This bill does the following.
1. It requires the Commissioner of Education to appoint a rural education coordinator to increase the recruitment of teachers in rural areas, support and improve access to teacher
43 preparation programs for persons willing to teach in rural areas and otherwise support
44 educational needs in rural areas.
2. It directs the Department of Education to develop and implement a pilot program to provide up to 20 financial grants each year in school years 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-
2026 and 2026-2027 to support qualified students that agree to student teach in rural school administrative units.
3. It directs the department to develop and implement a one-time program to provide up to 15 financial stipends to qualified teachers in rural school administrative units to support the teachers' continuing education.