MS HB975

Establishes the Mississippi English Language Learners Scholarship Program to recruit and educate qualified educators for schools with growing English Language Learner populations.

Restricts scholarships to Mississippi resident Hispanic or Latino students enrolled in or accepted to bachelor's or master's degree programs in elementary, secondary, or special education at public or private institutions in Mississippi.

Provides annual scholarship awards equal to total tuition, materials, and fees; recipients must teach for five (5) years in state school districts designated as areas of critical need for English Language Learners.

Limits program enrollment to ten (10) students per annual cohort and incorporates the program into the existing Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program administered by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

Exempts Mississippi English Language Learners Scholarship recipients from minimum academic entrance requirements (21 ACT score or 2.75 GPA) otherwise required for teacher education programs.