1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; allowing teacher candidates to obtain a Tier 3 license without 
1.3 	passing basic skills exams;amending Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, sections 
1.4 	122A.183, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 122A.184, subdivision 1; 
1.5 	122A.185, subdivision 1.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.183, subdivision 1, is 
1.8 	amended to read:
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Requirements. (a) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards 
1.10 	Board must issue a Tier 3 license to a candidate who provides information sufficient to 
1.11 	demonstrate all of the following:
1.12 	(1) the candidate meets the educational or professional requirements in paragraphs (b) 
1.13 	and (c);
1.14 	(2) the candidate has obtained a waiver under subdivision 1a or a passing score on the 
1.15 	required licensure exams under section 122A.185; and
1.16 	(3) the candidate has completed the coursework required under subdivision 2.
1.17 	(b) A candidate for a Tier 3 license must have a bachelor's degree to teach a class or 
1.18 	course outside a career and technical education or career pathways course of study.
1.19 	(c) A candidate for a Tier 3 license must have one of the following credentials in a 
1.20 	relevant content area to teach a class or course in a career and technical education or career 
1.21 	pathways course of study:
1.22 	(1) an associate's degree;
2.1 	(2) a professional certification; or
2.2 	(3) five years of relevant work experience.
2.3 	In consultation with the Governor's Workforce Development Council established under 
2.4 	section 116L.665, the board must establish a list of qualifying certifications, and may add 
2.5 	additional professional certifications in consultation with school administrators, teachers, 
2.6 	and other stakeholders.

2.7 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.183, is amended by adding a 
2.8 	subdivision to read:
2.9 		Subd. 1a.Basic skills exam waiver. The board must issue a Tier 3 license to a teacher 
2.10 	candidate who has not passed the required licensure exams under section 122A.185 but who 
2.11 	otherwise meets the requirements for a Tier 3 license under this section if the candidate is 
2.12 	hired by a school district or charter school and, notwithstanding sections 122A.40, subdivision 
2.13 	5, and 122A.41, subdivision 2, teaches under a probationary period of four consecutive 
2.14 	years. At the conclusion of the four-year probationary period, the requirement that the 
2.15 	teacher pass the required licensure exams under section 122A.185 is deemed waived.

2.16 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.184, subdivision 1, is amended 
2.17 	to read:
2.18 		Subdivision 1.Requirements. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards 
2.19 	Board must issue a Tier 4 license to a candidate who provides information sufficient to 
2.20 	demonstrate all of the following:
2.21 	(1) the candidate meets all requirements for a Tier 3 license under section 122A.183, 
2.22 	and has completed a teacher preparation program under section 122A.183, subdivision 2, 
2.23 	clause (1) or (2);
2.24 	(2) the candidate has at least three years of teaching experience in Minnesota;
2.25 	(3) the candidate has obtained a waiver under section 122A.183, subdivision 1a, or a 
2.26 	passing score on all required licensure exams under section 122A.185; and
2.27 	(4) the candidate's most recent summative teacher evaluation did not result in placing 
2.28 	or otherwise keeping the teacher in an improvement process pursuant to section 122A.40, 
2.29 	subdivision 8, or 122A.41, subdivision 5.

3.1 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.185, subdivision 1, is amended 
3.2 	to read:
3.3 		Subdivision 1.Tests. (a) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board 
3.4 	must adopt rules requiring a candidate to demonstrate a passing score on a board-adopted 
3.5 	examination of skills in reading, writing, and mathematics before being granted a Tier 4 
3.6 	teaching license under section 122A.184 to provide direct instruction to pupils in elementary, 
3.7 	secondary, or special education programs. Candidates may obtain a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 
3.8 	3 license to provide direct instruction to pupils in elementary, secondary, or special education 
3.9 	programs if candidates meet the other requirements in section 122A.181, 122A.182, or 
3.10 	122A.183, respectively. A candidate's test scores must be mailed to all school districts to 
3.11 	which the candidate is applying for a teaching position.
3.12 	(b) The board must adopt rules requiring candidates for Tier 3 and Tier 4 licenses to 
3.13 	pass an examination of general pedagogical knowledge and examinations of licensure field 
3.14 	specific content. The content examination requirement does not apply if no relevant content 
3.15 	exam exists.
3.16 	(c) Candidates for initial Tier 3 and Tier 4 licenses to teach elementary students must 
3.17 	pass test items assessing the candidates' knowledge, skill, and ability in comprehensive, 
3.18 	scientifically based reading instruction under section 122A.06, subdivision 4, knowledge 
3.19 	and understanding of the foundations of reading development, development of reading 
3.20 	comprehension and reading assessment and instruction, and the ability to integrate that 
3.21 	knowledge and understanding into instruction strategies under section 122A.06, subdivision 
3.22 	4.
3.23 	(d) The requirement to pass a board-adopted reading, writing, and mathematics skills 
3.24 	examination does not apply to nonnative English speakers, as verified by qualified Minnesota 
3.25 	school district personnel or Minnesota higher education faculty, who, after meeting the 
3.26 	content and pedagogy requirements under this subdivision, apply for a teaching license to 
3.27 	provide direct instruction in their native language or world language instruction under section 
3.28 	120B.022, subdivision 1.