Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House Bill HF2741 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to education finance; modifying teacher licensure provisions; transferring
3	3	1.3 grant programs from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to
4	4	1.4 the Department of Education; requiring reports; appropriating money; amending
5	5	1.5 Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 120B.117, subdivision 4; 120B.363, subdivisions
6	6	1.6 1, 2; 122A.09, subdivision 9; 122A.092, subdivisions 2, 5; 122A.181, subdivision
7	7	1.7 3; 122A.635; 122A.70, subdivisions 2, 3, 5, 5a, 6; 136A.1276, subdivision 4.
8	8	1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
9	9	1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.117, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
10	10	1.10 Subd. 4.Reporting.The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
11	11	1.11Department of Education must collaborate with the Department of Education Professional
12	12	1.12Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the Office of Higher Education to publish a
13	13	1.13summary report of each of the programs they administer and any other programs receiving
14	14	1.14state appropriations that have or include an explicit purpose of increasing the racial and
15	15	1.15ethnic diversity of the state's teacher workforce to more closely reflect the diversity of
16	16	1.16students. The report must include programs under sections 122A.59, 122A.63, 122A.635,
17	17	1.17122A.70, 122A.73, 124D.09, 124D.861, 136A.1274, 136A.1276, and 136A.1791, along
18	18	1.18with any other programs or initiatives that receive state appropriations to address the shortage
19	19	1.19of teachers of color and American Indian teachers. The board commissioner must, in
20	20	1.20coordination with the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the Office
21	21	1.21of Higher Education and Department of Education, provide policy and funding
22	22	1.22recommendations related to state-funded programs to increase the recruitment, preparation,
23	23	1.23licensing, hiring, and retention of racially and ethnically diverse teachers and the state's
24	24	1.24progress toward meeting or exceeding the goals of this section. The report must include
25	25	1.25recommendations for state policy and funding needed to achieve the goals of this section,
26	26	1Section 1.
27	27	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25
28	28	State of Minnesota
29	29	This Document can be made available
30	30	in alternative formats upon request
31	31	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
32	32	H. F. No. 2741
33	33	NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
34	34	Authored by Hill03/24/2025
35	35	The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Education Finance 2.1plans for sharing the report and activities of grant recipients, and opportunities among grant
36	36	2.2recipients of various programs to share effective practices with each other. The initial report
37	37	2.3must also include a recommendation of whether a state advisory council should be established
38	38	2.4to address the shortage of racially and ethnically diverse teachers and what the composition
39	39	2.5and charge of such an advisory council would be if established. The board commissioner
40	40	2.6must consult with the Indian Affairs Council and other ethnic councils along with other
41	41	2.7community partners, including students of color and American Indian students, in developing
42	42	2.8the report. The board commissioner must submit the report to the chairs and ranking minority
43	43	2.9members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over education and higher education
44	44	2.10policy and finance by November 3, 2025, for the initial report, and by November 3 each
45	45	2.11even-numbered year thereafter. The report must be available to the public on the board's
46	46	2.12commissioner's website.
47	47	2.13 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.363, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
48	48	2.14 Subdivision 1.Rulemaking.The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
49	49	2.15commissioner must adopt rules to implement a statewide credential for education
50	50	2.16paraprofessionals who assist a licensed teacher in providing student instruction. Any
51	51	2.17paraprofessional holding this credential or working in a local school district after meeting
52	52	2.18a state-approved local assessment is considered to be highly qualified under federal law.
53	53	2.19Under this subdivision, the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, in
54	54	2.20consultation with the commissioner, must adopt qualitative criteria for approving local
55	55	2.21assessments that include an evaluation of a paraprofessional's knowledge of reading, writing,
56	56	2.22and math and the paraprofessional's ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing,
57	57	2.23and math. The commissioner must approve or disapprove local assessments using these
58	58	2.24criteria. The commissioner must make the criteria available to the public.
59	59	2.25 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.363, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
60	60	2.26 Subd. 2.Training possibilities.In adopting rules under subdivision 1, the board
61	61	2.27commissioner must consider including provisions that provide training in: students'
62	62	2.28characteristics; teaching and learning environment; academic instruction skills; student
63	63	2.29behavior; and ethical practices.
64	64	2.30 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.09, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
65	65	2.31 Subd. 9.Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules.(a)
66	66	2.32The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules subject to the
67	67	2.33provisions of chapter 14 to implement sections 120B.363, 122A.05 to 122A.09, 122A.092,
68	68	2Sec. 4.
69	69	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 3.1122A.16, 122A.17, 122A.18, 122A.181, 122A.182, 122A.183, 122A.184, 122A.185,
70	70	3.2122A.187, 122A.188, 122A.19, 122A.20, 122A.21, 122A.23, 122A.26, 122A.28, 122A.29,
71	71	3.3and 124D.72.
72	72	3.4 (b) The board must adopt rules relating to fields of licensure and grade levels that a
73	73	3.5licensed teacher may teach, including a process for granting permission to a licensed teacher
74	74	3.6to teach in a field that is different from the teacher's field of licensure without change to the
75	75	3.7teacher's license tier level.
76	76	3.8 (c) If a rule adopted by the board is in conflict with a session law or statute, the law or
77	77	3.9statute prevails. Terms adopted in rule must be clearly defined and must not be construed
78	78	3.10to conflict with terms adopted in statute or session law.
79	79	3.11 (d) The board must include a description of a proposed rule's probable effect on teacher
80	80	3.12supply and demand in the board's statement of need and reasonableness under section 14.131.
81	81	3.13 (e) The board must adopt rules only under the specific statutory authority.
82	82	3.14 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.092, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
83	83	3.15 Subd. 2.Requirements for board approval.Teacher preparation programs must
84	84	3.16demonstrate the following to obtain board approval:
85	85	3.17 (1) the program has implemented a research-based, results-oriented curriculum that
86	86	3.18focuses on the skills teachers need in order to be effective;
87	87	3.19 (2) the program provides a student teaching program;
88	88	3.20 (3) the program demonstrates effectiveness based on proficiency of graduates in
89	89	3.21demonstrating attainment of program outcomes;
90	90	3.22 (4) the program includes a common core of teaching knowledge and skills. This common
91	91	3.23core shall meet the standards developed by the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and
92	92	3.24Support Consortium in its 1992 model standards for beginning teacher licensing and
93	93	3.25development. Amendments to standards adopted under this clause are subject to chapter
94	94	3.2614. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board shall report annually to the
95	95	3.27education committees of the legislature on the performance of teacher candidates on common
96	96	3.28core assessments of knowledge and skills under this clause during the most recent school
97	97	3.29year;
98	98	3.30 (5) the program includes instruction on the knowledge and skills needed to provide
99	99	3.31appropriate instruction to English learners to support and accelerate their academic literacy,
100	100	3Sec. 5.
101	101	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 4.1including oral academic language and achievement in content areas in a regular classroom
102	102	4.2setting; and
103	103	4.3 (6) the program includes culturally competent training in instructional strategies consistent
104	104	4.4with section 120B.30, subdivision 8.
105	105	4.5 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.092, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
106	106	4.6 Subd. 5.Reading strategies.(a) A teacher preparation provider approved by the
107	107	4.7Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to prepare persons for classroom
108	108	4.8teacher licensure must include in its teacher preparation programs evidence-based best
109	109	4.9practices in reading, consistent with sections 120B.118 to 120B.124, including instruction
110	110	4.10on phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading
111	111	4.11comprehension. Instruction on reading must enable the licensure candidate to teach reading
112	112	4.12in the candidate's content areas. Teacher candidates must be instructed in using students'
113	113	4.13native languages as a resource in creating effective differentiated instructional strategies
114	114	4.14for English learners developing literacy skills. A teacher preparation provider also must
115	115	4.15prepare early childhood and elementary teacher candidates for Tier 3 and Tier 4 teaching
116	116	4.16licenses under sections 122A.183 and 122A.184, respectively.
117	117	4.17 (b) Board-approved teacher preparation programs for teachers of elementary education
118	118	4.18must require instruction in applying evidence-based, structured literacy reading instruction
119	119	4.19programs that:
120	120	4.20 (1) teach students to read using foundational knowledge, practices, and strategies
121	121	4.21consistent with sections 120B.118 to 120B.124, with emphasis on mastery of foundational
122	122	4.22reading skills so that students achieve continuous progress in reading; and
123	123	4.23 (2) teach specialized instruction in reading strategies, interventions, and remediations
124	124	4.24that enable students of all ages and proficiency levels, including multilingual learners and
125	125	4.25students demonstrating characteristics of dyslexia, to become proficient readers.
126	126	4.26 (c) Board-approved teacher preparation programs for teachers of elementary education,
127	127	4.27early childhood education, special education, and reading intervention must include
128	128	4.28instruction on dyslexia, as defined in section 125A.01, subdivision 2. Teacher preparation
129	129	4.29programs may consult with the Department of Education, including the dyslexia specialist
130	130	4.30under section 120B.122, to develop instruction under this paragraph. Instruction on dyslexia
131	131	4.31must be modeled on practice standards of the International Dyslexia Association, and must
132	132	4.32address:
133	133	4.33 (1) the nature and symptoms of dyslexia;
134	134	4Sec. 6.
135	135	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 5.1 (2) resources available for students who show characteristics of dyslexia;
136	136	5.2 (3) evidence-based instructional strategies for students who show characteristics of
137	137	5.3dyslexia, including the structured literacy approach; and
138	138	5.4 (4) outcomes of intervention and lack of intervention for students who show
139	139	5.5characteristics of dyslexia.
140	140	5.6 (d) Nothing in this section limits the authority of a school district to select a school's
141	141	5.7reading program or curriculum.
142	142	5.8 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.181, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
143	143	5.9 Subd. 3.Term of license and renewal.(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and
144	144	5.10Standards Board must issue an initial Tier 1 license for a term of one year. A Tier 1 license
145	145	5.11may be renewed subject to paragraphs (b) and (c).
146	146	5.12 (b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must renew a Tier 1
147	147	5.13license if:
148	148	5.14 (1) the district or charter school requesting the renewal demonstrates that it has posted
149	149	5.15the teacher position but was unable to hire an acceptable teacher with a Tier 2, 3, or 4 license
150	150	5.16for the position;
151	151	5.17 (2) the teacher holding the Tier 1 license took a content examination in accordance with
152	152	5.18section 122A.185 and submitted the examination results to the teacher's employing district
153	153	5.19or charter school within one year of the board approving the request for the initial Tier 1
154	154	5.20license;
155	155	5.21 (3) (2) the teacher holding the Tier 1 license participated in cultural competency training
156	156	5.22consistent with section 120B.30, subdivision 8, within one year of the board approving the
157	157	5.23request for the initial Tier 1 license; and
158	158	5.24 (4) (3) the teacher holding the Tier 1 license met the mental illness training renewal
159	159	5.25requirement under section 122A.187, subdivision 6.
160	160	5.26The requirement in clause (2) does not apply to a teacher that teaches a class in a career and
161	161	5.27technical education or career pathways course of study.
162	162	5.28 (c) A Tier 1 license must not be renewed more than three times, unless the requesting
163	163	5.29district or charter school can show good cause for additional renewals. A Tier 1 license
164	164	5.30issued to teach (1) a class or course in a career and technical education or career pathway
165	165	5.31course of study, or (2) in a shortage area, as defined in section 122A.06, subdivision 6, may
166	166	5.32be renewed without limitation.
167	167	5Sec. 7.
168	168	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 6.1 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.635, is amended to read:
169	169	6.2 122A.635 COLLABORATIVE URBAN AND GREATER MINNESOTA
170	170	6.3EDUCATORS OF COLOR GRANT PROGRAM.
171	171	6.4 Subdivision 1.Establishment.The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
172	172	6.5Board Department of Education must award competitive grants to increase the number of
173	173	6.6teacher candidates who are of color or who are American Indian, complete teacher preparation
174	174	6.7programs, and meet the requirements for a Tier 3 license under section 122A.183. Eligibility
175	175	6.8for a grant under this section is limited to public or private higher education institutions that
176	176	6.9offer a teacher preparation program approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and
177	177	6.10Standards Board.
178	178	6.11 Subd. 2.Competitive grants.(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
179	179	6.12Board commissioner must award competitive grants to a variety of higher education
180	180	6.13institution types under this section. The board commissioner must require an applicant
181	181	6.14institution to submit a plan describing how it would use grant funds to increase the number
182	182	6.15of teachers who are of color or who are American Indian, and must award grants based on
183	183	6.16the following criteria, listed in descending order of priority. To the extent practicable, the
184	184	6.17commissioner must award grants based on the following criteria:
185	185	6.18 (1) program outcomes, including graduation or program completion rates and licensure
186	186	6.19recommendation rates for candidates who are of color or who are American Indian compared
187	187	6.20to all candidates enrolled in a teacher preparation program at the institution and, for each
188	188	6.21outcome measure, the number of teacher candidates who are of color or who are American
189	189	6.22Indian;
190	190	6.23 (2) the extent to which an institution's plan is clear in describing how the institution
191	191	6.24would use grant funds for implementing explicit research-based practices to provide
192	192	6.25programmatic support to teacher candidates who are of color or who are American Indian.
193	193	6.26Plans for grant funds may include:
194	194	6.27 (i) recruiting more racially and ethnically diverse candidates for admission to teacher
195	195	6.28preparation programs;
196	196	6.29 (ii) providing differentiated advising, mentoring, or other supportive community-building
197	197	6.30activities in addition to what the institution provides to all candidates enrolled in the
198	198	6.31institution;
199	199	6.32 (iii) providing academic tutoring or support to help teacher candidates pass required
200	200	6.33assessments; and
201	201	6Sec. 8.
202	202	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 7.1 (iv) providing for program staffing expenses;
203	203	7.2 (3) an institution's plan to provide direct financial assistance as scholarships or stipends
204	204	7.3within the allowable dollar range determined by the board under subdivision 3, paragraph
205	205	7.4(b), to teacher candidates who are of color or who are American Indian, not to exceed $5,000
206	206	7.5per academic year for each candidate. The purpose of direct financial assistance is to provide
207	207	7.6cost of attendance financial assistance to candidates matriculating through the licensure
208	208	7.7program if they demonstrate financial need;
209	209	7.8 (4) whether the institution has previously received a competitive grant under this section
210	210	7.9and has demonstrated positive outcomes from the use of grant funds for efforts helping
211	211	7.10teacher candidates who are of color or who are American Indian to enroll in and successfully
212	212	7.11complete teacher preparation programs and be recommended for licensure;
213	213	7.12 (5) geographic diversity among the applicant institutions. In order to expand the number
214	214	7.13of grant recipients throughout the state, whenever there is at least a 20 percent increase in
215	215	7.14the base appropriation for this grant program, the board must prioritize awarding grants to
216	216	7.15institutions outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. If the board awards a grant based
217	217	7.16on the criteria in paragraph (a) to a program that has not previously received funding, the
218	218	7.17board must thereafter give priority to the program equivalent to other programs that have
219	219	7.18received grants and demonstrated positive outcomes To the extent there are sufficient
220	220	7.19applications, and to the extent practicable, the commissioner must award an equal number
221	221	7.20of grants between applicants in greater Minnesota and those in the seven-county metropolitan
222	222	7.21area; and
223	223	7.22 (6) the percentage of racially and ethnically diverse teacher candidates enrolled in the
224	224	7.23institution teacher preparation program compared to: the aggregate percentage of students
225	225	7.24of color and American Indian students enrolled in the institution, regardless of major.
226	226	7.25 (i) the aggregate percentage of students of color and American Indian students enrolled
227	227	7.26in the institution, regardless of major; and
228	228	7.27 (ii) the percentage of underrepresented racially and ethnically diverse teachers in the
229	229	7.28economic development region of the state where the institution is located and where a
230	230	7.29shortage of diverse teachers exists, as reported under section 122A.091, subdivision 5.
231	231	7.30 (b) The board commissioner must not penalize an applicant institution in the grant review
232	232	7.31process for using grant funds only to provide direct financial support to teacher candidates
233	233	7.32if that is the institution's priority and the institution uses other resources to provide
234	234	7.33programmatic support to candidates.
235	235	7Sec. 8.
236	236	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 8.1 (c) The board commissioner must determine award amounts for development,
237	237	8.2maintenance, or expansion of programs based only on the degree to which applicants meet
238	238	8.3the criteria in this subdivision, the number of candidates who are of color or who are
239	239	8.4American Indian supported by an applicant program, and funds available.
240	240	8.5 (d) The board must determine grant awards in part by multiplying the number of teacher
241	241	8.6candidates to be provided direct financial assistance by the average amount the institution
242	242	8.7proposes per candidate that is within the allowable dollar range. After assessing an
243	243	8.8institution's adherence to grant criteria and funds available, the board may grant an institution
244	244	8.9a lower average amount per candidate and the institution may decide to award less per
245	245	8.10candidate or provide financial assistance to fewer candidates within the allowable range.
246	246	8.11Additionally, an institution may use up to 25 percent of the awarded grant funds to provide
247	247	8.12programmatic support as described in paragraph (a), clause (3). If the board does not award
248	248	8.13an applicant institution's full request, the board must allow the institution to modify how it
249	249	8.14uses grant funds to maximize program outcomes consistent with the requirements of this
250	250	8.15section. The commissioner must allow an institution to use up to 25 percent of the awarded
251	251	8.16grant funds to provide programmatic support for the teacher candidates receiving financial
252	252	8.17support.
253	253	8.18 Subd. 3.Grant program administration.(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and
254	254	8.19Standards Board may enter into an interagency agreement with the Office of Higher
255	255	8.20Education. The agreement may include a transfer of funds to the Office of Higher Education
256	256	8.21to help establish and administer the competitive grant process. The board must award grants
257	257	8.22to institutions located in various economic development regions throughout the state, but
258	258	8.23The department must not predetermine the number of institutions to be awarded grants
259	259	8.24under this section or set a limit for the amount that any one institution may receive as part
260	260	8.25of the competitive grant application process.
261	261	8.26 (b) The board must establish a standard allowable dollar range for the amount of direct
262	262	8.27financial assistance an applicant institution may provide to each candidate. To determine
263	263	8.28the range, the board may collect de-identified data from institutions that received a grant
264	264	8.29during the previous grant period and calculate the average scholarship amount awarded to
265	265	8.30all candidates across all institutions using the most recent fiscal year data available. The
266	266	8.31calculation may be used to determine a scholarship range that is no more than 25 percent
267	267	8.32of this amount and no less than half the average of this amount. The purpose of direct
268	268	8.33financial assistance is to assist candidates matriculating through completing licensure
269	269	8.34programs if they demonstrate financial need after considering other grants and scholarships
270	270	8.35provided.
271	271	8Sec. 8.
272	272	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 9.1 (c) (b) All grants must be awarded by August 15 of the fiscal year in which the grants
273	273	9.2are to be used. The deadline must be extended if changes to the grant program or
274	274	9.3appropriation impact the timeline for grant awards. An institution that receives a grant under
275	275	9.4this section may use the grant funds over a two- up to a four-year period to sustain support
276	276	9.5for teacher candidates at any stage from recruitment and program admission to graduation
277	277	9.6and licensure application. For grantees who receive multiple awards that overlap in the same
278	278	9.7academic years, the maximum combined total of direct financial assistance that an institution
279	279	9.8may provide to the same teacher candidate in the same academic year is $10,000.
280	280	9.9 Subd. 4.Report.(a) By August 15 of each year, an institution awarded a grant under
281	281	9.10this section must prepare for the board commissioner a detailed report regarding the
282	282	9.11expenditure of grant funds, including the amounts used to recruit, retain, and support teacher
283	283	9.12candidates of color or American Indian teacher candidates to complete programs and be
284	284	9.13recommended for licensure. The report must include:
285	285	9.14 (1) the total number of teacher candidates of color and American Indian teacher candidates
286	286	9.15who:
287	287	9.16 (i) are enrolled in the institution;
288	288	9.17 (ii) are supported by grant funds with direct financial assistance during the academic
289	289	9.18reporting year;
290	290	9.19 (iii) are supported with other programmatic supports;
291	291	9.20 (iv) are recruited and newly admitted to a licensure program;
292	292	9.21 (v) are enrolled in a licensure program;
293	293	9.22 (vi) have completed a licensure program; and
294	294	9.23 (vii) were recommended for licensure in the field for which they were prepared;
295	295	9.24 (2) the total number of teacher candidates of color or American Indian teacher candidates
296	296	9.25at each stage from program admission to licensure recommendation as a percentage of all
297	297	9.26candidates seeking the same licensure at the institution; and
298	298	9.27 (3) a brief narrative describing the successes and challenges of efforts proposed in the
299	299	9.28grant application to support candidates with grant funds, and lessons learned for future
300	300	9.29efforts.
301	301	9.30 (b) By November 1 of each year, the board commissioner must post a report on its
302	302	9.31website summarizing the activities and outcomes of grant recipients and results that promote
303	303	9.32sharing of effective practices and lessons learned among grant recipients.
304	304	9Sec. 8.
305	305	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 10.1 Subd. 5.Positions transferred.All classified and unclassified positions associated with
306	306	10.2the administration of grant programs being transferred to the Department of Education under
307	307	10.3this section are transferred with their incumbents in accordance with section 15.039,
308	308	10.4subdivision 7, except as otherwise provided in section 122A.07.
309	309	10.5 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.70, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
310	310	10.6 Subd. 2.Board Grants.(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
311	311	10.7Department of Education must make grant application forms available to sites interested in
312	312	10.8developing, sustaining, or expanding a mentorship program.
313	313	10.9 (b) The following applicants are eligible for a program grant:
314	314	10.10 (1) a school district, charter school, or cooperative unit, on behalf of its participating
315	315	10.11school sites;
316	316	10.12 (2) a Tribal contract school;
317	317	10.13 (3) a coalition of teachers; and
318	318	10.14 (4) a higher education institution;
319	319	10.15 (5) a nonprofit organization;
320	320	10.16 (6) a professional organization; and
321	321	10.17 (4) (7) a coalition of two or more applicants that are individually eligible for a grant.
322	322	10.18A higher education institution, professional organization, or nonprofit organization may
323	323	10.19must partner with an eligible grant applicant but is not eligible as a sole applicant for grant
324	324	10.20funds a school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Tribal contract school, or coalition
325	325	10.21of teachers to apply for a grant.
326	326	10.22 (c) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, in consultation with the
327	327	10.23teacher mentoring task force, commissioner of education must approve or disapprove the
328	328	10.24applications. To the extent possible, the approved applications must reflect effective
329	329	10.25mentoring, professional development, and retention components, and be geographically
330	330	10.26distributed throughout the state. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
331	331	10.27must encourage the selected sites to consider the use of its assessment procedures.
332	332	10.28Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.70, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
333	333	10.29 Subd. 3.Criteria for selection.(a) At a minimum, Applicants for grants under
334	334	10.30subdivision 2 must express commitment to:
335	335	10Sec. 10.
336	336	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 11.1 (1) allow staff participation;
337	337	11.2 (2) assess skills of both beginning and mentor teachers;
338	338	11.3 (3) provide appropriate in-service to needs identified in the assessment;
339	339	11.4 (4) provide leadership to the effort;
340	340	11.5 (5) cooperate with higher education institutions or teacher educators;
341	341	11.6 (6) provide facilities and other resources;
342	342	11.7 (7) share findings, materials, and techniques with other school districts; and
343	343	11.8 (8) retain teachers of color and teachers who are American Indian.
344	344	11.9 (b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board commissioner must give
345	345	11.10priority to applications to fund programs to induct, mentor, and retain Tier 2 or Tier 3
346	346	11.11teachers who are of color or who are American Indian, and Tier 2 or Tier 3 teachers in
347	347	11.12licensure shortage areas within the applicant's economic development region.
348	348	11.13Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.70, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
349	349	11.14 Subd. 5.Program implementation.A grant recipient may use grant funds on
350	350	11.15implementing activities over a period of time up to 24 months. New and expanding
351	351	11.16mentorship sites that receive a board grant under subdivision 2 to design, develop, implement,
352	352	11.17and evaluate their program must participate in activities that support program development
353	353	11.18and implementation.
354	354	11.19Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.70, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
355	355	11.20 Subd. 5a.Grant program administration.The Professional Educator Licensing and
356	356	11.21Standards Board commissioner may enter into an interagency agreement with the Office of
357	357	11.22Higher Education or the Department of Education Professional Educator Licensing and
358	358	11.23Standards Board. The agreement may include a transfer of funds to the Office of Higher
359	359	11.24Education or the Department of Education Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
360	360	11.25Board to help administer the competitive grant process.
361	361	11.26Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.70, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
362	362	11.27 Subd. 6.Report.By September 30 of each year after receiving a grant, recipients must
363	363	11.28submit a report to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board on program
364	364	11.29efforts that describes mentoring and induction activities and assesses the impact of these
365	365	11.30programs on teacher effectiveness and retention. The board commissioner must publish a
366	366	11Sec. 13.
367	367	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 12.1summary report for the public and submit the report to the committees of the legislature
368	368	12.2with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education policy and finance in
369	369	12.3accordance with section 3.302 by November 30 of each even-numbered year.
370	370	12.4 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1276, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
371	371	12.5 Subd. 4.Report.An alternative teacher preparation program receiving a grant under
372	372	12.6this section must submit a report to the commissioner and the Professional Educator Licensing
373	373	12.7and Standards Board on the grantee's ability to fill teacher shortage areas and positively
374	374	12.8impact student achievement where data are available and do not identify individual teachers.
375	375	12.9A grant recipient must submit the report required under this subdivision by January 31,
376	376	12.102018, and each even-numbered subsequent year thereafter this particular grant receives
377	377	12.11allocated funding. The report must include disaggregated data regarding:
378	378	12.12 (1) the racial and ethnic diversity of teachers and teacher candidates licensed through
379	379	12.13the program; and
380	380	12.14 (2) program participant placement.
381	381	12.15Sec. 15. TRANSFER OF GRANT ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF.
382	382	12.16 Subdivision 1.Transfer of contracts, obligations, and unexpended funds.All contracts,
383	383	12.17obligations, and unexpended funds associated with the administration of grant programs
384	384	12.18under Minnesota Statutes, sections 122A.635 and 122A.70, are transferred from the
385	385	12.19Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to the Department of Education
386	386	12.20pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 15.039, subdivisions 5, 5a, and 6.
387	387	12.21 Subd. 2.Transfer of staff; protections; applicability of collective bargaining
388	388	12.22agreements.(a) Personnel relating to the administration of grant programs under Minnesota
389	389	12.23Statutes, sections 122A.635 and 122A.70, with the Professional Educator Licensing and
390	390	12.24Standards Board may be transferred to the Department of Education beginning August 1,
391	391	12.252025, with 30 days notice from the commissioner of management and budget and after
392	392	12.26approval by the commissioner.
393	393	12.27 (b) The following protections apply to employees who are transferred to the department
394	394	12.28from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to administer grant programs
395	395	12.29under Minnesota Statutes, sections 122A.635 and 122A.70:
396	396	12.30 (1) no transferred employee shall have their employment status and job classification
397	397	12.31altered as a result of the transfer;
398	398	12Sec. 15.
399	399	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 13.1 (2) transferred employees who were represented by an exclusive representative prior to
400	400	13.2the transfer shall continue to be represented by the same exclusive representative after the
401	401	13.3transfer;
402	402	13.4 (3) any applicable collective bargaining agreements with exclusive representatives shall
403	403	13.5continue in full force and effect for transferred employees after the transfer;
404	404	13.6 (4) when an employee in a temporary unclassified position is transferred to the
405	405	13.7department, the total length of time that the employee has served in the appointment shall
406	406	13.8include all time served in the appointment at the transferring agency and the time served in
407	407	13.9the appointment at the department. An employee in a temporary unclassified position who
408	408	13.10was hired by a transferring agency through an open competitive selection process in
409	409	13.11accordance with a policy enacted by the commissioner of management and budget is
410	410	13.12considered to have been hired through that selection process after the transfer; and
411	411	13.13 (5) the state must meet and negotiate with the exclusive representatives of the transferred
412	412	13.14employees about any proposed changes affecting or relating to the transferred employees'
413	413	13.15terms and conditions of employment to the extent that the proposed changes are not addressed
414	414	13.16in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
415	415	13.17 Subd. 3.Future transfer.(a) If the state transfers ownership or control of any facilities,
416	416	13.18services, or operations of the department related to the administration of grant programs
417	417	13.19under Minnesota Statutes, sections 122A.635 and 122A.70, to another private or public
418	418	13.20entity by subcontract, sale, assignment, lease, or other transfer, the state must require as a
419	419	13.21written condition of the transfer of ownership or control the following:
420	420	13.22 (1) employees who perform work in the facilities, services, or operations related to the
421	421	13.23administration of grant programs under Minnesota Statutes, sections 122A.635 and 122A.70
422	422	13.24must be offered employment with the entity acquiring ownership or control before the entity
423	423	13.25offers employment to any individual who was not employed by the transferring agency at
424	424	13.26the time of the transfer; and
425	425	13.27 (2) the wage and benefit standards of the transferred employees must not be reduced by
426	426	13.28the entity acquiring ownership or control through the expiration of the collective bargaining
427	427	13.29agreement in effect at the time of the transfer or for a period of two years after the transfer,
428	428	13.30whichever is longer.
429	429	13.31 (b) There is no liability on the part of, and no cause of action arises against, the state of
430	430	13.32Minnesota or its officers or agents for any action or inaction of any entity acquiring ownership
431	431	13.33or control of any facilities, services, or operations of the department related to the
432	432	13.34administration of grant programs under Minnesota Statutes, sections 122A.635 and 122A.70.
433	433	13Sec. 15.
434	434	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 14.1 Sec. 16. APPROPRIATIONS; DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
435	435	14.2 Subdivision 1.Department of Education.The sums indicated in this section are
436	436	14.3appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
437	437	14.4designated.
438	438	14.5 Subd. 2.Collaborative urban and greater Minnesota educators of color grants.(a)
439	439	14.6For collaborative urban and greater Minnesota educators of color competitive grants under
440	440	14.7Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.635:
441	441	2026.....5,440,00014.8 $
442	442	2027.....5,440,00014.9 $
443	443	14.10 (b) The commissioner may retain up to $100,000 of the appropriation in each year to
444	444	14.11monitor and administer the grant program.
445	445	14.12 (c) Any balance remaining in fiscal year 2026 is available in fiscal year 2027.
446	446	14.13 Subd. 3.Mentoring, induction, and retention incentive program grants for teachers
447	447	14.14of color.(a) To develop and expand mentoring, induction, and retention programs designed
448	448	14.15for teachers of color or American Indian teachers under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.70:
449	449	2026.....4,500,00014.16 $
450	450	2027.....4,500,00014.17 $
451	451	14.18 (b) Of the amount in paragraph (a), at least $3,500,000 each fiscal year is for grants to
452	452	14.19develop and expand mentoring, induction, and retention programs designed for teachers of
453	453	14.20color or American Indian teachers.
454	454	14.21 (c) Any balance remaining in fiscal year 2026 is available in fiscal year 2027.
455	455	14.22 (d) The commissioner may retain up to three percent of the appropriation amount to
456	456	14.23monitor and administer the grant program.
457	457	14.24 Subd. 4.Teacher recruitment marketing campaign.(a) To develop two contracts to
458	458	14.25develop and implement an outreach and marketing campaign under this subdivision:
459	459	2026.....500,00014.26 $
460	460	2027.....500,00014.27 $
461	461	14.28 (b) The commissioner must issue a request for proposals to develop and implement an
462	462	14.29outreach and marketing campaign to elevate the profession and recruit teachers, especially
463	463	14.30teachers of color and American Indian teachers. Outreach efforts should include and support
464	464	14.31current and former Teacher of the Year finalists interested in being recruitment fellows to
465	465	14.32encourage prospective educators throughout the state. The commissioner may renew a grant
466	466	14Sec. 16.
467	467	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 15.1contract with a prior recipient if it determines sufficient deliverables were achieved and the
468	468	15.2plans of the firm or organization are more promising than proposals from other entities.
469	469	15.3 (c) The outreach and marketing campaign must focus on increasing interest in teaching
470	470	15.4in Minnesota public schools for the following individuals:
471	471	15.5 (1) high school and college students of color or American Indian students who have not
472	472	15.6chosen a career path; or
473	473	15.7 (2) adults from racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in the teacher workforce who
474	474	15.8may be seeking to change careers.
475	475	15.9 (d) The commissioner must award two $250,000 grants each year to firms or organizations
476	476	15.10that demonstrate capacity to reach wide and varied audiences of prospective teachers based
477	477	15.11on a work plan with quarterly deliverables. Preferences should be given to firms or
478	478	15.12organizations that are led by people of color and that have people of color working on the
479	479	15.13campaign with a proven record of success. The grant recipients must recognize current
480	480	15.14pathways or programs to become a teacher and must partner with educators, schools,
481	481	15.15institutions, and racially diverse communities. The grant recipients are encouraged to provide
482	482	15.16in-kind contributions or seek funds from nonstate sources to supplement the grant award.
483	483	15.17 (e) The commissioner may use no more than three percent of the appropriation amount
484	484	15.18to administer the program under this subdivision, and may have an interagency agreement
485	485	15.19with the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board including transfer of funds
486	486	15.20to help administer the program.
487	487	15.21 (f) Any balance in fiscal year 2026 does not cancel but is available in fiscal year 2027.
488	488	15.22 Subd. 5.License applications.For the Board of School Administrators to undertake
489	489	15.23the review and processing of administrative license applications:
490	490	2026.....289,00015.24 $
491	491	2027.....189,00015.25 $
492	492	15.26Sec. 17. APPROPRIATIONS; PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR LICENSING AND
493	493	15.27STANDARDS BOARD.
494	494	15.28 Subdivision 1.Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.(a) The sums
495	495	15.29indicated in this section are appropriated from the general fund to the Professional Educator
496	496	15.30Licensing and Standards Board in the fiscal years designated:
497	497	2026.....3,933,00015.31 $
498	498	2027.....4,033,00015.32 $
499	499	15Sec. 17.
500	500	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25 16.1 (b) Any balance remaining in fiscal year 2026 is available in fiscal year 2027.
501	501	16.2 Subd. 2.Alternative pathways support position.To fund a position at the Professional
502	502	16.3Educator Licensing and Standards Board to support candidates through alternative pathway
503	503	16.4programs, including the licensure via portfolio process, and to support districts, charter
504	504	16.5schools, and educational cooperatives to become alternative preparation providers:
505	505	2026.....205,00016.6 $
506	506	2027.....208,00016.7 $
507	507	16.8 Subd. 3.Heritage language and culture teachers.To support the licensure pathway
508	508	16.9program for heritage language and culture teachers under Minnesota Statutes, section
509	509	16.10122A.631, including funding for a portfolio liaison and funding for substitute teachers on
510	510	16.11meeting days, portfolio fees, licensure fees, and licensure exam fees for 50 program
511	511	16.12participants:
512	512	2026.....319,00016.13 $
513	513	2027.....322,00016.14 $
514	514	16.15 Subd. 4.Licensure via portfolio online platform.To complete the licensure via portfolio
515	515	16.16online platform to streamline the portfolio submission and review process:
516	516	2026.....471,00016.17 $
517	517	2027.....321,00016.18 $
518	518	16Sec. 17.
519	519	REVISOR CR/HL 25-0505703/19/25