1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; authorizing schools to use an interdisciplinary teaching and 
1.3 	learning program model; providing for an interdisciplinary teaching license; 
1.4 	providing for rulemaking;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.5 	chapter 122A.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. [122A.245] INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING AND LEARNING 
1.8 	PROGRAM MODEL; TEACHER LICENSURE.
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Interdisciplinary teaching and learning program model. A board 
1.10 	of a school district or charter school may designate a school or program at a middle or 
1.11 	secondary school as interdisciplinary to provide students the opportunity to meet the 
1.12 	rigorous academic standards under section 120B.02. An interdisciplinary program is a 
1.13 	school or program within a school which is designed to meet rigorous academic standards 
1.14 	in a non-course-based environment or with content taught with a multidisciplinary 
1.15 	approach, for example charter schools, area learning centers, contract alternative schools, 
1.16 	online schools, and small schools. An interdisciplinary program provides:
1.17 	(1) students the opportunity to design multidisciplinary projects around personal 
1.18 	interests, persistent societal issues, or both, and gain real world knowledge and skills 
1.19 	through individualized demonstrated performance; and
1.20 	(2) teachers as guides and facilitators of learning to create a learning environment 
1.21 	that promotes the world as the classroom rather than teachers as purveyors of a single 
1.22 	content area of knowledge.
1.23 	The interdisciplinary license provided for in this section shall not deem a teacher 
1.24 	to be qualified to teach in a school or program which is organized around a course 
2.1 	content-based model unless the teacher also holds a license for the subject or subjects the 
2.2 	teacher is teaching.
2.3 		Subd. 2.Teacher licensure. (a) A person holding a position as an interdisciplinary 
2.4 	teacher in a middle or secondary school must be licensed under this section. An applicant 
2.5 	for an interdisciplinary license must:
2.6 	(1) complete a postsecondary teacher preparation program approved by the Board of 
2.7 	Teaching. An applicant must acquire, through the approved teacher preparation program, 
2.8 	the knowledge and skills provided for in Minnesota Rules, part 8710.2000, subparts 3 
2.9 	to 11, and demonstrate successful application of the knowledge and skills in simulated 
2.10 	interdisciplinary settings or in current district or charter school interdisciplinary programs;
2.11 	(2) have at least two years of successful classroom teaching experience in a middle or 
2.12 	secondary level approved interdisciplinary program as an intern supervised by one or more 
2.13 	teachers teaching in that interdisciplinary program who hold licensure as interdisciplinary 
2.14 	teachers and hold a current teaching license to teach one or more content areas; and
2.15 	(3) have two years experience in a middle or secondary level interdisciplinary 
2.16 	program and document through a portfolio process implementation of the competencies 
2.17 	necessary for licensure and hold a current teaching license to teach one or more content 
2.18 	areas.
2.19 	(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "classroom teaching license" means a license 
2.20 	to teach middle or secondary school content areas and does not include limited licenses, 
2.21 	provisional licenses, intern licenses, or other temporary licenses; and
2.22 	(c) Persons teaching in an interdisciplinary program as provided for in this section 
2.23 	shall hold an interdisciplinary license as provided for in this section by September 1, 2010.
2.24 		Subd. 3.Institutional requirement. (a) An institution applying to the Board of 
2.25 	Teaching for approval of a postsecondary teacher preparation program leading to licensure 
2.26 	as an interdisciplinary teacher must comply with Minnesota Rules, part 8700.7600. An 
2.27 	institution applying for program approval must include a description of how an applicant 
2.28 	for licensure as an interdisciplinary teacher may have experience and preparation in 
2.29 	the content areas included in the license evaluated by the institution. The evaluation 
2.30 	team must include representation from the teacher preparation program and practicing 
2.31 	interdisciplinary program directors and teachers. The evaluation must result in a plan for 
2.32 	the applicant to complete the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in Minnesota Rules, 
2.33 	part 8710.2000, subparts 3 to 11. The evaluation may include a reduction of the required 
2.34 	teacher preparation program credits necessary for an applicant to be recommended for 
2.35 	licensure.
3.1 	(b) An approved postsecondary teacher preparation program must include an exit 
3.2 	evaluation that requires an applicant for licensure to demonstrate aptitude with the 
3.3 	knowledge, understanding, and abilities described under this section. The exit evaluation 
3.4 	must focus on skill components not previously demonstrated during completion of the 
3.5 	field-based experience. The exit evaluation must allow the applicant to demonstrate 
3.6 	aptitude with the knowledge areas within a reasonable period of time.
3.7 		Subd. 4.Rulemaking authority. By December 31, 2007, the Board of Teaching 
3.8 	must adopt rules providing for licensure as an interdisciplinary teacher as provided for 
3.9 	in this section and shall not make any amendments, additions, or deletions to what is 
3.10 	provided in this section.