HF 1087

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a funding source for a teacher residency
program designed to prepare and support newly licensed teachers to effectively
teach a diverse student population; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin TEACHER RESIDENCY INDUCTION PROGRAM; SUPPORTING
EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION FOR DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A teacher residency induction program, using the
Patrick Henry High School residency program model, is established to support newly
licensed teachers in developing pedagogical skills needed to increase the academic
achievement of diverse student populations and close existing student achievement gaps,
with the long-term goal of creating a cadre of new teachers with sufficient practical
experience to successfully teach diverse student populations and developing a model
five-year induction program to support schools and school districts in implementing and
maintaining effective staff development programs for improving all students' learning.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program parameters. new text end

new text begin (a) Each year, up to ten newly licensed teachers
employed by the participating school district, including teachers of color and outstanding
recent Minnesota teacher preparation program graduates, must agree to participate in a
two-year intensive induction program to become proficient in effectively helping diverse
student populations increase their academic achievement. During the two-year program,
the newly licensed teachers must teach .8 FTE, including one hour of preparation time
and one hour of team preparation time, and use the remaining .2 FTE for professional
development, observing other teachers and extension teaching. The employing school
district must compensate the newly licensed teacher as if that teacher were a 1.0 FTE.
Following a two-year successful induction period, the newly licensed teachers begin work
as third-year teachers in other school sites within the district or partner school districts
that anticipate the transfer of these teachers and provide them with ongoing mentoring
and support.
new text end

new text begin (b) Newly licensed teachers participating in the two-year intensive induction
program must be included as members of an interdisciplinary teaching team that shares
students and preparation time. The team must include experienced teachers and no more
than one newly licensed teacher. The team must use its preparation time to develop
and maintain student support efforts, parent communication, community collaboration,
interdisciplinary curriculum planning and professional development, with the expectation
that experienced teachers will help the newly licensed teacher develop effective skills to
successfully teach and support diverse student populations. The newly licensed teachers
also must participate, with experienced teachers, in subject area work groups in their
licensure fields.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Program application; funds. new text end

new text begin For years following fiscal year 2009, the
commissioner may expand program eligibility to other school districts. To participate in
this program, an interested and qualified school district must apply to the commissioner of
education in the form and manner the commissioner determines. The application must
indicate how the applicant intends to implement the program. The commissioner may
select a school district to participate that satisfies the requirements of this section. The
selected school district must use the funds it receives from the commissioner to implement
the pilot program, consistent with this section and its application.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education must evaluate the efficacy
of each program to determine the extent to which the program had an effect on reducing
teacher turnover, fostering a reflective and collegial staff culture, improving student
attendance rates, improving student test scores on statewide assessments, increasing the
number of advanced course offerings available to students, and increasing the number
of students enrolling in and successfully completing advanced course offerings. The
commissioner must present interim results of the evaluation of the Patrick Henry High
School program to the education policy and finance committees of the legislature by
February 15, 2010, and recommend whether or not and, if applicable, how best to expand
the program.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $650,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2008 to the
commissioner of education for a grant to Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, for
the first year of a five-year program to prepare and support newly licensed teachers to
effectively teach a diverse student population under section 1.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2007.
new text end