COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 39

October 17, 2008

ADMINISTRATIVE

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	2008-2009 Funds for Mentor Teacher Programs

The 2008 General Assembly appropriated $1.375 million to support mentor teacher and clinical faculty programs for the fiscal year 2009. Approximately $1 million will be allocated for mentor teacher programs in school divisions, and $375,000 will be awarded to institutions of higher education for clinical faculty programs.

School divisions should collaborate with institutions of higher education in the continued development and implementation of mentor teacher programs. Participating divisions are strongly encouraged to implement projects that reflect scientific, evidence-based research, and best practices. These programs include the Pathwise Framework Induction Program at http://www.GreenLightforLearning.com, The Santa Cruz New Teacher Project at http://newteachercenter.org, and Fairfax County Public School’s Great Beginnings: Beginning Teacher Induction Program at http://www.fcps.edu/plt/GreatBeginnings/new_teachers/index.html.

For 2008-2009, funds for school divisions will be allocated on a per-teacher basis that will be determined after requests for grants have been submitted. A local resource commitment of 50 percent is required. Funds will be retroactive to July 1, 2008, and will be awarded subject to available state funding.

Please do not include the names of new teachers participating in the Career Switcher Alternative Route to Licensure Program for this funding. As previously advised in Regulatory Supts. Memo No. 6, dated August 22, 2008, additional funding has been appropriated by the General Assembly for the 2008-09 year to provide grants to school divisions that employ mentor teachers for new teachers entering the profession through Career Switcher Programs.

Participation in this funding opportunity to support mentor teacher programs is voluntary. Section 22.1‑303 of the Code of Virginia requires that, “School boards shall provide each probationary teacher, except probationary teachers who have prior successful teaching experience, as determined by the local school board in a school division, a mentor teacher, as described by Board guidelines developed pursuant to Section 22.1-305.1, during the first year of the probationary period, to assist such probationary teacher in achieving excellence in instruction.” Copies of the Board of Education’s Guidelines for Mentor Teacher Programs for Beginning and Experienced Teachers may be accessed at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/newvdoe/teached.html.

While participation is voluntary, all school divisions must complete the attached affidavit verifying the number of new teachers with no years of teaching experience who will be employed for 2008-2009 and the projected number for the 2009-2010 school year. If you are not interested in seeking funding for your mentor teacher program for probationary teachers, please check the appropriate statement on the attached affidavit. This form must be faxed to Dr. JoAnne Y. Carver, director of teacher education, Division of Teacher Education and Licensure, at (804)786-6759 no later than Friday, November 7, 2008. Upon receipt of this information, and submission of your 2007‑2008 Mentor Teacher Programs Report, funds for the 2008-2009 year will begin to be transmitted electronically to your school division on a semi-monthly payment schedule.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Dr. JoAnne Y. Carver, director of teacher education, at (804)371-2475 or e-mail: JoAnne.Carver@doe.virginia.gov.

PIW/jyc

Attachment

a. Affidavit - 2008-2009 Funds for Mentor Teacher Programs (Word)