MS HB1349

Establishes the Mississippi Great Teachers Act of 2019 to provide incentives for individuals to enter the teaching profession and address the critical teacher shortage in Mississippi.

Increases the minimum teacher salary scale by $2,000.00, phased in over two years at $1,000.00 per year beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

Provides $2,000.00 annual compensation to teacher leaders who mentor beginning teachers under the Beginning Teacher Support Program, phased in as a four-year pilot program through the 2022-2023 school year.

Creates new scholarship programs for military personnel (Troops to Teachers) and expert citizens, and establishes the Mississippi Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing and Retention Grant Program to provide scholarships for assistant teachers and paraprofessionals pursuing bachelor of education degrees in critical teacher shortage areas.

Allows retired teachers with at least 25 years of creditable service to be reemployed as teachers in critical shortage areas while continuing to receive retirement benefits, plus a salary at Step 1 of the teacher salary scale with half the experience years of their previous service.