HB3730 Summary

• Changes Article 21A of the School Code from "New Teacher Induction and Mentoring" to "Training for Mentoring of New Teachers" and redefines "new teacher" to include student teachers and those with no more than 3 years of teaching experience.

• Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, requires the State Board of Education to develop a grant program for mentor training providers (regionally accredited colleges, universities, or educational nonprofits) to establish training programs for new teacher mentors, replacing the previous requirement for individual schools to develop their own induction programs.

• Mentor training providers must train mentors who hold a Professional Educator License with at least 5 years of experience, have "proficient" or "excellent" ratings on their last 2 evaluations, and have completed the mentor training program.

• Establishes mentor stipend requirements of $1,500 annually for each of 4 school years, conditioned on mentors providing 60 contact hours including at least 2 classroom observations; prioritizes funding for Tier 1 and Tier 2 school districts if appropriations are insufficient.

• Updates program evaluation requirements with reports to the General Assembly before January 1, 2026 and every third year thereafter; requires regional offices of education to oversee mentors and mentor training providers within their regions.