157.197 Kentucky Special Education Mentor Program -- Criteria.
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<![CDATA[ Page 1 of 2 157.197 Kentucky Special Education Mentor Program -- Criteria. (1) The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations to establish the criteria for the Kentucky Special Education Mentor Program that shall <br>be implemented by July 1, 1999. The designation of "Kentucky Special Education <br>Mentor" shall be given to the state's most outstanding and highly skilled persons <br>who are certified to teach or administer special education and who are willing to <br>accept assignments in districts whose special education programs are found to be <br>noncompliant with state or federal requirements. The assignments shall require the <br>mentor to: <br>(a) Work in a district or school on a full-time or part-time basis for a designated period of time to assist the staff with creating and implementing its special <br>education improvement plan as required in KRS 157.224. The mentor shall <br>have the authority to review and amend decisions previously made by the <br>district or school staff. If a highly skilled educator under KRS 158.782 is <br>assigned to the same site as the mentor, they shall share responsibilities under <br>policy of the Department of Education; (b) Help to increase the effectiveness of the staff, parents, the civic and business community, and government and private agencies in improving the school's <br>performance with exceptional students and other students at risk of school <br>failure; (c) Evaluate and make recommendations on the retention, dismissal, or transfer of certified staff in a noncompliant district or school; (d) Recommend up to ten (10) additional work days annually to be paid for by the Department of Education for personnel in affected schools who work with <br>exceptional students for planning, working with parents and guardians, <br>curriculum development, or other activities that will help the district or school <br>meet the goals of its improvement plan; and (e) Complete an intensive training program, provided by the Department of Education and approved by the Kentucky Board of Education, prior to being <br>assigned to assist a district's or school's staff with creating and implementing <br>its district or school improvement plan. The training program shall include but <br>not be limited to instruction in the methods of personnel evaluation, district or <br>school organization, curriculum, and assessment. The training shall be made <br>available to local district personnel on a cost recovery basis. (2) The Kentucky Special Education Mentor Program criteria shall include: (a) A selection process that shall allow for self nomination, provide for a broad spectrum of instructional positions, and generate statewide representation. <br>Nominations of qualified special educators who have retired since July 1, <br>1994, shall be considered. Special education professionals and representatives <br>of various advocacy and constituent groups shall be included in the <br>development of the selection process and the review of applicants; (b) Each recipient shall receive a monetary award of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) when selected and shall also be paid in accordance with his or her Page 2 of 2 current salary for other program requirements requiring additional days of <br>employment under subsection (1) of this section. The Department of <br>Education shall be responsible for all expenses incurred as a result of the <br>Kentucky Special Education Mentor Program, except those expenses <br>associated with the funding of the position of the person who replaces the <br>Kentucky Special Education Mentor when that person is assigned to a <br>noncompliant school or district; (c) The Kentucky Special Education Mentor assigned to a noncompliant district or school shall receive a salary supplement of thirty-five percent (35%) of <br>their base annual salary for each year of service in that capacity. Retired <br>mentors shall be paid for their rank and experience on the district's salary <br>schedule plus the salary supplement. The state board shall determine if <br>reimbursement for vehicle mileage shall be allowed. If the assigned school <br>achieves the threshold level in the next biennial review, the mentor shall <br>receive his or her portion of the reward due to the entire staff calculated on his <br>or her base salary regardless of decisions made by the school staff under KRS <br>158.6455; (d) The Kentucky Special Education Mentor shall be granted professional leave under KRS 161.770 for up to two (2) years if determined by the state board to <br>be necessary. Kentucky Special Education Mentors shall not lose any <br>employee benefits as a result of their special assignments to a school or <br>district; and (e) A Kentucky Special Education Mentor shall not be assigned to a school or to a district assignment in the district in which the educator is employed. Effective: July 15, 1998 <br>History: Created 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 514, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1998. <br>Legislative Research Commission Note (7/15/98). Although 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 514, sec. 3, contained a citation to "Section 5 of [the] Act" (codified at KRS 157.200), it <br>is clear from context that Section 6 (codified at KRS 157.224) was intended. This <br>latter reference has been used for codification under KRS 7.136(1)(h). ]]>