Teacher Externship Program For Science Technology Engineering And Math Disciplines

The bill requires the department of labor and employment (department) to establish a teacher externship program to allow kindergarten through twelfth grade public school teachers (K-12 teachers) to participate in experiential learning opportunities with employers, outside of the school environment, to gain knowledge and expand their curriculum in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines and other disciplines that may be of value to a particular school district.

The department is required to work with the department of education to select appropriate employers to participate in the externship program. Employers may be eligible for a tax credit for participation in the externship program. A K-12 teacher who participates in the externship program may receive compensation from the applicable school district or from the employer providing the externship and may apply for professional development credit and graduate school credits as part of the teacher license renewal requirements.

The director of the division of employment and training in the department is authorized to seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations for allocation to school districts for compensation for teachers who participate in an externship.

The bill requires the department to compile and report data on the externship program on an annual basis.

The bill creates a tax credit for employers that participate in the externship program.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)