As noted in Mississippi’s Consolidated State Plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Mississippi State Plan to Ensure Equitable Access to Excellent Educators, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) understands
the importance and urgency of addressing teacher workforce disparities in the state, especially those in high-needs areas where large percentages of students from low-income households and students of color are taught by less effective teachers. In both state plans, teacher pipeline concerns are addressed and viewed through the lens of equity.
In accordance with Goal 4: Every Student has Effective Teachers and Leaders, in the Mississippi State Board of Education’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, the MDE is committed to reducing, and ultimately eliminating, the disproportionalities existing in districts experiencing critical teacher shortages.
Therefore, to ensure equitable access to effective teachers for all students, especially students of color and those from low-income households, the MDE convened a task force to explore Grow-Your-Own (GYO) strategies that could positively impact teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention in Mississippi’s hard-to-staff school districts.
In April 2019, the MDE released the GYO Teacher Task Force Report outlining recommendations for MDE, legislators, Community Colleges, public Institutions of Higher Learning, private colleges and universities, and local school districts. These recommendations include strategies to diversify and strengthen the teacher workforce pipeline and target three groups:
- Middle and High School Students
- Paraprofessionals and Classified Staff
- Community Colleges and Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs)
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The Mississippi Grow-Your-Own Teacher Task Force Report also contains a review of relevant literature and a lengthy reference list of helpful resources for stakeholders interested in reading more about other states’ experiences with GYO initiatives and the root causes contributing to some students’ lack of equitable access to effective teachers. Click on the report cover to read the full text. |
A webinar has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at 3:30 PM. In this webinar, we will discuss the GYO Teacher Task Force’s recommendations, explore ways districts can partner with IHEs to employ GYO strategies to both diversify and strengthen the educator pipeline, and provide districts with information regarding how to apply for GYO mini-grants. We are also excited to have Dr. Sarah Edwards, Chair of Teacher Education, University of Nebraska at Omaha join us as she discusses how the University of Nebraska at Omaha has consistently increased the number of teacher education candidates through GYO programs.
Other Resources:
GYO Resources:
- Texas GYO Teachers Review of Literature
- Grow Your Own Illinois
- Equity Based Approaches to Grow Your Own
- Texas Grow Your Own Grant Programs
- Missouri Guide to Creating Your Own Teacher Pipeline
- Understanding Teacher Labor Markets
- Increasing Teacher Diversity with Grow Your Own
- Grow Your Own Strategies Addressing the Teacher Shortage