Iowa Code Title VII. Education and Cultural Affairs [Chs. 256-305B] § 284.5. Beginning teacher mentoring and induction program--rules

1. A beginning teacher mentoring and induction program is created to promote excellence in teaching, enhance student achievement, build a supportive environment within school districts and area education agencies, increase the retention of promising beginning teachers, and promote the personal and professional well-being of teachers.

2. Each school district and area education agency may provide a beginning teacher mentoring and induction program for all teachers who are beginning teachers.

3. Each school district and area education agency that provides a beginning teacher mentoring and induction program under this chapter shall develop a plan for the program. The plan shall, at a minimum, provide for a two-year sequence of induction program content and activities to support the Iowa teaching standards and beginning teacher professional and personal needs; mentor training that includes, at a minimum, skills of classroom demonstration and coaching, and district expectations for beginning teacher competence on Iowa teaching standards; placement of mentors and beginning teachers; the process for dissolving mentor and beginning teacher partnerships; district organizational support for release time for mentors and beginning teachers to plan, provide demonstration of classroom practices, observe teaching, and provide feedback; structure for mentor selection and assignment of mentors to beginning teachers; a district facilitator; and program evaluation.

4. A beginning teacher shall be informed by the school district or the area education agency, prior to the beginning teacher's participation in a mentoring and induction program, of the criteria upon which the beginning teacher shall be evaluated and of the evaluation process utilized by the school district or area education agency.

5. Upon completion of the program, the beginning teacher shall be comprehensively evaluated to determine if the teacher meets expectations to move to the career level. The school district or area education agency that employs the beginning teacher shall recommend for a standard license a beginning teacher who is determined through a comprehensive evaluation to demonstrate competence in the Iowa teaching standards. A school district or area education agency may offer a beginning teacher a third year of participation in the program if, after conducting a comprehensive evaluation, the school district determines that the teacher is likely to successfully complete the mentoring and induction program by the end of the third year of eligibility. A teacher granted a third year of eligibility shall develop a teacher's mentoring and induction program plan in accordance with this chapter and shall undergo a comprehensive evaluation at the end of the third year. The board of educational examiners shall grant a one-year extension of the beginning teacher's initial license upon notification by the school district that the teacher will participate in a third year of the school district's program.

6. If a beginning teacher who is participating in a mentoring and induction program leaves the employ of a school district or area education agency prior to completion of the program, the school district or area education agency subsequently hiring the beginning teacher shall credit the beginning teacher with the time earned in the program prior to the subsequent hiring.

7. If the general assembly appropriates moneys for purposes of this section, a school district or area education agency is eligible to receive state assistance for up to two years under this section for each teacher the school district or area education agency employs who was formerly employed in an accredited nonpublic school or in another state as a first-year teacher. The school district or area education agency employing the teacher shall determine the conditions and requirements of a teacher participating in a program in accordance with this subsection. The school district or area education agency that employs the teacher shall recommend the teacher for an educational license if the teacher, through a comprehensive evaluation, is determined to demonstrate competence in the Iowa teaching standards.

8. The state board shall adopt rules to administer this section.