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

1.6 	Section 1. [122A.76] EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING PROGRAM.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The excellence in teaching program is established to 
1.8 	promote the National Board Certification of Teachers throughout the state of Minnesota.
1.9 		Subd. 2.Coordinator. The executive director of the Board of Teaching shall 
1.10 	appoint a statewide coordinator for the program under this section. The coordinator's 
1.11 	duties shall include, but are not limited to:
1.12 	(1) promoting understanding of the National Board Certification process throughout 
1.13 	the state;
1.14 	(2) coordinating technical support for National Board Certification candidates;
1.15 	(3) maintaining an online platform for candidate recruitment and support;
1.16 	(4) collaborating with education stakeholder groups and organizations; and
1.17 	(5) partnering with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as 
1.18 	necessary to implement the purposes of the program.
1.19 		Subd. 3.Incentive grants. The Board of Teaching shall award a onetime incentive 
1.20 	grant of $2,000 to any Minnesota teacher who achieves National Board Certification 
1.21 	after June 30, 2015, as long as funds are available. The grants must be awarded on 
1.22 	a first-come, first-served basis.

1.23 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
 2.1 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
2.2 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
2.3 	designated.
2.4 		Subd. 2.Department. (a) For the Department of Education:

2.5 | | $ | ....... | ..... | 2016
2.6 | | $ | ....... | ..... | 2017
2.7 	(b) $200,000 each year is for the Board of Teaching for the excellence in teaching 
2.8 	program. Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
2.9 		Subd. 3.Excellence in teaching program. For the excellence in teaching program 
2.10 	incentive grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.76, subdivision 3:

2.11 | | $ | 200,000 | ..... | 2016
2.12 | | $ | 200,000 | ..... | 2017
2.13 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.