HF 1538

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 02/26/2025 02:54pm

A bill for an act
relating to workforce development; appropriating money for teacher
apprenticeships; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; TEACHER APPRENTICESHIPS.
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new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the
workforce development fund to the commissioner of education for registered apprenticeships
for teachers. Of these amounts, $....... each year is for reimbursing school districts for the
costs of teacher apprenticeship programs. This is a onetime appropriation.
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new text begin (b) A selected program must include the following five components required for a
registered apprenticeship:
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new text begin (1) involvement by school districts to ensure apprentices develop the skills needed to
be effective teachers;
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new text begin (2) structured on-the-job training from an experienced mentor;
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new text begin (3) related instruction from a teacher training program approved by the Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board;
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new text begin (4) increases in wages for participants as they gain higher skill levels; and
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new text begin (5) a sequence of training and instruction resulting in a Tier 3 license issued by the
Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.
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new text begin (c) School districts are eligible for funding under this section and are encouraged to
partner with institutions of higher education, other school districts, charter schools, and
cooperative units under Minnesota Statutes, section 123A.24, subdivision 2, to develop
eligible teacher apprenticeship programs.
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new text begin (d) A school district may incorporate a teacher residency or Grow Your Own program
into an apprenticeship program under this section and may combine funding under this
section with other state teacher recruitment program funding.
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new text begin (e) Programs that receive funding must consider guidelines for teacher apprenticeship
programs developed by other Minnesota apprenticeship programs and other states with
existing registered apprenticeship programs.
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new text begin (f) The commissioner of education must consult with the commissioner of labor and
industry and the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to:
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new text begin (1) determine criteria for awarding funding under this section;
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new text begin (2) establish oversight over the registered teacher apprenticeship programs; and
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new text begin (3) develop recommendations for the legislature to improve the effectiveness of teacher
apprenticeship programs as a pathway to teacher licensure.
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new text begin (g) The commissioner of education must report to the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education, higher education, and workforce
development on how teacher apprenticeship program funding was used and recommendations
for statutory or rule changes to facilitate improvement of teacher apprenticeship programs
as a pathway to teacher licensure.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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