1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a grant program to promote professional teaching 
1.3 	standards; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 122A.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [122A.77] GRANT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL 
1.7 	TEACHING STANDARDS THROUGH THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR 
1.8 	PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS.
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. A grant program to promote professional teaching 
1.10 	standards through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is established to 
1.11 	provide eligible teachers with the opportunity to receive National Board for Professional 
1.12 	Teaching Standards certification and to recognize teachers who have already received such 
1.13 	certification.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Eligibility. An applicant for a grant must be a licensed kindergarten through 
1.15 	grade 12 teacher employed by a school district or charter school. To be eligible for a grant, 
1.16 	the teacher must have been employed as a  teacher for a minimum of three school years and 
1.17 	demonstrate either that the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has accepted 
1.18 	the teacher as a candidate for board certification or that the teacher has already received 
1.19 	board certification.
1.20 		Subd. 3.Application process. To obtain a grant to participate in the National Board for 
1.21 	Professional Teaching Standards certification process or to receive a reward for already 
1.22 	completing the board certification process, a teacher must submit an application to the 
1.23 	commissioner of education in the form and manner established by the commissioner. The 
2.1 	applicant must demonstrate either that the National Board for Professional Teaching 
2.2 	Standards has accepted the teacher as a candidate for board certification or that the teacher 
2.3 	has already received board certification.
2.4 		Subd. 4.Grant awards; proceeds. (a) The commissioner may award grants of up to 
2.5 	$1,000 each to eligible teachers accepted as candidates for the National Board for Professional 
2.6 	Teaching Standards certification. Grant recipients must use the grant to pursue and complete 
2.7 	the certification process. Within 24 months of receiving certification, a grant recipient must 
2.8 	satisfactorily complete one year of teaching service in a school district or charter school or 
2.9 	repay the state the amount of the grant, except if the commissioner determines that death 
2.10 	or disability prevents the grant recipient from providing one year of teaching service.
2.11 	(b) The commissioner may award grants to recognize eligible teachers who have already 
2.12 	completed the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification process. 
2.13 	The amount of each grant must not exceed $1,500 and the commissioner must establish 
2.14 	criteria to determine the actual amount of each grant. Grant recipients must use the grant 
2.15 	for educational purposes, including to purchase instructional materials, equipment, or 
2.16 	supplies, or to pursue professional development opportunities.

2.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.18 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
 2.19 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
2.20 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year 
2.21 	designated.
2.22 		Subd. 2.Grants to promote professional teaching standards through the National 
2.23 	Board for Professional Teaching Standards. (a) For grants to promote professional 
2.24 	teaching standards through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards under 
2.25 	Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.77:

2.26		$
	1,000,000
	.....
	2021
	
2.27 	(b) $500,000 is for grant awards under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.77, subdivision 
2.28 	4, paragraph (a), to eligible teachers accepted as candidates for the National Board for 
2.29 	Professional Teaching Standards certification. The grant must be used to pay for up to 
2.30 	two-thirds of the cost to pursue and complete the certification program.
2.31 	(c) $450,000 is for grant awards under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.77, subdivision 
2.32 	4, paragraph (b), to eligible teachers who have already completed the National Board for 
2.33 	Professional Teaching Standards certification process. The grant must be used for educational 
3.1 	purposes, including to purchase instructional materials, equipment, or supplies, or to pursue 
3.2 	professional development opportunities.
3.3 	(d) $50,000 is for the commissioner to recruit and assist teacher candidates.

3.4 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2020.