Beginning Educator Mentorship and Retention Act

The "Beginning Educator Mentorship and Retention Act" addresses high teacher and school leader turnover, which negatively impacts student learning, school stability, and incurs significant financial costs. Novice educators, particularly in schools serving students of color and rural areas, are disproportionately affected. The bill highlights studies showing that robust mentoring and induction programs significantly decrease turnover, improve educator effectiveness, and enhance student achievement.

To combat these issues, the bill establishes a competitive federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Education. State educational agencies (eligible entities) can apply for these grants, with a portion reserved for program administration and Bureau of Indian Education schools. Grant recipients are required to provide a 50% matching contribution, though exemptions and waivers are available for certain circumstances.

A substantial portion, at least 90%, of the grant funds must be subgranted to eligible local educational agencies, consortia, or educational service agencies to plan, implement, improve, or expand induction programs. These programs must be formalized, last at least two years, and include high-quality mentoring, structured collaboration, expert feedback, and support for developing evidence-based instructional strategies, especially for students with disabilities and English learners. Mentors must be fully certified, experienced, trained, and adequately compensated.

If grant funds are insufficient, subgrants must be strategically targeted to local educational agencies with the highest percentages of economically disadvantaged students and the highest concentration or turnover rates of first and second-year educators. Within these agencies, funds must further target public schools with similar high needs. The remaining funds can be used by states for program administration, technical assistance, and statewide initiatives, including support for educators in rural areas or those from underrepresented backgrounds.