Background

The 2000 legislature adopted the Minnesota New Teacher Project. The Minnesota New Teacher Project was a new teacher induction program focused on first and second-year teachers. $1,000,000 was appropriated for the project in fiscal year 2001.

Section 1 [Induction Program for New Teachers.]

Subdivision 1 [Program Established.] (a) establishes a teacher induction program to assist newly licensed elementary and secondary teachers that teach in a high-need subject area or public school. Defines a "high-need subject area" as career and technical education, science, mathematics, foreign languages, English as a second language, and special education. Defines a "high-need" school as one where 35 percent or more of enrolled students are eligible to receive a free or reduced price lunch and the school failed to demonstrate adequate yearly progress in the two preceding school years.

(b) Requires regional education service providers participating in the program to assist districts and schools employing new teachers and interested intermediate districts to:

1. adopt a teaching model that supports new teacher professional development and growth;
2. provide unique professional learning activities that promote the growth of a new teacher's practice;
3. provide time for new teachers and mentor to work together;
4. establish expectations for mentors' coaching responsibilities and new teachers' observations of exemplary teachers;
5. provide and use formative assessments to improve instructional practice, and establish professional development goals;
6. evaluate the program to determine its effectiveness and impact on new teacher performance, recruitment, and retention; and
7. adopt a model to deliver the new teacher induction program.

Subdivision 2 [Eligibility; Application; Program Funding.] allows regional education service providers to apply to the Commissioner to participate in the program. The applicant must describe the following in its application: