Bill > SB5270

This bill amends the existing Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) program to explicitly include novice school nurses as a priority group for mentorship. The bill defines a "novice school nurse" as a registered nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner in their first, second, or third year of a school-based role. School districts receiving funding for the BEST program must now prioritize and provide a trained and qualified mentor to these novice school nurses. The existing BEST program already provides comprehensive professional development and mentoring for beginning educators, including principals, teachers, and educational staff associates. The program components include an instructional orientation, a mentor assigned for up to three years with intensive first-year support, ongoing professional development, release time for mentors and participants to work together, and various supportive measures like non-evaluative observations and help understanding district evaluation processes. The funding for this program is allocated competitively by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with priority given to schools in need of improvement, districts with many new educators, and districts demonstrating understanding of research-based induction standards.

Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5270&Year=2025&Initiative=false