Section 28A.415.265. Educator support program—Mentors.

(1) For the purposes of this section, a mentor is an educator who has achieved appropriate training in assisting, coaching, and advising beginning teachers or student teaching residents as defined by the office of the superintendent of public instruction, such as national board certification or other specialized training.

(2)(a) The educator support program is established to provide professional development and mentor support for beginning educators, candidates in alternative route teacher certification programs under RCW 28A.660.040, and educators on probation under RCW 28A.405.100, to be composed of the beginning educator support team for beginning educators and continuous improvement coaching for educators on probation, as provided in this section.

(b) The superintendent of public instruction shall notify school districts about the educator support program and encourage districts to apply for program funds.

(3) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall allocate funds for the beginning educator support team on a competitive basis to individual school districts or consortia of districts. School districts are encouraged to include educational service districts in creating regional consortia. In allocating funds, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall give priority to:

(a) School districts with low-performing schools identified under RCW 28A.657.020 as being challenged schools in need of improvement; and

(b) School districts with a large influx of beginning classroom teachers.

(4) A portion of the appropriated funds may be used for program coordination and provision of statewide or regional professional development through the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

(5) A beginning educator support team must include the following components:

(a) A paid orientation or individualized assistance before the start of the school year for beginning educators;

(b) Assignment of a trained and qualified mentor for the first three years for beginning educators, with intensive support in the first year and decreasing support over the following years depending on the needs of the beginning educator;

(c) A goal to provide beginning teachers from underrepresented populations with a mentor who has strong ties to underrepresented populations;

(d) Professional development for beginning educators that is designed to meet their unique needs for supplemental training and skill development;

(e) Professional development for mentors;

(f) Release time for mentors and their designated educators to work together, as well as time for educators to observe accomplished peers; and

(g) A program evaluation using a standard evaluation tool provided from the office of the superintendent of public instruction that measures increased knowledge, skills, and positive impact on student learning for program participants.

(6) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the beginning educator support team components under subsection (3) of this section may be provided for continuous improvement coaching to support educators on probation under RCW 28A.405.100.

[ 2016 c 233 § 11; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 18 § 401.]

NOTES:

Application—Enforcement of laws protecting health and safety—2013 2nd sp.s. c 18: See note following RCW 28A.600.022.

2016 c 233 § 11; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 18 § 401.