MS SB2481

Establishes the Mississippi Teacher Leadership Program within the State Department of Education to retain effective classroom teachers through stipends and leadership opportunities while remaining in the classroom.

Designates teachers as "teacher leaders" (rather than "mentor teachers") with guidelines requiring willing participation, prohibiting involvement in teacher evaluations, mandatory training through Mississippi Teacher Center, and limiting workload increases for other staff.

Creates the Mississippi Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing and Retention Grant Program to provide scholarships for assistant teachers and paraprofessionals pursuing Bachelor's degrees in Education at Mississippi institutions in critical shortage areas.

Allows any Mississippi institution of higher learning offering Bachelor of Education degrees to participate and collaborate with the Mississippi Teacher Center to recruit and place graduates in critical teacher shortage areas designated by the State Board of Education.

Extends existing University Assisted Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant Program provisions to the new classified employee program, including scholarship application toward tuition, books, materials and fees with repayment obligations if participants fail to complete their degrees or meet employment commitments.