The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has unveiled progressive new pathways for individuals seeking certification as elementary and special education teachers. This strategic move aims to combat the state’s persistent teacher shortage and simplify the often-complex licensure process. These significant policy changes officially came into effect on Monday.
Mississippi’s updated regulations are expected to accelerate hundreds of aspiring educators into classrooms, potentially sooner than ever before. Here’s a detailed look at what these transformative changes mean for those preparing to embark on a teaching career.
New Routes to Classroom Certification
Under the freshly revised framework, aspiring elementary school teachers can now obtain a provisional license, allowing them to begin teaching while concurrently completing a new, complimentary course. This specialized year-long program is specifically designed to fulfill the requirements of the rigorous Foundations of Reading test.
Developed by the AIM Institute, based in Omaha, Nebraska, this comprehensive course features 14 self-paced online learning modules, complemented by two intensive in-person training sessions, culminating in a final assessment. Participants are required to achieve an 80% score, demonstrating their knowledge and progress through regular quizzes and both pre- and post-assessments.
To ensure widespread accessibility across the state, in-person training sessions are strategically scheduled in multiple key locations, including Jackson, Hattiesburg, Oxford, Meridian, and Gulfport.
Changes for Special Education Teachers
In another notable change, the MDE has removed the mandatory reading test requirement for aspiring special educators who will be teaching students with “mild to moderate” learning needs. These are typically students who are integrated into general education classrooms.
This particular adjustment was partly influenced by insights gathered from the department’s 2024-2025 educator survey, which strongly indicated a need to re-evaluate current licensure standards for both elementary and special education teachers.
The MDE’s Office of Teaching and Leading asserts that these updated criteria are designed not only to strengthen Mississippi’s teaching workforce but also to create more accessible opportunities for qualified candidates to transition from provisional to full certification.
Addressing Persistent Licensure Barriers
Elementary education has historically presented one of the most significant certification hurdles in Mississippi. The primary education licensure test has consistently shown the lowest pass rate among all subject-specific examinations. Between 2015 and 2018, nearly one in four test-takers failed on their initial attempt, according to data from the Associated Press – the most recent available due to pandemic-related testing disruptions.
For a long time, education analysts have raised questions about whether the existing examinations accurately gauge a candidate’s readiness for the classroom. The Mississippi elementary education test, for instance, demands a broad knowledge base spanning kindergarten through sixth grade, encompassing multiple subjects from mathematics and science to the arts and social studies.
Strengthening the Educator Pipeline
The Mississippi Department of Education’s forward-thinking approach signifies a broader commitment to stabilizing the teacher pipeline in a state where vacancies persist in both elementary and special education sectors.
By replacing a costly, high-stakes examination with a structured professional learning model, the department aims to provide more effective support to aspiring teachers, all while upholding robust instructional standards. This new course model, developed in collaboration with the AIM Institute, is specifically designed to cultivate practical teaching competence through continuous assessment, moving away from reliance on a single, high-pressure test.
The department is confident that these revised requirements will enable more qualified individuals to achieve full licensure and commit to teaching in Mississippi classrooms, ultimately fostering long-term workforce stability and significantly enhancing student learning outcomes.
Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!