File: GCHC* - Professional Staff Induction Program

NOTE: While Colorado school districts are not required by law to adopt a policy on this subject, some content in this sample reflects legal requirements school districts must follow if it operates an induction program for teachers, special service professionals, principals and/or administrators. This sample contains the content/language that CASB believes best meets the intent of the law. However, the district should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs.

[Choose one of the following two paragraphs]

In accordance with law, the district shall provide an induction program for the continuing professional development of teachers, specialized service professionals, principals and administrators with initial licenses just entering the profession.

[or]

The district shall join with [choose one of the following: other school districts, other school districts which belong to ____________________ BOCES, a consortium of districts, another educational entity which employs licensed educators] to offer an induction program for the continuing professional development of teachers, specialized service professionals, principals and administrators with initial licenses just entering the profession.

The purpose of the induction program under the educator licensing law shall be to promote purposeful learning by inductees rather than learning about the district and teaching through trial and error.

The induction program shall provide for supervision by mentors and ongoing professional development and training, including ethics and performance evaluations in accordance with the district's performance evaluation system.

The district's induction program shall include four major components:

• Orientation of newcomers to new professional roles

• Socialization and transition problems normally faced by newcomers to organizations

• Technical skill refinement and development including ethics

• Performance assessment

Through the induction program, inductees shall be provided information about Board of Education policies and regulations, local district goals, the district's academic standards, professional educator standards, and educator roles and responsibilities.

A mentor shall be selected for each inductee to model the professionalism of the teaching staff employed by this district.

It is recognized that the content and experience needed by an inductee will vary, based on each individual's previous experiences prior to receiving an initial license.

The [choose one: district delivering the induction program, BOCES, consortium, educational entity] shall establish criteria to evaluate an inductee who has successfully completed the program. Among the important criteria shall be completion of activities listed in the inductee's professional growth plan, evidence in the inductee's portfolio of meeting or exceeding the professional educator standards, satisfactory summative evaluation by the supervisor and recommendations by the mentor and supervisor.

The [appropriate administrator] shall make a recommendation to the [appropriate administrator such as superintendent, BOCES executive director] regarding the completion of the induction program. The [appropriate administrator] shall be responsible for recommending the inductee to the state for a professional license.

Nothing in this policy nor in the induction program itself shall be construed to imply in any manner the establishment of any property rights or expectancy or entitlement to continued employment. A favorable recommendation that an inductee receive a professional teaching license at the conclusion of the induction program is a decision separate and distinct from any decision about continued employment in the district. All employment decisions remain within the sole and continuing discretion of the Board of Education.

District personnel shall establish a process to evaluate the district's induction program so that it fits within the comprehensive district-wide professional growth plan for district personnel.

(Adoption date)

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-60.5-102 (7) (definition of "approved induction program")

C.R.S. 22-60.5-114 (2) (waiver of induction program requirement)

C.R.S. 22-60.5-201 (1)(c)(I)(B) (teacher license through approved induction program)

C.R.S. 22-60.5-204 (teachers)

C.R.S. 22-60.5-210 (1)(b)(I)(B) (professional special services license)

C.R.S. 22-60.5-213 (special services providers)

C.R.S. 22-60.5-301 (1)(b)(I)(C) (principal license through approved induction program)

C.R.S. 22-60.5-304 (principals)

C.R.S. 22-60.5-306 (1)(b)(I)(C) (administrator license through approved induction program)

C.R.S. 22-60.5-309 (administrators)

1 CCR 301-37, Rules 2260.5-R-8.00 and 2260.5-R-9.00 (approved induction programs - criteria and review)

CROSS REF.: GCHA/GCHB, Mentor Teachers/Administrators

NOTE 1: By law, all initial license holders (teachers, specialized service professionals, principals and administrators) are required to complete an approved induction program prior to professional licensure, unless the State Board of Education has waived the induction program requirements in accordance with its applicable rules. School districts may develop their own induction program or work in cooperation with other districts, BOCES or institutions of higher education. The program must be approved by the State Board of Education.

NOTE 2: The State Board of Education may grant a waiver of the induction program upon a sufficient showing that implementation would cause extreme hardship to the district. The district's application for waiver of the induction program requirement must include a plan for support, assistance and training of initially-licensed educators. C.R.S. 22-60.5-114 (2).

[Revised February 2020]