Bill > S375

This bill establishes a comprehensive teacher leadership program designed to enhance educational quality and teacher retention by creating competitive grants for eligible entities to develop innovative leadership opportunities for teachers. The bill defines key terms like "teacher leader" (an educator who takes initiative to implement solutions beyond the classroom) and "distributed leadership" (sharing traditional school leadership responsibilities between administrators and teachers). The program will award grants for up to three years to entities such as local educational agencies, educational service agencies, nonprofits, and higher education institutions, with priority given to high-need areas and agencies focusing on teacher diversity. Participating teachers must have at least three years of teaching experience and will be selected based on criteria like leadership potential, data analysis skills, professional learning facilitation, and ability to support diverse student populations. Grant recipients must use at least 95% of funds for program implementation, which includes creating collaborative structures, offering leadership training, and developing new roles that provide additional compensation for teachers taking on leadership responsibilities. The bill also mandates a rigorous evaluation process that tracks teacher retention rates, collects disaggregated data on participant demographics, and requires an annual report to the legislature assessing the program's effectiveness and potential areas for improvement.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S375