Sabbaticals

Sabbaticals. Mississippi School Administrator Sabbatical Program (For licensed teachers in Mississippi school districts) Reference: Mississippi Code Annotated 37-3-7 Introduction. In 1998, the Mississippi Legislature amended the Mississippi School Administrator Sabbatical Program. The legislation enables Mississippi school districts to grant sabbatical leave to licensed teachers employed in Mississippi schools for not less than three years. The purpose is to allow such teachers to participate full-time in an educational leadership program and become local school district administrators. The conditions of eligibility, compensation, reimbursement, obligation, breech of contract, and availability are set forth in law and the following State Board of Education policy. 1. Eligible Candidates Each local school board may set its own criteria for approving recommendations. The educational leadership program must be full-time. 2. Reimbursement by Mississippi Department of Education Local school districts shall submit sabbatical program applications as directed by the Mississippi Department of Education. The Department of Education will approve applications in accordance with the statute and the methodology for approval of subgrants established by the Mississippi Board of Education. 3. Obligation of Candidates There shall be a contractual agreement between the candidate and the school district which includes the standard terms and conditions specified by the Mississippi Department of Education. 4. Breach of Contract Any participant who fails to complete all requirements for obtaining a Mississippi administrator license within eighteen (18) months shall be in breach of contract and liable for the salary and fringe benefits received. Interest shall accrue at the current Stafford Loan rate. Partial years of employment as an administrator shall be prorated. 5. Availability of Sabbatical Candidates approved to participate in the Administrator Sabbatical Program prior to July 1, 2001, shall be subject to all requirements of this legislation and all regulations outlined in these guidelines. 6. Definitions a. Administrator: An administrator, as defined by the Accreditation Requirements of the State Board of Education (1997), is any staff member employed by a school board who is assigned responsibility for coordinating, directing, supervising, or otherwise administering programs, services, and/or personnel under the auspices of the program, school, or district. b. Administrator License: An individual hired to fulfill the above responsibilities is required to hold an administrator license as defined in the Guidelines for Mississippi Educator Licensure (1997).