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PED says Educator Fellows program is scaling but warns of contractor rule snag
Summary
PED described the Educator Fellows grow‑your‑own program: 370 current fellows, LEA cost match of $3,840 per fellow, and plans to expand. PED warned that ERB refusal to approve retired teachers as independent contractors threatens coach staffing next year and asked for sustained legislative support.
The Public Education Department described the Educator Fellows program as a rapidly expanding, locally based pipeline for new teachers — and flagged an operational hurdle that could limit the program’s near‑term coaching capacity.
Denise Butel, manager of PED’s educator pathways bureau, told the committee the program currently places about 370 fellows across roughly 86 LEAs and 180 schools. Fellows are employed by LEAs as supplemental educational assistants, receive salary and benefits through the grant, and require a district cost match of $3,840 per fellow.
"Ed Fellows is an important part of our comprehensive approach to providing multiple entry points into the teaching profession," Butel said, outlining program goals to diversify the workforce, strengthen preparation through paid clinical experience, and improve student‑to‑teacher ratios.
But the program faces a staffing risk: Amber Romero, PED’s coordinator of the Educator Fellows program, said ERB is rejecting retired teachers as independent contractors for coach roles. "ERB is not approving independent contractors to do this work," Romero said, warning that the department secured only a one‑year extension for one coach and that the problem could become a "tsunami" next year if not resolved.
Program details and outcomes: PED reported 370 current fellows, expects about 85 candidates to be eligible for certified licensure this year, and said 70% of fellows are people of color. The department also noted a district match requirement and said ten LEAs remain on a waiting list that could add 35–50 additional fellows if funding allowed.
What the department asked for: PED requested continued legislative support to sustain and scale the program, to consider full state funding of the match for equity across small districts, and to examine ERB contractor rules that could prevent retired teachers serving as mentors.
Next steps: PED said it will continue building apprenticeship pathways and work with legislators to address match funding and administrative barriers; no committee vote or funding appropriation was taken during the meeting.
