Bill > HB382

This bill establishes the "Former Collegiate Athlete Scholarship Program" designed to encourage former collegiate athletes who did not complete their undergraduate degrees to become teachers in Mississippi. The program offers full scholarships covering tuition, room and meals, books, materials, and fees to student athletes who have completed at least two semesters of study and are now enrolling in a teacher education program or pursuing an alternate route teaching license. Scholarship recipients must commit to teaching in a public school in Mississippi after graduation, with the length of required service proportional to the number of scholarship years received: one year of service for one or fewer scholarship years, three years for two or fewer scholarship years, and five years for three scholarship years. Full-time students can receive up to three annual awards, while part-time students will have their award limits determined by joint rules from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board of Education. If a scholarship recipient fails to complete their teaching program or teaching service obligation, they will be liable to repay the full scholarship amount plus interest. The program will be administered by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, with awards made on a first-come, first-served basis, prioritizing previous program participants if funds are limited. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0382.xml