Beginning Teacher Support Program

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Last updated 10/21/07 by CH

Beginning Teacher and Administrator Support Program

581-020-0060

Pertaining to Beginning Teacher and Administrator Support Program

The State Board of Education shall establish a beginning teacher and administrator support program to provide eligible beginning teachers and administrators in the state with continued and sustained support from a formally assigned mentor teacher or administrator. The legislative assembly finds that:

(1) The quality of teaching and administration in the public schools is of vital importance to the future of Oregon;

(2) Oregon has a special interest in insuring that the induction of beginning teachers and administrators into their profession is conducive enhances to their professional growth and development by making a positive impact on student learning; and

(3) The formal assignment of mentorsteachers who have demonstrated mastery of teaching skills and the appropriate subject matter knowledge and teaching and administrative skills should will substantially improve the induction and professional growth of beginning teachers in the state as well as provide mentorsteachers with additional and valuable opportunities to enhance their own professional growth.;

(4) Teachers and administrators who receive research-based, relevant mentoring produce students with a higher rate of achievement;

(5) School districts that have teacher mentoring have a higher rate of retention among teachers; and

(6) Administrators who receive mentoring improve their effectiveness as administrators and continue to improve throughout their careers.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 336 & ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 329.795
Hist.: EB 18-1988, f. & cert. ef. 3-16-88; EB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 1-30-90;

581-020-0065

Definitions

The following definitions apply to Oregon Administrative Rules 581-020-0060 through 581-020-0090 unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) "Active Teachers" and "Classroom Teachers" means all teachers who provide direct instruction to students.

(2) “Administrator’s Present Position” means being assigned in the role as a principal or a superintendent.

(3) “Beginning Administrator” means a principal or superintendent who:

(a) Possesses an administrative license issued by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission;

(b) Is employed as a principal or superintendent by a school district; and

(c) Has been assigned for fewer than two school years in the administrator’s present position.

(14) "Beginning Teacher" means a teacher who:

(a) Possesses a teaching certificate license issued by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission;

(b) Is employed at least half time, primarily as a classroom teacher, by a school district; and

(c) Has taught fewer than 90 consecutive days, or 180 days total two school years, as a certificated licensed teacher in any public, private, or state-operated school.

(52) "District" means a school district, an education service district, a state-operated school, or any legally constituted combination of such districts.

(3) "Formal Assistance" means a program provided by a mentor teacher to a beginning teacher that includes, but is not limited to, direct classroom observation and consultation; assistance in instructional planning and preparation; support in implementation and delivery of classroom instruction; and other assistance intended to enhance the professional performance and development of the beginning teacher.

(4) "MentorTeacher" means a teacher an individual who:

(a) Is an acting or retired teacher, principal or superintendent;

(b) Has met established best practice and research-based criteria as defined by the State Board of Education by rule

(ca) Possesses a basic or standard teaching, personnel service, or administrative certificate teaching or administrative license issued by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission;

(b) Is employed at the time of selection under contract primarily as a classroom teacher by a school district in this state;

(dc) Has successfully taught served for three five or more years as a certificated licensed teacher, principal or superintendent in any public school; and

(ed) Has been selected and trained as described in ORS 342.794329.815; and.

(e) Has demonstrated mastery of teaching skills and subject matter knowledge.

(6) "Mentorship program" means a program provided by a mentor to a beginning teacher or administrator that includes, but is not limited to, direct classroom observation and consultation; assistance in instructional planning and preparation; support in implementation and delivery of classroom instruction; development of school leadership skills and other assistance intended to assist the beginning teacher or administrator to become a confident and competent professional educator who makes a positive impact on student learning.

(75) "Teacher" means a certificated licensed employee of a common or union high school district, an employee of an education service district or a state-operated school who has direct responsibility for instruction, coordination of educational programs or supervision of teachers and who is compensated for services from public funds. "Teacher" does not include a school nurse as defined in ORS 342.455 or a person whose duties require an administrative certificate.

(6) "Active Teachers" and "Classroom Teachers" means all teachers who provide direct instruction to students.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 336 & ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 329.795
Hist.: EB 18-1988, f. & cert. ef. 3-16-88; EB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 1-30-90

581-020-0070

Eligibility

(1)The State Board of Education shall establishThere is established a beginning teacher and administrator mentorship support program to provide eligible beginning teachers and adminstrators in this state with a continued and sustained support mentorship program from a formally assigned mentor teacher.

(21) Any district is eligible to apply to participate in the beginning teacher and administrator support program. Grants may be subject to application, evaluation, approval by the Oregon Department of Education, and the legislative appropriation of funds.

(32) Two or moreA school districts may enter into a partnership with another school district, an institution of higher education, an education service district or another organization to operate jointly a beginning teacher and administrator support program ifs they meet all requirements of this rule.if:

(3) Educational consortia established for approved teacher education programs pursuant to rules of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission are eligible to operate a beginning teacher support program to serve beginning teachers in a participating school district if:

(a) All moneys received as grants-in-aid for the beginning teacher supportmentorship program are administered by the participating school district to provide direct services to beginning teachers and administrators; and

(b) All other requirements of ORS 329.790 to 329.820 this rule are met.

(4) To the extent practicable, school districts may coordinate with institutions of higher education in the design, implementation and evaluation of mentorship programs.

(4) All programs in ORS 329.790 to 329.820 are The awarding of grants under OAR 581-020-0080 is subject to the availability of funds appropriated therefore.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 336 & ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 329.795
Hist.: EB 18-1988, f. & cert. ef. 3-16-88; EB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 1-30-90

581-020-0075

Grant Application

(1) Each district that wishes to participate in the beginning teacher support and administrator mentorship program shall submit a formal application to the Department of Education no later than October 1 of each school year, according to rules of the State Board. By that date, districts shall inform the department ofThe application shall include:

(a1) The names of all eligible beginning teachers and administrators employed by the district and a description of their teacher assignments and extracurricular duties;

(2) The names of mentor teachers selected by a district and a description of their teaching assignments and the endorsement area in which they are certified to teach;

(b3) A description of the content and calendar of the proposed beginning teacher supportmentorship program, which must provide frequent contact, totaling a . The program must provide a minimum of 90 hours of direct contact between mentors teachers and beginning teachers and adminstrators, including observation of or assistance with classroom teaching, or both, during the school day;throughout the school year.

(c ) A description of the research based training that will be provided to mentors and beginning teachers and administrators.

(d) A description of how the training will build relationships of trust and mutual collaboration with beginning teachers and administrators.

(e) A description of the professional development mentors will receive before the school year begins and throughout the school year.

(4) A description of the amount and nature of each eligible beginning teacher's classroom and extracurricular duties and assurance that these duties are not unreasonable for a beginning teacher;

(5) A certification(2) A school district shall certify in the application that no eligible beginning teacher professional educators areis or may be misassigned outside the teacher's endorsement areaunder a conditional license, except as provided for by rules of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission; and

(6) A description of the process by which mentor teachers are selected including a description of the level of participation of classroom teachers and building administrators in the selection process.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 336 & ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 329.800
Hist.: EB 18-1988, f. & cert. ef. 3-16-88; EB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 1-30-90

581-020-0080

Funding

(1) Subject to ORS 291.2302 to 291.260, the Superintendent of Public InstructionDepartment of Education shall distribute grants-in-aid to eligible qualifying school districts to offset the costs of beginning teacher support and administrator mentorship programs. A qualifying district shall receive annually up to $3,0005,000 for each full-time equivalent beginning teacher and administrator approved for support. Each biennium the department shall adjust the amount specified for each teacher or administrator based on the Consumer Price Index, as defined in ORS 327.006.

(2) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall distribute at least three-fourths of the allocation due to each eligible district no later than February 1 of each fiscal year and the remainder when all required final reports are filed with the Department of Education. If underpayments or overpayments result, adjustments shall be made in the following year.

(23) If the funds are insufficient for all eligible proposals, the Ddepartment of Education shall award grants on a competitive basis taking into consideration school district size and geographic locationand demographic diversity. Grants may be subject to application, evaluation, approval by the Oregon Department of Education, and the legislative appropriation of funds.

(4) Notwithstanding section (1) of this rule, if a participating district hires a beginning teacher after its program has been approved, the district shall be eligible to receive, for each beginning teacher in addition to those named in the application, a grant-in-aid that is pro-rated to the remaining length of the school year, and reimbursement for any additional actual costs incurred by the district for training the mentor teacher, if all other requirements of ORS 336.705 to 336.780, 342.782 to 342.798 and 348.120 to 348.135 are met and if funds are available.

(5) In the event the employment of a beginning teacher terminates prior to end of the school year, the district shall return to the Superintendent of Public Instruction whichever is the lesser:

(a) $3,000 minus actual costs incurred by the district as a result of participation in this program; or

(b) $3,000 minus the number of days the beginning teacher was employed times 1/180 times $3,000.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 336 & ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 329.805
Hist.: EB 18-1988, f. & cert. ef. 3-16-88; EB 36-1988, f. & cert. ef. 8-5-88; EB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 1-30-90; EB 25-1990(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 5-18-90

581-020-0085

The Selection, Nature and Extent of Duties of Mentor Teacherss

(1)The selection, nature and extent of duties of mentorsteachers shall be determined by the school district. The following guidelines shall apply: based on the requirements of ORS 329.790 to 329.820.

(21) No teacher, principal or superintendent shall be designated as a mentor teacher unless willing to perform in that role;

(32) No mentor teacher shall participate in the evaluation of a beginning teachers or administrator for purposes of actions taken under ORS 342.805 to 342.955937;

(4) Written or other reports of a mentor regarding a beginning teacher or administrator may not be used in the evalution of beginning teacher or administrator.

(53) Each mentor teacher shall complete successfully a training workshop provided by the Oregon Department of Education or approved according to criteria established by the Department of Education while participating in the beginning teacher and administrator support mentorship program;

(64) The grant received for each beginning teacher or administrator may be used by the district to compensate teachers mentors who act as mentor teachers in addition to their regular duties or to compensate other individuals assigned duties to provide release time for teachers, principals or superintendents acting as mentor teachers; and.

(5) If a mentor teacher receives additional release time to support a beginning teacher, it is expected that the total workload of other teachers regularly employed by the school district should not increase in any substantial manner.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 336 & ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 329.815
Hist.: EB 18-1988, f. & cert. ef. 3-16-88; EB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 1-30-90

581-020-0090

Violation and Penalty

A district that is determined by the Department of Education to be in violation of one or more of the requirements of OAR 581-020-0060 through 581-020-0085 may be required to refund all grants-in-aid moneys distributed under the above OARs 581-020-0080. The amount of penalty shall be determined by the State Board of Education.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 342
Stats. Implemented: ORS 329.805
Hist.: EB 18-1988, f. & cert. ef. 3-16-88