MS HB52

Amends Section 37-177-19 of the Mississippi Code to specify that teacher training provided by the State Department of Education under the Literacy-Based Promotion Act must include Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) or another department-approved training program.

Requires the State Department of Education to establish a procedure for school districts to submit applications for approval of comparable alternative training programs as substitutes for the standard training.

Makes school districts financially responsible for all costs associated with approved alternative training programs until the State Department of Education determines the program should be adopted statewide.

Takes effect July 1, 2016.