HI HB650

Establishes an advisory board on teacher retention within the Department of Education to study and make recommendations on teacher retention, recruitment, and attrition, with members including the superintendent, legislators, university officials, classroom teachers, and principals.

Requires the advisory board to develop and oversee a teacher mentorship pilot program during 2019-2022 that pairs prospective student teachers and newly hired teachers (employed no more than 3 years) with experienced mentor teachers in counties with populations over 500,000.

Mandates the Department of Education conduct detailed exit interviews with all teachers who voluntarily leave employment, documenting reasons related to compensation, working conditions, professional development, administrative support, and other relevant factors.

Requires annual reports to the legislature from both the advisory board and Department of Education, including recommendations to address teacher vacancies, short-term and five-year strategies with fiscal notes, and findings from exit interview data.

Pilot program framework shall include individual support for mentees, structured mentor training, ongoing formative evaluation, and regular program review, with advisory board submitting recommendations on statewide expansion by 2023.