Mississippi Senate Bill SB2674

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

Licensed educators; provide appeal rights when license suspended or revoked.

Impact

The bill emphasizes accountability by allowing the Board of Education to revoke or refuse to renew an educator's license in cases of serious misconduct affecting test results or accountability outcomes. Additionally, the revocation or suspension of an educator's license in another state will immediately impact their licensure eligibility in Mississippi, which introduces stricter cross-border regulations for educators. It aims to create a more uniform process for disciplinary actions against educators, aligning with broader goals of maintaining standards in education.

Summary

Senate Bill 2674 aims to amend Section 37-3-2 of the Mississippi Code, which governs the licensure and certification of educators and administrators. The legislation establishes specific appeal rights for licensed educators and administrators whose licenses have been suspended or revoked. This change seeks to ensure that those impacted by such actions have a clear and defined path for challenging the decisions made by the State Board of Education or its commission.

Contention

While the bill is likely to enhance the framework for handling educator misconduct, there are concerns regarding its implications for due process. Critics may argue that the procedures outlined could be too harsh or lacking in nuance, limiting the ability of educators to fully defend against allegations. Furthermore, the immediate denial of licensure based on out-of-state actions could disproportionately affect educators who may have complied with all relevant regulations in Mississippi but had past issues in different jurisdictions.