SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 38G the following section:–

Section 38G¼. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Department”, the department of elementary and secondary education.

“Educator preparation program”, a teacher preparation program approved by the department and offered by a public institution of higher education in the commonwealth.

“Public institution of higher education”, a university or college that is part of the system of public institutions of higher education established in section 5 of chapter 15A.

“Student teacher”, an individual who is: (i) enrolled in a department approved educator preparation program at a public institution of higher education in the commonwealth; and (ii) actively fulfilling student teaching requirements in a public school district under the supervision of a licensed educator.

(b) Each student teacher shall receive a total stipend of $4,500 for the duration of the student teaching placement, payable in 2 equal installments of $2,250 each. The first installment shall be paid by the school district no later than 30 days after the student teacher’s official start date of the placement and the second installment shall be paid by the school district no later than 30 days after the student teacher’s satisfactory completion of the placement.

(c) The stipend required by subsection (b) shall be in addition to any other compensation, scholarship, grant or financial assistance that the student teacher may otherwise be entitled.

(d) Subject to appropriation, the department shall disburse funds to each school district in an amount sufficient to cover the stipend obligations under this section. Each school district shall be responsible for administering the payments to eligible student teachers in accordance with subsection (b).

(e) The department, in consultation with school districts and public colleges and universities, shall promulgate regulations to implement, enforce and oversee the provisions of this section. Such regulations may include, but shall not be limited to requirements for district recordkeeping, reporting obligations, procedures for verifying a student teacher’s enrollment and active status in an educator preparation program and guidelines for recouping payments if a student teacher does not complete the placement.

(f) A student teacher who withdraws, is terminated or otherwise fails to complete the student teaching placement shall forfeit the second installment of the stipend. If the student teacher withdraws or is terminated after receiving the first installment, the school district may seek reimbursement, at the district’s discretion, for the unearned portion of the first installment based on the length of service completed.

(g) On or before a date prescribed by the department, each school district shall submit an annual report to the department that shall include:

(i) the total number of student teachers receiving stipends under this section;

(ii) the aggregate amount of stipends disbursed; and

(iii) any other information the department deems necessary for oversight and evaluation.

(h) The department shall compile and analyze the data from the annual reports submitted under subsection (g) and shall, not later than December 31 of each year, submit a summary report to the chairs of the joint committee on education and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect for the academic term beginning on or after July 1, 2026 and shall apply to all student teaching placements commencing on or after said date.