Teacher Mentor Grant Program: Legislative Report on Senate Bill 19-190. Report to the Colorado State Legislature. Statute: 23-78-105(4)

Abstract

Senate Bill 19-190 created the Teacher Mentor Grant Program within the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). The purpose of this program is to provide funding to educator preparation programs (EPP) that partner with local education providers (LEP), including school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools to provide training and stipends for teachers who serve as mentors for teacher candidates participating in clinical practice and novice teachers in their initial years in the field. Grants are subject to available appropriations and qualifying applications and have a duration period of up to three budget years, subject to annual review and renewal. Funding for this program is legislatively renewed each year as part of the state budget. As established by the legislation, grants are awarded to partnerships consisting of at least one LEP and at least one EPP. CDHE is charged with establishing application requirements. The department must also ensure that, to the extent practicable, grant recipients include applicants of varying sizes from rural, urban, and suburban areas across the state. The department can only award grants to applicants who commit to implementing a teacher mentor program. A total of five EPPs applied and were selected to receive funding and participate in the program. In this report, each program's contributions and work are highlighted to present a full picture of their individual and collective efforts.