Beginning Educator Mentorship and Retention Act
Sponsored By: Senator Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced
Summary
Two-year induction and mentoring programs would be funded to help retain new teachers and school leaders and to improve outcomes in high-need and rural schools. The bill focuses on structured mentoring, training, and targeted support for early-career educators.
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- Early-career teachers and school leaders would receive structured two-year induction that includes mentoring, professional learning, formative observation with feedback, and supports for students with disabilities and English learners. Mentors must be trained, have protected time, and be compensated or have mentorship included in contract duties.
- Local educational agencies serving the highest shares of economically disadvantaged students or the highest concentrations of first- and second-year staff would be prioritized for subgrants. Within those LEAs, funds must target schools in the top 50% for poverty or turnover.
- Grants would be awarded competitively, with 2% reserved for program administration and 1% reserved for the Secretary of the Interior to support Bureau of Indian Education schools. Most grant recipients must provide a 50% match but the Secretary can reduce or waive that requirement in hardship cases. Eligible entities must pass at least 90% of funds to subgrantees and reserve 5% for statewide or regional activities.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
50% state matching and waivers
If enacted, the bill would require most state education agencies receiving grants to provide matching funds equal to 50 percent of the grant amount. The match would not apply to entities representing U.S. outlying areas or to grants from the Interior's 1 percent reserve for BIE schools. The Education Secretary could waive all or part of the match for disasters, sudden financial declines, or inability to carry out grant activities.
Mentor pay and application rules
If enacted, subgrantees would have to use grant money to plan, run, or expand induction programs and would be allowed to use funds to compensate mentors. Grant applications would have to promise that mentors either have mentoring built into their contracts or receive additional pay if mentoring is beyond existing duties. Applicants would also have to describe how they will involve organizations that represent teachers and leaders and publicly post mentor requirements and compensation.
Funds must add, not replace
If enacted, the bill would require grant funds to supplement, not supplant, existing funding for the same activities. It would also state that nothing in the bill is intended to change employee rights, remedies, or collective bargaining procedures, and that states and districts must still follow state labor laws when implementing the program.
New federal grants for new educators
If enacted, the bill would create a new competitive federal grant program run by the Education Secretary to fund induction (mentoring) programs for teachers and school leaders in their first two years. Congress would authorize "such sums as may be necessary" starting in fiscal year 2027. Each year the Secretary would reserve 2 percent for federal administration, evaluation, and technical help, and 1 percent for the Interior to support Bureau of Indian Education schools. The remaining money would fund competitive grants to eligible state agencies and partners.
State subgrants target high‑need schools
If enacted, each state education agency receiving a grant would have to reserve at least 90 percent of funds for local subgrants and at least 5 percent for statewide or regional support. When money is enough, states would award subgrants to all eligible applicants. When money is limited, states would prioritize districts with the highest shares of economically disadvantaged students and the highest concentrations or turnover of first‑ or second‑year teachers or leaders. Within prioritized districts, funding would focus on schools in the top 50 percent by share of economically disadvantaged students that also have the highest early‑career staffing or turnover.
Who qualifies and program rules
If enacted, the bill would define an induction program as at least the first two years of formal mentoring and support for new teachers and school leaders. Programs would need structured mentoring, regular collaboration time, formative observation with expert feedback, evidence‑based instructional supports (including for English learners and students with disabilities), leader induction, and coordination with educator preparation programs. The bill would also define which state agencies and local partners are eligible to get grants and what "fully certified and licensed" means for teachers and leaders.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov