Early childhood education employees; clarify qualifications exemption for those employed in programs not granted by SDE.

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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative McCarty

HOUSE BILL NO. 1206

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-21-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
CLARIFY THE QUALIFICATIONS EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS EMPLOYED IN A 2
PREKINDERGARTEN OR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM, NOT GRANTED 3
BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN A CHARTER SCHOOL 4
AUTHORIZED BY THE MISSISSIPPI CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER BOARD; AND 5
FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 37-21-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
37-21-3. (1) No person shall act in the capacity of master 10
teacher, teacher or assistant teacher in any federal or 11
state-funded program of early childhood education or "Head Start," 12
or perform any of the functions, duties or powers of the same, 13
unless that person shall be qualified in the following manner: 14
(a) A master teacher or any other employee or 15
consultant receiving a salary or fee equivalent to that of a 16
master teacher shall meet the qualifications of a teacher in this 17
section, including the requirement that a teacher may be required 18
to hold a state teaching license by the State Department of 19
Education, and have demonstrated effectiveness as an early 20
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childhood educator. Effectiveness as an early childhood educator 21
may be demonstrated by a rating of highly effective on a state 22
evaluation of teaching, if available, or with evidence that the 23
teacher has a record of raising the achievement outcomes of 24
prekindergarten students. 25
(b) A teacher shall possess a bachelor's degree in 26
early childhood education, child development or an equivalent 27
field. A teacher may also possess a bachelor's degree in any 28
field as well as have at least twelve (12) credit hours of 29
coursework in early childhood education, child development, or an 30
equivalent field approved by an institution granting a bachelor's 31
degree in the early childhood education, child development or an 32
equivalent field; or have a bachelor's degree in any field as well 33
as have completed a specialized early childhood training program 34
deemed equivalent by the State Department of Education to twelve 35
(12) hours of approved coursework. 36
(c) An assistant teacher shall possess an associate's 37
degree in early childhood education, child development or an 38
equivalent field; or an associate's degree in any field and a 39
Child Development Associate credential, a Montessori certification 40
or an equivalent certification; or a high school diploma/GED and a 41
Child Development Associate credential, a Montessori certification 42
or an equivalent certification. Public school assistant teachers 43
in the voluntary prekindergarten program established by the Early 44
Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 may be required by the State 45
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ST: Early childhood education employees;
clarify qualifications exemption for those
employed in programs not granted by SDE.
Department of Education to meet the definition of a highly 46
qualified paraprofessional in addition to these requirements. 47
The State Department of Education shall adopt any necessary 48
rules, policies or procedures to implement this section. 49
(2) Persons employed as a teacher, assistant teacher or in 50
any other capacity in a prekindergarten or early childhood 51
education program, not granted by the State Department of 52
Education, in a charter school authorized by the Mississippi 53
Charter School Authorizer Board are exempt from the requirements 54
of this section. 55
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 56
and after July 1, 2026. 57