OAR 581-018-0148: Funding: Beginning Teacher and Administrator Mentorship Program

(1) Subject to ORS 291.230 to 291.260, the Department of Education shall distribute grants-in-aid on behalf of the Educator Advancement Council to qualifying districts or educator networks to offset the costs of beginning teacher and administrator mentorship programs. A qualifying district or educator network shall receive annually an amount that is aligned with evidence-based best practices for beginning teachers and administrators approved for support. (2) If the funds are insufficient for all eligible proposals, the Department of Education, on behalf of the Educator Advancement Council, shall award grants on a competitive basis taking into consideration: (a) Successful or promising efforts to increase the number of culturally and linguistically diverse educators hired; and (b) Closing the cultural and linguistic gap between demographics of teachers and administrators and the demographics of students served by the district or educator network; and (c) Whether the district is a small or rural district, or whether the educator network serves small or rural districts. (3) Notwithstanding ORS 329.805 (2), grants awarded under ORS 329.805 during the 2023-2025 biennium are not required to be awarded on a competitive basis. The Oregon Department of Education, on behalf of the Educator Advancement Council, shall establish a maximum award amount for qualifying districts or educator networks based on funds available. This rule expires on July 1, 2025.