View APA submissions in the Mississippi Administrative Bulletin on the Secretary of State’s website.
Division of Accreditation
Office of Chief Accountability Officer
On June 19, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the Mississippi Nonpublic School Accountability Standards, 2024, specifically, Process Standards 2, 24, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, and 24.4, and the Glossary and to establish Process Standards 24.7 and 24.8
Background Information: As part of the MS Student Funding Formula (MSFF) enacted by the MS Legislature in July 2024, Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-77, mandating specific student-teacher ratios in Mississippi classrooms was repealed. As part of the MSFF that became effective July 2024, Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-213 was enacted and provides the Commission on School Accreditation the authority to establish student-teacher ratios and the State Board of Education the authority to approve or disapprove of waiver requests of established ratios submitted by local districts. On June 5, 2025, the Commission on School Accreditation met and unanimously approved proposed revisions to the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024. The proposed revisions to the Mississippi Nonpublic School Accountability Standards, 2024 align with the proposed revisions to the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024, and the waiver request process outlined in State Board Policy Chapter 19, Rule 19.1 and beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Please submit written comments to Dr. Jo Ann Malone, Office of Accreditation, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at accreditation@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Accreditation no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on August 21, 2025.
Division of Accreditation
Office of Chief Accountability Officer
On June 19, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024, specifically, Process Standards 2, 28.1, 28.2, 28.3, and 28.4, and the Glossary and to establish Process Standards 28.6 and 28.7
Background Information: As part of the MS Student Funding Formula (MSFF) enacted by the MS Legislature in July 2024, Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-77, mandating specific student-teacher ratios in Mississippi classrooms was repealed. As part of the MSFF that became effective July 2024, Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-213 was enacted and provides the Commission on School Accreditation the authority to establish student-teacher ratios and the State Board of Education the authority to approve or disapprove of waiver requests of established ratios submitted by local districts. On June 5, 2025, the Commission on School Accreditation met and approved the proposed revisions that will help clarify the student-teacher ratios in the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024, and the waiver request process outlined in State Board Policy Chapter 19, Rule 19.1 and beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Please submit written comments to Dr. Jo Ann Malone, Office of Accreditation, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at accreditation@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Accreditation no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on August 21, 2025.
Division of Educator Licensure
Office of Chief Accountability Officer
Proposed revision of Miss. Admin. Code 7-4: Part 4: Licensure Guidelines K-12
On April 17, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval of a temporary rule and to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise Miss. Admin. Code 7 – 4: Part 4: Licensure Guidelines K-12 to remove references to and associated requirements related to the Highly Qualified Teacher Status as formerly defined and required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
Background Information: In accordance with Miss. Code Ann. § 37-3-2, the purpose and duty of the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development (Licensure Commission) is to make recommendations to the Mississippi Board of Education regarding standards for the certification, licensure, and continuing professional development of individuals who teach or perform educational tasks in Mississippi’s public schools.
Therefore, on June 3, 2025, during a special-called meeting, the members of the Licensure Commission granted approval to petition the Mississippi State Board of Education to consider approving a temporary rule and to begin the Administrative Procedures Act process to remove from the Licensure Guidelines, references to and associated requirements related to the Highly Qualified Teacher Status as formerly defined and required by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 which was replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015.
The NCLB aimed to improve public education by holding schools, districts, and states accountable for student performance. A key requirement of NCLB was that teachers providing direct instruction and assigning grades to students in core academic subjects be considered “highly qualified.”
In 2015, ESSA replaced significant portions of NCLB. While ESSA maintained the requirement for standardized testing, it provided greater flexibility in how tests are administered and how teachers are evaluated. Notably, ESSA eliminated the federal requirement for teachers to meet the “highly qualified” teacher standard.
In essence, ESSA shifted from the NCLB’s focus on qualifications to that of educator effectiveness which harnesses a focus on a teacher’s ability to positively impact student growth and achievement.
The temporary rule and final action are necessary to implement the policy revisions immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State in accordance with Miss. Code Ann. § 25-43-3.113(2)(b)(ii). See also Miss. Code Ann. § 25-43-3.108. For a rule to become effective immediately upon its filing, the Board is required to make a finding that the rule only confers a benefit or removes a restriction on the public or some segment thereof.
Please submit written comments to Dr. Cory Murphy, Office of Teaching and Leading, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (licensure@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Division of Educator Licensure no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on August 21, 2025.
Division of Educator Licensure
Office of Chief Accountability Officer
Proposed revision of Title 7 Miss. Admin. Code Part 142: Career and Technical Education Licensure Guidelines K-12
On June 19, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act process: To revise Title 7 of the Miss. Admin. Code: Part 142: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Licensure Guidelines K-12: To revise the “Special Notes” section to include a sixth (6th) “Special Note” that would establish criteria for obtaining certain Career and Technical Education (CTE) License types after an Initial Standard Renewable CTE License has been Granted: These Criteria will be referenced as applicable throughout the Official CTE Guidelines Document and shall Only Apply to certain CTE Licensure Pathways
Background Information: On May 2, 2025, at its regular meeting, the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development granted approval of the recommendations made by the Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE) to revise the “Special Notes” section of the official CTE Guidelines document to include a sixth (6th) “Special Note” that would establish criteria for obtaining a CTE license after an initial standard five-year renewable CTE license has been granted to an educator. As local school districts across Mississippi continue to add new and convert existing CTE programs to updated career pathways that meet the unique workforce needs of their respective communities, the proposed provision would afford local school districts the opportunity to retain existing staff and substantially broaden their pool of eligible instructors holding a valid five-year standard renewable CTE license.
Particularly, the request is to establish a provision that would allow an applicant that has met all criteria for obtaining an initial standard five-year renewable CTE license and is seeking to obtain an additional CTE license, to not be required to meet the educational requirement for obtaining certain subsequent CTE license types. All other criteria for obtaining the subsequent license, that have not been previously met, must be completed as a condition for the issuance of the subsequent license sought. This provision shall only apply to certain CTE licensure pathways in the official “Guidelines and Clarification of Requirements for Issuance of Career and Technical Education (Occupational Educator) Licenses”, document.
All requirements noted herein shall be effective upon receipt of final Mississippi Board of Education approval.
Please submit written comments to Dr. Cory Murphy, Office of Teaching and Leading, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at (licensure@mdek12.org).
All public comments must be received in the Division of Educator Licensure no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on August 21, 2025.
Office of Accreditation
Proposed revision of State Board Policy Chapter 19, Rule 19.1 – Class Size
On June 19, 2025, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to revise State Board Policy Chapter 19, Rule 19.1 – Class Size effective with the 2025-2026 school year
Background Information: As part of the MS Student Funding Formula (MSFF) enacted by the MS Legislature in July 2024, Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-77, mandating specific student-teacher ratios in Mississippi classrooms was repealed. As part of the MSFF that became effective July 2024, Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-213 was enacted and provides the Commission on School Accreditation the authority to establish student-teacher ratios and the State Board of Education the authority to approve or disapprove of waiver requests of established ratios submitted by local districts. On June 5, 2025, the Commission on School Accreditation approved the proposed revisions that will help clarify the student-teacher ratios in the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2024, and the waiver request process outlined in State Board Policy Chapter 19, Rule 19.1 and beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Please submit written comments to Dr. Jo Ann Malone, Office of Accreditation, 359 North West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771. You may also submit comments in writing by email at accreditation@mdek12.org.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Accreditation no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2025. APA Comments will be presented to the SBE on August 21, 2025.
