Bill > HB180

This bill establishes the Assistant Teacher Salary Waiver Grant Program to help eligible assistant teachers become licensed teachers by providing grants to attract and retain qualified educators. The program will be administered by the State Board of Education. School districts can enter into agreements with qualified assistant teachers to waive a portion of their salary, equivalent to the statutory minimum salary, in exchange for a grant to cover tuition, books, and instructional materials for a baccalaureate degree. To qualify, assistant teachers must have at least five years of classroom experience, be enrolled full-time in a Mississippi-based accredited university with two years or less remaining for their degree, maintain a 2.5 GPA, pass the Praxis Core exam, and commit to teaching in the state for each year they receive a grant. Those who receive a grant and fail to fulfill their teaching obligation after obtaining their degree will be financially liable for the grant amount plus a penalty and interest. The bill also mandates that the State Board of Education report annually to the Legislature on vacant teacher positions and those filled by individuals with provisional or emergency licenses. Additionally, it amends Section 37-21-7 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, which outlines the existing Assistant Teacher Program, to allow for this salary waiver grant alternative to direct salary compensation.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0180.xml