Review MDE webpage for details of ELMS shutdown, new educator information system – MECCA

The Mississippi Department of Education is sharing more information on a webpage regarding the shutdown of the Educator Licensure Management System (ELMS) set for Jan. 2 -16, 2023 and the Jan. 17th launch of the new educator information system called Mississippi Educator Career Continuum Archive (MECCA).

Here is a link to the webpage containing content regarding the launch of the new educator information system – New Educator Information System: MECCA | The Mississippi Department of Education (mdek12.org) and below is the language from the page.

Important Information and Dates

Shutdown of the Educator Licensure Management System (ELMS)
The ELMS system will shut down Jan. 2 – 16, 2023, to prepare for the launch of Portal One of the new Mississippi Educator Career Continuum Archive (MECCA) System on Jan. 17, 2023. MECCA will be a single sign-on educator workforce information system that serves as a hub that captures the lifecycle of a Mississippi educator from recruitment to retirement.

Portal One will include an improved educator licensure, educator preparation, and educator misconduct evaluations operations platform that provides a more efficient experience for applicants, Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) and school districts personnel. MECCA will decrease turnaround time, increase accuracy and productivity, and remove old processes of completing and uploading most paper forms. Future MECCA portals will be released later in 2023 and 2024.

December 2022 Graduates

  • Completed applications for initial licensure, which includes all supporting documentation required for the requested licensure category, submitted on or prior to Dec. 26, 2022, may be processed within ELMS.
  • Licensure applications submitted between Dec. 27, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2023, will be migrated to Portal One of the new MECCA System and reviewed beginning Jan. 17, 2023.
    Licensure Checklist for December 2022 Graduates:

    • Online recommendation submitted by a Mississippi educator preparation provider (This must be submitted prior to submission of a licensure application by the prospective educator.)
    • Online Licensure Application (Please apply to the online recommendation in your Educator Licensure Management System account.)
    • Verification of Lawful Presence (VLP) form (if not previously submitted)
    • Official transcript of at least a bachelor’s degree in teacher education reflecting student teaching
      *For Child development (PreK-K) program completers only – you must submit the Child Development Program Verification form

Transition of Other Licensure Applications

  • Completed applications for all other licensure requests, which includes all supporting documentation required for the requested licensure category, submitted on or prior to Dec. 26, 2022, in ELMS will be reviewed in the order they are received by the Office of Educator Licensure. We will work diligently to process all licensure requests submitted in ELMS prior to the scheduled system shutdown.
  • All licensure applications submitted between Dec. 27, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2023, will be migrated to Portal One of the new MECCA System and reviewed beginning January 17, 2023.

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