HF 4027

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a pilot program 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 PILOT 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 pilot 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 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 pilot 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
the pilot 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 to the education policy and
finance committees of the legislature by February 15, 2008, 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 2007 to the
commissioner of education for the first year of a five-year pilot 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, 2006.
new text end