A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 6 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-70.4, relating to Department of Education; division superintendents; Teacher Recruitment and Retention Mentorship Pilot Program established; administration; report.
HB613 establishes a Teacher Recruitment and Retention Mentorship Pilot Program within the Department of Education, in coordination with the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. The program is designed to pair division superintendents from school divisions with low teacher vacancy rates with superintendents from divisions experiencing high vacancy rates, so that the former can mentor the latter on strategies, plans, and best practices for improving teacher recruitment and retention.
The bill directs the Department and the association to create policies and procedures for how the mentorships will operate, including how superintendents are matched, how often they meet, how long the mentorships last, and how participation is encouraged and monitored. Each mentorship must submit an annual report describing its activities, the strategies discussed, the outcomes achieved, and any recommendations for improving the program or addressing barriers to reducing vacancies. The Department must also provide an annual report to the Governor and legislative education committees summarizing participation, outcomes, and recommendations for expansion or improvement.
The bill would add a new section, § 22.1-70.4, to Title 22.1 of the Code of Virginia and would create a temporary pilot program that expires on July 1, 2029. Its practical effect is to formalize a statewide mentorship structure aimed at helping school divisions with staffing shortages improve teacher hiring and retention through peer-to-peer administrative support and data reporting.
The available legislative context suggests generally favorable treatment of the bill, as it was continued in the Senate Education and Health Committee by a 15-0 vote, indicating no recorded opposition at that stage. The committee history provided does not include detailed debate or amendments, so there is no clear record of major controversy; the bill appears to have been viewed as a targeted workforce-support measure for public education rather than a broader policy dispute.
HB613 would create a new statutory pilot program in Title 22.1 governing teacher recruitment and retention support through superintendent mentorships. It would require the Department of Education, working with the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, to administer the program, establish procedures, collect annual reports from participating mentorship pairs, and submit annual statewide reports to the Governor and legislative education committees. The bill does not directly change teacher licensure, compensation, or local school board authority, but it adds a new reporting and coordination framework for school divisions with high vacancy rates and sunsets the program on July 1, 2029.
The available voting history indicates strong support and little to no opposition, with the bill continued to the next session in Education and Health on a 15-0 vote. That result suggests the concept was broadly acceptable to committee members, likely because it addresses teacher shortages through a collaborative and low-regulatory approach. No committee transcript is provided, so the record does not show any significant negative sentiment or organized resistance.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Based on the bill text, any potential concerns would likely center on the effectiveness of a mentorship-based approach, the administrative burden of reporting and oversight, and whether participation incentives are sufficient to attract superintendents from low-vacancy divisions. However, the available vote record shows unanimous committee support, and there is no evidence in the provided context of disagreement over the program’s structure, sunset date, or reporting requirements.