Initial Educator Support Systems

The Wisconsin Quality Educator Initiative PI 34 requires all school districts to provide a support system for initial educators. An initial educator is an individual who completed an approved educator preparation program after August 31, 2004 and who is licensed by the Department of Public Instruction for the first time in a particular level or category.

School District Requirements

Under Chapter PI 34 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, the district is required to:

1. Provide ongoing orientation that is collaboratively developed and delivered by school boards, administrators, teachers, support staff, and parents/families.
2. Provide support seminars which reflect the appropriate standards (teacher, pupil services personnel, administrator), and the mission and goals of the school district.
3. Designate an administrator who may serve, subject to school board approval, on the initial educator's Professional Development Plan (PDP) team.
4. Provide a qualified mentor.
   A qualified mentor is an educator who holds a Professional or Master Educator License, is trained to provide support and assistance to initial educators, and has input into the confidential formative assessment of the initial educator. Training should include knowledge and understanding of the Wisconsin educator standards as well as the Professional Development Plan (PDP) process. The mentor is not part of the formal employment evaluation process.

Resources

Grant Information - 2008-09 Initial Educator Mentoring Grant Application

2008 Survey Data - Public School Initial Educators and Mentors

Wisconsin Induction Model and Promising Programs

IESS District Guide - School District Guide to Providing Initial Educator Support Systems

Designing Workshops - Mentor Training and PDP Writing Workshops

For questions about this information, contact Beverly F. Cann (608) 267-9263

Last updated on 9/3/2008 2:50:29 PM