92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 26, § 006 - Mentor Teacher Program Grant Funds

The following provisions apply to the mentor teacher program grant:

006.01 Special Grant Fund

A mentor teacher program grant is considered a special grant fund and, therefore, school systems receiving mentor teacher program grant funds will be eligible for exclusion/additional budget authority under the provisions of Section 79-1003 R.R.S. et seq., the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act.

006.02 Use of Funds

Fifty percent (50%) of the mentor teacher program grant funds received by the local school system must be used to pay stipends to mentors. The remaining portion of the mentor teacher program grant may be used for:

006.02A Substitute teacher salaries to enable release time for mentors or first-year teachers in conjunction with mentor program activities.

006.02B Professional development materials (e.g. books, journals, video and audio tapes) intended to increase the first-year teacher knowledge, skills or abilities.

006.02C Mileage reimbursement to mentors and first-year teachers for travel to and from mentor teacher program activities.

006.02D Workshops to enhance first-year teacher teaching skills.

006.02E Salaries for coordinators of mentor teacher programs per Section 005.05.

006.03 Restrictions on the Use of Grant Funds

The following uses of grant funds are not allowed:

006.03A Salaries/benefits for permanent staff whose duties are unrelated to grant activities.

006.03B Furniture.

006.03C Equipment and/or computer hardware.

006.03D Buildings, building modification, or physical structures.

006.03E Payment to consultants or staff to develop proposals.

006.03F Supplanting of federal funds.

006.03G Training/workshops for mentors.

006.03H Stipends or salaries/benefits for public school district administrators.

006.03I Any expenses for goods or services which are unrelated to the mentoring of first-year teachers by mentor teachers.

006.04 Duration of Funding

Mentor teacher program grants are funded on a one-year basis and may be applied for every year the local school system has qualifying teachers and a qualifying mentor program, as provided in Sections 003 and 004.

006.05 Funding of Projects

006.05A Mentor teacher program grants will be funded in two payments. The final disbursement shall be based on actual expenditures.

006.05B Mentor teacher program grant amounts shall be based upon the number of first-year teachers employed by the local systems at the time of application. If the unobligated balance in the mentor teacher program fund at the time of the application deadline is less than the amount calculated for mentor teacher program grants due to qualified local systems, each qualified local system shall receive a pro rata amount such that the total amount of mentor teacher program grants equals the unobligated balance in the mentor teacher program fund as of the grant application deadline.

006.05C The funding cycle and fiscal year for mentor teacher program grants will be September 1 through August 31.

006.06 Contracting for Services

While only individual school systems are eligible to receive mentor teacher program grants, school systems may contract, as allowed by law, with third parties such as educational service units, postsecondary institutions, and private parties to administer mentor teacher programs.

006.07 Cooperatives

Cooperatives of school systems may pool grant resources to provide mentoring services to first-year teachers.

006.08 Fiscal Agents

Mentor teacher program grant funds shall be paid to the high school district of the school system. The high school district of the school system or an educational service unit shall act as the fiscal agent for mentor teacher program grants. The high school district or the educational service unit, as fiscal agent, shall be responsible for reporting and auditing mentor teacher program grant expenses.

Notes

92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 26, § 006