Bill > H371

This bill establishes the Teacher, Principal and Superintendent Quality Endowment Fund to support educator excellence, funded by public and private sources, including federal reimbursements, and administered by the commissioner of education. The fund's earnings, along with a portion of the principal, can be used for specific educational purposes outlined in chapter 15A, with limits on how much can be spent on different initiatives. The bill also creates a Massachusetts Master Teacher Corps program to recognize and support highly achieving teachers, who will act as educational leaders and mentors, and ensures their licensure and compensation are on par with those holding master's degrees. Furthermore, it revises evaluation processes for teachers and administrators, emphasizing professional growth and performance-based assessments, and introduces new licensing requirements and training programs for educators, including preliminary and initial licenses, with a focus on practical application and performance-based evaluations. The bill also establishes a comprehensive grant program to help school districts improve educator quality through recruitment, induction, leadership, supervision, professional development, school structure, and culture, requiring districts to develop and implement plans for these areas and contribute a matching percentage of funding. Finally, it mandates ongoing professional development for all educators, aligned with school improvement goals and student results, and establishes a statewide panel to approve district plans and monitor the effectiveness of funding and implementation.