HF 412

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

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a grant program to promote professional
teaching standards; appropriating money; 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.73] GRANT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL
TEACHING STANDARDS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A grant program to promote professional teaching
standards through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is established to
provide teachers with the opportunity to receive National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards certification and to reward teachers who have already received this certification.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin An applicant for a grant must:
new text end

new text begin (1) be a licensed teacher employed in a Minnesota public school;
new text end

new text begin (2) have a minimum of five school years' classroom teaching experience; and
new text end

new text begin (3) demonstrate acceptance by the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards as a candidate for board certification or as a recipient of board certification.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application process. new text end

new text begin To obtain a grant to participate in the National Board
for Professional Teaching Standards certification process or to receive a reward for already
completing the board certification process, a teacher must submit an application to the
commissioner of education in the form and manner established by the commissioner. The
commissioner shall consult with the Board of Teaching when reviewing the applications.
The commissioner shall also provide program support to assist applicants during the
national board certification process.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grant awards; proceeds. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner may award grants of
$1,000 to eligible teachers accepted as candidates for the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards certification or for national board certification renewal for partial
payment of the teacher's candidate application fee.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall award grants of $3,000 to all eligible teacher applicants
who hold certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and
$2,000 for renewal of their national board certification.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall also award grants to eligible teachers who have received
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification within one year prior to
the date of the teacher's application for a grant to use for educational purposes, including
purchasing instructional materials, equipment, or supplies, and pursuing professional
development opportunities. The amount of each grant awarded under this paragraph shall
not exceed $1,000 and the commissioner, in consultation with Education Minnesota, shall
establish criteria to determine the amount of each grant.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin The following sum is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
education in the fiscal year designated for the grant program to promote professional
teaching standards under section 1:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ...,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2008 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ...,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2009 new text end

new text begin $....... of this amount is for ... grants of $1,000 each to eligible teachers accepted as
candidates for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification according
to Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.73, subdivision 4, paragraph (a). The grant award
shall be made to the national board.
new text end

new text begin $....... of this amount is for ... grants of $2,000 each to eligible teachers according to
Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.73, subdivision 4, paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin $....... of this amount is for grants of up to $1,000 each to eligible teachers who have
received National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification according to
Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.73, subdivision 4, paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin $100,000 of this amount is for the commissioner of education to pay one coordinator
and three facilitators to assist and support applicants for National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards certification. The coordinator and facilitators must hold certification
from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The money must also be
used for program costs, travel expenses, meetings, supplies, and Web site maintenance.
new text end