MS HB420

Establishes the Mississippi English Language Learners Scholarship Program to recruit and educate Hispanic or Latino resident students pursuing bachelor's or master's degrees in elementary, secondary, or special education

Scholarship awards equal the total cost of tuition, materials, and fees; recipients must teach for 5 years in school districts designated as areas of critical need based on English Language Learner populations

Limits program enrollment to 10 students per annual cohort beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year; program administered through and incorporated into the existing Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program

Exempts scholarship recipients from minimum academic entrance requirements (ACT score of 21 and 2.75 GPA) normally required for teacher education program admission

Recipients who fail to complete their degree or teaching service obligation must repay all scholarship amounts plus interest at the Stafford Loan rate; requires Board of Trustees report to Legislature by January 1, 2020 on program participation and outcomes