As noted in Mississippi\u2019s 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
\nthe 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.<\/p>\n
In accordance with Goal 4: Every Student has Effective Teachers and Leaders, in the Mississippi State Board of Education\u2019s 5-Year Strategic Plan, the MDE is committed to reducing, and ultimately eliminating, the disproportionalities existing in districts experiencing critical teacher shortages.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s hard-to-staff school districts.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 These recommendations include strategies to diversify and strengthen the teacher workforce pipeline and target three groups:<\/p>\n
![\"Task](\"https:\/\/www.mdek12.org\/sites\/default\/files\/inline-images\/task-force-report2.png\")
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