HF 2088

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; authorizing schools to use an interdisciplinary teaching and
learning program model; providing for an interdisciplinary teaching license;
providing for rulemaking; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 122A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [122A.245] INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING AND LEARNING
PROGRAM MODEL; TEACHER LICENSURE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Interdisciplinary teaching and learning program model. new text end

new text begin A board
of a school district or charter school may designate a school or program at a middle or
secondary school as interdisciplinary to provide students the opportunity to meet the
rigorous academic standards under section 120B.02. An interdisciplinary program is a
school or program within a school which is designed to meet rigorous academic standards
in a non-course-based environment or with content taught with a multidisciplinary
approach, for example charter schools, area learning centers, contract alternative schools,
online schools, and small schools. An interdisciplinary program provides:
new text end

new text begin (1) students the opportunity to design multidisciplinary projects around personal
interests, persistent societal issues, or both, and gain real world knowledge and skills
through individualized demonstrated performance; and
new text end

new text begin (2) teachers as guides and facilitators of learning to create a learning environment
that promotes the world as the classroom rather than teachers as purveyors of a single
content area of knowledge.
new text end

new text begin The interdisciplinary license provided for in this section shall not deem a teacher
to be qualified to teach in a school or program which is organized around a course
content-based model unless the teacher also holds a license for the subject or subjects the
teacher is teaching.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Teacher licensure. new text end

new text begin (a) A person holding a position as an interdisciplinary
teacher in a middle or secondary school must be licensed under this section. An applicant
for an interdisciplinary license must:
new text end

new text begin (1) complete a postsecondary teacher preparation program approved by the Board of
Teaching. An applicant must acquire, through the approved teacher preparation program,
the knowledge and skills provided for in Minnesota Rules, part 8710.2000, subparts 3
to 11, and demonstrate successful application of the knowledge and skills in simulated
interdisciplinary settings or in current district or charter school interdisciplinary programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) have at least two years of successful classroom teaching experience in a middle or
secondary level approved interdisciplinary program as an intern supervised by one or more
teachers teaching in that interdisciplinary program who hold licensure as interdisciplinary
teachers and hold a current teaching license to teach one or more content areas; and
new text end

new text begin (3) have two years experience in a middle or secondary level interdisciplinary
program and document through a portfolio process implementation of the competencies
necessary for licensure and hold a current teaching license to teach one or more content
areas.
new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this subdivision, "classroom teaching license" means a license
to teach middle or secondary school content areas and does not include limited licenses,
provisional licenses, intern licenses, or other temporary licenses; and
new text end

new text begin (c) Persons teaching in an interdisciplinary program as provided for in this section
shall hold an interdisciplinary license as provided for in this section by September 1, 2010.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Institutional requirement. new text end

new text begin (a) An institution applying to the Board of
Teaching for approval of a postsecondary teacher preparation program leading to licensure
as an interdisciplinary teacher must comply with Minnesota Rules, part 8700.7600. An
institution applying for program approval must include a description of how an applicant
for licensure as an interdisciplinary teacher may have experience and preparation in
the content areas included in the license evaluated by the institution. The evaluation
team must include representation from the teacher preparation program and practicing
interdisciplinary program directors and teachers. The evaluation must result in a plan for
the applicant to complete the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in Minnesota Rules,
part 8710.2000, subparts 3 to 11. The evaluation may include a reduction of the required
teacher preparation program credits necessary for an applicant to be recommended for
licensure.
new text end

new text begin (b) An approved postsecondary teacher preparation program must include an exit
evaluation that requires an applicant for licensure to demonstrate aptitude with the
knowledge, understanding, and abilities described under this section. The exit evaluation
must focus on skill components not previously demonstrated during completion of the
field-based experience. The exit evaluation must allow the applicant to demonstrate
aptitude with the knowledge areas within a reasonable period of time.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Rulemaking authority. new text end

new text begin By December 31, 2007, the Board of Teaching
must adopt rules providing for licensure as an interdisciplinary teacher as provided for
in this section and shall not make any amendments, additions, or deletions to what is
provided in this section.
new text end