H.R. 9245: Beginning Educator Mentorship and Retention Act

This bill would create a federal grant program to help public schools support new teachers and new school leaders during their first two years on the job. Its main goal is to improve retention and job performance by paying for formal mentoring and induction programs.

What the program would fund

The Secretary of Education would award competitive grants to state education agencies. Those states would then give most of the money to local school districts, groups of districts, educational service agencies, and certain partners that work with teacher-preparation programs or nonprofit mentoring organizations.

The bill says at least 90% of each grant must go to subgrants for local programs, while at least 5% must be used for administering the program, technical assistance, helping districts improve schedules for collaboration time, and other statewide or regional supports. A smaller share, 2%, would be reserved for administration and evaluation at the federal level, and 1% would be set aside for similar programs for schools run by the Bureau of Indian Education.

What counts as an eligible mentoring program

To qualify, the program would need to be a structured induction program for beginning teachers or school leaders that lasts for at least their first two years. It would have to include:

• trained mentors;
• regular time for mentors and new educators to work together;
• classroom or school observations with feedback;
• support with instructional methods, classroom management, and use of data;
• help for teachers working with students with disabilities and English learners;
• support for school leaders in managing special education responsibilities;
• training in evidence-based teaching and leadership practices; and
• opportunities to learn from research, peers, and preparation programs.

Requirements for mentors

The bill sets standards for who can serve as a mentor. Mentors would need to be fully certified, have at least three years of experience, show strong effectiveness, and receive formal training before mentoring. Teacher mentors would generally need to teach the same or a similar subject or grade as the new teacher. School leader mentors would need similar leadership experience.

Schools or districts would also need to compensate mentors. The bill says this could be done by reducing other duties and giving release time, increasing salary, or paying a stipend.

How money would be targeted

If there is not enough money to serve everyone, the bill would require states to target funding first to local agencies and schools with:

• the highest shares of economically disadvantaged students;
• the most teachers and school leaders in their first or second year; or
• the highest turnover among those early-career educators.

Within districts, funding would similarly be directed to schools with higher concentrations of economically disadvantaged students and more early-career staff or higher early-career turnover.

Application and reporting rules

To get money, states would have to apply and explain how they will ensure subgrantees follow the bill’s program rules. They would also have to explain how mentor roles will be compensated, how teacher and school leader organizations will be involved, and how the program will coordinate with educator preparation programs so the support builds on pre-service training.

The bill also says grant recipients must publicly post the qualifications and pay for mentors.

Funding and matching rules

In general, states receiving grants would need to provide a 50% match toward the cost of the program. This match requirement would not apply to outlying areas or the Bureau of Indian Education program, and the Secretary of Education could waive the match in certain situations, such as disasters or sharp funding declines.

Other provisions

The bill says the money must supplement, not replace, existing funding. It also says the law does not change existing collective bargaining rights or labor agreements, though states and districts would still have to comply with the bill and follow applicable labor laws.

It authorizes whatever amounts are necessary for fiscal year 2027 and later years.

Relevant Companies

None found