(a) The Commissioner of Education, the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the dean of the Neag School of Education at The University of Connecticut shall jointly develop a plan to assist local and regional boards of education in promoting the teaching profession as a career option to students in high school. Such plan shall include, but need not be limited to, a means for local and regional boards of education to develop partnerships with educator preparation programs in the state, and the creation of counseling programs directed to high school students in order to inform them about and recruit them to the teaching profession.

(b) Not later than September 1, 2021, the Department of Education shall distribute to local and regional boards of education information that promotes the teaching profession, including materials relating to educator preparation programs and alternative route to certification programs offered in the state, for school counselors and students. The department shall also make such information available on its Internet web site.