S.F. No. 3006 Summary

• Establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Commissioner of Education to fund alternative teacher preparation programs that meet specified eligibility requirements.

• Requires eligible programs to use a highly selective admissions process (accepting fewer than 60% of applicants), increase teacher diversity, use peer-reviewed research-based models, and place graduates in hard-to-staff schools or geographically isolated areas serving low-income students.

• Permits grant funds to be used for recruiting and training diverse teachers, professional development, regional operations and support services, matching nonstate funds, or establishing new alternative teacher preparation programs.

• Appropriates $1,500,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2017, with a base appropriation of $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2018 and beyond; appropriations do not cancel and remain available until expended.

• Authorizes the commissioner to require grant recipients to report on their ability to meet program requirements and establishes evaluation obligations for grantees.