KRS 157.197: Kentucky Special Education Mentor Program -- Criteria.

(1) The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations to

establish the criteria for the Kentucky Special Education Mentor Program that shall

be implemented by July 1, 1999. The designation of "Kentucky Special Education

Mentor" shall be given to the state's most outstanding and highly skilled persons

who are certified to teach or administer special education and who are willing to

accept assignments in districts whose special education programs are found to be

noncompliant with state o r federal requirements. The assignments shall require the

mentor to:

(a) Work in a district or school on a full -time or part-time basis for a designated

period of time to assist the staff with creating and implementing its special

education improvement pla n as required in KRS 157.224. The mentor shall

have the authority to review and amend decisions previously made by the

district or school staff. If a highly skilled educator under KRS 158.782 is

assigned to the same site as the mentor, they shall share res ponsibilities under

policy of the Department of Education;

(b) Help to increase the effectiveness of the staff, parents, the civic and business

community, and government and private agencies in improving the school's

performance with exceptional students a nd other students at risk of school

failure;

(c) Evaluate and make recommendations on the retention, dismissal, or transfer of

certified staff in a noncompliant district or school;

(d) Recommend up to ten (10) additional work days annually to be paid for by the

Department of Education for personnel in affected schools who work with

exceptional students for planning, working with parents and guardians,

curriculum development, or other activities that will help the district or school

meet the goals of its improvement plan; and

(e) Complete an intensive training program, provided by the Department of

Education and approved by the Kentucky Board of Education, prior to being

assigned to assist a district's or school's staff with creating and implementing

its district or school improvement plan. The training program shall include but

not be limited to instruction in the methods of personnel evaluation, district or

school organization, curriculum, and assessment. The training shall be made

available to local district personnel on a cost recovery basis.

(2) The Kentucky Special Education Mentor Program criteria shall include:

(a) A selection process that shall allow for self nomination, provide for a broad

spectrum of instructional positions, and generate statewide re presentation.

Nominations of qualified special educators who have retired since July 1,

1994, shall be considered. Special education professionals and representatives

of various advocacy and constituent groups shall be included in the

development of the selection process and the review of applicants;

(b) Each recipient shall receive a monetary award of two hundred fifty dollars

($250) when selected and shall also be paid in accordance with his or her

current salary for other program requirements requiring a dditional days of

employment under subsection (1) of this section. The Department of

Education shall be responsible for all expenses incurred as a result of the

Kentucky Special Education Mentor Program, except those expenses

associated with the funding of the position of the person who replaces the

Kentucky Special Education Mentor when that person is assigned to a

noncompliant school or district;

(c) The Kentucky Special Education Mentor assigned to a noncompliant district

or school shall receive a salary supplement of thirty -five percent (35%) of

their base annual salary for each year of service in that capacity. Retired

mentors shall be paid for their rank and experience on the district's salary

schedule plus the salary supplement. The state board shall determine if

reimbursement for vehicle mileage shall be allowed. If the assigned school

achieves the threshold level in the next biennial review, the mentor shall

receive his or her portion of the reward due to the entire staff calculated on his

or her base salary regardless of decisions made by the school staff under KRS

158.6455;

(d) The Kentucky Special Education Mentor shall be granted professional leave

under KRS 161.770 for up to two (2) years if determined by the state board to

be necessary. Kentucky Special Education Mentors shall not lose any

employee benefits as a result of their special assignments to a school or

district; and

(e) A Kentucky Special Education Mentor shall not be assigned to a school or to a

district assignment in the district in which the educator is employed.