Teacher and administrator licensure; revise provisions related to educator preparation programs and criteria for entry into such programs.

HB 1144 revises Mississippi's requirements for entering teacher and administrator preparation programs. It eliminates the previous need for a minimum 21 ACT score, SAT equivalent, Praxis passing score, or 3.0 GPA to enroll in these programs for both traditional and nontraditional teaching routes. Instead, the bill requires participants in the "Teach Mississippi Institute" to complete two semester-long, six-hour internships and allows up to 15 credit hours for a provisional teaching license. These changes directly affect prospective teachers seeking initial licensure through educator preparation programs.