SUBCHAPTER 14.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MENTORING NOVICE TEACHERS

6:11-14.1 General provisions

• (a) The purpose of this subchapter is to govern the implementation of a required two-year mentoring program for novice teachers.
  
  (b) These rules apply to district boards of education whose staff hold positions that require the possession of instructional certificates. These rules, with the exception of N.J.A.C. 6:11-14.8, also apply to approved nonpublic schools that participate in the Provisional Teacher Program.
  
  (c) Definitions of words and terms used in this subchapter are set forth at NJAC 6:11-5.6.

6:11-14.2 Novice teacher responsibilities

• These rules affect all novice teachers employed as of September 2001 whose positions require possession of instructional certificates in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:26-2 and N.J.A.C. 6:11- 3.1(a). The requirements of these rules shall take effect beginning September 1, 2001.

6:11-14.3 District board of education mentoring responsibilities

• (a) A district board of education shall ensure that rigorous, two-year mentoring is provided to novice teachers by developing a local mentor plan in which experienced teachers give confidential support and guidance to novice teachers.
  
  (b) A district board of education shall ensure that the local mentor plan includes face to face contact between the mentor teacher and the novice teacher.
  
  (c) A district board of education shall ensure the development of a local mentor plan by the local Professional Development Committee.
  
  (d) The district board of education shall annually report the implementation of the local mentor plan in its Quality Assurance Annual Report (QAAR) pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6:8-2.1.

6:11-14.4 Development of a local mentor plan

• (a) The local Professional Development Committee as defined in N.J.A.C. 6:11-13.3 (d) in each district board of education shall develop a local mentor plan to include the following:
  
  
  1. Goals which include the following;

     
     
     

     • i. To enhance teacher knowledge of and strategies related to the Core Curriculum Content Standards in order to facilitate student achievement;
       
       ii. To identify exemplary teaching skills and educational practices necessary to acquire and maintain excellence in teaching; and
       
       iii.To assist novice teachers in the performance of their duties and adjustment to the challenges of teaching.
       
       
  2. An application process for selecting mentor teachers;

     
     
     

  3. Criteria for mentor teacher selection;

     
     
     

  4. Provisions for comprehensive mentor training;

     
     
     

  5. Identification of mentor teacher responsibilities;

     
     
     

  6. Logistics for mentor plan implementation;

     
     
     

  7. Consideration of collaborative arrangements with colleges and universities; and

     
     
     

  8. Use of state funds.

  
  
  (b) Terms and conditions of employment shall be subject to negotiations between representatives of the district board of education and the collective bargaining agent.
  
  (c) The local Professional Development Committee shall submit the local mentor plan to the district board of education for approval prior to submission by the district board of education to the county superintendent.

6:11-14.5 District board of education plan implementation responsibilities

• (a) A district board of education, in implementing the local plan, shall ensure that:
  
  
  1. The eligibility of teachers applying to serve as mentor teachers is based on criteria which include the following:

     
     
     

     • i. The teacher is tenured in the district and actively teaching; or, in the event that such a teacher is unavailable, a certified teacher with at least three years of experience who is actively teaching may be selected.
       
       ii. The teacher is committed to the goals of the local mentor plan including respect for the confidential nature of the mentor teacher/novice teacher relationship;
       
       iii. The teacher has demonstrated exemplary command of content area knowledge and of pedagogy;
       
       iv. The teacher is experienced and certified in the subject area in which the novice teacher is teaching, where possible; and where not possible, in a closely aligned subject area;
       
       v. The teacher is knowledgeable about the social/workplace norms of the district board of education and the community the district board of education serves;
       
       vi. The teacher is knowledgeable about the resources and opportunities in the district board of education and able to act as a referral source to the novice teacher;
       
       vii. The teacher provides three letters of recommendation from those who are familiar with the mentor teacher applicant's work; and
       
       viii. The teacher agrees to complete a comprehensive mentor training program.
       
       
  2. Mentor teachers receive appropriate training prior to beginning mentoring assignments and on-going training in current mentoring practice is continued.

6:11-14.6 Evaluation of the local mentor plan

• (a) Effective April 1, 2002, and continuing annually, the district board of education shall submit a report on the effectiveness of the local mentor plan to the Department of Education.
  
  
  1. The district board of education shall collect data from novice teachers, mentor teachers and others using a form developed by the department.

     
     
     

     • i. The data shall include:
       
       
       • (1) Program impact on job satisfaction;
         
         (2) Adequacy of time and training; and
         
         (3) Recommended program changes and additions.
         
         

6:11-14.7 Program accountability

• (a) A district board of education shall ensure that the local mentor plan is consistent with N.J.A.C. 6:11-14.3 through 14.5.
  
  (b) The Department of Education shall monitor district implementation of the local mentor plan to ensure its compliance with N.J.A.C. 6:11-14.3 through 14.6.

6:11-14.8 Use of State funds

• (a) District boards of education in public school districts only shall be responsible for budgeting appropriately any State funds appropriated for the novice teacher mentoring program.
  
  (b) The Department of Education shall appropriate State funds based on the number of novice teachers employed each year in a given public district board of education.
  
  (c) District boards of education in public school districts only shall ensure that State funds appropriated for this program shall supplement, and not supplant, any Federal, State or Local funds already devoted to planning and implementing a novice teacher mentor program.
  
  (d) District boards of education, in public schools only, shall ensure that state funds shall be used for one or more of the following: stipends for mentor teachers, the costs associated with released time, substitutes for mentor teachers and novice teachers and professional development/training activities related to the program.
  
  (e) District boards of education in public schools only shall review the levels of compensation, released time and other terms and conditions of employment of novice teachers and mentor teachers. These shall be subject to negotiations between the local board of education and collective bargaining agent.
  
  

6:11-5.6 Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in subchapters 5 and N.J.A.C. 6:11-14, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"Alternate route" means a non-traditional teacher preparation program.

"District board of education" means all district boards of education and charter schools whose staff hold positions that require the possession of instructional certificates.

"Full-time teaching" means the equivalent of 900 clock hours of teaching per year for purposes of N.J.A.C. 6:11-14 only.

"Local Professional Development Committee" means the committee established by the district board of education pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6:11-13.3(d) to plan and implement local district professional development programs.

"Mentor teacher" means a certified, experienced teacher who is assigned to provide support and guidance to a novice teacher.

"Nonpublic School" means an elementary or secondary school within the State, other than a public school, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:46A-2.

"Novice teacher" means any full-time or part-time teacher who has not completed two years of teaching under a standard State teaching certificate.

"Provisional Teacher Program" means the school-based training and evaluation program provided to all novice teachers during their first year of teaching in New Jersey.

"Provisional teaching year" means the amount of full time teaching under provisional certification required of a first year teacher before he or she can be approved for standard teacher certification.

"Traditional Route" means an approved collegiate teacher preparation program.