HF 641

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/21/2011 10:08am

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring cultural competency training for teachers and
school administrators seeking to renew their professional license; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 122A.09, subdivision 4; 122A.14, subdivision
3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 122A.09, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:

Subd. 4.

License and rules.

(a) The board must adopt rules to license public school
teachers and interns subject to chapter 14.

(b) The board must adopt rules requiring a person to successfully complete a skills
examination in reading, writing, and mathematics as a requirement for initial teacher
licensure. Such rules must require college and universities offering a board-approved
teacher preparation program to provide remedial assistance to persons who did not
achieve a qualifying score on the skills examination, including those for whom English is
a second language.

(c) The board must adopt rules to approve teacher preparation programs. The board,
upon the request of a postsecondary student preparing for teacher licensure or a licensed
graduate of a teacher preparation program, shall assist in resolving a dispute between the
person and a postsecondary institution providing a teacher preparation program when the
dispute involves an institution's recommendation for licensure affecting the person or the
person's credentials. At the board's discretion, assistance may include the application
of chapter 14.

(d) The board must provide the leadership and shall adopt rules for the redesign of
teacher education programs to implement a research based, results-oriented curriculum
that focuses on the skills teachers need in order to be effective. The board shall implement
new systems of teacher preparation program evaluation to assure program effectiveness
based on proficiency of graduates in demonstrating attainment of program outcomes.

(e) The board must adopt rules requiring candidates for initial licenses to successfully
complete an examination of general pedagogical knowledge and examinations of
licensure-specific teaching skills. The rules shall be effective by September 1, 2001.
The rules under this paragraph also must require candidates for initial licenses to teach
prekindergarten or elementary students to successfully complete, as part of the examination
of licensure-specific teaching skills, test items assessing the candidates' knowledge,
skill, and ability in comprehensive, scientifically based reading instruction under section
122A.06, subdivision 4, and their knowledge and understanding of the foundations of
reading development, the development of reading comprehension, and reading assessment
and instruction, and their ability to integrate that knowledge and understanding.

(f) The board must adopt rules requiring teacher educators to work directly with
elementary or secondary school teachers in elementary or secondary schools to obtain
periodic exposure to the elementary or secondary teaching environment.

(g) The board must grant licenses to interns and to candidates for initial licenses.

(h) The board must design and implement an assessment system which requires a
candidate for an initial license and first continuing license to demonstrate the abilities
necessary to perform selected, representative teaching tasks at appropriate levels.

(i) The board must receive recommendations from local committees as established
by the board for the renewal of teaching licenses.

(j) The board must grant life licenses to those who qualify according to requirements
established by the board, and suspend or revoke licenses pursuant to sections 122A.20 and
214.10. The board must not establish any expiration date for application for life licenses.

(k) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation in
the areas of using positive behavior interventions and in accommodating, modifying, and
adapting curricula, materials, and strategies to appropriately meet the needs of individual
students and ensure adequate progress toward the state's graduation rule.

(l) In adopting rules to license public school teachers who provide health-related
services for disabled children, the board shall adopt rules consistent with license or
registration requirements of the commissioner of health and the health-related boards who
license personnel who perform similar services outside of the school.

(m) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further reading
preparation, consistent with section 122A.06, subdivision 4. The rules do not take effect
until they are approved by law. Teachers who do not provide direct instruction including, at
least, counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, audiovisual
directors and coordinators, and recreation personnel are exempt from this section.

(n) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation
in understanding the key warning signs of early-onset mental illness in children and
adolescents.

new text begin (o) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation in
cultural competency that helps teachers develop behaviors, attitudes, and policies for
understanding and working effectively with people of different cultures.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective September 1, 2012, and applies to
licensed teachers seeking to renew their continuing teaching license after that date.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 122A.14, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Rules for continuing education requirements.

The board shall
adopt rules establishing continuing education requirements that promote continuous
improvement and acquisition of new and relevant skills by school administrators. new text begin The
continuing education requirements must include preparation in cultural competency that
helps school administrators develop behaviors, attitudes, and policies for understanding
and working effectively with people of different cultures.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective September 1, 2012, and applies to
licensed school administrators seeking to renew their professional license after that date.
new text end