Expert citizen teachers; provide rate of compensation for those employed in critical shortage areas.
Impact
The bill aims to directly address the pressing issue of teacher shortages in critical areas of the state. By giving school districts the ability to offer more competitive pay based on relevant experience, it anticipates attracting qualified professionals who might not otherwise consider teaching positions. This could provide a more robust educational environment and help elevate overall educational standards in the state as districts will have access to more experienced educators during times of need.
Summary
House Bill 165 seeks to amend Section 37-3-2 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 by providing specific compensation guidelines for individuals licensed as expert citizens who are employed in school districts facing critical teacher shortages. The bill allows these expert citizens to be credited with three-fourths of a year of teaching experience for each year worked in their field of expertise. This allows the employing school district to appropriately align the individuals' compensation with their qualifications and experience, effectively improving recruitment measures for hard-to-fill teaching positions.
Contention
While the bill is anticipated to receive support for its intention to fill teaching gaps, there may be contention surrounding the implications for the existing teaching workforce. Current teachers may view this bill as creating discrepancies in compensation and opportunity, as new hires with industry experience could start at a salary level comparable to, or even higher than, existing teachers with years of service. Such disparities could lead to morale challenges and further complicate the landscape of educator retention, which is equally as pressing as recruitment.
National Board certified teachers; provide $4,000 annual salary supplement for those employed in areas designated as geographically critical teacher shortage areas.