CSMP Cover Letter
August 15, 2008
Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:
SENATE BILL 1209 (SCOTT) (CHAPTER 517, STATUTES OF 2006)
THE CERTIFICATED STAFF MENTORING PROGRAM
The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce funding opportunities for fiscal year (FY) 2008-09 under Senate Bill 1209; The Certificated Staff Mentoring Program (CSMP) is available. This program provides funding for local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide stipends for experienced eligible teachers to assist beginning teachers or teacher interns during induction and initial years of teaching. The applications for new and continuing program funding are available on the CSMP Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/te/ce/csmp07introd.asp.
Background
The CSMP, authorized by SB 1209 (Scott) (Chapter 517, Statutes of 2006) makes funding available to LEAs to provide stipends to experienced teachers to teach in staff priority schools, as determined by California Education Code (EC) Section 44562(d), and to assist at least one but no more than five beginning teachers and/or interns during induction and their first years of teaching for a minimum of five years. This training ensures leadership, infrastructure, and support for struggling schools and their students, and support for novice teachers during induction and during the critical first years of teaching. Information regarding the CSMP and its associated application process and LEA assurances is available on the CSMP Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/te/ce/csmp07introd.asp.
EC Section 44561 outlines the assurances for school district, county office of education, or charter school participation in the program funding. They include all of the following:
- Maintains classes in grades kindergarten or any of grades one through twelve, inclusive.
- Provides an annual salary stipend to each experienced mentor teacher that agrees to teach in a staff priority school.
- Assures that the experienced teacher has received training to serve as a mentor or has served previously in a mentor capacity in programs for new teachers, including, but not limited to, induction and university or district intern programs.
- Assures that the experienced teacher will have adequate time and material resources to provide assistance to beginning teachers.
- Assures that all school site involved in the program funding are staff priority schools as described in EC Section 44561 (d).
Additionally, all school districts, county offices of education, or charter schools participating in the program funding will assure that teachers receiving a stipend under the program meet the following eligibility criteria as specified in EC Section 44562:
- The experienced teacher must have a professional clear credential that would allow the teacher to instruct at the grade level and in the subject matter to which the beginning teachers or interns that the experienced teacher is assisting are assigned.
- The experienced teacher must have no less than seven years of recent experience instructing at one or more of the grade levels and in the subject matter to which the beginning teachers or interns that the experienced teacher is assisting are assigned.
- The experienced teacher must teach in a staff priority school and agree to provide assistance to at least one, but not more than five, beginning teachers or interns for a period of at least five years.
- The experienced teacher must meet the needs of the school and have demonstrated ability to foster pupil achievement and learning, as determined by the school principal.
- An annual stipend for an experienced teacher who meets the criteria and agrees to teach in a staff priority school shall be $6,000 per year, or another amount as specified in the Budget Act for the fiscal year in which the stipend is provided to the teacher.
Application for LEA Certificated Staff Mentoring Program Funding, Fiscal Year 2008-09
A school district, county office of education, or charter school may apply for funding to pay for stipends for experienced teachers to serve in this program by completing the enclosed application. To download and review the General Assurances and the Certification Regarding State and Federal Drug-Free Workplace Requirements, please visit the Funding Tools and Materials Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/fm. Please submit a copy of the enclosed application and associated forms. Fax transmittals will not be accepted. Correspondence should be submitted to:
Roxane Fidler, Education Programs Consultant
Professional Development Office
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 4309
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
Upon receipt of all required documentation, LEAs will be notified of their grant award, and thereby the funding process will be initiated. Locally funded charters schools may apply through their chartering agency (county office of education or school district). Direct-funded charter schools must apply individually.
The grant is awarded for a five-year period. The application window is from July 15, 2008, to September 8, 2008. Stipends will be awarded yearly to participating teachers in the amount of $5,866, or another amount as determined by the annual Budget Act. An additional five percent in funds will be supplied to LEAs for administration of the program.
Training Requirements for Eligible Teachers
To receive funding, the LEA must assure that each participating teacher has received training to serve as a mentor or has served previously in a mentor capacity in programs for new teachers, including, but not limited to, induction and university or district intern programs.
If you have questions regarding program issues, please contact Roxane Fidler, Education Programs Consultant, Professional Development Office, at 916-323-4861 or by e-mail at rfidler@cde.ca.gov.
If you have questions regarding fiscal issues, please contact Patty Stevens, Associate Governmental Program Analyst, Professional Development Office, at 916-323-5838 or by e-mail at pstevens@cde.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Anthony Monreal, Deputy Superintendent
Curriculum and Instruction Branch
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Enclosures
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814