Beginning Educator Mentorship and Retention Act
Sponsored By: Representative Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
Introduced
Summary
Creates national grants to fund mentor-based induction for beginning teachers and school leaders. The program is run by the Secretary of Education and includes comparable activities for the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), with priority for high-poverty and underserved schools.
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- Beginning teachers and school leaders: Funds induction during a two-year window with high-quality mentoring, structured collaboration time, formative feedback, and workload adjustments to help new educators improve and remain in their roles.
- Students and families: By targeting districts and schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students and high turnover, the program aims to increase classroom stability and learning continuity.
- Districts, mentors, and tribal schools: Eligible entities must pass at least 90 percent of grants to local subgrantees and reserve not less than 5 percent for state administration and technical assistance. Grants generally require a 50 percent non-Federal match, though waivers exist and the Secretary may reserve funds for national evaluation and Bureau of Indian Education activities.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
States must match grants 50%
The bill would generally require eligible state entities that get grants to provide non‑Federal matching funds equal to 50% of the grant amount. The match would not apply to entities representing outlying areas or to grants awarded under the Secretary of the Interior provision. The Education Secretary could waive all or part of the match for hardship or exceptional circumstances.
Competitive grants for beginning educators
This bill would create a national competitive grant program run by the Education Secretary for induction supports for beginning teachers and school leaders. From each year’s appropriation, the Secretary would be allowed to reserve 2% for program administration and evaluation and 1% for Bureau of Indian Education–comparable programs before awarding grants. The bill would authorize such sums as may be necessary starting in fiscal year 2027 and each year after. If enacted, states would be able to apply for these competitive grants to support induction programs.
Local grants, mentor pay, eligibility
The bill would require most of each state grant to be passed to local districts. Each eligible state must reserve at least 5% for administration and statewide supports and at least 90% to make subgrants to local eligible subgrantees. Subgrant funds would have to be used to plan, run, or expand two-year induction programs and may be used to compensate mentors. The bill would define who can apply and what an induction program must include, and subgrant applicants must describe mentor pay, post mentor requirements publicly, and show coordination with educator preparation programs.
Targeting and rules for school grants
If grant funds are enough, states would have to award subgrants to all complete applicants so all first- and second-year teachers and leaders are served. If funds are insufficient, states would have to prioritize districts with the highest shares of economically disadvantaged students and those with the most early-career teachers or highest turnover. Within districts, funded programs would have to focus on schools in the top 50% by poverty and on schools with high early-career concentrations or turnover. The bill would also say grant money must supplement, not supplant, local funds, and it would preserve existing labor and collective bargaining rights while requiring districts to negotiate to implement the program.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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