Chapter 22C. "Grow Your Own" Teacher Preparation Support Program.

§ 38–2251. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) "DCPS" means the District of Columbia Public Schools.

(2) "District university grantees" means an accredited university or college, other

than UDC, that operates in the District and has received a teacher preparation grant from OSSE.

(3) "Dual enrollment student" means a student who is enrolled in:

(A) A DCPS or public charter school high school; and

(B) UDC or an accredited college or university, other than UDC, that operates in the District of Columbia.

(4) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means the District of Columbia Public Schools system, any individual District public charter school, or any group of public charter schools operating under a single charter.

(5) "OSSE" means the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

(6) "Paraprofessional" means an individual employed by an LEA to provide instructional, behavioral, or other support under the supervision of a licensed or certified teacher, to students in or outside of the classroom. This term includes instructional aides or assistants, teacher aides, and paraeducators.

(7) "Program" means the "Grow Your Own" Teacher Preparation Support Program established pursuant to this chapter.

(8) "Program participant" means a public high school dual enrollment student, a public high school graduate, or a paraprofessional employed by an LEA that is receiving financial assistance or professional support through the Program.

(9) "Public high school" means a high school in the DCPS system or a District public charter high school.

(10) "UDC" means the University of the District of Columbia.

§ 38–2252. "Grow Your Own" Teacher Preparation Support Program establishment.

(a)(1) OSSE shall establish, in collaboration with UDC, District university grantees, and the District's LEAs, a dual pathway "Grow Your Own" Teacher Preparation Support Program for the purpose of educating, training, and providing financial support to public high school dual enrollment students, public high school graduates, and paraprofessionals to become licensed teachers at DCPS schools or certified teachers at District public charter schools.

(b) Through UDC and District university grantees, the Program shall provide:

(1) Education and training to District residents that will lead to:

(A) The successful completion of coursework for a baccalaureate or a master's degree in education or teaching needed to become a teacher licensed by OSSE or a certified teacher at a District public charter school;

(B) Passage of examinations required by OSSE or an LEA to become a teacher licensed by OSSE or a certified teacher at a District public charter school; and

(2) Two pathways to teacher licensure or certification, which shall be:

(A) The baccalaureate degree pathway, which shall be available to District residents who:

(i) Enroll as or are public high school dual enrollment students that intend to continue to pursue a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching to become a teacher licensed by OSSE or a certified teacher at a District public charter school; or

(ii) Are public high school graduates who are pursuing a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching to become a teacher licensed by OSSE or a certified teacher at a District public charter school; and

(B) The paraprofessional pathway, which shall be available to District residents who are paraprofessionals currently employed by an LEA and who need to complete additional coursework or obtain a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching to become a teacher licensed by OSSE or a certified teacher at a District public charter school; and

(3) Financial assistance to Program participants for payment of:

(A) Tuition and fees at UDC or a District university grantee, to the extent charged;

(B) Academic costs, including books and supplies; and

(c)(1) UDC shall select individuals to enroll or who are enrolled in UDC to participate in the Program, consistent with the eligibility criteria established pursuant to § 38-2255.

(2) District university grantees shall select individuals to enroll or who are enrolled in their institutions to participate in the Program consistent with the eligibility criteria established pursuant to § 38-2255 and their grant agreements with OSSE.

(3) OSSE and UDC shall coordinate to ensure that Program participants do not receive Program financial assistance from more than one post-secondary institution at the same time.

§ 38–2253. The Program at UDC.

(a) Beginning with School Year 2022-2023, UDC shall begin using at least $200,000 of the subsidy it receives from the District government for the Program to pay for the tuition, required academic fees, bootcamp preparation or training academies, required examination fees, and book and supply costs for District residents it selects to participate in the Program. UDC shall select individuals to participate in both Program pathways, provide extensive mentorship to each Program participant, including continued mentorship during the first 2 years after a Program participant is hired by an LEA as a teacher, and assist Program participants in obtaining employment at an LEA if the Program participant meets all of the employment criteria set by the LEA.

(b) UDC also may use the subsidy it receives from the District government to pay:

(1) The salaries and fringe benefits of faculty, staff, and peer mentors directly engaged in the provision of courses necessary to obtain a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching at UDC;

(2) For instructional materials used in courses necessary to obtain a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching at UDC; and

(3) For marketing and recruitment activities to attract District residents to the Program at UDC.

§ 38–2254. The Program at District university grantees.

(a)(1) OSSE shall establish and administer a competitive grant program to provide "grow your own" teacher preparation support grants ("grants") to eligible universities or colleges located in the District for the purposes of educating, training, and providing financial support to District residents pursuing a pathway to teacher licensure or certification described in § 38-2252(b)(2) at the university or college.

(2) No later than April 30, 2022, and annually thereafter, subject to the availability of funds, OSSE shall award at least 2 grants totaling not less than $550,000 per year for the purposes described in paragraph (1) of this subsection. At least one grant shall be for the baccalaureate degree pathway described in § 38-2252(b)(2)(A), and at least one grant shall be for the paraprofessional degree pathway described in § 38-2252(b)(2)(B). OSSE may award a baccalaureate degree pathway grant and a paraprofessional pathway grant to the same university or college.

(3) OSSE may award the grants on a multi-year basis; provided, that no grant shall be for longer than 5 years.

(4) OSSE may consider the cost of attendance at a particular university or college in determining how much funding to award to each grantee.

(b) To be eligible for a grant, an applicant shall:

(1) Be an accredited university or college that has a physical campus in the District;

(2) Offer a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching;

(3) Have an education program that includes at least one year of residency or student teaching for all participants; and

(4) Demonstrate that its students pursuing degrees in education or teaching consistently and successfully attain the following benchmarks:

(A) Graduate within 5 years with a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching;

(B) Pass the PRAXIS examination;

(D) Be hired by an LEA within one-year of graduating; and

(E) Remain employed as a licensed or certified teacher at an LEA for at least 3 years.

(1) Use the grant to pay for Program participants' tuition, required academic fees, bootcamp preparation or training academies, required examination fees, and book and supply costs;

(2) Commit to paying, on behalf of Program participants, 100% of any remaining tuition, required academic fees, required examination fees, and book and supply costs not covered by the grant;

(3) Ensure the design and use of a teacher development plan for each Program participant, consistent with the requirements of subsection (d) of this section;

(4) Provide extensive mentorship and academic support to Program participants enrolled in its institution, including continued mentorship during the first 2 years after a Program participant is hired by a LEA as a teacher;

(5) Provide licensure examination support to all Program participants enrolled in its university or college;

(6) Execute a memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with an LEA or LEAs, consistent with the requirements of subsection (e) of this section, to facilitate participation in the Program and the hiring of Program participants;

(7) Assist Program participants in obtaining employment at an LEA if the Program participant meets all of the employment criteria set by the LEA; and

(8) Submit proof of each Program participant's progress to OSSE on a cycle, and in a manner, prescribed by OSSE.

(d)(1) The teacher development plan required pursuant to subsection (c)(3) of this section shall:

(A) Specify how the Program participant will attain the credentials or degree necessary to meet OSSE teacher licensure requirements or the certification requirements set forth by a public charter school LEA if the Program participant anticipates teaching at a District public charter school; and

(B) Identify one or more tools to be used to assess a Program participant's performance once the Program participant is halfway through the participant's teacher residency or student teaching.

(2) If a Program participant is pursuing licensure or credentials through the paraprofessional pathway, the teacher development plan shall be developed by comparing the participant's prior experience and coursework with the District's teacher licensure requirements or LEA's certification requirements.

(e) The MOU between a District university grantee and LEA or LEAs required pursuant to subsection (c)(6) of this section shall:

(1) Identify, indicate the commitment of, and describe the role of the District university grantee and the LEA, including specific duties of each partner, in supporting the goals of the Program; and

(2) Specify the:

(A) Responsibilities of each party in the recruitment, screening, selection, and oversight of Program participants;

(B) Role of each party in field placement and student teaching and a description of the time frame each pathway described in § 38-2252(b)(2) begins; and

(f)(1) Prior to April 30, 2022, and every 4 years thereafter, OSSE shall conduct an assessment to identify the areas of high need in the District's elementary and secondary teaching workforce, which shall include an assessment of the District's progress toward achieving diversity in its elementary and secondary public school teachers that matches the demographics of the District's corresponding student population.

(2) In issuing the grants authorized pursuant to this section, OSSE may give a preference to applicants that offer a high-quality education or teaching degree program in one or more high-need categories identified pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.

§ 38–2255. Conditions of Program eligibility and participation.

(a) To be eligible for Program participation through the baccalaureate degree pathway described in § 38-2252(b)(2)(A), an individual shall:

(1) Meet the relevant enrollment requirements for UDC or the District university grantee in which the individual enrolls;

(2) Be a resident of the District;

(3)(A)(i) Become or be a dual enrollment student; or

(ii) Be a graduate of a public high school; and

(B) Be enrolled in UDC or a District university grantee with an intent to pursue a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching; and

(4) In exchange for Program financial assistance and professional support, commit to teaching at an LEA for a minimum of 3 years after receiving a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching and earning the appropriate licensure or certification needed to teach at an LEA.

(b) To be eligible for Program participation through the paraprofessional degree pathway described in § 38-2252(b)(2)(B), an individual shall:

(1) Meet the relevant enrollment requirements for UDC or District university grantee in which the individual enrolls;

(2) Be a resident of the District;

(3) Be currently employed by an LEA as a paraprofessional;

(4) Enroll in a UDC or District university grantee to complete coursework or with the intent to pursue a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching necessary to be a teacher licensed by OSSE or a certified teacher at a public charter school; and

(5) In exchange for Program financial assistance and support, commit to teaching at an LEA for a minimum of 3 years after completing the necessary coursework or receiving a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching and earning the appropriate licensure or certification needed to teach at an LEA.

(1)(A) Maintain the requisite cumulative grade point average to maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by UDC or the District university grantee; and

(B) If participating in the Program through the baccalaureate degree pathway described in § 38-2252(b)(2)(A), be consecutively enrolled as a full-time student in the Program at UDC or a District university grantee to pursue a baccalaureate or master's degree in education or teaching;

(2) Remain a District resident throughout participation in the Program;

(3) If pursuing teacher licensure or certification through the paraprofessional pathway described in § 38-2252(b)(2)(B), remain employed by an LEA as a paraprofessional while participating in the Program; and

(4) Meet any other requirement determined by UDC or OSSE to be necessary or appropriate for Program participation.