SF 1829

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

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing licensure and continuing education
requirements for teachers, program coordinators, specialists of gifted and
talented students and programs, and school administrators of gifted and talented
programs; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 122A.14, by adding a
subdivision; 122A.18, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 122A.14, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Gifted and talented program administrators; licensure and continuing
education. new text end

new text begin (a) The board shall review and approve preparation programs for school
administrators that focus on administering programs for gifted and talented students. The
board, in consultation with the commissioner, also must consider alternative preparation
programs for school administrators that focus on administering programs for gifted
and talented students under section 122A.27, and other alternative competency-based
preparation programs leading to licensure of gifted and talented program administrators.
new text end

new text begin (b) Universities offering approved graduate-level courses and programs to provide
continuing education credits to school administrators of gifted and talented programs must
include in each five-year relicensing period at least 12 clock hours of in-service training
that:
new text end

new text begin (1) focus on effectively supporting gifted and talented students and programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) offer online instruction where appropriate; and
new text end

new text begin (3) supplement in-service training provided by an intermediate school district, a
service cooperative, or other qualified community-based education organization.
new text end

new text begin (c) The board, upon request, may advise interested universities in developing and
implementing preparation and continuing education programs for school administrators
that focus on administering programs for gifted and talented students and that offer online
instruction where appropriate, consistent with this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment
and applies to persons enrolling in preparation or alternative preparation programs for
school administrators on September 1, 2008, or later and to school administrators of gifted
and talented programs seeking relicensure after August 31, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 122A.18, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Teachers of gifted and talented students; program coordinators
and specialists. new text end

new text begin (a) All colleges and universities approved by the Board of Teaching to
prepare persons for classroom teaching licensure must include in their teacher preparation
programs the equivalent of at least one semester credit covering research-based best
practices for effectively teaching gifted and talented students.
new text end

new text begin (b) Universities offering graduate-level courses and programs approved by the Board
of Teaching (1) to prepare persons as coordinators for gifted and talented programs or as
specialists in gifted and talented education, or (2) to provide continuing education credits
to gifted and talented coordinators or specialists, must include:
new text end

new text begin (i) in any certification program, the equivalent of 12 semester credits that focus on
effectively supporting gifted and talented students and that offer online instruction where
appropriate; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) in any continuing education program for gifted and talented program
coordinators or specialists in each five-year relicensing period, at least 12 clock hours that
focus on effectively supporting gifted and talented students, offer online instruction where
appropriate, and supplement in-service training provided by a qualified community-based
education organization.
new text end

new text begin (c) The board, in consultation with the commissioner, also must consider alternative
certification programs for gifted and talented program coordinators or specialists that
focus on effectively supporting gifted and talented students and programs, consistent with
this subdivision and section 122A.24, and other alternative competency-based programs.
new text end

new text begin (d) The board, upon request, may advise interested colleges and universities
in developing and implementing preparation and continuing education programs for
teachers of gifted and talented students and gifted and talented program coordinators and
specialists, consistent with this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment
and applies to persons enrolling in teacher preparation or alternative teacher preparation
programs on September 1, 2008, or later and to gifted and talented program coordinators
or specialists seeking relicensure after August 31, 2008.
new text end