MS SB2507

Establishes a critical teacher shortage area license allowing educators to teach in designated shortage areas with alternative requirements, including those with lower test scores, portfolio/video submissions, or retired teachers returning to the classroom.

Requires school districts using this license to provide a minimum of 50 additional professional development hours over the first three years of employment and assign a veteran mentor teacher for the first two years.

Allows retired teachers with at least 25 years of creditable service to be reemployed as teachers in critical shortage areas while continuing to receive their retirement allowance plus beginning teacher salary.

Permits retired teachers to receive retirement benefits while earning a beginning teacher's salary (Steps 0-3) without accruing additional retirement benefits, with funding transferred through the Mississippi Adequate Education Program.

Requires school districts to submit formal written requests to the State Department of Education at the end of each academic term to use critical teacher shortage area licenses.