1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; directing the Board of Teaching to create and issue 
1.3 	Montessori-specific teaching licenses;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, 
1.4 	section 122A.09, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.09, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 9a.Montessori-specific teaching licenses. (a) The Board of Teaching must 
1.9 	adopt rules to create and issue Montessori-specific full professional teaching licenses, 
1.10 	consistent with this subdivision and section 123B.03. For purposes of this subdivision, 
1.11 	a "Montessori school" means a school using as its primary method of instruction a 
1.12 	program endorsed by the American Montessori Society or the Association Montessori 
1.13 	Internationale. 
1.14 	(b) To attain these Montessori-specific licenses, interested individuals holding a 
1.15 	bachelor's degree from an accredited higher education institution must successfully 
1.16 	complete a Montessori-specific teacher preparation and training program leading to: 
1.17 	(1) a diploma, degree, or full credential from an institution accredited by the 
1.18 	Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education;
1.19 	(2) a full credential from an institution accredited by the American Montessori 
1.20 	Society; or
1.21 	(3) a diploma from an institution accredited by Association Montessori Internationale.
1.22 	(c) The Board of Teaching must issue a full professional teaching license to 
1.23 	a candidate who successfully completes an accredited Montessori-specific teacher 
1.24 	preparation and training program under this subdivision and receives a diploma, degree, or 
2.1 	credential for an early childhood license for teaching children ages 2-1/2 to eight, an early 
2.2 	elementary license for teaching students in grades 1 through 3, a late elementary license 
2.3 	for teaching students in grades 4 through 6, an overall elementary license for teaching 
2.4 	students in grades 1 through 6, or a secondary license in math, English language arts, 
2.5 	science, or social studies for teaching students in grades 6 through 12. Candidates for an 
2.6 	early childhood, early elementary, late elementary, or overall elementary teaching license 
2.7 	must complete the same pedagogy, content, and skills exams as all other Minnesota 
2.8 	elementary teachers holding a full professional teaching license issued by the Board of 
2.9 	Teaching. Candidates for a secondary license in math, English language arts, science, or 
2.10 	social studies must complete the same pedagogy, content, and skills exams as all other 
2.11 	secondary teachers holding a full professional teaching license issued by the Board of 
2.12 	Teaching to teach math, English language arts, science, or social studies, respectively.
2.13 	(d) Individuals holding a Montessori-specific full professional teaching license may 
2.14 	teach only in Montessori schools. These licensees may renew their teaching license every 
2.15 	five years, consistent with the requirements for renewing a full professional license and this 
2.16 	subdivision, which anticipates Montessori-focused professional development activities, 
2.17 	among other teacher professional development activities required for licensure renewal.

2.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.