MS HB7

Establishes Assistant Teacher Elevated Salary Waiver Program allowing school districts to compensate assistant teachers enrolled in recognized teacher education programs at the salary level of first-year licensed teachers for up to two years

Eligible assistant teachers must be enrolled in Teacher Assistance Program at University of Southern Mississippi or approved Mississippi baccalaureate institution with minimum 2.5 GPA, have completed criminal background check, been employed as full-time assistant teacher for minimum three years, and sign oath committing to teach in the district for three years

School districts must demonstrate critical teacher shortage, evidence recruitment efforts, and show inability to fill 90% of available teacher openings in the past 12 months when applying for waivers

Assistant teachers who fail to complete required three-year service commitment after earning teaching certification must repay the state the difference between elevated salary and statutory assistant teacher salary ($14,000 annually), plus 5% penalty and interest at unsubsidized Federal Stafford loan rate

Bill takes effect July 1, 2020