Instructional support partners

For the school year commencing July 1, 2026, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education may hire or designate an existing employee to serve as an instructional support partner in each school or in each school building under the jurisdiction of such board. An instructional support partner shall (1) alleviate the administrative burden of teachers, including, but not limited to, the administrative burden of the individualized education program process, scheduling of and taking minutes during planning and placement team meetings, attending professional development trainings, attending trainings for individualized interventions for students, attending testing, and serving as a designated staff member for the purposes of specialized responsibilities, (2) assist school-based personnel in improving the delivery and administration of the individualized education program process, (3) collaborate with parents and school personnel regarding instructional decision-making for students with disabilities, (4) pursue and attend trainings and professional development on student interventions as a representative of the school or school building, and plan and deliver professional learning activities to staff, parents and others to increase achievement for students with disabilities on the basis of such training, and (5) consult with school-based instructional staff regarding individualized education program development and writing, extended school year, behavioral interventions and transition plans for students with disabilities. Any person hired or designated to serve as the instructional support partner for the school or school building shall spend at least fifty per cent of their time performing the responsibilities described in this section.