1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; requiring school districts to establish teacher mentoring 
1.3 	programs; modifying allowed uses of staff development revenue;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2018, sections 122A.61, subdivision 1; 122A.70.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 122A.61, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Staff development revenue. (a) A district is required to reserve an amount 
1.8 	equal to at least two percent of the basic revenue under section 126C.10, subdivision 2, for:
1.9 	(1) teacher development and evaluation under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, or 122A.41, 
1.10 	subdivision 5;
1.11 	(2) principal development and evaluation under section 123B.147, subdivision 3;
1.12 	(3) professional development under section 122A.60; and
1.13 	(4) in-service education for programs under section 120B.22, subdivision 2.; and
1.14 	(5) teacher mentorship under section 122A.70, subdivision 1.
1.15 	(b) To the extent extra funds remain, staff development revenue may be used for staff 
1.16 	development plans, including plans for challenging instructional activities and experiences 
1.17 	under section 122A.60, and for curriculum development and programs, other in-service 
1.18 	education, teachers' mentoring under section 122A.70 and evaluation, teachers' workshops, 
1.19 	teacher conferences, the cost of substitute teachers for staff development purposes, preservice 
1.20 	and in-service education for special education professionals and paraprofessionals, and 
1.21 	other related costs for staff development efforts.
2.1 	(c) A district may annually waive the requirement to reserve their basic revenue under 
2.2 	this section if a majority vote of the licensed teachers in the district and a majority vote of 
2.3 	the school board agree to a resolution to waive the requirement. A district in statutory 
2.4 	operating debt is exempt from reserving basic revenue according to this section. Districts 
2.5 	may expend an additional amount of unreserved revenue for staff development based on 
2.6 	their needs.

2.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2019.

2.8 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 122A.70, is amended to read:
2.9 	122A.70 TEACHER MENTORSHIP.
2.10 		Subdivision 1.Teacher mentoring programs. (a) School districts are encouraged to
2.11 	must develop teacher mentoring programs for teachers new to the profession or district, 
2.12 	including teaching residents, teachers of color, teachers with special needs, or experienced 
2.13 	teachers in need of peer coaching.
2.14 	(b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must develop a teacher 
2.15 	mentorship model and make resources for implementing the model available to school 
2.16 	districts and charter schools. The board must provide resources and assistance to support a 
2.17 	school district developing a teacher mentoring program. These activities and services may 
2.18 	include planning, planning guides, media, training, conferences, institutes, and regional and 
2.19 	statewide networking meetings. The board may charge fees for meals, materials, and similar 
2.20 	expenses.
2.21 	(c) A school district may use staff development revenue under section 122A.61 to develop 
2.22 	and implement a teacher mentoring program.
2.23 		Subd. 2.Applications Board grants. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards 
2.24 	Board must make grant application forms available to sites interested in developing or 
2.25 	expanding a mentorship program. A school district, a group of school districts, or a coalition 
2.26 	of districts, teachers and teacher education institutions may apply for a teacher mentorship 
2.27 	program grant. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, in consultation 
2.28 	with the teacher mentoring task force, must approve or disapprove the applications. To the 
2.29 	extent possible, the approved applications must reflect effective mentoring components, 
2.30 	include a variety of coalitions and be geographically distributed throughout the state. The 
2.31 	Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must encourage the selected sites to 
2.32 	consider the use of its assessment procedures.
3.1 		Subd. 3.Criteria for selection. At a minimum, applicants for grants under subdivision 
3.2 	2 must express commitment to:
3.3 	(1) allow staff participation;
3.4 	(2) assess skills of both beginning and mentor teachers;
3.5 	(3) provide appropriate in-service to needs identified in the assessment;
3.6 	(4) provide leadership to the effort;
3.7 	(5) cooperate with higher education institutions;
3.8 	(6) provide facilities and other resources;
3.9 	(7) share findings, materials, and techniques with other school districts; and
3.10 	(8) retain teachers of color.
3.11 		Subd. 4.Additional funding. Grant applicants are required to must seek additional 
3.12 	funding and assistance from sources such as school districts, postsecondary institutions, 
3.13 	foundations, and the private sector.
3.14 		Subd. 5.Program implementation. New and expanding mentorship sites that are funded
3.15 	receive a board grant under subdivision 2 to design, develop, implement, and evaluate their 
3.16 	program must participate in activities that support program development and implementation. 
3.17 	The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must provide resources and 
3.18 	assistance to support new sites in their program efforts. These activities and services may 
3.19 	include, but are not limited to: planning, planning guides, media, training, conferences, 
3.20 	institutes, and regional and statewide networking meetings. Nonfunded schools or districts 
3.21 	interested in getting started may participate. Fees may be charged for meals, materials, and 
3.22 	the like.

3.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2019.