HF 3067

2nd Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 05/13/2026 04:06 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to education; clarifying paraprofessional qualifications; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 121A.642, subdivision 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 121A.642, subdivision 4, is
amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Qualifications.

(a) Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, a paraprofessional
meets the federal personnel qualifications required in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34,
section 300.156, if the paraprofessional:

(1) has at least two years of college credits through an accredited institution of higher
education, or an associate's degree or higher;

(2) has received a passing score on an assessment approved by the Department of
Education; or

(3) demonstrates the following competencies, regardless of the number of hours of
training the paraprofessional has received:

(i) understanding the distinctions between roles and responsibilities of professionals,
paraprofessionals, and support personnel;

(ii) understanding the purposes and goals of education and instruction for all students;

(iii) knowledge of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and local district policies and
procedures to ensure paraprofessionals work within these parameters;

(iv) awareness of the challenges and expectations of various learning environments;

(v) the ability to establish and maintain rapport with students;

(vi) the ability to follow oral and written direction of licensed teachers, seeking
clarification as needed;

(vii) the ability to assist and reinforce elements that support a safe, healthy, and effective
teaching and learning environment;

(viii) understanding strategies for assisting with the inclusion of students in various
settings;

(ix) the ability to use strategies that promote the student's independence;

(x) understanding applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and procedural safeguards
regarding the management of student behaviors;

(xi) awareness of the primary factors that influence student behavior;

(xii) the ability to effectively employ a variety of strategies that reinforce positive
behavior;

(xiii) the ability to use ethical practices for confidential communication about students;

(xiv) the ability to follow teacher instructions while conferring and collaborating with
teachers about student schedules, instructional goals, and performance;

(xv) demonstrating a commitment to assisting students in reaching the students' highest
potential, including the modeling of positive behavior;

(xvi) showing respect for the diversity of students;

(xvii) showing a willingness to participate in ongoing staff development and
self-evaluation and to apply constructive feedback;

(xviii) supporting and reinforcing the instruction of students in mathematics following
written and oral lesson plans developed by licensed teachers;

(xix) supporting and reinforcing the instruction of students in reading following written
and oral lesson plans developed by licensed teachers. Professional development required
under the Read Act in section 120B.123 exceeds this requirement; and

(xx) supporting and reinforcing the instruction of students in writing following written
and oral lesson plans developed by licensed teachers.

(b) Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, a paraprofessional meets the federal personnel
qualifications required in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 200.58, if the
paraprofessional:

(1) has at least two years of college credits from an accredited institution of higher
education, or an associate's degree or higher; or

(2) met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal state or
local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing, as
appropriate:

(i) reading or language arts, writing, and mathematics; or

(ii) reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness.

(c) Upon request from a paraprofessional employed by a school district, charter school,
or cooperative unit providing direct instructional services, the school district, charter school,
or cooperative unit may provide administrative assistance to the paraprofessional when
completing requirements related to the competencies required under this subdivision.

new text begin (d) A paraprofessional who demonstrates the competencies listed in paragraph (a), clause
(3), must be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of Code of Federal Regulations, title
34, section 200.58(c)(3)(i), when the paraprofessional's employing district or charter school
validates the paraprofessional's demonstration of the competencies. The department must
provide guidance to district and charter school leaders no later than August 1, 2026, on
possible ways to validate these competencies and may update the guidance as needed. A
district or charter school must maintain the paraprofessional's completed assessment and
documentation that the paraprofessional demonstrated the required competencies in the
paraprofessional's personnel file and make the records available to department and federal
reviewers upon request.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end