Sec. 11. The department shall collaborate with nonprofit entities, the commission for higher education, and state educational institutions to develop and implement initiatives focusing on the recruitment and retention of qualified educators from underrepresented populations. The initiatives should include, but are not limited to, the following activities:

(1) Development of a recruitment plan for underrepresented and teacher shortage areas.

(2) Production of a web site as a communication tool that provides resource information and scholarship opportunities.

(3) Development of a research agenda and network support system at each state educational institution to remove barriers and address challenges faced by students of underrepresented populations in order to recruit, retain, and graduate these students.

As added by P.L.10-2009, SEC.1.