The Texas Mentorship Training (TMT) is for any school system looking to bolster teacher retention and effectiveness in order to increase student outcomes. School systems participating in the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership (PREP) Mentorship Program will receive PREP Allotment funding to engage in Pathways 1 and 2 of the TMT. PREP Residency Program Allotment recipients are strong encouraged to have their cooperating (host) teachers engage in Pathway 1 of TMT during the 26-27 school year.

The Texas Mentorship Training (TMT) provides high-quality, research-based training to mentoring educators (mentor, cooperating, or host teachers) and any appropriate district and campus employees who work with or supervise classroom teachers who have less than two years of teaching experience.

The Texas Mentorship Training (TMT) is aligned with state policy, including mentorship policy in TEC §21.458, §21.207, §48.157, and TAC §228f as well as relevant TEA initiatives such as Leadership and Instructional Foundations for Texas (LIFT) Program and the Effective District & Preparation frameworks.

Pathway 1: For mentors, cooperating teachers, and host teachers supporting pre- and early-service teachers.

Pathway 2: For campus and district leaders to sustain mentorship programs.

Yes, the Texas Mentorship Training is designed to provide comprehensive mentorship training and supports to school systems via its Pathways. PREP Mentorship Program mentor teachers and relevant district and campus staff who support or supervise beginning teachers will participate in Pathway 1 (Mentoring Educator) training. District and campus leaders who support or supervise beginning teachers or are integral to the design of a strong mentorship program may participate in Pathway 2 (District & Campus Leader) design sessions.

District leaders should contact an approved training provider via the Training Providers page to get started.

All training is delivered in-person through an approved training provider.

Cohort 1 of the Texas Mentorship Training is anticipated to begin in Spring/Summer 2026.

All training is offered in-person through an approved training provider. Please contact an approved training provider via the Training Providers page for more information.

Participants will have ongoing access to resources, support from approved training providers, and opportunities to collaborate with other mentoring educators and leaders.

Use the Training Providers page to locate and connect with approved trainers in your region.

The Preparing and Retaining Educators Through Partnership (PREP) Mentorship Program provides school systems interested in implementing high-quality, new teacher mentorship programs with funding to:

1) Provide, at minimum, a $1,000 to the mentor teacher (per beginning teacher), 

2) Train all required school system mentorship staff via the Texas Mentorship Training, and 

3) Provide release time for mentor teacher and beginning teacher mentoring activities

Any remaining funds may be used on strategic staffing training. The overarching purpose of this allotment is to increase the effectiveness and retention of beginning teachers across Texas.   

Through PREP Mentorship Program, school systems will engage in the Texas Mentorship Training (TMT) via an approved Texas Mentorship Training provider, who provides high-quality, research-based training to mentor teachers and any appropriate district and campus employees who work with or supervise classroom teachers who have less than two years of teaching experience.

Mentor teachers - support classroom teachers who have less than two years of teaching experience, and who, to the extent practicable, teaches in the same school, subject, and/or grade level of the beginning teachers and completes an agency adopted mentor teacher training program, has at least three years of teaching experience and demonstrates instructional and leadership skills under TEC, §21.458 and §21.907.

District & campus leaders - any appropriate district and campus employees who work with the classroom teacher or supervise the classroom teacher under TEC, §21.458.

School systems interested in participating in the PREP Mentorship Program and TMT will apply via the LASO application process. Visit the LASO webpage for more information on the application process.

Pathway 1 (Mentoring Educator Training): Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2026-27 and Spring 2027 (24-30 total hours) 

Pathway 2 (District & Campus Leader Program Design Sessions): Spring 2026, Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Spring 2027 (15-16 total hours)

Pathway 1: For mentors, cooperating teachers, and host teachers supporting pre- and early-service teachers.

Pathway 2: For campus and district leaders to sustain mentorship programs.

TMT Pathway 2 focuses on providing relevant district & campus leaders support to design and implement strong mentorship programs that are aligned with policy requirements. Design session content addresses release time for mentoring activities. During this session, leaders will explore the concepts of release time and reduced teaching load to identify some attainable strategies for their unique district and campus needs.

For a teacher resident candidate, an educator who is jointly assigned by the EPP and the campus administrator who supports the candidate through co-teaching and coaching during their teacher residency field placement.

The PREP Residency Preservice Program places paid teacher residents in classrooms led by experienced cooperating (host) teachers, allowing candidates to earn enhanced standard teaching certificates while gaining hands-on experience. This model strengthens instructional capacity, improves educator effectiveness, and increases student access to high-quality teaching. School systems participating in the PREP Residency Preservice Program must comply with statutory requirements outlined in Texas Education Code (TEC) §21.902, §21.904, §48.157, which outline residency program standards and requirements and funding provisions.