Senate Education Committee hears bill to expand teacher supports, childcare and mentorship funding

The North Dakota Senate Education Committee on an amended House Bill 15‑10 heard testimony proposing statewide financial‑planning resources for teachers, encouragement for school‑based child care, and a legislative study of interstate teacher licensure mobility to support recruitment and retention.

Representative Cynthia Schreiberbeck, District 25, introduced the engrossed and amended version of House Bill 15‑10 and said the measure grew out of the teacher retention and recruitment task force created by Executive Order 202038 and that the bill reflects several of that task force’s recommendations. “The proposed study in section 4 was not a recommendation of the task force,” Schreiberbeck said, describing why a study of interstate teacher mobility compact options was added.

The bill is divided into sections. Maria Nesit, chief of staff to Lieutenant Governor Strinden and senior advisor to Governor Armstrong, explained that section 1 would produce financial‑planning and benefits‑education resources (handouts, webinars, in‑person trainings) to help new teachers understand total compensation and district investments. Section 2 would clarify state support and partnership for school‑based child care and emphasize health, safety and early‑childhood quality if districts elect to provide…