SF 2995

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/28/2025 09:35 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying teacher licensure requirements; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 122A.09, subdivision 9; 122A.181, subdivisions
3, 4; 122A.182, subdivisions 1, 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.09, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules.

(a)
The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules subject to the
provisions of chapter 14 to implement sections 120B.363, 122A.05 to 122A.09, 122A.092,
122A.16, 122A.17, 122A.18, 122A.181, 122A.182, 122A.183, 122A.184, 122A.185,
122A.187, 122A.188, 122A.19, 122A.20, 122A.21, 122A.23, 122A.26, 122A.28, 122A.29,
and 124D.72.

(b) The board must adopt rules relating to fields of licensure and grade levels that a
licensed teacher may teach, including a process for granting permission to a licensed teacher
to teach in a field that is different from the teacher's field of licensure without change to the
teacher's license tier level. new text begin The term of each permission is three years and is subject to
unlimited renewals.
new text end

(c) If a rule adopted by the board is in conflict with a session law or statute, the law or
statute prevails. Terms adopted in rule must be clearly defined and must not be construed
to conflict with terms adopted in statute or session law.

(d) The board must include a description of a proposed rule's probable effect on teacher
supply and demand in the board's statement of need and reasonableness under section 14.131.

(e) The board must adopt rules only under the specific statutory authority.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.181, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Term of license and renewal.

(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and
Standards Board must issue an initial Tier 1 license for a term of one year. A Tier 1 license
may be renewed subject to paragraphs (b) and (c).

(b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must renew a Tier 1
license if:

deleted text begin (1) the district or charter school requesting the renewal demonstrates that it has posted
the teacher position but was unable to hire an acceptable teacher with a Tier 2, 3, or 4 license
for the position;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end the teacher holding the Tier 1 license took a content examination in accordance
with section 122A.185 and submitted the examination results to the teacher's employing
district or charter school within one year of the board approving the request for the initial
Tier 1 license;

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end the teacher holding the Tier 1 license participated in cultural competency training
consistent with section 120B.30, subdivision 8, within one year of the board approving the
request for the initial Tier 1 license; and

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end the teacher holding the Tier 1 license met the mental illness training renewal
requirement under section 122A.187, subdivision 6.

The requirement in clause deleted text begin (2) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end does not apply to a teacher that teaches a class in a career
and technical education or career pathways course of study.

(c) A Tier 1 license must not be renewed more than three times, unless the requesting
district or charter school can show good cause for additional renewals. A Tier 1 license
issued to teach (1) a class or course in a career and technical education or career pathway
course of study, or (2) in a shortage area, as defined in section 122A.06, subdivision 6, may
be renewed without limitation.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.181, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Application.

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must
accept and review applications for a Tier 1 teaching license beginning deleted text begin July deleted text end new text begin June new text end 1 of the
school year for which the license is requested; at the board's discretion, the board may begin
to accept and review applications before deleted text begin July deleted text end new text begin June new text end 1.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.182, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Requirements.

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
Board must approve an application for a Tier 2 license in a specified content area if:

deleted text begin (1) the application has been submitted jointly by the applicant and the district;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end the application has been paid for by deleted text begin the district or deleted text end the applicant;

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end the applicant holds a bachelor's degree, unless specifically exempt by statute or
rule;

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end the district demonstrates that a criminal background check under section 122A.18,
subdivision 8, has been completed for the applicant; and

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end the applicant:

(i) has completed a state-approved teacher preparation program;

(ii) is enrolled in a Minnesota-approved teacher preparation program; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(iii) has a master's degree in the specified content area deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (iv) has three years of teaching experience, including under a Tier 1 license; an effective
or satisfactory teacher evaluation pursuant to section 122A.181, subdivision 6, paragraph
(b); and a passing score on the pedagogy and content exams under section 122A.185.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.182, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Application.

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must
accept applications for a Tier 2 teaching license beginning deleted text begin July deleted text end new text begin June new text end 1 of the school year
for which the license is requested. At the board's discretion, the board may begin to accept
and review applications before deleted text begin July deleted text end new text begin June new text end 1.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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