HB 650 Summary

• Establishes an Advisory Board on Teacher Retention within the Department of Education with representatives from the legislature, higher education, classroom teachers, and school administrators to study and recommend strategies for improving teacher recruitment and retention.

• Requires the Advisory Board to design a teacher mentorship pilot program pairing prospective student teachers and newly hired teachers (within 3 years) with experienced mentor teachers at Department of Education schools in counties with populations over 500,000 during the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years.

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

• Requires the Department to compile and analyze exit interview data and submit annual reports to the legislature, and requires the Advisory Board to submit annual reports with recommendations and strategies to improve teacher retention.

• Board must submit findings and recommendations regarding the pilot program's results and whether it should be expanded statewide to the legislature by 20 days prior to the 2023 regular session.