Left Behind Act, must be granted a standard five-year license by the State Department of Education.
(i) District Teaching Permit. A school district may issue a school district teaching permit and employ as a teacher a person who does not hold a valid license issued by the board, provided that the person meets any eligibility requirements established by the State Board of Education, in addition to those prescribed in this paragraph.
(i) To be eligible for a school district teaching permit under this paragraph, a person must hold a baccalaureate degree. This subsection does not apply to a person who is employed to teach only career and technology education.
(ii) Promptly after employing a person under this paragraph, a school district shall send the State Department Education a written statement identifying the person, the person's qualifications as a teacher and the subject or class the person is to teach. The person may teach the subject or class pending action by the department.
(iii) Not later than thirty (30) days after the date the department receives the statement under subparagraph (ii), the department shall inform the district in writing whether the department finds the person qualified to teach. If the commissioner finds the person is not qualified, the person may not teach in the school district. If the commissioner fails to act within the time prescribed by this subsection, the district may issue to the person a school district teaching permit and the person may teach the subject or class identified in the statement.
(iv) A person authorized to teach under this section may not teach in another school district unless that district complies with this section. A school district teaching permit remains valid unless the district issuing the permit revokes it for cause.
(7) Administrator License. The State Board of Education is authorized to establish rules and regulations and to administer the licensure process of the school administrators in the State of Mississippi. There will be four (4) categories of administrator licensure with exceptions only through special approval of the State Board of Education.
(a) Administrator License - Nonpracticing. Those educators holding administrative endorsement but having no administrative experience or not serving in an administrative position on January 15, 1997.
(b) Administrator License - Entry Level. Those educators holding administrative endorsement and having met the department's qualifications to be eligible for employment in a Mississippi school district. Administrator License - Entry Level shall be issued for a five-year period and shall be nonrenewable.
(c) Standard Administrator License - Career Level. An administrator who has met all the requirements of the department for standard administrator licensure.
(d) Administrator License - Nontraditional Route. The board may establish a nontraditional route for licensing administrative personnel. Such nontraditional route for administrative licensure shall be available for persons holding, but not limited to, a master of business administration degree, a master of public administration degree, a master of public planning and policy degree or a doctor of jurisprudence degree from an accredited college or university, with five (5) years of administrative or supervisory experience. Successful completion of the requirements of alternate route licensure for administrators shall qualify the person for a standard administrator license.
The State Department of Education shall compile and report, in consultation with the commission, information relating to nontraditional administrator preparation internship programs, including the number of programs available and geographic areas in which they are available, the number of individuals who apply for and possess a nontraditional conditional license and where they are employed, and shall submit its findings and recommendations to the legislative committees on education by December 1, 2004.
Beginning with the 1997-1998 school year, individuals seeking school administrator licensure under paragraph (b), (c) or (d) shall successfully complete a training program and an assessment process prescribed by the State Board of Education. Applicants seeking school administrator licensure prior to June 30, 1997, and completing all requirements for provisional or standard administrator certification and who have never practiced, shall be exempt from taking the Mississippi Assessment Battery Phase I. Applicants seeking school administrator licensure during the period beginning July 1, 1997, through June 30, 1998, shall participate in the Mississippi Assessment Battery, and upon request of the applicant, the department shall reimburse the applicant for the cost of the assessment process required. After June 30, 1998, all applicants for school administrator licensure shall meet all requirements prescribed by the department under paragraphs (b), (c) or (d), and the cost of the assessment process required shall be paid by the applicant.
(8) Reciprocity. (a) The department shall grant a standard license to any individual who:
(i) Possesses a degree issued by an institution accredited by a regional accrediting agency or group that is recognized by a national accreditation board, or a degree issued by an institution located in a foreign country, if the degree is equivalent to a degree regional accrediting agency as describe in this subparagraph;
(ii) Possesses a valid standard license from another state or country; and
(iii) Performs satisfactorily on any examination required under the provisions of this section or required by the board for licensure, or if the educator holds a certificate or other credential issued by another state or country, an examination similar to and at least as rigorous as that required under the provisions of this section or required by the board for licensure which is administered to the educator under the authority of that state or country.
(b) The department shall grant a nonrenewable special license to any individual who possesses a credential which is less than a standard license or certification from another state. Such special license shall be valid for the current school year plus one (1) additional school year to expire on June 30 of the second year, not to exceed a total period of twenty-four (24) months, during which time the applicant shall be required to complete the requirements for a standard license in Mississippi. For purposes of this section, a person is considered to hold a license or a teaching permit, as authorized in paragraph (a)(i) of this subsection, if the license or permit is not valid solely because it has expired.
(c) The board may issue a temporary license under this section to a teacher who holds a degree required by paragraph (a)(i) of this subsection and a valid license required by paragraph (a)(ii) of this subsection but who has not satisfied the requirements prescribed by paragraph (a)(iii) of this subsection. Subject to paragraph (d) of this subsection, the board may specify the term of a temporary license issued under this subsection.
(d) A temporary license issued under paragraph (c) of this subsection to a teacher employed by a school district that has constructed or expanded at least one (1) instructional facility as a result of increased student enrollment due to actions taken under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 may not expire before the first anniversary of the date on which the board completes the teacher evaluation required for nontraditional licenses under subsection (6)(b)(iv) and informs the educator of the examination requirement which the teacher must perform successfully to receive a standard license.
(9) Renewal and Reinstatement of Licenses. The State Board of Education is authorized to establish rules and regulations for the renewal and reinstatement of educator and administrator licenses. Effective May 15, 1997, the valid standard license held by an educator shall be extended five (5) years beyond the expiration date of the license in order to afford the educator adequate time to fulfill new renewal requirements established pursuant to this subsection. An educator completing a master of education, educational specialist or doctor of education degree in May 1997 for the purpose of upgrading the educator's license to a higher class shall be given this extension of five (5) years plus five (5) additional years for completion of a higher degree.
(10) All controversies involving the issuance, revocation, suspension or any change whatsoever in the licensure of an educator required to hold a license shall be initially heard in a hearing de novo, by the commission or by a subcommittee established by the commission and composed of commission members for the purpose of holding hearings. Any complaint seeking the denial of issuance, revocation or suspension of a license shall be by sworn affidavit filed with the Commission of Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development. The decision thereon by the commission or its subcommittee shall be final, unless the aggrieved party shall appeal to the State Board of Education, within ten (10) days, of the decision of the committee or its subcommittee. An appeal to the State Board of Education shall be on the record previously made before the commission or its subcommittee unless otherwise provided by rules and regulations adopted by the board. The State Board of Education in its authority may reverse, or remand with instructions, the decision of the committee or its subcommittee. The decision of the State Board of Education shall be final.
(11) The State Board of Education, acting through the commission, may deny an application for any teacher or administrator license for one or more of the following:
(a) Lack of qualifications which are prescribed by law or regulations adopted by the State Board of Education;
(b) The applicant has a physical, emotional or mental disability that renders the applicant unfit to perform the duties authorized by the license, as certified by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist;
(c) The applicant is actively addicted to or actively dependent on alcohol or other habit-forming drugs or is a habitual user of narcotics, barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens or other drugs having similar effect, at the time of application for a license;
(d) Revocation of an applicant's certificate or license by another state;
(e) Fraud or deceit committed by the applicant in securing or attempting to secure such certification and license;
(f) Failing or refusing to furnish reasonable evidence of identification;
(g) The applicant has been convicted, has pled guilty or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a felony, as defined by federal or state law; or
(h) The applicant has been convicted, has pled guilty or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a sex offense as defined by federal or state law.
(12) The State Board of Education, acting on the recommendation of the commission, may revoke or suspend any teacher or administrator license for specified periods of time for one or more of the following:
(a) Breach of contract or abandonment of employment may result in the suspension of the license for one (1) school year as provided in Section 37-9-57;
(b) Obtaining a license by fraudulent means shall result in immediate suspension and continued suspension for one (1) year after correction is made;
(c) Suspension or revocation of a certificate or license by another state shall result in immediate suspension or revocation and shall continue until records in the prior state have been cleared;
(d) The license holder has been convicted, has pled guilty or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a felony, as defined by federal or state law;
(e) The license holder has been convicted, has pled guilty or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a sex offense, as defined by federal or state law; or
(f) The license holder knowingly and willfully committing any of the acts affecting validity of mandatory uniform test results as provided in Section 37-16-4(1).
(13) (a) Dismissal or suspension of a licensed employee by a local school board pursuant to Section 37-9-59 may result in the suspension or revocation of a license for a length of time which shall be determined by the commission and based upon the severity of the offense.
(b) Any offense committed or attempted in any other state shall result in the same penalty as if committed or attempted in this state.
(c) A person may voluntarily surrender a license. The surrender of such license may result in the commission recommending any of the above penalties without the necessity of a hearing. However, any such license which has voluntarily been surrendered by a licensed employee may only be reinstated by a majority vote of all members of the commission present at the meeting called for such purpose.
(14) A person whose license has been suspended on any grounds except criminal grounds may petition for reinstatement of the license after one (1) year from the date of suspension, or after one-half (1/2) of the suspended time has lapsed, whichever is greater. A license suspended or revoked on the criminal grounds may be reinstated upon petition to the commission filed after expiration of the sentence and parole or probationary period imposed upon conviction. A revoked, suspended or surrendered license may be reinstated upon satisfactory showing of evidence of rehabilitation. The commission shall require all who petition for reinstatement to furnish evidence satisfactory to the commission of good character, good mental, emotional and physical health and such other evidence as the commission may deem necessary to establish the petitioner's rehabilitation and fitness to perform the duties authorized by the license.
(15) Reporting procedures and hearing procedures for dealing with infractions under this section shall be promulgated by the commission, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. The revocation or suspension of a license shall be effected at the time indicated on the notice of suspension or revocation. The commission shall immediately notify the superintendent of the school district or school board where the teacher or administrator is employed of any disciplinary action and also notify the teacher or administrator of such revocation or suspension and shall maintain records of action taken. The State Board of Education may reverse or remand with instructions any decision of the commission regarding a petition for reinstatement of a license, and any such decision of the State Board of Education shall be final.
(16) An appeal from the action of the State Board of Education in denying an application, revoking or suspending a license or otherwise disciplining any person under the provisions of this section shall be filed in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County on the record made, including a verbatim transcript of the testimony at the hearing. The appeal shall be filed within thirty (30) days after notification of the action of the board is mailed or served and the proceedings in chancery court shall be conducted as other matters coming before the court. The appeal shall be perfected upon filing notice of the appeal and by the prepayment of all costs, including the cost of preparation of the record of the proceedings by the State Board of Education, and the filing of a bond in the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) conditioned that if the action of the board be affirmed by the chancery court, the applicant or license holder shall pay the costs of the appeal and the action of the chancery court.
(17) All such programs, rules, regulations, standards and criteria recommended or authorized by the commission shall become effective upon approval by the State Board of Education as designated by appropriate orders entered upon the minutes thereof.
(18) The granting of a license shall not be deemed a property right nor a guarantee of employment in any public school district. A license is a privilege indicating minimal eligibility for teaching in the public schools of Mississippi. This section shall in no way alter or abridge the authority of local school districts to require greater qualifications or standards of performance as a prerequisite of initial or continued employment in such districts.
(19) In addition to the reasons specified in subsections (12) and (13) of this section, the board shall be authorized to suspend the license of any licensee for being out of compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a license for being out of compliance with an order for support, and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement of a license suspended for that purpose, and the payment of any fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a license suspended for that purpose, shall be governed by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be. Actions taken by the board in suspending a license when required by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163 are not actions from which an appeal may be taken under this section. Any appeal of a license suspension that is required by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163 shall be taken in accordance with the appeal procedure specified in Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be, rather than the procedure specified in this section. If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163 and any provision of this chapter, the provisions of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be, shall control.
(20) The board shall adopt rules allowing a licensed teacher to qualify for additional certification to teach at a grade level or in a subject area not covered by the teacher's license upon satisfactory completion of an examination or other assessment of the teacher's qualification.
SECTION 3. Section 37-3-89, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-3-89. (1) The State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development, shall require each educator preparation program in the state, as a condition for approval, to include a course or courses on school discipline or classroom management as a required part of the teacher education program. All school discipline or classroom management courses offered by a teacher education program shall be approved by the Educator License Commission.
(2) The board shall adopts rules establishing the training requirements that must be accomplished in order to obtain a license or enter a teacher internship. The board shall specify the minimum academic qualifications required for a license.
(3) The board shall adopt rules establishing standards to govern the approval and continuing accountability of all teacher preparation programs based on information that are disaggregated with respect to gender and ethnicity and that include:
(a) Results of the licensure examinations; and
(b) Performance based on the evaluation system for beginning teachers adopted by the board.
(4) Each teacher preparation program shall submit data elements as required by the board for an annual performance report to ensure access and equity. At a minimum, the annual report must contain the performance data required under subsection (3) of this section and the following information, disaggregated by gender and ethnicity:
(a) The number of candidates who apply;
(b) The number of candidates admitted;
(c) The number of candidates retained;
(d) The number of candidates completing the program;
(e) The number of candidates employed in the profession after completing the program; and
(f) The number of candidates retained in the profession.
(5) The board shall adopt rules establishing performance standards for accrediting teacher preparation programs. At a minimum, performance standards must be based on subsection (3) of this section. The board shall adopt rules for the sanction of teacher preparation programs and shall annually review the accreditation status of each program.
(6) The State Superintendent of Public Education shall appoint an oversight team of educators to make recommendations and provide assistance to teacher preparation programs that do not meet the established accreditation standards. If, after one (1) year, an teacher preparation program has not fulfilled the recommendations of the oversight team, the superintendent shall appoint a person to administer and manage the operations of the program. If the program does not improve after two (2) years, the board shall revoke the approval of the program to prepare educators for state licensure.
SECTION 4. Section 37-149-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-149-1. (1) There is established within the State Department of Education, the Mississippi Teacher Center for the purpose of insuring that the children of our state are taught by quality professionals. The center shall serve as an interagency center focused on teacher recruitment, enhanced training and initial instructional support.
(2) The center shall have a staff which shall consist of one (1) director, one (1) administrative assistant and professional teacher recruiters. A steering committee shall be established which shall consist of one (1) member from each of the following: the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, the State Board of Education, the Board of the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges, the Board of the Mississippi Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, trustees of the local school boards, teachers and the private sector. The members of the steering committee shall be appointed by the State Superintendent with the approval of the board. The steering committee shall direct the work and establish policies for the purpose of operating the center.
(3) The center shall provide leadership for the following initiatives:
(a) The initiation and monitoring of high school programs for teacher recruitment;
(b) The initiation and monitoring of college level programs for teacher recruitment;
(c) The establishment of a Beginning Teacher/Mentoring program, as authorized in Sections 37-9-201 through 37-9-213;
(d) The sponsorship of a teacher renewal institute;
(e) The continuation of the Teacher Corps program;
(f) The enhancement of the William Winter Scholarship program;
(g) Research for the development of professional teaching standards;
(h) Providing additional scholarships for any targeted populations needing potential teachers; and
(i) Providing assistance to local school districts in identifying and locating specific teacher needs.
(4) (a) The Legislature recognizes that a highly qualified teacher in every public classroom in this state is fundamental to a quality education. The Legislature also recognizes that Mississippi has a serious shortage of qualified teachers to serve in the public schools of this state and that it has a responsibility to enact public policy in an effort to remedy that shortage of qualified teachers.
(b) There is hereby established a Mississippi "Troops to Teachers" pilot program in the State Department of Education to assist in the recruitment, licensure, referral, placement and compensation of military personnel interested in beginning a second career in public education as a teacher. The Teacher Center in the State Department of Education shall collaborate with the national "Troops to Teachers" program to establish the criteria and procedures for allocation of funds provided by the federal government to administer the pilot program to ensure the most effective placement of such teachers around the state taking into consideration the degree of teacher shortage in each school district.
(c) The Legislature shall appropriate funds necessary for the support of this pilot program which will not supplant federal funds provided for that purpose. The Office of the Governor shall transfer any federal funds provided for the Mississippi "Troops to Teachers" program to the State Department of Education for the administration of this program.
(d) The Department of Education shall report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2009, on the status of the implementation of the Mississippi "Troops to Teachers" program and the need for its continuation.
(5) Contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature, the State Board of Education, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall develop and implement programs to identify talented students and recruit those students and persons, including high school and undergraduate students, mid-career and retired professionals, honorably discharged and retired military personnel and members of underrepresented gender and ethnic groups, into the teaching profession.
(6) From the funds made available under subsection (5) of this section, the department, the board, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall develop and distribute materials that emphasize the importance of the teaching profession and inform individuals about state-funded loan forgiveness and tuition assistance programs.
(7) The State Superintendent of Public Education, in cooperation with the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Bureau Director of the Office of Educator Licensure, shall annually identify the need for teachers in specific subject areas, geographic regions and among underrepresented groups. The commissioner shall give priority to developing and implementing recruitment programs to address those needs from the agency's discretionary funds.
(8) The department, the board, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall solicit the cooperation of the business community with local schools to develop recruiting programs designed to attract and retain capable teachers, including programs to provide summer employment opportunities for teachers.
(9) The department, the board, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall encourage major education associations to cooperate in developing a long-range program promoting teaching as a career and to assist in identifying local activities and resources that may be used to promote the teaching profession.
(10) Any funds appropriated or received by gift of donation for teacher recruitment programs may be used only to publicize and implement the programs.
SECTION 5. Section 37-149-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
37-149-3. (1) The center shall place a priority on its function as a teacher recruitment center. In addition to its other duties, it shall publicize the importance of the teaching profession, operate a teacher placement service, and create and manage a teacher renewal institute.
(2) The center shall be authorized to phase into operation its designated functions. Full operation of all the functions of the center shall be in place and operating by July 1, 1996.
(3) The center shall develop in-service training materials and shall provide for the establishment of a corps of trainers.
SECTION 6. Section 37-149-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
37-149-7. The State Superintendent of Public Education shall appoint three (3) persons to serve as professional teacher recruiters, who shall have the following duties:
(a) To educate high school students, through oral presentations made on the campuses of all public high schools and the distribution of written materials, on the importance of teaching as a profession, emphasizing the critical need for teachers in certain geographical areas of the state and the availability of financial scholarships to college students in exchange for service as a licensed teacher in such geographical areas under the Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program;
(b) To encourage assistant teachers in the public schools to pursue a college education that will enable them to become licensed teachers, informing all assistant teachers of the availability of financial scholarships to both full-time and part-time college students under the Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program;
(c) To actively recruit, both within the state and out of state, teachers to render service to the state as a licensed teacher in a geographical area of the state where there exists a critical shortage of teachers, as designated by the State Board of Education, while receiving a scholarship to pursue a master of education degree or educational specialist degree at an institution of higher learning under the University Assisted Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant Program;
(d) To actively recruit, both within the state and out of state, nonpracticing licensed teachers to return to the teaching profession to render service as a licensed teacher in a public school district in a geographical area of the state where there is a critical shortage of teachers, as designated by the State Board of Education;
(e) To actively recruit, both within the state and out of state, persons holding a baccalaureate degree in a field other than education who exhibit potential for a career in teaching to pursue a standard teaching license through the alternate teaching route; and
(f) To notify teachers of the availability of special home loans, subject to eligibility for persons who render service to the state as a licensed teacher in a geographical area of the state where there exists a critical shortage of teachers, as designated by the State Board of Education.
SECTION 7. Section 37-159-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
37-159-9. (1) There is established the University Assisted Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant Program within the State Department of Education. The purposes of the program shall be to attract additional qualified teachers to those geographical areas of the state where there exists a critical shortage of teachers and to retain the qualified teachers already serving as licensed teachers in geographical critical teacher shortage areas by making available scholarships to persons working towards a Master of Education degree or an Educational Specialist degree at an institution of higher learning whose teacher education program is approved by the State Board of Education.
(2) Any institution of higher learning in the State of Mississippi which offers a Master of Education degree or an Educational Specialist degree may apply to the department for participation in the program. As part of the program, participating institutions shall collaborate with the Mississippi Teacher Center to identify, recruit and place teacher education graduates, from both within the state and out-of-state, in school districts situated within those areas of the state where there exists a critical shortage of teachers, as designated by the State Board of Education.
(3) The State Department of Education shall provide funds to participating institutions of higher learning for the purpose of awarding scholarships to qualified persons pursuing a Master of Education degree or an Educational Specialist degree at such institutions while rendering service to the state as a licensed teacher in a school district in a geographical area of the state where there exists a critical shortage of teachers, as approved by the State Board of Education. The financial scholarship shall be applied to the total cost for tuition, books, materials and fees at the institution in which the student is enrolled, not to exceed an amount equal to the highest total cost of tuition, books, materials and fees assessed by a state institution of higher learning during that school year. Teachers who relocate within Mississippi from out-of-state in order to participate in the program shall be classified as residents of the state for tuition purposes.
(4) Students awarded financial scholarships under the University Assisted Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant Program may receive such awards for a maximum of four (4) school years; however, the maximum number of awards which may be made shall not exceed the length of time required to complete the number of academic hours necessary to obtain a Master of Education degree or an Educational Specialist degree. Financial scholarships under the program shall not be based upon an applicant's eligibility for financial aid.
(5) Persons relocating to a geographical area of the state where there exists a critical shortage of teachers, as approved by the State Board of Education, to participate in the University Assisted Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant Program shall be eligible for reimbursement for their moving expenses to the critical teacher shortage area from the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the relocation expense reimbursement component of the University Assisted Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant Program.
(6) Subject to the availability of funds, the State Board of Education may provide for professional development and support services as may be necessary for the retention of teachers participating in the program in those geographical areas of the state where there exists a critical shortage of teachers.
(7) Any person participating in the program who fails to complete a program of study that will enable that person to obtain a Master of Education degree or Educational Specialist degree shall become liable immediately to the State Board of Education for the sum of all awards made to that person under the program, plus interest accruing at the current Stafford Loan rate at the time the person abrogates his participation in the program.
(8) As a condition for participation in the program, a teacher shall agree to employment as a licensed teacher in a school district located in a geographical area of the state where there exists a critical shortage of teachers, as designated by the State Board of Education, for a period of not less than three (3) years, which shall include those years of service rendered while obtaining the Master of Education degree or Educational Specialist degree. However, for any person who obtained a baccalaureate degree in education with a financial scholarship under the Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program and who entered the University Assisted Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant Program before rendering service as a teacher, the period of employment for the purposes of this subsection shall be two (2) years, in addition to the employment commitment required under the Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program. Service rendered by a participant as a licensed teacher in a school district in a geographical critical teacher shortage area before that teacher becomes a participant in the program may not be considered to fulfill the employment commitment required under this subsection. Any person failing to comply with this employment commitment in any required school year shall immediately be in breach of contract and become liable immediately to the State Department of Education for the sum of all scholarships awarded and relocation expenses granted to that person, less one-third (1/3) of the amount of that sum for each year that service was rendered, or for those persons whose required period of employment is two (2) years, less one-half (1/2) of the amount of that sum for each year that service was rendered, plus interest accruing at the current Stafford Loan rate at the time the breach occurs, except in the case of a deferral for cause by the State Board of Education when there is no employment position immediately available upon the teacher's obtaining of the Master of Education degree or Educational Specialist degree. After the period of such deferral, the person shall begin or resume the required teaching duties or shall become liable to the board under this subsection. If a claim for repayment under this subsection is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection after default, then the obligor shall be liable for an additional amount equal to a reasonable attorney's fee.
(9) All funds received by the State Department of Education from the repayment of scholarship awards and relocation expenses by program participants shall be deposited in the Mississippi Critical Teacher Shortage Fund.
(10) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the proper administration of the University Assisted Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant Program.
SECTION 8. Section 37-19-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
37-19-7. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Mississippi "Teacher Opportunity Program (TOP)." The allowance in the Mississippi Adequate Education Program for teachers' salaries in each county and separate school district shall be determined and paid in accordance with the scale for teachers' salaries as provided in this subsection. For teachers holding the following types of licenses or the equivalent as determined by the State Board of Education, and the following number of years of teaching experience, the scale shall be as follows:
2007-2008 School Year and School Years Thereafter
Less Than 25 Years of Teaching Experience
AAAA......................................... $ 35,020.00
AAA.......................................... 33,990.00
AA........................................... 32,960.00
A............................................ 30,900.00
25 or More Years of Teaching Experience
AAAA......................................... $ 37,080.00
AAA.......................................... 36,050.00
AA........................................... 35,020.00
A............................................ 32,960.00
The State Board of Education shall revise the salary scale prescribed above for the 2007-2008 school year to conform to any adjustments made to the salary scale in prior fiscal years due to revenue growth over and above five percent (5%). For each one percent (1%) that the Sine Die General Fund Revenue Estimate Growth exceeds five percent (5%) for fiscal year 2006, as certified by the Legislative Budget Office to the State Board of Education and subject to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature, the State Board of Education shall revise the salary scale to provide an additional one percent (1%) across-the-board increase in the base salaries for each type of license.
It is the intent of the Legislature that any state funds made available for salaries of licensed personnel in excess of the funds paid for such salaries for the 1986-1987 school year shall be paid to licensed personnel pursuant to a personnel appraisal and compensation system implemented by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall have the authority to adopt and amend rules and regulations as are necessary to establish, administer and maintain the system.
All teachers employed on a full-time basis shall be paid a minimum salary in accordance with the above scale. However, no school district shall receive any funds under this section for any school year during which the local supplement paid to any individual teacher shall have been reduced to a sum less than that paid to that individual teacher for performing the same duties from local supplement during the immediately preceding school year. The amount actually spent for the purposes of group health and/or life insurance shall be considered as a part of the aggregate amount of local supplement but shall not be considered a part of the amount of individual local supplement.
2008-2009 School Year
Annual Increments
For teachers holding a Class AAAA license, the minimum base pay specified in this subsection shall be increased by the sum of Seven Hundred Ninety-four Dollars ($794.00) for each year of teaching experience possessed by the person holding such license until such person shall have twenty-five (25) years of teaching experience, and shall be increased by Three Hundred Ninety-seven Dollars ($397.00) for each year of teaching experience over twenty-five (25) years up to thirty-five (35) years.
For teachers holding a Class AAA license, the minimum base pay specified in this subsection shall be increased by the sum of Seven Hundred Twenty-seven Dollars ($727.00) for each year of teaching experience possessed by the person holding such license until such person shall have twenty-five (25) years of teaching experience, and shall be increased by Three Hundred Sixty-four Dollars ($364.00) for each year of teaching experience over twenty-five (25) years up to thirty-five (35) years.
For teachers holding a Class AA license, the minimum base pay specified in this subsection shall be increased by the sum of Six Hundred Sixty Dollars ($660.00) for each year of teaching experience possessed by the person holding such license until such person shall have twenty-five (25) years of teaching experience, and shall be increased by Three Hundred Thirty Dollars ($330.00) for each year of teaching experience over twenty-five (25) years up to thirty-five (35) years.
For teachers holding a Class A license, the minimum base pay specified in this subsection shall be increased by the sum of Four Hundred Ninety-five Dollars ($495.00) for each year of teaching experience possessed by the person holding such license until such person shall have twenty-four (24) years of teaching experience, and shall be increased by Two Hundred Forty-eight Dollars ($248.00) for each year of teaching experience over twenty-four (24) years up to thirty-five (35) years.
2009-2010 School Year
Annual Increments
For teachers holding a Class AAAA license, the minimum base pay specified in this subsection shall be increased by the sum of Seven Hundred Ninety-four Dollars ($794.00) for each year of teaching experience possessed by the person holding such license until such person shall have thirty-five (35) years of teaching experience.
For teachers holding a Class AAA license, the minimum base pay specified in this subsection shall be increased by the sum of Seven Hundred Twenty-seven Dollars ($727.00) for each year of teaching experience possessed by the person holding such license until such person shall have thirty-five (35) years of teaching experience.
For teachers holding a Class AA license, the minimum base pay specified in this subsection shall be increased by the sum of Six Hundred Sixty Dollars ($660.00) for each year of teaching experience possessed by the person holding such license until such person shall have thirty-five (35) years of teaching experience.
For teachers holding a Class A license, the minimum base pay specified in this subsection shall be increased by the sum of Four Hundred Ninety-five Dollars ($495.00) for each year of teaching experience possessed by the person holding such license until such person shall have thirty-five (35) years of teaching experience.
The level of professional training of each teacher to be used in establishing the salary allotment for the teachers for each year shall be determined by the type of valid teacher's license issued to those teachers on or before October 1 of the current school year. Provided, however, that school districts are authorized, in their discretion, to negotiate the salary levels applicable to certificated employees who are receiving retirement benefits from the retirement system of another state, and the annual experience increment provided above in Section 37-19-7 shall not be applicable to any such retired certificated employee.
Each school district shall provide an annual report to the State Department of Education on the number of certificated and noncertificated employees receiving a salary from the school district who are also receiving retirement benefits from the Public Employees' Retirement System. This report shall include the name of the employee(s), the hours per week for which the employee is under contract and the services for which the employee is under contract. Said required annual report shall be in a form and deadline promulgated by the State Board of Education. The State Department shall include this information in its annual budget request to the Legislative Budget Office.
(2) (a) The following employees shall receive an annual salary supplement in the amount of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00), plus fringe benefits, in addition to any other compensation to which the employee may be entitled:
(i) Any licensed teacher who has met the requirements and acquired a Master Teacher certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a teacher and not as an administrator. Such teacher shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate was received prior to October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the teacher shall submit such documentation to the State Department of Education prior to February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.
(ii) A licensed nurse who has met the requirements and acquired a certificate from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses, Inc., and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a school nurse and not as an administrator. The licensed school nurse shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate was received before October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed school nurse shall submit the documentation to the State Department of Education before February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year. Provided, however, that the total number of licensed school nurses eligible for a salary supplement under this paragraph (ii) shall not exceed thirty (30).
(iii) Any licensed school counselor who has met the requirements and acquired a National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) endorsement from the National Board of Certified Counselors and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a counselor and not as an administrator. Such licensed school counselor shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the endorsement was received prior to October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed school counselor shall submit such documentation to the State Department of Education prior to February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year. However, any school counselor who started the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards process for school counselors between June 1, 2003, and June 30, 2004, and completes the requirements and acquires the Master Teacher certificate shall be entitled to the master teacher supplement, and those counselors who complete the process shall be entitled to a one-time reimbursement for the actual cost of the process as outlined in paragraph (b) of this subsection.
(iv) Any licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist who has met the requirements and acquired a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and who is employed by a local school board or is employed by a state agency under the State Personnel Board. Such licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate or endorsement was received prior to October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist shall submit such documentation to the State Department of Education prior to February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.
(b) An employee shall be reimbursed one (1) time for the actual cost of completing the process of acquiring the certificate or endorsement, excluding any costs incurred for postgraduate courses, not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a school counselor or speech-language pathologist and audiologist, regardless of whether or not the process resulted in the award of the certificate or endorsement. A local school district or any private individual or entity may pay the cost of completing the process of acquiring the certificate or endorsement for any employee of the school district described under paragraph (a), and the State Department of Education shall reimburse the school district for such cost, regardless of whether or not the process resulted in the award of the certificate or endorsement. If a private individual or entity has paid the cost of completing the process of acquiring the certificate or endorsement for an employee, the local school district may agree to directly reimburse the individual or entity for such cost on behalf of the employee.
(c) All salary supplements, fringe benefits and process reimbursement authorized under this subsection shall be paid directly by the State Department of Education to the local school district and shall be in addition to its minimum education program allotments and not a part thereof in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education, and subject to appropriation by the Legislature. Local school districts shall not reduce the local supplement paid to any employee receiving such salary supplement, and the employee shall receive any local supplement to which employees with similar training and experience otherwise are entitled.
(d) The State Department of Education may not pay any process reimbursement to a school district for an employee who does not complete the certification or endorsement process required to be eligible for the certificate or endorsement. If an employee for whom such cost has been paid in full or in part by a local school district or private individual or entity fails to complete the certification or endorsement process, the employee shall be liable to the school district or individual or entity for all amounts paid by the school district or individual or entity on behalf of that employee toward his or her certificate or endorsement.
(3) (a) Effective July 1, 2007, if funds are available for that purpose, the Legislature may authorize state funds for additional base compensation for teachers holding licenses in critical subject areas or the equivalent and who teach at least a majority of their courses in a critical subject area, as determined by the State Board of Education.
(b) Effective July 1, 2007, if funds are available for that purpose, the Legislature may authorize state funds for additional base compensation for teachers employed in a public school district located in a geographic area of the state designated as a critical teacher shortage area by the State Board of Education.
(4) (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Performance Based Pay (MPBP)" plan. In addition to the minimum base pay described in this section, only after full funding of MAEP and if funds are available for that purpose, the State of Mississippi may provide monies from state funds to school districts for the purposes of rewarding certified teachers, administrators and nonlicensed personnel at individual schools showing improvement in student test scores. The MPBP plan shall be developed by the State Department of Education based on the following criteria:
(i) It is the express intent of this legislation that the MPBP plan shall utilize only existing standards of accreditation and assessment as established by the State Board of Education.
(ii) To ensure that all of Mississippi's teachers, administrators and nonlicensed personnel at all schools have equal access to the monies set aside in this section, the MPBP program shall be designed to calculate each school's performance as determined by the school's increase in scores from the prior school year. The MPBP program shall be based on a standardized scores rating where all levels of schools can be judged in a statistically fair and reasonable way upon implementation. At the end of each year, after all student achievement scores have been standardized, the State Department of Education shall implement the MPBP plan.
(iii) To ensure all teachers cooperate in the spirit of teamwork, individual schools shall submit a plan to the local school district to be approved before the beginning of each school year beginning July 1, 2008. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, how all teachers, regardless of subject area, and administrators will be responsible for improving student achievement for their individual school.
(b) The State Board of Education shall develop the processes and procedures for designating schools eligible to participate in the MPBP. State assessment results, growth in student achievement at individual schools and other measures deemed appropriate in designating successful student achievement shall be used in establishing MPBP criteria. The State Board of Education shall develop the MPBP policies and procedures and report to the Legislature and Governor by December 1, 2006.
(5) (a) Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, if funds are available for that purpose, each school in Mississippi shall have mentor teachers, as defined by Sections 37-9-201 through 37-9-213, who shall receive additional base compensation provided for by the State Legislature in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per each beginning teacher that is being mentored. The additional state compensation shall be limited to those mentor teachers that provide mentoring services to beginning teachers. For the purposes of such funding, a beginning teacher shall be defined as any teacher in any school in Mississippi that has less than one (1) year of classroom experience teaching in a public school. For the purposes of such funding, no full-time academic teacher shall mentor more than two (2) beginning teachers. The State Department of Education shall annually provide to the Legislature, no later than January 2, the number of beginning teachers in each school in Mississippi as defined in this subsection.
(b) To be eligible for this state funding, the individual school must have a classroom management program approved by the local school board.
SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.