Beginning Educator Mentorship and Retention Act

Key Points

• The bill creates a federal competitive grant program for states to fund two-year mentorship and induction programs for new teachers and school leaders in public schools. States would distribute at least 90% of grant funds as subgrants to local school districts and educational service agencies.
• Experienced mentors must have at least three years of experience, full certification, and demonstrated effectiveness. They must receive fair compensation through reduced teaching loads, salary increases, or stipends for their mentorship duties.
• When funding is limited, the program targets schools with the highest poverty rates and the highest concentrations of new or departing teachers. It also supports rural schools and educators from underrepresented backgrounds through statewide initiatives.
• States must match 50% of the federal grant, though waivers are available for states hit by natural disasters, financial crises, or other exceptional circumstances. Outlying areas like Puerto Rico are exempt from the match requirement.
• Congress cited research showing that two-year mentoring and induction programs improve student achievement in reading and math, and that 1 in 5 novice teachers left or switched schools within a year. The bill also reserves 1% of funds for schools run by the Bureau of Indian Education.