(1) The State Superintendent of Public Education may award annually a grant or grants to Teach For America Delta for the purpose of recruiting to Mississippi outstanding new teachers who commit to teach no less than two (2) years in an underserved community in the state. Each year, the Legislature may appropriate to the State Department of Education an amount that may be necessary for making a grant or grants under this section.

(2) In awarding grants to Teach For America Delta, the superintendent shall enter into an agreement with the grantee under which the grantee agrees to use the grant funds to raise additional funds for the following purposes:

(a) To provide highly qualified teachers to high need school districts in the state;

(b) To pay the costs of recruiting, selecting, training and supporting new teachers; and

(c) To serve the educational needs of a substantial number and percentage of underserved students.

(3) The grantee shall use all funds received under this chapter to support activities related directly to the recruitment, selection, training and support of teachers. Specifically, grant funds shall be used to carry out each of the following activities:

(a) Recruiting and selecting Teach For America teachers through a highly selective national process.

(b) Providing preservice training to the Teach For America teachers through a rigorous summer institute that includes hands-on teaching experience and significant exposure to education coursework and theory.

(c) Placing the Teach For America teachers in schools and positions designated by officials in those school districts participating in programs under the Mississippi Critical Teacher Shortage Act of 1998 as high need placements serving underserved students.

(d) Providing ongoing professional development activities for each Teach For America teacher’s first two (2) years in the classroom, including regular classroom observations and critical feedback, and ongoing training and support that leads to a standard five-year teaching license.