Teachers education; require partnership between community colleges and 4-year colleges to facilitate streamlined process to degree.

HB 1574 requires community colleges in Mississippi to establish formal partnerships with 4-year colleges or universities offering approved teacher education programs. These partnerships must create streamlined pathways for students to transfer credits toward a teaching bachelor's degree, reducing both time and cost. The bill specifically aims to address teacher shortages in critical areas by ensuring community college students can smoothly transition to bachelor's programs without losing credits. It mandates that partnerships be documented in a written Memorandum of Understanding between institutions. The bill was introduced to create a more affordable and efficient route to teacher certification but died in committee in February 2026.