HF 3597

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/12/2018 02:08pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; allowing teacher candidates to obtain a Tier 3 license without
passing basic skills exams; amending Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, sections
122A.183, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 122A.184, subdivision 1;
122A.185, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.183, subdivision 1, is
amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Requirements.

(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
Board must issue a Tier 3 license to a candidate who provides information sufficient to
demonstrate all of the following:

(1) the candidate meets the educational or professional requirements in paragraphs (b)
and (c);

(2) the candidate has obtained new text begin a waiver under subdivision 1a or new text end a passing score on the
required licensure exams under section 122A.185; and

(3) the candidate has completed the coursework required under subdivision 2.

(b) A candidate for a Tier 3 license must have a bachelor's degree to teach a class or
course outside a career and technical education or career pathways course of study.

(c) A candidate for a Tier 3 license must have one of the following credentials in a
relevant content area to teach a class or course in a career and technical education or career
pathways course of study:

(1) an associate's degree;

(2) a professional certification; or

(3) five years of relevant work experience.

In consultation with the Governor's Workforce Development Council established under
section 116L.665, the board must establish a list of qualifying certifications, and may add
additional professional certifications in consultation with school administrators, teachers,
and other stakeholders.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.183, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Basic skills exam waiver. new text end

new text begin The board must issue a Tier 3 license to a teacher
candidate who has not passed the required licensure exams under section 122A.185 but who
otherwise meets the requirements for a Tier 3 license under this section if the candidate is
hired by a school district or charter school and, notwithstanding sections 122A.40, subdivision
5, and 122A.41, subdivision 2, teaches under a probationary period of four consecutive
years. At the conclusion of the four-year probationary period, the requirement that the
teacher pass the required licensure exams under section 122A.185 is deemed waived.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.184, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Requirements.

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
Board must issue a Tier 4 license to a candidate who provides information sufficient to
demonstrate all of the following:

(1) the candidate meets all requirements for a Tier 3 license under section 122A.183,
and has completed a teacher preparation program under section 122A.183, subdivision 2,
clause (1) or (2);

(2) the candidate has at least three years of teaching experience in Minnesota;

(3) the candidate has obtained new text begin a waiver under section 122A.183, subdivision 1a, or new text end a
passing score on all required licensure exams under section 122A.185; and

(4) the candidate's most recent summative teacher evaluation did not result in placing
or otherwise keeping the teacher in an improvement process pursuant to section 122A.40,
subdivision 8, or 122A.41, subdivision 5.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 122A.185, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Tests.

(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
must adopt rules requiring a candidate to demonstrate a passing score on a board-adopted
examination of skills in reading, writing, and mathematics before being granted a Tier 4
teaching license under section 122A.184 to provide direct instruction to pupils in elementary,
secondary, or special education programs. Candidates may obtain a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier
3 license to provide direct instruction to pupils in elementary, secondary, or special education
programs if candidates meet the other requirements in section 122A.181, 122A.182, or
122A.183, respectively. new text begin A candidate's test scores must be mailed to all school districts to
which the candidate is applying for a teaching position.
new text end

(b) The board must adopt rules requiring candidates for Tier 3 and Tier 4 licenses to
pass an examination of general pedagogical knowledge and examinations of licensure field
specific content. The content examination requirement does not apply if no relevant content
exam exists.

(c) Candidates for initial Tier 3 and Tier 4 licenses to teach elementary students must
pass test items assessing the candidates' knowledge, skill, and ability in comprehensive,
scientifically based reading instruction under section 122A.06, subdivision 4, knowledge
and understanding of the foundations of reading development, development of reading
comprehension and reading assessment and instruction, and the ability to integrate that
knowledge and understanding into instruction strategies under section 122A.06, subdivision
4.

(d) The requirement to pass a board-adopted reading, writing, and mathematics skills
examination does not apply to nonnative English speakers, as verified by qualified Minnesota
school district personnel or Minnesota higher education faculty, who, after meeting the
content and pedagogy requirements under this subdivision, apply for a teaching license to
provide direct instruction in their native language or world language instruction under section
120B.022, subdivision 1.