Minnesota Department of Education document



Legislative Updates for Educator Licenses2017 Legislative Changes2016 Legislative Changes2015 Legislative Changes2014 Legislative Changes2013 Basic Skills Testing Changes2017 Legislative ChangesAll of these items can be located in 2017 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 5 (). Funding and GrantsAlternative Teacher Preparation Grant$750,000 to the Office of Higher Education Grants to establish and administer a program to award grants to eligible alternative teacher preparation programs. Alternative teacher preparation programs receiving a grant must use the grant to get program approval, expand programming, recruit teachers reflecting diversity, or establish professional development programs.Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Program$500,000 to the Office of Higher Education for the existing Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness program. Expands teacher shortage area to include economic development regions where there is a shortage of licensed teachers who reflect the racial/ethnic diversity of students in the region.Statewide Concurrent Enrollment Teacher Training Program$750,000 to expand the Northwest Regional Partnership Program statewide to other voluntary associations of teachers throughout Minnesota. Partnership may contract with a postsecondary institution to establish a continuing education credit program to allow concurrent enrollment teachers to earn graduate credits.Expanded Concurrent Enrollment Grants$750,000 for grants to institutions offering “introduction to teaching” or “introduction to education” college in the schools courses.Rural CTE Consortium Grants:$3 million over the biennium to specific recipients. Defines “rural Career and Technical Education (CTE) consortium” as a voluntary collaboration of a service cooperative and other regional public and private partners that work together to provide career and technical education opportunities within the service cooperative’s multicounty service area. Requires a rural CTE consortium to focus on development of courses and programs that encourage collaboration; develop new CTE programs that focus on the industry sectors that fuel the regional economy; facilitate the development of highly trained and knowledgeable students equipped with technical and workplace skills; improve access to CTE programs for students who attend sparsely populated rural school districts; increase family and student awareness of the availability and benefit of CTE courses; and provide capital start-up costs.Ag Educators$500,000 over the biennium for grants to support school districts to pay agricultural educators for work over the summer with high school students in extended programs. Grants must be matched locally.CUEIn addition to funding current recipients, created a $220,000 competitive grant process for other board approved teacher preparation and alternative teacher preparation programs. Beginning fiscal year 2020 and later, all of the money must be awarded through a competitive process.Paraprofessional Pathway to Teacher Licensure (Grow Your Own)$3 million over the biennium for a competitive grant program to schools with more than 30 percent minority students for board approved nonconventional teacher residency pilot program. The program must provide tuition scholarships or stipends to enable school district employees or community members affiliated with a school district who seek an education license to participate in a nonconventional teacher preparation program. School districts and charter schools may also apply for grants to develop innovative Grow Your Own programs that encourage secondary school students to pursue teaching.Southwest Minnesota State University special education teacher programExpanded participants to include those teaching special education under a variance or as a community expert.Q-CompExpanded the uses of Q-Comp funding to include hiring bonuses/other compensation to provide students with equitable access to teachers who are effective at closing the achievement gap, work in high needs positions, or are hired in hard-to-staff schools, incentives for teachers to obtain credits to teach concurrent enrollment and Grow Your Own programsEducator LicensingProfessional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) (M.S. 122A.06)The omnibus education bill created the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to oversee and implement teacher licensing for the state of Minnesota. Beginning January 1, 2018 the current responsibilities carried out by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Board of Teaching will be consolidated into PELSB. The PELSB will be responsible for (1) developing the teacher’s code of ethics; (2) adopting rules to license public school teachers; (3) adopting rules for and approving teacher preparation programs; (4) issue or deny license applications (5) suspending, revoking, or denying a license based on qualifying grounds; and (6) verification of district and charter school licensure compliance. The legislation passed creating PELSB did not change the duties, governance or the licensing structure of the Board of School Administrators (BOSA). BOSA will need to contract with PELSB to process and issue licenses.New License Types Beginning July 1, 2018, Minnesota will move to a tiered licensure system (M.S. 122A). The following license types will be available starting July 1, 2018:Tier 1 – Individuals and school districts or charter schools may apply for a Tier 1 license. The license is a one year license specific to a district or charter school and specific to a content area. School may request up to 3 renewals, and more if “good cause” is proven, or if in a “shortage area” or for CTE licensure fields. Tier 2 – Individuals and school districts or charter schools may apply for a Tier 2 license. The license is a 2-year license specific to a district or charter school and specific to content area. The license can be renewed up to 3 times or more based on PELSB adopted rules.Tier 3 – Individuals can apply for a Tier 3 license which is a 3-year license specific to a content area. Tier 3 licenses can be renewed an unlimited number of times as long as the individual meets licensure renewal requirements. Tier 4 - Individuals can apply for a Tier 4 license which is a 5-year license, specific to a content area. Tier 4 licenses can be renewed an unlimited number of times as long as the individual meets licensure renewal requirements.Short-Call Substitute License – Tier 1 teachers can qualify as short-call substitutes.Long-Call Substitute License – Tier 3 and 4 teachers can qualify for long-call substitutes. This is also available for retired teachers who hold a Lifetime Substitute license.Other LicensesEarly Childhood Family Education Programs (Article 3, section 25) – Removes the Board of Teaching’s ability to grant a variance for ECFE teachers beginning January 1, 2018.Teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) (Article 3, section 35) - Beginning school year 2016/2017 the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) law eliminated the Highly Qualified requirement. ESSA requires that teachers must be appropriately licensed in accordance to state statutes and rules. This created an issue for ESL teachers who were deemed Highly Qualified because this enabled them to grant content credit even if they were not licensed in that content area. The education bill included a provision that grandfathers ESL teachers to provide instruction in a district or charter school until the end of the 2018-2019 school year who 1. held a K-12 ESL license during the 2016-2017 school year, 2. provided content instruction as a Highly Qualified teacher under the No Child Left Behind Act (reported on the Staff Automated Report as HQ) and 3. taught in a classroom where both state content standards and English Language development standards were satisfiedSpecial Education License Review (Article 3, section 31) – PELSB must conduct a review of all the available teacher of special education licenses and determine the options for cross-categorical licenses for teachers of special education. Academic and Behavioral Strategist Licensure (Article 3, section 32) – By September 1, 2017 the Board of Teaching must amend rules so that Academic and Behavioral Strategist (ABS) licenses do not require an additional full-professional license. Exemption for Career and Technical Education Instructors (M.S. 122A.30) – After June 30, 2020, a person who taught in a part time vocational or career and technical education program may apply for a teaching license.Testing (M.S. 122A.185)Skills exam only required to obtain a Tier 4 license. Content and Pedagogy are required for Tier 3 and 4 licenses.Licensure Denial (M.S. 122A.188)Beginning July 1, 2018 PELSB must inform a candidate within 30 days of receiving a completed application whether the candidate’s application for an initial teaching license or renewal of license has been approved or denied. The terms “completed application” and “denial” are defined in law.Back to Top2016 Legislative ChangesAll of these items can be located in 2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189 (). Please note the Article and Section listed for each area.Teacher License NewsApplicants Trained in Other States The Board of Teaching must issue an out-of-state licensed teacher up to four initial licenses restricted in content or grade levels effective for the 2016-17 through 2018-19 school years. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 4, Subdivision 2, paragraph F)Career and Technical Education (CTE) TeachersThe Board of Teaching must strongly encourage teacher preparation programs to develop alternative pathways for CTE licensure. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 4, Subdivision 10, Paragraph E)MnSCU must provide an alternative preparation program allowing individuals to be certified as CTE instructors. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 21)A career and technical educator licensing advisory task force must recommend changes to the CTE licensure process and how to increase district access to CTE teachers. 2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 23)The Board of Teaching may issue two, one-year waivers to individuals who have a bachelor’s degree, three years’ work history in an area, and are enrolled in an alternative licensure program for CTE instruction. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 4, Subdivision 10, Paragraph E)Legislative Study Group on Teacher LicensureA 12-member legislative study group to review the 2016 Legislative Auditor Report on the Minnesota teacher licensure program was created. A report is to be submitted by February 1, 2017, to the legislature, recommending how to restructure the system. The study group consists of six members from the House and Senate; the education chairs of both bodies are members of the study group. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 24)Montessori TeachersThe MN Board of Teaching may issue a one year full professional license, two times, to a certified Montessori Teacher. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 1, Subdivision 10)New MN Teaching License Renewal ConditionBeginning August 2017, all teachers wishing to renew their license will be required to have an additional one hour of suicide prevention in order to renew a professional five year teaching license. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 1, Subdivision 4, Paragraph N)Grants Related to Education American Indian Teacher Prep GrantsAn additional $270,000 a year has been allocated for this program and also grants the commissioner flexibility to use these funds outside of the currently approved programs if there are funds available. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 17 and Article 25, Section 50)Additional information on American Indian grants can be found in 2015 Minnesota Statutes 122A.63 Grants to Prepare Indian Teachers.Collaborative Urban Educator Grants (CUE)Four institutions currently receiving grants have been allocated a one-time increase for Fiscal Year 2017 for a total of $272,500 per institution ($180,000 previously). Institutions included are Concordia University (St. Paul), University of St. Thomas, Hamline University, and Augsburg College. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 25, Section 47)Grow Your Own GrantAllocates $1.5 million in grants for Fiscal Year 2017 and $1 million per year for later years. Grants are available to a first class city school district or school districts with more than 40% students of color. Districts can provide tuition scholarships or stipends to eligible employees for a non-conventional teacher residency pilot program. Any funds not awarded by June 1, 2017 may be reallocated among the remaining districts. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 25, Section 62, Subdivision 5)Northwest Regional PartnershipA $3 million one-time grant to Lakes Country Service Coop (LCSC), available through Fiscal Year 2019, in cooperation with North West Service Coop (NWSC), and MSU – Moorhead. LCSC, in consultation with NWSC, may develop a continuing education program to allow eligible teachers to attain graduate credits necessary to be qualified to teach secondary courses eligible for postsecondary credit. MSU-Moorhead may develop an online education curriculum to enable eligible secondary teachers to attain graduate credit at a reduced rate.The partnership must provide funding for course development for up to 18 credits in applicable post-secondary subject areas, provide scholarships for eligible teachers, and develop criteria for awarding educator stipends on a per credit basis to incentivize participation in the continuing education program. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 25, Section 58 and Section 62, subdivision 4)Southwest Minnesota State University Special Education Teacher Program GrantAllocates a one-time appropriation of $385,000 to support Minnesota resident special education paraprofessionals attending Southwest Minnesota State University working toward licensure in an online program. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 25, Section 62, Subdivision 17)Teacher Shortage InformationStudent Teachers in Shortage Areas GrantAllocates a one-time $2.8 million grant to be spread out over Fiscal Years 2017-2019. The Commissioner of the Office of Higher Education may provide student teaching stipends, to help off-set expenses while in the student teacher program, for low-income students, enrolled in a Board of Teaching approved teacher preparation program. Grantees must be interested in teaching in a high-needs subject area or region after graduating and receiving their teaching license and meet two additional criteria: must be enrolled in a program that requires at least 12 weeks of student teaching and must demonstrate financial need based upon criteria established by the Commissioner of Higher Education. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 25, Section 59 and Section 62, subdivision 11)Survey of Districts – Teacher Supply and Demand ReportMDE is required to biennially survey districts on the status of teacher shortages, including patterns and shortages in subject areas and report back to the Legislature. The survey must now include data on the access to effective and more diverse teachers who reflect the diversity of the student population. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 24, Section 20)Teacher Shortage Loan ForgivenessOne time $2 million increase to the teacher shortage loan forgiveness program from $200,000 to $2.2 million for Fiscal Year 2017. Any unexpended funds remain available until June 30, 2019. Teachers teaching in a licensure field or in an economic development region with an identified teacher shortage are eligible for up to an annual $1000 of loan forgiveness for up to 5 years. (2016 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 189, Article 1, Sections 13 and 14 and Article 25, Section 43)Back to Top2015 Legislative Changes1st Special Session - E-12 BillInformation can be in the 2015 Minnesota Session Law, 1st Special Session, Chapter 3 (). Skills TestThe Board of Teaching must require candidates to demonstrate a passing score on a board-adopted skills examination. Removes specific references to ACT and SAT as alternatives. Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.09 () allows a qualified applicant who produces documentation of a disability is entitled to receive testing accommodations.Limited/Restricted/Provisional Licenses: Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.09 () allows the Board of Teaching to issue up to four temporary, one-year teaching licenses to an otherwise qualified candidate who has not yet passed a board adopted skills test. Previously, the Board of Teaching could issue three temporary, one-year teaching licenses to an otherwise qualified candidate.At the request of a school district or charter school, the Board of Teaching is also allowed to issue a restricted license to a qualified candidate employed by the district or charter school who has not passed a board adopted skills test.Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.18 () allows the Board of Teaching to grant two-year provisional licenses to a candidate in a field in which they were not previously licensed or in a field where a shortage of licensed teachers exists as determined by the commissioner of education.Licensure via PortfolioMinnesota Statutes, section 122A.21 () requires the Board of Teaching to notify candidates who apply for licensure via portfolio with a determination within 90 days of the Minnesota Department of Education receiving the application. If the application is denied, the Board of Teaching is required to inform the candidate how to revise the portfolio to successfully demonstrate the required competencies. Minnesota Department of Education Educator Licensing division is required to approve or deny the portfolio within 60 days of resubmission.Applicants Trained in Other StatesMinnesota Statutes, section 122A.23 () requires the Board of Teaching to: Establish criteria and streamlined procedures by January 1, 2016, to recognize the experience and credentials of an out-of-state applicant for a Minnesota teaching license. Issue a Minnesota teaching license or temporary teaching license to an applicant who holds at least a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and holds or held an out-of-state teaching license that requires the applicant to successfully complete a teacher preparation program approved by the issuing state, which includes (1) either field specific teaching methods, student teaching, or equivalent experience, or (2) at least two years of teaching experience as the teacher of record in a similar licensure field. Issue a teaching license to an applicant who holds or held an out-of-state teaching license to teach a similar content field and grade levels if the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than two grade levels less than a similar Minnesota license and either (1) has completed field specific teaching methods, student teaching, or equivalent experience, or (2) has at least two years of teaching experience as the teacher of record in a similar licensure field. Must issue up to four one-year temporary teaching licenses, up from three, to an applicant who holds or held an out-of-state teaching license to teach a similar content field and grade levels, where the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than two grade levels less than a similar Minnesota license, but has not successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components required by the Board of Teaching.The Board of Teaching may: Issue a standard license on the basis of teaching experience and examination requirements only. Issue a two-year limited provisional license to an applicant to teach in a shortage area as defined by the commissioner of education. Issue a license if the applicant has attained the additional degrees, credentials, or licenses required in a particular licensure field and the applicant can demonstrate competency by obtaining qualifying scores on the board-adopted skills examination in reading, writing, and mathematics, and on applicable board-adopted rigorous content area and pedagogy examinations. Exemption for Part-time Vocational or Career and Technical Education TeachersMinnesota Statutes, section 122A.30 () states that upon approval of the local employer school board, exempts a person who teaches part-time (80% or less FTE) in a vocational or career and technical program from licensure requirements. This exemption expires June 30, 2020. This exemption only includes vocational or career and technical programs that do not receive CTE Levy or Perkins funding.Grounds for Revocation, Suspension or DenialMinnesota Statutes, section 122A.20 () directs the Board of Teaching and the Board of School Administrators, whichever has jurisdiction, to refuse to issue or renew or to automatically revoke an individual’s teaching license without the right to a hearing upon receiving a certified copy of conviction showing any offense requiring registration as a predatory offender.Back to TopMinnesota Legislature 2014Changes to certain licensing requirements and procedures were authorized by the Legislature during the 2014 session, found in the 2014 Minnesota Session Law Chapter 272 (). The impact of those changes is described below.Nonnative English Speaker Basic Skills Test ExemptionPlease note: the exemption from the Basic Skills tests does not apply to any other teaching field except immersion and world language teachers. Find current options to meet the requirement on the Licensure and Testing Information webpage or on the Board of Teaching Licensure Exams webpage.There are two procedures for nonnative English speakers; one for teachers employed by schools, and one for Minnesota teacher preparation institutions to verify the exemption for their candidates.Teacher and School VerificationNonnative English Speaker MTLE Basic Skills Test Exemption for Elementary/Secondary Immersion and World Language Teacher LicensureEffective July 1, 2014, nonnative English speakers are eligible for an exemption from taking the MTLE Basic Skills tests required for licensure in Minnesota if a school district/charter school verifies they meet the criteria of being a nonnative English speaker. Generally, a “nonnative” speaker is defined as an individual whose first language is not English. The exemption only applies to candidates for licensure teaching in immersion programs in which you provide direct instruction in your native language, or world language programsCandidates teaching ESL or in bilingual/bicultural education are not eligible for the exemption. The license for candidates teaching in elementary or secondary immersion programs will indicate eligibility to teach in only immersion settings; you will not be eligible to teach in regular elementary or secondary settings.To be eligible for the exemption from the Basic Skills tests, you must be in the process of being hired or have been hired by a school district or charter school.If you are a candidate for licensure who qualifies for this exemption you must obtain an official letter from a Minnesota school district on district letterhead that includes an original signature of the Superintendent or director of Human Resources. Photocopied letters are NOT acceptable. The letter should include the following: NameFile Folder Number A statement that the exemption is for either immersion instruction, or world language instruction The letter must be included with your application packet or, if you are teaching on a limited license, mailed to Educator Licensing or submitted in person. Faxed or scanned copies are not acceptable, only original copies.Minnesota Higher Education VerificationNonnative English Speaker MTLE Basic Skills Test Exemption for Elementary/Secondary Immersion and World Language Teacher Licensure.Effective July 1, 2014, Minnesota teacher education completers who are nonnative English speakers may be exempt from taking the Basic Skills test required for licensure if a Minnesota higher education institution verifies they meet the criteria of being a nonnative English speaker. Generally, a “nonnative” speaker is defined as an individual whose first language is not English. The exemption only applies to candidates for licensure who will be teaching in immersion (this does not include bilingual/bicultural education) or world language programs (ESL candidates are not eligible for the exemption). The license for candidates teaching in immersion programs will indicate eligibility to teach in only those settings; they will not be eligible to teach in general elementary or secondary settings.If you are recommending a new candidate for licensure, provide them with a letter on your institution’s letterhead requesting the exemption that must be included as part of their initial application packet.For candidates who are graduates of your institution and have been teaching on a limited license and are now eligible for the exemption, provide the candidate with an official letter that the candidate must mail or deliver to Educator Licensing. The letter should include:NameFile Folder NumberA statement that the exemption is for either immersion instruction, or world language instruction with the licensure field.The institutional recommendation on the application form. ACT Plus Writing or SAT Exemption for Basic Skills TestA passing score on the ACT Plus Writing test or SAT test may be substituted for the Basic Skills Test. Middle-level Licensure Requirement ChangesAll out-of-state applicants for Minnesota licensure in the secondary fields of mathematics, social studies, and communication arts and literature who achieved a 7-12 license are required to meet the requirements for a 5-12 license in Minnesota. They may do so if the applicant has completed a teacher preparation program leading to full licensure in the issuing state, which includes field-specific teaching methods and student teaching or essentially equivalent experience in both middle-level and secondary education.For applicants who have completed teacher preparation program leading to licensure in the issuing state at the secondary level only, temporary licenses may be issued for up to three years to allow time to complete field-specific content, middle-level pedagogy and/or adolescent development. Legislation and Board of Teaching changes allow candidates streamlined opportunities to complete the additional preparation. Information will be published shortly.Expedited processing of teacher licensing applications for military related personnelAn active duty military member, the spouse of an active duty military member, or a veteran who has left service in the two years preceding the date of license or certification application and has confirmation of an honorable or general discharge status, are eligible for expedited processing of a Minnesota teaching license. HYPERLINK \l "_Legislative_Updates_for" Back to Top2013 Legislation: Basic Skills Testing ChangesA new law, found in the 2013 Minnesota Session Law Chapter 116 () which became effective at the end of the recently concluded 2013 legislative session directs the Board of Teaching and Educator Licensing to change certain testing conditions for receiving temporary licenses. Theses temporary licenses do not require passing scores for the Minnesota Teacher Licensing Examinations (MTLE) Basic Skills tests (the Content and Pedagogy testing requirements have not changed).Teachers who have already been issued a one-year license in Minnesota may be granted an additional one-year temporary license for the 2013-2014 school year even if the teacher has not yet passed one or more of the MTLE Basic Skills tests (Math, Reading, Writing). All other licensing requirements and renewal conditions must still be met. These teachers may renew that temporary license for the 2014-2015 school year without again attempting or passing the Basic Skills tests.Teachers applying for a first license in Minnesota who have completed a Minnesota licensure program may be granted a one-year temporary license for the 2013-2014 school year if the teacher has attempted but not yet passed MTLE Basic Skills tests. These teachers may renew that temporary license for the 2014-2015 school year without again attempting or passing the Basic Skills tests.Teachers applying for a first license in Minnesota who completed an out-of-state licensure program may be granted a one-year temporary license for the 2013-2014 school year in order to allow time to attempt and pass the MTLE Basic Skills tests during that year.* A teacher who does not pass the MTLE Basic Skills tests during that year may renew the temporary license for the 2014-2015 school year.Chapter 116 also creates a Teacher Licensure Advisory Task Force. The task force is directed to evaluate the MTLE Basic Skills tests and recommend methods for teacher candidates to demonstrate skills mastery by February 14, 2014. The Board of Teaching must adopt rules by January 1, 2015 reflecting the task force recommendations.While Chapter 116 provides for temporary licenses described above, in order to receive and be granted a full five-year professional license, a candidate must pass all MTLE Basic Skills exams. Candidates seeking full licensure who have not yet attempted the basic skills tests are encouraged to attempt the tests.Note: Passing scores from Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) Praxis I tests taken prior to September 1, 2010, will be accepted if they met Minnesota’s former passing score requirements.Back to Top ................
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