Sec. 21.458.  MENTORS.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), each school district may assign a mentor teacher to each classroom teacher who has less than two years of teaching experience in the subject or grade level to which the teacher is assigned.  A teacher assigned as a mentor must:
(1)  to the extent practicable, teach in the same school;
(2)  to the extent practicable, teach the same subject or grade level, as applicable; and
(3)  meet the qualifications prescribed by commissioner rules adopted under Subsection (b).
(a-1)  To be assigned as a mentor, a teacher must agree to serve as a mentor teacher for at least one school year.  The assignment must begin not later than the 30th day of employment of the classroom teacher to whom the mentor teacher is assigned.  A district must agree to assign a mentor to a new classroom teacher for at least two school years.
(a-2)  A school district shall assign a mentor teacher to a classroom teacher who has been issued a temporary certificate to teach career and technology education under Section 21.0444 for at least two school years.
(b)  The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to administer this section, including rules concerning the duties and qualifications of a teacher who serves as a mentor and the number of classroom teachers that may be assigned to a mentor.  The rules concerning qualifications must require that to serve as a mentor a teacher must:
(1)  complete a research-based mentor and induction training program approved by the commissioner;
(2)  complete a mentor training program provided by the district, which the district may allow to be satisfied by completing the training program described by Subdivision (1);
(3)  have at least three complete years of teaching experience with a superior record of assisting students, as a whole, in achieving improvement in student performance; and
(4)  demonstrate interpersonal skills, instructional effectiveness, and leadership skills.
(b-1)  A school district must provide training as described by Subsection (b)(2) to mentor teachers and any appropriate district and campus employees who work with the classroom teacher or supervise the classroom teacher.  A district may allow a training program approved by the commissioner under Subsection (b)(1) to qualify for the training required by this section. The training must be completed by the mentor teacher and the district and campus employees before the beginning of the school year.  The district shall also provide supplemental training to mentor teachers and employees during the school year.  The training must include content related to best mentorship practices.
(c)  Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 943 (H.B. 3), Sec. 4.001(a)(10), eff. September 1, 2019.
(d)  In adopting rules under this section, the commissioner shall rely on research-based mentoring programs that, through external evaluation, have demonstrated success.
(e)  Each year the commissioner shall report to the legislature regarding the effectiveness of school district  mentoring programs.
(f)  A mentor teacher must meet with each classroom teacher assigned to the mentor not less than 12 hours each semester.  Observations of the mentor by the classroom teacher being mentored or of the classroom teacher being mentored by the mentor may count toward the 12 hours of meeting time required for the semester.  Except as provided by Subsection (f-1), the mentoring sessions must address the following topics:
(1)  orientation to the context, policies, and practices of the school district;
(2)  data-driven instructional practices;
(3)  specific instructional coaching cycles, including coaching regarding conferences between parents and the classroom teacher;
(4)  professional development; and
(5)  professional expectations.
(f-1)  Subject to approval by the agency, in determining the topics to be addressed in the mentoring sessions, a school district may create an appropriate curriculum that meets the district needs.
(g)  A school district must:
(1)  designate a specific time during the regularly contracted school day for meetings between mentor teachers and classroom teachers assigned to a mentor; and
(2)  schedule release time or a reduced teaching load for mentor teachers and classroom teachers under this section to facilitate mentoring activities, including classroom observations or participation in supportive coaching.
Added by Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 5 (H.B. 1), Sec. 4.07, eff. May 31, 2006.
Amended by: 
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 796 (S.B. 1290), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1282 (H.B. 2012), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 943 (H.B. 3), Sec. 2.009, eff. June 12, 2019.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 943 (H.B. 3), Sec. 4.001(a)(10), eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1045 (S.B. 1267), Sec. 9, eff. June 18, 2021.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 806 (H.B. 621), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.