72-2563. Administration of programs; rules and regulations; evaluation and approval; grants, determination of amounts and award. (a) On or before January 1, 2001, the state board of education shall adopt rules and regulations for the administration of mentor teacher programs and shall:

(1) Establish standards and criteria for evaluating and approving mentor teacher programs and applications of school districts for grants;

(2) evaluate and approve mentor teacher programs;

(3) establish criteria for determination of exemplary teaching ability of certificated teachers for qualification as mentor teachers;

(4) prescribe guidelines for the selection by boards of education of mentor teachers and for the provision by boards of education of training programs for mentor teachers;

(5) be responsible for awarding grants to school districts; and

(6) request of and receive from each school district which is awarded a grant for maintenance of a mentor teacher program reports containing information with regard to the effectiveness of the program.

(b) Subject to the availability of appropriations for mentor teacher programs maintained by school districts, and within the limits of any such appropriations, the state board of education shall determine the amount of grants to be awarded school districts by multiplying an amount not to exceed $1,000 by the number of mentor teachers participating in the program maintained by a school district. The product is the amount of the grant to be awarded to the district. Upon receipt of a grant of state moneys for maintenance of a mentor teacher program, the amount of the grant shall be deposited in the general fund of the school district. Moneys deposited in the general fund of a school district under this subsection shall be considered reimbursements for the purpose of the Kansas school equity and enhancement act, K.S.A. 72-5131 et seq., and amendments thereto. The full amount of the grant shall be allocated among the mentor teachers employed by the school district so as to provide a mentor teacher with an annual stipend in an amount not to exceed $1,000. Such annual stipend shall be over and above the regular salary to which the mentor teacher is entitled for the school year.

History: L. 2000, ch. 138, § 5; L. 2015, ch. 4, § 31; L. 2017, ch. 95, § 63; July 1.