Lawmakers said a June 24 letter of legislative intent clarifies that all full-time, licensed special education teachers in Mississippi are eligible for a one-time $2,000 bonus.
The Legislature earlier this year approved a $2,000 pay raise for all teachers and a separate $2,000 supplement for special education teachers, according to the law, which says “any licensed special education teacher employed by a school district on a full-time basis and specifically providing special education instruction” is eligible.
The Mississippi Department of Education asked lawmakers in May to clarify who should receive the special education supplement, creating uncertainty as some teachers finalized contracts. State Superintendent Lance Evans told state Board of Education members in mid-June that he believed the bonus applied only to “self-contained” special education teachers and not to “inclusion” teachers, who assist students with disabilities in general education classrooms.
Lawmakers responded on June 24 with a letter signed by House Speaker Jason White, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and the chairmen of the Education and Appropriations committees specifying the bonus applies to all full-time, licensed special education teachers, the letter says. Jean Cook, a Mississippi Department of Education spokesperson, said full-time inclusion teachers are eligible if they are appropriately licensed and exclusively teach students with special needs. Cook said speech-language pathologists and teachers already receiving a National Board Certification supplement are not eligible.
Cook said the Legislature allocated $14.6 million for the special education bonus, which will cover 4,088 eligible teachers, and that payments will be disbursed to school districts in November. Kelly Riley, executive director of Mississippi Professional Educators, called the clarification a “positive step” and said districts can now finalize contracts with special education teachers for the coming school year.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
