HB 1977

This bill requires the department of education to establish and implement a program to award grant s to education-related organization s or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization s that conduct teacher preparation training using a residency model in partnership with an LEA, institute of higher education, or EPP (a teacher residency program). For purposes of this bill, a teacher resident is an aspiring educator who is participating in a residency program to complete requirements for an initial educator license . This bill caps the amount that the department may award at $44,500 per teacher resident participating in a residency program to support program operating costs, resident stipends, and mentor teacher stipends for up to 100 teacher residents in an academic year. This bill requires partnering LEAs to collaborate with EPPs or educator-related organizations to facilitate the employment of teacher residents upon completion of the residency program and obtaining an educator license. The full text of this bill specifies 10 design and component requirements for the teacher residency programs. A teacher resident who successfully completes a residency program s atisfies the clinical experience required for teacher training . This bill requires the state board, in consultation with the department, to promulgate rules necessary to implement this bill . This bill requires res idency programs that receive a grant pursuant to this bill to annually submit data , as specified by the department, to review the program's success to the department. Beginning November 1, 2028, and once every two years thereafter, the department will be required to submit a teacher residency program report on the outcomes of residency programs to relevant committees of the general assembly.