281—83.2(284) Mentoring and induction program for beginning teachers.
	83.2(1) Option one: beginning teacher mentoring and induction program. Completion of a beginning teacher mentoring and induction program is one manner in which a beginning teacher may satisfy Iowa Code section 272.28(1).
	a. 	General.
	(1)	School districts and area education agencies may provide a beginning teacher mentoring and induction program for all beginning teachers as specified in Iowa Code section 284.5.
	(2)	A school district or area education agency may offer a teacher a third year of participation in the program if, after conducting a comprehensive evaluation, the school district or area education agency determines that the teacher is likely to successfully complete the mentoring and induction program by meeting the Iowa teaching standards by the end of the third year of eligibility. The third year of eligibility is offered at the employing district’s or area education agency’s expense. A teacher granted a third year of eligibility shall, in cooperation with the teacher’s evaluator, develop a plan to meet the Iowa teaching standards and district or area education agency career expectations. This plan will be implemented by the teacher and supported through the district’s or area education agency’s mentoring and induction program. The school district or area education agency will notify the board of educational examiners that the teacher will participate in a third year of the school district’s program. The teacher will undergo a comprehensive evaluation at the end of the third year. For purposes of comprehensive evaluations for beginning teachers, including the comprehensive evaluation necessary for the beginning teacher to progress to career teacher, the Iowa teaching standards and criteria are as described in rule 281—83.3(284). A school district or area education agency will participate in state program evaluations.
	b. 	Plan. Each school district or area education agency that offers a beginning teacher mentoring and induction program shall develop a sequential two-year beginning teacher mentoring and induction plan based on the Iowa teaching standards. A school district or area education agency will have the board adopt a beginning teacher mentoring and induction program plan and written procedures for the program. At the board’s discretion, the district or area education agency may choose to use or revise the model plan provided by the area education agency or develop a plan locally. The components of a district’s or area education agency’s beginning teacher mentoring and induction program shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
	(1)	Goals for the program.
	(2)	A process for the selection of mentors.
	(3)	A mentor training process that:
	1.	Is consistent with effective staff development practices and adult professional needs to include skills needed for teaching, demonstration, and coaching.
	2.	Addresses mentor needs, indicating a clear understanding of the role of the mentor.
	3.	Results in the mentor’s understanding of the personal and professional needs of new teachers.
	4.	Provides the mentor with an understanding of the district expectations for beginning teacher competencies based on the Iowa teaching standards.
	5.	Facilitates the mentor’s ability to provide guidance and support to new teachers.
	(4)	A supportive organizational structure for beginning teachers that will include:
	1.	Activities that provide access and opportunities for interaction between a mentor and a beginning teacher that at a minimum provide:
	●	Released time for a mentor and a beginning teacher to plan;
	●	The demonstration of classroom practices;
	●	The observation of teaching; and
	●	Feedback.
	2.	A selection process for who will be in the mentor/beginning teacher partnership.
	3.	Roles and responsibilities of the mentor.
	(5)	An evaluation process for the program, which includes:
	1.	An evaluation of the district and area education agency program goals,
	2.	An evaluation process that provides for the minor and major program revisions, and
	3.	A process for how information about the program will be provided to interested stakeholders.
	(6)	The process for dissolving mentor and beginning teacher partnerships.
	(7)	A plan that reflects the needs of the beginning teacher employed by the district or area education agency.
	(8)	Activities designed to support beginning teachers by:
	1.	Developing and enhancing competencies for the Iowa teaching standards, and
	2.	Providing research-based instructional strategies.
	(9)	Funds, if appropriated by the general assembly, received by a school district or area education agency from the beginning teacher mentoring and induction program will be used for any or all of the following purposes: to pay any applicable costs of the employer’s share of contributions to federal social security and the Iowa public employees’ retirement system for a pension and annuity retirement system established under Iowa Code chapter 294 for such amounts paid by the district or area education agency. These funds are miscellaneous funds or are considered encumbered. A school district or area education agency will maintain a separate listing within its budget for payments received and expenditures made for this program. Funds that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the end of the fiscal year will not revert but will remain available for expenditure for the purposes of the program until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
	83.2(2) Option two: teacher leadership and compensation system.
	a. 	General. Two years of successful teaching experience in a school district with an approved career paths, leadership roles, and compensation framework or approved comparable system as provided in Iowa Code section 284.15 (“framework for beginning teachers” for purposes of this rule) is one manner in which a beginning teacher may satisfy Iowa Code section 272.28(1).
	b. 	Participation. School districts may provide an approved career paths, leadership roles, and compensation framework or approved comparable system as provided in Iowa Code section 284.15. A beginning teacher, as defined in this chapter, shall be informed by the school district, prior to the beginning teacher’s participation in a framework for beginning teachers, of the Iowa teaching standards and criteria upon which the beginning teacher will be evaluated and of the evaluation process utilized by the school district. The beginning teacher will be supported by the teacher leadership and compensation program as defined in part 4 of the submitted plan. The beginning teacher will be comprehensively evaluated by the end of the beginning teacher’s second year of teaching to determine whether the teacher meets expectations to move to the career level. The school district will recommend for a standard license a beginning teacher who has successfully met the Iowa teaching standards as determined by a comprehensive evaluation.
	(1)	If a beginning teacher who is participating in a framework for beginning teachers leaves the employ of a school district prior to completion of the framework, the school district or area education agency subsequently hiring the beginning teacher will credit the beginning teacher with the time earned in such a framework prior to the subsequent hiring.
	(2)	A school district may offer a teacher a third year of participation in a framework for beginning teachers if, after conducting a comprehensive evaluation, the school district determines that the teacher is likely to successfully meet the Iowa teaching standards by the end of the third year of eligibility. The third year of eligibility is offered at the employing district’s expense. A teacher granted a third year of eligibility shall, in cooperation with the teacher’s evaluator, develop a plan to meet the Iowa teaching standards and district or area education agency career expectations. This plan will be implemented by the teacher and supported through the district’s framework for beginning teachers. The school district shall notify the board of educational examiners that the teacher will participate in a third year of the school district’s framework for beginning teachers. The teacher is to undergo a comprehensive evaluation at the end of the third year.
	(3)	For purposes of comprehensive evaluations for beginning teachers, including the comprehensive evaluation necessary for the beginning teacher to progress to career teacher, the Iowa teaching standards and criteria are as described in rule 281—83.3(284). A school district shall participate in state program evaluations.
	c. 	Plan assurances. Each school district that offers a framework under Iowa Code sections 284.15 through 284.17 and uses it for purposes of meeting the school district’s obligations to beginning teachers is to provide assurances to the department that the district’s framework for beginning teachers satisfies those Iowa Code sections and attends to the Iowa teaching standards and criteria described in rule 281—83.3(284).
	d. 	Inapplicability to area education agencies. This subrule is not applicable to area education agencies. Only subrule 83.2(1) is applicable to area education agencies; however, a teacher employed by an area education agency may be included in a framework or comparable system established by a school district if the area education agency and the school district enter into a contract for such purpose.
[ARC 7662C, IAB 3/6/24, effective 4/10/24]