MS HB400

Establishes the Assistant Teacher Elevated Salary Waiver Program to compensate eligible assistant teachers enrolled in recognized postsecondary teacher education programs at the level of first-year licensed and certified teachers for up to 2 years

Requires school districts applying for waivers to demonstrate critical teacher shortages, document recruitment efforts, and prove inability to fill 90% of available teaching positions in the past 12 months

Requires eligible assistant teachers to have minimum 2.5 GPA in Teacher Assistance Program at regionally accredited Mississippi institutions, clean background check, 3 years full-time employment with the district, and oath of commitment to teach in the district for 3 years

Assistant teachers who fail to complete the 3-year service commitment obligation must repay to the state any salary amount exceeding assistant teacher statutory salary levels, plus interest at the federal Stafford loan rate

Brings forward existing sections of Mississippi Code related to teacher and assistant teacher salary scales and forgivable loan repayment terms; effective July 1, 2019