Bill Text: MN HF652 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Teacher licensure testing requirements clarified.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-18 - Introduction and first reading, referred to Education Policy [HF652 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF652-Introduced.html
1.2relating to education; clarifying testing requirements related to teacher licensure;
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 122A.09, subdivision 4; 122A.18,
1.4subdivision 2; 122A.23, subdivision 2.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.09, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 4. License and rules. (a) The board must adopt rules to license public school
1.8teachers and interns subject to chapter 14.
1.9(b) The board must adopt rules requiring a person to pass a skills examination in
1.10reading, writing, and mathematics as a requirement for initial teacher licensure, except that:
1.11(1) a person who is a nonnative English language speaker as verified by qualified
1.12Minnesota school district personnel or Minnesota higher education institution faculty and
1.13who directly instructs in that other language or provides world language instruction under
1.14section 120B.022, subdivision 1, in that other language, may take and pass the skills
1.15examination at any time up to 36 months after becoming otherwise eligible for an initial
1.16teaching license and may hold a temporary teaching license during that time; or
1.17(2) a person who fails three times to pass the reading, writing, or mathematics portion
1.18of the skills examination may take and must pass a board-approved credit-bearing course
1.19in that subject area as an alternative to passing that portion of the skills examination.
1.20Such rules must require college and universities offering a board-approved teacher
1.21preparation program to provide remedial assistance to persons who did not achieve a
1.22qualifying score on the skills examination, including those for whom English is a second
1.23language.
2.1(c) The board must adopt rules to approve teacher preparation programs. The board,
2.2upon the request of a postsecondary student preparing for teacher licensure or a licensed
2.3graduate of a teacher preparation program, shall assist in resolving a dispute between the
2.4person and a postsecondary institution providing a teacher preparation program when the
2.5dispute involves an institution's recommendation for licensure affecting the person or the
2.6person's credentials. At the board's discretion, assistance may include the application
2.7of chapter 14.
2.8(d) The board must provide the leadership and adopt rules for the redesign of teacher
2.9education programs to implement a research based, results-oriented curriculum that
2.10focuses on the skills teachers need in order to be effective. The board shall implement new
2.11systems of teacher preparation program evaluation to assure program effectiveness based
2.12on proficiency of graduates in demonstrating attainment of program outcomes. Teacher
2.13preparation programs including alternative teacher preparation programs under section
2.14122A.245
, among other programs, must include a content-specific, board-approved,
2.15performance-based assessment that measures teacher candidates in three areas: planning
2.16for instruction and assessment; engaging students and supporting learning; and assessing
2.17student learning.
2.18(e) The board must adopt rules requiring candidates for initial licenses to pass an
2.19examination of general pedagogical knowledge and examinations of licensure-specific
2.20teaching skills. The rules shall be effective by September 1, 2001. The rules under this
2.21paragraph also must require candidates for initial licenses to teach prekindergarten or
2.22elementary students to pass, as part of the examination of licensure-specific teaching
2.23skills, test items assessing the candidates' knowledge, skill, and ability in comprehensive,
2.24scientifically based reading instruction under section122A.06 , subdivision 4, and their
2.25knowledge and understanding of the foundations of reading development, the development
2.26of reading comprehension, and reading assessment and instruction, and their ability to
2.27integrate that knowledge and understanding.
2.28(f) The board must adopt rules requiring teacher educators to work directly with
2.29elementary or secondary school teachers in elementary or secondary schools to obtain
2.30periodic exposure to the elementary or secondary teaching environment.
2.31(g) The board must grant licenses to interns and to candidates for initial licenses
2.32based on appropriate professional competencies that are aligned with the board's licensing
2.33system and students' diverse learning needs. The board must include these licenses in a
2.34statewide differentiated licensing system that creates new leadership roles for successful
2.35experienced teachers premised on a collaborative professional culture dedicated to meeting
3.1students' diverse learning needs in the 21st century and formalizes mentoring and induction
3.2for newly licensed teachers that is provided through a teacher support framework.
3.3(h) The board must design and implement an assessment system which requires a
3.4candidate for an initial license and first continuing license to demonstrate the abilities
3.5necessary to perform selected, representative teaching tasks at appropriate levels.
3.6(i) The board must receive recommendations from local committees as established
3.7by the board for the renewal of teaching licenses.
3.8(j) The board must grant life licenses to those who qualify according to requirements
3.9established by the board, and suspend or revoke licenses pursuant to sections122A.20 and
3.10214.10
. The board must not establish any expiration date for application for life licenses.
3.11(k) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
3.12their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation in
3.13the areas of using positive behavior interventions and in accommodating, modifying, and
3.14adapting curricula, materials, and strategies to appropriately meet the needs of individual
3.15students and ensure adequate progress toward the state's graduation rule.
3.16(l) In adopting rules to license public school teachers who provide health-related
3.17services for disabled children, the board shall adopt rules consistent with license or
3.18registration requirements of the commissioner of health and the health-related boards who
3.19license personnel who perform similar services outside of the school.
3.20(m) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
3.21their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further reading
3.22preparation, consistent with section122A.06, subdivision 4 . The rules do not take effect
3.23until they are approved by law. Teachers who do not provide direct instruction including, at
3.24least, counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, audiovisual
3.25directors and coordinators, and recreation personnel are exempt from this section.
3.26(n) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
3.27their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation
3.28in understanding the key warning signs of early-onset mental illness in children and
3.29adolescents.
3.30EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment,
3.31except that paragraph (b), clause (2), is effective August 1, 2014.
3.32 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.18, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
3.33 Subd. 2. Teacher and support personnel qualifications. (a) The Board of
3.34Teaching must issue licenses under its jurisdiction to persons the board finds to be
3.35qualified and competent for their respective positions.
4.1(b) The board must require a person to pass an examination of skills in reading,
4.2writing, and mathematics before being granted an initial teaching license to provide direct
4.3instruction to pupils in prekindergarten, elementary, secondary, or special education
4.4programs, except that the board may:
4.5(1) grant up to three one-year temporary teaching licenses to a person who is a
4.6nonnative English language speaker as verified by qualified Minnesota school district
4.7personnel or Minnesota higher education institution faculty and who directly instructs
4.8in that other language or provides world language instruction under section 120B.022,
4.9subdivision 1, in that other language, consistent with section 122A.09, subdivision 4,
4.10paragraph (b), clause (1); or
4.11(2) allow a person to take and pass a board-approved credit-bearing course as an
4.12alternative to passing that subject area portion of the skills examination the person failed
4.13three times, consistent with section 122A.09, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause (2).
4.14The board must require colleges and universities offering a board approved teacher
4.15preparation program to provide remedial assistance that includes a formal diagnostic
4.16component to persons enrolled in their institution who did not achieve a qualifying
4.17score on the skills examination, including those for whom English is a second language.
4.18The colleges and universities must provide assistance in the specific academic areas of
4.19deficiency in which the person did not achieve a qualifying score. The Board of Teaching
4.20shall report annually to the education committees of the legislature on the total number
4.21of teacher candidates during the most recent school year taking the skills examination,
4.22the number who achieve a qualifying score on the examination, the number who do not
4.23achieve a qualifying score on the examination, the distribution of all candidates' scores,
4.24the number of candidates who have taken the examination at least once before,and the
4.25number of candidates who have taken the examination at least once before and achieve a
4.26qualifying score, and the number of persons subject to clause (1) or (2).
4.27(c) The Board of Teaching must grant continuing licenses only to those persons who
4.28have met board criteria for granting a continuing license, which includes passing the skills
4.29examination in reading, writing, and mathematics, consistent with paragraph (b) and
4.30section 122A.09, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause (1) or (2).
4.31(d) All colleges and universities approved by the board of teaching to prepare
4.32persons for teacher licensure must include in their teacher preparation programs a common
4.33core of teaching knowledge and skills to be acquired by all persons recommended
4.34for teacher licensure. This common core shall meet the standards developed by the
4.35interstate new teacher assessment and support consortium in its 1992 "model standards for
4.36beginning teacher licensing and development." Amendments to standards adopted under
5.1this paragraph are covered by chapter 14. The board of teaching shall report annually to
5.2the education committees of the legislature on the performance of teacher candidates
5.3on common core assessments of knowledge and skills under this paragraph during the
5.4most recent school year.
5.5EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment,
5.6except that paragraph (b), clause (2), is effective August 1, 2014.
5.7 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.23, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.8 Subd. 2. Applicants licensed in other states. (a) Subject to the requirements of
5.9sections122A.18, subdivision 8 , and
123B.03 , the Board of Teaching must issue a teaching
5.10license or a temporary teaching license under paragraphs (b) to (e) to an applicant who holds
5.11at least a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and holds
5.12or held a similar out-of-state teaching license that requires the applicant to successfully
5.13complete a teacher preparation program approved by the issuing state, which includes
5.14field-specific teaching methods and student teaching or essentially equivalent experience.
5.15(b) The Board of Teaching must issue a teaching license to an applicant who:
5.16(1) successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components
5.17required by the Board of Teaching; and
5.18(2) holds or held an out-of-state teaching license to teach the same content field and
5.19grade levels if the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than one grade level less
5.20than a similar Minnesota license.
5.21(c) The Board of Teaching, consistent with board rules and paragraph (h), must
5.22issue up to three one-year temporary teaching licenses to an applicant who holds or held
5.23an out-of-state teaching license to teach the same content field and grade levels, where
5.24the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than one grade level less than a similar
5.25Minnesota license, but has not successfully completed all exams and human relations
5.26preparation components required by the Board of Teaching.
5.27(d) The Board of Teaching, consistent with board rules, must issue up to three
5.28one-year temporary teaching licenses to an applicant who:
5.29(1) successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components
5.30required by the Board of Teaching; and
5.31(2) holds or held an out-of-state teaching license to teach the same content field
5.32and grade levels, where the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than one grade
5.33level less than a similar Minnesota license, but has not completed field-specific teaching
5.34methods or student teaching or equivalent experience.
6.1The applicant may complete field-specific teaching methods and student teaching
6.2or equivalent experience by successfully participating in a one-year school district
6.3mentorship program consistent with board-adopted standards of effective practice and
6.4Minnesota graduation requirements.
6.5(e) The Board of Teaching must issue a temporary teaching license for a term of
6.6up to three years only in the content field or grade levels specified in the out-of-state
6.7license to an applicant who:
6.8(1) successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components
6.9required by the Board of Teaching; and
6.10(2) holds or held an out-of-state teaching license where the out-of-state license is
6.11more limited in the content field or grade levels than a similar Minnesota license.
6.12(f) The Board of Teaching must not issue to an applicant more than three one-year
6.13temporary teaching licenses under this subdivision.
6.14(g) The Board of Teaching must not issue a license under this subdivision if the
6.15applicant has not attained the additional degrees, credentials, or licenses required in a
6.16particular licensure field.
6.17(h) The Board of Teaching must require an applicant for a teaching license or a
6.18temporary teaching license under this subdivision to pass a skills examination in reading,
6.19writing, and mathematics before the board issues the license. However, the board may
6.20issue a temporary one-year teaching license to an otherwise qualified applicant who has
6.21not passed the skills examination; to be eligible for a continuing license, the applicant
6.22must take and pass the skills examination during that one-year period.
6.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 122A.09, subdivision 4; 122A.18,
1.4subdivision 2; 122A.23, subdivision 2.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.09, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 4. License and rules. (a) The board must adopt rules to license public school
1.8teachers and interns subject to chapter 14.
1.9(b) The board must adopt rules requiring a person to pass a skills examination in
1.10reading, writing, and mathematics as a requirement for initial teacher licensure, except that:
1.11(1) a person who is a nonnative English language speaker as verified by qualified
1.12Minnesota school district personnel or Minnesota higher education institution faculty and
1.13who directly instructs in that other language or provides world language instruction under
1.14section 120B.022, subdivision 1, in that other language, may take and pass the skills
1.15examination at any time up to 36 months after becoming otherwise eligible for an initial
1.16teaching license and may hold a temporary teaching license during that time; or
1.17(2) a person who fails three times to pass the reading, writing, or mathematics portion
1.18of the skills examination may take and must pass a board-approved credit-bearing course
1.19in that subject area as an alternative to passing that portion of the skills examination.
1.20Such rules must require college and universities offering a board-approved teacher
1.21preparation program to provide remedial assistance to persons who did not achieve a
1.22qualifying score on the skills examination, including those for whom English is a second
1.23language.
2.1(c) The board must adopt rules to approve teacher preparation programs. The board,
2.2upon the request of a postsecondary student preparing for teacher licensure or a licensed
2.3graduate of a teacher preparation program, shall assist in resolving a dispute between the
2.4person and a postsecondary institution providing a teacher preparation program when the
2.5dispute involves an institution's recommendation for licensure affecting the person or the
2.6person's credentials. At the board's discretion, assistance may include the application
2.7of chapter 14.
2.8(d) The board must provide the leadership and adopt rules for the redesign of teacher
2.9education programs to implement a research based, results-oriented curriculum that
2.10focuses on the skills teachers need in order to be effective. The board shall implement new
2.11systems of teacher preparation program evaluation to assure program effectiveness based
2.12on proficiency of graduates in demonstrating attainment of program outcomes. Teacher
2.13preparation programs including alternative teacher preparation programs under section
2.15performance-based assessment that measures teacher candidates in three areas: planning
2.16for instruction and assessment; engaging students and supporting learning; and assessing
2.17student learning.
2.18(e) The board must adopt rules requiring candidates for initial licenses to pass an
2.19examination of general pedagogical knowledge and examinations of licensure-specific
2.20teaching skills. The rules shall be effective by September 1, 2001. The rules under this
2.21paragraph also must require candidates for initial licenses to teach prekindergarten or
2.22elementary students to pass, as part of the examination of licensure-specific teaching
2.23skills, test items assessing the candidates' knowledge, skill, and ability in comprehensive,
2.24scientifically based reading instruction under section
2.25knowledge and understanding of the foundations of reading development, the development
2.26of reading comprehension, and reading assessment and instruction, and their ability to
2.27integrate that knowledge and understanding.
2.28(f) The board must adopt rules requiring teacher educators to work directly with
2.29elementary or secondary school teachers in elementary or secondary schools to obtain
2.30periodic exposure to the elementary or secondary teaching environment.
2.31(g) The board must grant licenses to interns and to candidates for initial licenses
2.32based on appropriate professional competencies that are aligned with the board's licensing
2.33system and students' diverse learning needs. The board must include these licenses in a
2.34statewide differentiated licensing system that creates new leadership roles for successful
2.35experienced teachers premised on a collaborative professional culture dedicated to meeting
3.1students' diverse learning needs in the 21st century and formalizes mentoring and induction
3.2for newly licensed teachers that is provided through a teacher support framework.
3.3(h) The board must design and implement an assessment system which requires a
3.4candidate for an initial license and first continuing license to demonstrate the abilities
3.5necessary to perform selected, representative teaching tasks at appropriate levels.
3.6(i) The board must receive recommendations from local committees as established
3.7by the board for the renewal of teaching licenses.
3.8(j) The board must grant life licenses to those who qualify according to requirements
3.9established by the board, and suspend or revoke licenses pursuant to sections
3.11(k) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
3.12their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation in
3.13the areas of using positive behavior interventions and in accommodating, modifying, and
3.14adapting curricula, materials, and strategies to appropriately meet the needs of individual
3.15students and ensure adequate progress toward the state's graduation rule.
3.16(l) In adopting rules to license public school teachers who provide health-related
3.17services for disabled children, the board shall adopt rules consistent with license or
3.18registration requirements of the commissioner of health and the health-related boards who
3.19license personnel who perform similar services outside of the school.
3.20(m) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
3.21their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further reading
3.22preparation, consistent with section
3.23until they are approved by law. Teachers who do not provide direct instruction including, at
3.24least, counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, audiovisual
3.25directors and coordinators, and recreation personnel are exempt from this section.
3.26(n) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
3.27their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation
3.28in understanding the key warning signs of early-onset mental illness in children and
3.29adolescents.
3.30EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment,
3.31except that paragraph (b), clause (2), is effective August 1, 2014.
3.32 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.18, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
3.33 Subd. 2. Teacher and support personnel qualifications. (a) The Board of
3.34Teaching must issue licenses under its jurisdiction to persons the board finds to be
3.35qualified and competent for their respective positions.
4.1(b) The board must require a person to pass an examination of skills in reading,
4.2writing, and mathematics before being granted an initial teaching license to provide direct
4.3instruction to pupils in prekindergarten, elementary, secondary, or special education
4.4programs, except that the board may:
4.5(1) grant up to three one-year temporary teaching licenses to a person who is a
4.6nonnative English language speaker as verified by qualified Minnesota school district
4.7personnel or Minnesota higher education institution faculty and who directly instructs
4.8in that other language or provides world language instruction under section 120B.022,
4.9subdivision 1, in that other language, consistent with section 122A.09, subdivision 4,
4.10paragraph (b), clause (1); or
4.11(2) allow a person to take and pass a board-approved credit-bearing course as an
4.12alternative to passing that subject area portion of the skills examination the person failed
4.13three times, consistent with section 122A.09, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause (2).
4.14The board must require colleges and universities offering a board approved teacher
4.15preparation program to provide remedial assistance that includes a formal diagnostic
4.16component to persons enrolled in their institution who did not achieve a qualifying
4.17score on the skills examination, including those for whom English is a second language.
4.18The colleges and universities must provide assistance in the specific academic areas of
4.19deficiency in which the person did not achieve a qualifying score. The Board of Teaching
4.20shall report annually to the education committees of the legislature on the total number
4.21of teacher candidates during the most recent school year taking the skills examination,
4.22the number who achieve a qualifying score on the examination, the number who do not
4.23achieve a qualifying score on the examination, the distribution of all candidates' scores,
4.24the number of candidates who have taken the examination at least once before,
4.25number of candidates who have taken the examination at least once before and achieve a
4.26qualifying score, and the number of persons subject to clause (1) or (2).
4.27(c) The Board of Teaching must grant continuing licenses only to those persons who
4.28have met board criteria for granting a continuing license, which includes passing the skills
4.29examination in reading, writing, and mathematics, consistent with paragraph (b) and
4.30section 122A.09, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause (1) or (2).
4.31(d) All colleges and universities approved by the board of teaching to prepare
4.32persons for teacher licensure must include in their teacher preparation programs a common
4.33core of teaching knowledge and skills to be acquired by all persons recommended
4.34for teacher licensure. This common core shall meet the standards developed by the
4.35interstate new teacher assessment and support consortium in its 1992 "model standards for
4.36beginning teacher licensing and development." Amendments to standards adopted under
5.1this paragraph are covered by chapter 14. The board of teaching shall report annually to
5.2the education committees of the legislature on the performance of teacher candidates
5.3on common core assessments of knowledge and skills under this paragraph during the
5.4most recent school year.
5.5EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment,
5.6except that paragraph (b), clause (2), is effective August 1, 2014.
5.7 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.23, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.8 Subd. 2. Applicants licensed in other states. (a) Subject to the requirements of
5.9sections
5.10license or a temporary teaching license under paragraphs (b) to (e) to an applicant who holds
5.11at least a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and holds
5.12or held a similar out-of-state teaching license that requires the applicant to successfully
5.13complete a teacher preparation program approved by the issuing state, which includes
5.14field-specific teaching methods and student teaching or essentially equivalent experience.
5.15(b) The Board of Teaching must issue a teaching license to an applicant who:
5.16(1) successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components
5.17required by the Board of Teaching; and
5.18(2) holds or held an out-of-state teaching license to teach the same content field and
5.19grade levels if the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than one grade level less
5.20than a similar Minnesota license.
5.21(c) The Board of Teaching, consistent with board rules and paragraph (h), must
5.22issue up to three one-year temporary teaching licenses to an applicant who holds or held
5.23an out-of-state teaching license to teach the same content field and grade levels, where
5.24the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than one grade level less than a similar
5.25Minnesota license, but has not successfully completed all exams and human relations
5.26preparation components required by the Board of Teaching.
5.27(d) The Board of Teaching, consistent with board rules, must issue up to three
5.28one-year temporary teaching licenses to an applicant who:
5.29(1) successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components
5.30required by the Board of Teaching; and
5.31(2) holds or held an out-of-state teaching license to teach the same content field
5.32and grade levels, where the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than one grade
5.33level less than a similar Minnesota license, but has not completed field-specific teaching
5.34methods or student teaching or equivalent experience.
6.1The applicant may complete field-specific teaching methods and student teaching
6.2or equivalent experience by successfully participating in a one-year school district
6.3mentorship program consistent with board-adopted standards of effective practice and
6.4Minnesota graduation requirements.
6.5(e) The Board of Teaching must issue a temporary teaching license for a term of
6.6up to three years only in the content field or grade levels specified in the out-of-state
6.7license to an applicant who:
6.8(1) successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components
6.9required by the Board of Teaching; and
6.10(2) holds or held an out-of-state teaching license where the out-of-state license is
6.11more limited in the content field or grade levels than a similar Minnesota license.
6.12(f) The Board of Teaching must not issue to an applicant more than three one-year
6.13temporary teaching licenses under this subdivision.
6.14(g) The Board of Teaching must not issue a license under this subdivision if the
6.15applicant has not attained the additional degrees, credentials, or licenses required in a
6.16particular licensure field.
6.17(h) The Board of Teaching must require an applicant for a teaching license or a
6.18temporary teaching license under this subdivision to pass a skills examination in reading,
6.19writing, and mathematics before the board issues the license. However, the board may
6.20issue a temporary one-year teaching license to an otherwise qualified applicant who has
6.21not passed the skills examination; to be eligible for a continuing license, the applicant
6.22must take and pass the skills examination during that one-year period.
6.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
