An Act To Require School Administrative Units To Adopt Mentoring Programs For Teachers And To Improve Existing Programs

LD 470 requires Maine school districts to implement approved mentoring programs for new teachers. Specifically, school units must have a pre-approved mentoring program before hiring conditionally certified teachers (new teachers without full certification) or teachers with emergency certificates. The law mandates that these programs provide sustained, intensive, classroom-focused support for at least the first year (or two years for certain certifications) to improve teaching skills and classroom management. This directly affects school districts, new teachers, and emergency-certified educators across Maine.