MS HB22

Establishes the Mississippi English Language Learners Scholarship Program to recruit and educate Hispanic or Latino Mississippi residents 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 public school districts designated as areas of critical need based on English Language Learner populations.

Limits program enrollment to 10 students per cohort annually beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year; program administered within and funded through the existing Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program.

Recipients who fail to complete their degree or required years of service must repay all scholarship funds plus interest at the Stafford Loan rate.

Exempts scholarship recipients from minimum academic requirements (21 ACT equivalent and 2.75 GPA) normally required for teacher education program entrance under Section 37-3-2.