PLEASE NOTE: This is an informational blog post about actions taken by the State Board of Education. It does not describe a special program run by Mississippi First. We do not have any authority over licensure nor are we running an educator preparation program or a Praxis program.

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, at a Special Called Meeting on March 26, 2020, the State Board of Education (SBE) voted on a number of temporary measures intended to grant current teachers and teacher candidates considerable flexibility in gaining entry to educator preparation programs (EPPs) as well as applying for and renewing licensure. We have highlighted the most consequential decisions below. Please visit here for more information regarding these temporary measures, and here for more information regarding general guidelines for licensure. Mississippi First does not control licensure.

Temporary Program Entry Requirements

SBE voted to grant the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) approval to temporarily suspend testing requirements for entry into EPPs.

All candidates seeking admission to a traditional or alternate route EPP before January 2022 will not be required to take the ACT, Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, or any other exam.

For traditional route applicants, all other entry requirements will remain in place. This means that applicants are still required to hold a 2.75 GPA on pre-major coursework. For alternate route applicants, those without a passing score on the relevant Subject Area Assessment (Praxis II) must hold a bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject area. Alternate route applicants without a bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject area must have either a passing score on the relevant Subject Area Assessment or, if they are seeking licensure in an area other than Elementary Education, eighteen (18) hours of coursework with a grade of “C” or higher in the relevant subject area.

The suspension of testing requirements for entry into EPPs will end January, 2022.

Temporary Licensure Requirements

SBE voted to grant MDE approval to temporarily suspend testing requirements for licensure.

All candidates seeking a Five-Year Standard License before January 2022 will not be required to take the Praxis II, Foundations of Reading, or any other exam. 

All other licensure requirements remain in place. For those seeking a three-year internship license or alternate route candidates seeking a Five-Year Standard License, applicants without a passing score on the relevant Subject Area Assessment must hold a bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject area. Applicants without a bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject area must have either a passing score on the relevant Subject Area Assessment or, if they are seeking licensure in an area other than Elementary Education, eighteen (18) hours of coursework with a grade of “C” or higher in the relevant subject area.

The suspension of testing requirements for licensure also extends to out-of-state applicants seeking Five-Year Standard Reciprocity.

The suspension of testing requirements for licensure will end in January, 2022.

Temporary Licensure Renewal Requirements

SBE voted to grant MDE approval to temporarily suspend renewal requirements for those with licenses set to expire on June 30, 2020. Those holding licenses set to expire on June 30, 2020, will have a one-year extension to meet the requirements for renewal. 

All holders of licenses set to expire on June 30, 2021, including those whose licenses were originally set to expire on June 30, 2020, will be required to meet the standard requirements for renewal.

Comments

  1. 1
    Scottie Perry phone number: 901-871-1987 on June 12, 2020

    I have been attempting to gain more information on the Gaining Entry to Educator Preparation Program and I am unable to contact anyone. I have a BS in Physical Education but I have not obtained my Teacher Licensure yet. Please advise.

    Please provide me with more information.

    1. 2
      rcanter on June 12, 2020

      Hi, Mr. Perry. This blog post discusses changes that the Mississippi Department of Education made to its own rules, not a program that Mississippi First is operating. Please call the Licensure Call Center (601-359-3483) or visit their website (https://mdek12.org/OEL) for questions about licensure.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *