Minnesota Session Laws - 2026 Regular Session

CHAPTER 107--H.F.No. 3067

An act

relating to education; clarifying paraprofessional qualifications;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 121A.642, subdivision 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 121A.642, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Qualifications.

(a) Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, a paraprofessional meets the federal personnel qualifications required in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 300.156, if the paraprofessional:

(1) has at least two years of college credits through an accredited institution of higher education, or an associate's degree or higher;

(2) has received a passing score on an assessment approved by the Department of Education; or

(3) demonstrates the following competencies, regardless of the number of hours of training the paraprofessional has received:

(i) understanding the distinctions between roles and responsibilities of professionals, paraprofessionals, and support personnel;

(ii) understanding the purposes and goals of education and instruction for all students;

(iii) knowledge of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and local district policies and procedures to ensure paraprofessionals work within these parameters;

(iv) awareness of the challenges and expectations of various learning environments;

(v) the ability to establish and maintain rapport with students;

(vi) the ability to follow oral and written direction of licensed teachers, seeking clarification as needed;

(vii) the ability to assist and reinforce elements that support a safe, healthy, and effective teaching and learning environment;

(viii) understanding strategies for assisting with the inclusion of students in various settings;

(ix) the ability to use strategies that promote the student's independence;

(x) understanding applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and procedural safeguards regarding the management of student behaviors;

(xi) awareness of the primary factors that influence student behavior;

(xii) the ability to effectively employ a variety of strategies that reinforce positive behavior;

(xiii) the ability to use ethical practices for confidential communication about students;

(xiv) the ability to follow teacher instructions while conferring and collaborating with teachers about student schedules, instructional goals, and performance;

(xv) demonstrating a commitment to assisting students in reaching the students' highest potential, including the modeling of positive behavior;

(xvi) showing respect for the diversity of students;

(xvii) showing a willingness to participate in ongoing staff development and self-evaluation and to apply constructive feedback;

(xviii) supporting and reinforcing the instruction of students in mathematics following written and oral lesson plans developed by licensed teachers;

(xix) supporting and reinforcing the instruction of students in reading following written and oral lesson plans developed by licensed teachers. Professional development required under the Read Act in section 120B.123 exceeds this requirement; and

(xx) supporting and reinforcing the instruction of students in writing following written and oral lesson plans developed by licensed teachers.

(b) Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, a paraprofessional meets the federal personnel qualifications required in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 200.58, if the paraprofessional:

(1) has at least two years of college credits from an accredited institution of higher education, or an associate's degree or higher; or

(2) met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal state or local academic assessment, knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing, as appropriate:

(i) reading or language arts, writing, and mathematics; or

(ii) reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness.

(c) Upon request from a paraprofessional employed by a school district, charter school, or cooperative unit providing direct instructional services, the school district, charter school, or cooperative unit may provide administrative assistance to the paraprofessional when completing requirements related to the competencies required under this subdivision.

new text begin (d) A paraprofessional who demonstrates the competencies listed in paragraph (a), clause (3), must be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 200.58(c)(3)(i), when the paraprofessional's employing district or charter school validates the paraprofessional's demonstration of the competencies. The department must provide guidance to district and charter school leaders no later than August 1, 2026, on possible ways to validate these competencies and may update the guidance as needed. A district or charter school must maintain the paraprofessional's completed assessment and documentation that the paraprofessional demonstrated the required competencies in the paraprofessional's personnel file and make the records available to department and federal reviewers upon request. 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

Presented to the governor May 16, 2026