Bill > SB2516

This bill amends the William F. Winter and Jack Reed, Sr., Teacher Loan Repayment Program in Mississippi to extend its benefits to assistant teachers in public schools, providing them with the same award amounts as teachers for repaying their educational loans. The program, which helps recruit and retain educators by offering financial assistance for outstanding student loans, now explicitly includes assistant teachers in eligibility criteria, award structures, and program tracking. This means assistant teachers who graduate from accredited institutions, sign contracts to teach in Mississippi public schools, and have qualifying educational loans can now receive awards ranging from $1,500 to $6,000 over three years, depending on whether they teach in a critical teacher shortage area. The bill also clarifies that the requirement for a standard or nontraditional five-year license applies only to teachers, not assistant teachers, and that recipients must maintain their license and fulfill their teaching contract to remain eligible. The program's provisions, including award amounts and eligibility, are now extended to assistant teachers, aiming to bolster the teaching workforce by offering financial incentives for both roles.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/SB/SB2516.xml