as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/28/2017 10:07am
A bill for an act
relating to higher education; requiring the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
to establish a program allowing secondary school teachers to earn graduate credits
required to teach concurrent enrollment courses; appropriating money.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities must develop a continuing education program to allow eligible
teachers to attain the requisite graduate credits necessary to be qualified to teach secondary
school courses for postsecondary credit.
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The program must:
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(1) be accessible to eligible teachers throughout the state;
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(2) provide up to 18 credits in applicable postsecondary subject areas;
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(3) provide graduate credit at a reduced price; and
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(4) be practicable for teachers carrying a full work load during the school year.
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The board must:
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(1) provide funding for scholarships for eligible teachers to enroll in the program; and
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(2) develop criteria for awarding educator stipends on a per-credit basis to incentivize
participating in the program.
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Participation in the continuing education program is
reserved for secondary school teachers who need to earn additional graduate credits to
qualify to teach secondary school courses for postsecondary credit.
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The board must submit an annual report by January 15 of
each year on the progress of its activities to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy and
kindergarten through grade 12 education policy and finance, and the commissioner of
education. The annual report shall contain a financial report for the preceding year. The
first report is due no later than January 15, 2019.
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The board may develop the program independent of or in partnership with the Northwest
Regional Partnership concurrent enrollment program established by Laws 2016, chapter
189, article 25, section 58.
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$....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from the general
fund to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for a
concurrent enrollment teacher training program. This is a onetime appropriation. If the
appropriation in this subdivision for either year is insufficient, the appropriation for the
other year is available for it.
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