Grant funds, awarded under § 4506 of this title, must be used by the applicant to implement or sustain a Grow Your Own Educator Program, including for any of the following purposes:
- (1) Design and startup of the Program.
- (2) Compensate personnel and contractors hired to assist in the design and implementation of the Program, including technical assistance.
- (3) Review and upgrade of teacher academies and other existing programs that will complement and support the Program.
- (4) Revise applicant’s existing programs and policies to support candidates accepted into the Program who work in educational professional roles such as paraprofessionals.
- (5) Hire substitute teachers to enable educators to lend their time to support the Program.
- (6) Provide career ladder opportunities and monetary compensation for highly effective educators to serve as leaders and provide coaching and mentoring for their colleagues and candidates participating in the Program.
- (7) Provide candidates last-dollar support for postsecondary education, including tuition, student fees, books, technology, credentialing fees, transportation, and support for passing state testing requirements for licensure if the candidate makes a formal commitment to teach in a Delaware high-need school, for a minimum of 3 years, after obtaining their Delaware teachers license or certification.
- (8) Provide financial incentives for candidates including paid internships, residency, apprenticeship and professional learning opportunities.
- (9) Partner with institutions of higher education to provide tutoring, academic counseling, cohort models, assistance with credential requirements, and support for taking and passing state testing requirements for licensure.
- (10) Expand teacher residency models or develop a teacher apprenticeship model in which candidates can learn while earning a salary and participating in competency-based educator preparation.
83 Del. Laws, c. 428, § 1