Applications for the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE) Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program have reopened for new candidates looking to receive higher education in teaching at no cost.
Last year, the MDE used $9.8 million of its American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to award grants to five universities – Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi, and William Carey University – in the MTR program over a two-year period.
A total of 103 candidates were admitted, with several MTR partner universities currently initiating a midyear application process.
Now, up to 200 educators will be given the opportunity to receive a graduate degree in elementary and secondary education and professional mentorship for free for the second time in the program’s history.
In order to qualify for the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and either meet the minimum required passing score on the Praxis Core, have a 21 or higher on the ACT/SAT equivalent, or have a 3.0 GPA (last 60 hours of coursework).
Individuals accepted into the MTR program will receive full scholarships, testing fees, books, and mentor stipends. MTR will include training alongside a mentor teacher, testing support, professional development, ongoing assessment, and a commitment to teach in a geographical critical shortage district serving low-income children, racial/ethnic minorities, and children with disabilities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Candidates admitted in the latest round of the MTR program should graduate by the summer of 2024. The priority deadline to submit applications is Feb. 15, 2023.
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