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ND RISE, state mentoring program asks legislature to expand mentoring to a three‑year model
Summary
ND RISE officials told the appropriations committee the state mentoring program consistently produces higher retention rates for mentored teachers versus non‑mentored peers and requested $4.5 million to expand mentoring to a three‑year graduated model and to sustain network grants and coach training.
Erin Jacobson, coordinator of ND RISE (the North Dakota teacher support and mentoring system), and Marika (assistant coordinator) told the House Appropriations committee that the state mentoring program has a consistently positive effect on early‑career teacher retention and asked for funding to expand the program from two years to a three‑year graduated mentorship model.
Jacobson said the program served 740+ teachers in the current year and that the existing proposal to maintain the current first‑and‑second year supports requires $3.7 million. Expanding to a three‑year model as recommended by the Teacher Retention and Recruitment Task Force and included in the governor’s budget would increase the request to $4.5 million.
Marika presented longitudinal retention analysis conducted by ND RISE that shows mentored teachers have higher retention rates than non‑mentored peers across multiple years of service. She said the largest attrition occurs in the first two to three years and that structured mentoring reduces early turnover. The analysis also showed higher cumulative retention for ND RISE participants over more than a decade of data.
Program leaders asked the committee to continue network grant funding for REAs to support regional mentoring cohorts, fund stipends for mentors and instructional coaches, and support professional learning for mentors and coaches. They emphasized the mentoring program serves both public and nonpublic schools and can include teachers returning from a gap in service or moving to new roles.
Committee members asked for program details, cost breakdowns and measurable outcomes; ND RISE said it measures retention outcomes and annual participant surveys and will provide additional program review documents to the committee.
No formal committee vote occurred during the hearing; ND RISE asked that the legislature consider the three‑year graduated mentoring model recommended by the task force when finalizing appropriations.
