as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/11/2016 08:44am
A bill for an act
relating to education; creating the Teacher Shortage Act; appropriating money;
amending Laws 2015, chapter 69, article 1, section 3, subdivision 28; Laws 2015,
First Special Session chapter 3, article 2, section 70, subdivision 12; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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Sections 1 to 10 may be cited as the "Teacher Shortage Act."
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The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education
must establish a grant program for students who are required to student teach as part of
their teacher preparation program.
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In order to receive a grant, the applicant must:
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(1) be enrolled in a Minnesota teacher preparation program that would enable the
applicant, upon graduation, to teach in a Minnesota school district in a shortage area;
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(2) agree to teach in a shortage area for at least five years after graduating from the
teacher preparation program; and
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(3) demonstrate financial need in the form and manner prescribed by the
commissioner of the Office of Higher Education. "Shortage area" has the same meaning
given in section 122A.18, subdivision 4a.
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The office must determine the time and
manner of applications. The office must determine the stipend amount based on the money
available and the number of eligible applicants each academic year. If a stipend recipient
is employed in a shortage area, the recipient must remain employed in the shortage area
for five years or repay a portion of the amount received prorated by the number of years
the recipient has taught in the shortage area.
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Laws 2015, chapter 69, article 1, section 3, subdivision 28, is amended to read:
Subd. 28.Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness
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200,000 |
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200,000 deleted text end new text begin ....... new text end |
For the loan forgiveness program under
Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1791.
The commissioner may use no more
than three percent of this appropriation
to administer the program under this
subdivision.
Laws 2015, First Special Session chapter 3, article 2, section 70, subdivision
12, is amended to read:
For the collaborative urban educator
grant program:
$ |
780,000 |
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2016 |
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$ |
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780,000 deleted text end new text begin ....... new text end |
..... |
2017 |
Grants shall be awarded in equal amounts: deleted text begin $195,000deleted text end new text begin $....... new text end each year is for the
Southeast Asian teacher program at Concordia University, St. Paul; deleted text begin $195,000deleted text end new text begin $....... new text end each
year is for the collaborative urban educator program at the University of St. Thomas;
deleted text begin $195,000deleted text end new text begin $....... new text end each year is for the Center for Excellence in Urban Teaching at Hamline
University; and deleted text begin $195,00deleted text end new text begin $....... new text end each year is for the East Africa Student to Teacher program
at Augsburg College.
Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
Each institution shall prepare for the legislature, by January 15 of each year, a
detailed report regarding the funds used. The report must include the number of teachers
prepared as well as the diversity for each cohort of teachers produced.
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The Board of Teaching must contract for an electronic statewide school teacher and
administrator job board. The job board must allow school districts to post job openings for
prekindergarten through grade 12 teaching and administrative positions.
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The commissioner of education must establish a grant program for school districts
to design, establish, and maintain a paraprofessional pathway to teacher licensure or a
grow your own new teacher program. The programs must allow a current school district
paraprofessional with a bachelor's degree to pursue their teaching license while still being
employed by the school district. A school district may apply in the form and manner
prescribed by the commissioner.
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The Board of Teaching must use the expedited rulemaking process under Minnesota
Statutes, section 14.389, to amend Minnesota Rules, part 8710.4750, to allow a teacher
holding a grade 9 through 12 science license with at least three years of experience to
obtain a general science teaching license for grades 5 through 8 by passing an exam.
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By December 15, 2016, the chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities must prepare and submit to the committees of the legislature having
jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education and higher education a report
on the special education educator programs available at the state colleges and universities,
which institutions offer the specific special education educator programs, and the number
of graduates over the last five years.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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$....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of the Office of Higher Education for grants to student teachers in shortage areas under
Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1275.
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The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
designated.
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For transfer to the Board of Teaching for the
statewide school teacher and administrator job board:
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$ new text end |
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79,000 new text end |
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..... new text end |
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2017 new text end |
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For grants to school
districts for grow your own new teacher programs:
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$ new text end |
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....... new text end |
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..... new text end |
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2017 new text end |