SF 3393

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; directing the Board of Teaching to require additional
instruction related to Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities;
establishing an advisory task force on Minnesota American Indian tribes and
communities and K-12 standards-based reform; amending Minnesota Statutes
2004, section 122A.09, subdivision 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 122A.09, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:

Subd. 4.

License and rules.

(a) The board must adopt rules to license public school
teachers and interns subject to chapter 14.

(b) The board must adopt rules requiring a person to successfully complete a skills
examination in reading, writing, and mathematics as a requirement for initial teacher
licensure. Such rules must require college and universities offering a board-approved
teacher preparation program to provide remedial assistance to persons who did not
achieve a qualifying score on the skills examination, including those for whom English is
a second language.

(c) The board must adopt rules to approve teacher preparation programs. The board,
upon the request of a postsecondary student preparing for teacher licensure or a licensed
graduate of a teacher preparation program, shall assist in resolving a dispute between the
person and a postsecondary institution providing a teacher preparation program when the
dispute involves an institution's recommendation for licensure affecting the person or the
person's credentials. At the board's discretion, assistance may include the application
of chapter 14.

(d) The board must provide the leadership and shall adopt rules for the redesign of
teacher education programs to implement a research based, results-oriented curriculum that
focuses on the skills teachers need in order to be effective. The board shall implement new
systems of teacher preparation program evaluation to assure program effectiveness based
on proficiency of graduates in demonstrating attainment of program outcomes. new text begin The board
must require that persons enrolled in a teacher preparation program receive instruction
in historical and cultural competencies related to Minnesota American Indian tribes and
communities and their contributions to Minnesota, consistent with sections 124D.71 to
124D.82. The competencies related to Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities
must include, among other components, standards for instructional practices most effective
for successfully teaching elementary and secondary American Indian students.
new text end

(e) The board must adopt rules requiring successful completion of an examination
of general pedagogical knowledge and examinations of licensure-specific teaching
skills. The rules shall be effective on the dates determined by the board but not later
than September 1, 2001.

(f) The board must adopt rules requiring teacher educators to work directly with
elementary or secondary school teachers in elementary or secondary schools to obtain
periodic exposure to the elementary or secondary teaching environment.

(g) The board must grant licenses to interns and to candidates for initial licenses.

(h) The board must design and implement an assessment system which requires a
candidate for an initial license and first continuing license to demonstrate the abilities
necessary to perform selected, representative teaching tasks at appropriate levels.

(i) The board must receive recommendations from local committees as established
by the board for the renewal of teaching licenses.

(j) The board must grant life licenses to those who qualify according to requirements
established by the board, and suspend or revoke licenses pursuant to sections 122A.20 and
214.10. The board must not establish any expiration date for application for life licenses.

(k) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation in
the areas of using positive behavior interventions and in accommodating, modifying, and
adapting curricula, materials, and strategies to appropriately meet the needs of individual
students and ensure adequate progress toward the state's graduation rule.

(l) In adopting rules to license public school teachers who provide health-related
services for disabled children, the board shall adopt rules consistent with license or
registration requirements of the commissioner of health and the health-related boards who
license personnel who perform similar services outside of the school.

(m) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further reading
preparation, consistent with section 122A.06, subdivision 4. The rules do not take effect
until they are approved by law. Teachers who do not provide direct instruction including, at
least, counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, audiovisual
directors and coordinators, and recreation personnel are exempt from this section.

(n) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation
in understanding the key warning signs of early-onset mental illness in children and
adolescents.

new text begin (o) The board must adopt rules to include instruction and other development
activities to improve the understanding and effective instruction of and communication
with Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities, consistent with paragraph (d)
and sections 124D.71 to 124D.82, in the 125 clock hours of professional development that
teachers must complete to renew their professional teaching license.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2006-2007 school year and
later.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON MINNESOTA AMERICAN INDIAN
TRIBES AND COMMUNITIES AND K-12 STANDARDS-BASED REFORM.
new text end

new text begin (a) An advisory task force on Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities
and K-12 standards-based reform is established to examine the impact of state and federal
standards-based reform on Minnesota's K-12 American Indian students and to recommend
to the legislature changes to the state's performance standards, content requirements,
assessments measures, and teacher preparation programs to most effectively meet the
educational needs of American Indian students enrolled in Minnesota schools. The
task force, in consultation with American Indian educators and parents, and others who
advocate for American Indian children, at least must determine if state education standards
and assessments are inappropriate for American Indian students, if American Indian
students are unfairly compared, if American Indian students do not receive the assistance
they need to achieve the state standards, and if schools do not receive financial and
technical assistance sufficient to meet the educational needs of American Indian students.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of education shall appoint an advisory task force on
Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities and K-12 standards-based reform
that is composed of the following representatives: education department staff experienced
in working with American Indian students and programs; Minnesota American Indian
tribes and communities; Minnesota School Boards Association; school administrators;
Education Minnesota; the state Board of Teaching; a minority member and majority
member both from the Minnesota House of Representatives and from the Minnesota
Senate; the Minnesota Council on Indian Affairs; postsecondary faculty who serve as
instructors in teacher preparation programs; local community service providers who work
with Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities; and other representatives
recommended by task force members. Task force members' terms and other task force
matters are subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059. The task force must submit a
written report to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over education policy
and finance by February 15, 2007, that includes any recommended changes to the
state's performance standards, content requirements, assessments measures, and teacher
preparation programs to most effectively meet the educational needs of American Indian
students enrolled in Minnesota schools.
new text end

new text begin (c) Upon request, the commissioner of education must provide the task force with
technical, fiscal, and other support.
new text end

new text begin (d) The task force expires on February 16, 2007.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end