2007 Minnesota Statutes

122A.70 TEACHER MENTORSHIP.
    Subdivision 1. Teacher mentoring programs. School districts are encouraged to develop
teacher mentoring programs for teachers new to the profession or district, including teaching
residents, teachers of color, teachers with special needs, or experienced teachers in need of peer
coaching.
    Subd. 2. Applications. The Board of Teaching must make application forms available to
sites interested in developing or expanding a mentorship program. A school district, a group of
school districts, or a coalition of districts, teachers and teacher education institutions may apply
for a teacher mentorship program grant. The Board of Teaching, in consultation with the teacher
mentoring task force, must approve or disapprove the applications. To the extent possible, the
approved applications must reflect effective mentoring components, include a variety of coalitions
and be geographically distributed throughout the state. The Board of Teaching must encourage the
selected sites to consider the use of its assessment procedures.
    Subd. 3. Criteria for selection. At a minimum, applicants must express commitment to:
(1) allow staff participation;
(2) assess skills of both beginning and mentor teachers;
(3) provide appropriate in-service to needs identified in the assessment;
(4) provide leadership to the effort;
(5) cooperate with higher education institutions;
(6) provide facilities and other resources;
(7) share findings, materials, and techniques with other school districts; and
(8) retain teachers of color.
    Subd. 4. Additional funding. Applicants are required to seek additional funding and
assistance from sources such as school districts, postsecondary institutions, foundations, and the
private sector.
    Subd. 5. Program implementation. New and expanding mentorship sites that are funded to
design, develop, implement, and evaluate their program must participate in activities that support
program development and implementation. The Board of Teaching must provide resources and
assistance to support new sites in their program efforts. These activities and services may include,
but are not limited to: planning, planning guides, media, training, conferences, institutes, and
regional and statewide networking meetings. Nonfunded schools or districts interested in getting
started may participate. Fees may be charged for meals, materials, and the like.
History: 1987 c 398 art 8 s 13; 1990 c 562 art 7 s 8; 1991 c 265 art 8 s 7; 1993 c 224 art 7 s
21; 1994 c 647 art 8 s 19,20; 1998 c 397 art 8 s 77,101