SF 3229

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/08/2022 09:55am

A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying alternative teacher preparation program grant
eligibility; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section
136A.1276.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.1276, is amended to read:

136A.1276 ALTERNATIVE TEACHER PREPARATION GRANT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given them.

(b) "Alternative teacher preparation program" means an alternative teacher preparation
program under section 122A.2451, subdivision 5, or an experimental teacher preparation
program under section 122A.09, subdivision 10.

(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education.

(d) "Program" means a teacher preparation curriculum leading to specific licensure areas.

(e) "Shortage area" means:

(1) a license shortage area defined in section 136A.1275;

(2) licensure fields and economic development regions reported by the commissioner
of education as experiencing a teacher shortage; and

(2) (3) economic development regions where there is a shortage of licensed teachers
who reflect the racial or ethnic diversity of students in the region.

(f) "Unit" means an institution or defined subdivision of the institution that has primary
responsibility for overseeing and delivering teacher preparation programs.

Subd. 2.

Establishment; eligibility.

(a) The commissioner, in consultation with the
Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, must establish and administer a
program annually awarding grants to eligible alternative teacher preparation programs
consistent with this section.

(b) To be eligible to receive a grant, an alternative teacher preparation program must
certify that it:

(1) is working to fill Minnesota's teacher shortage areas; and

(2) is a school district, charter school, or nonprofit corporation organized under chapter
317A or under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for an
education-related purpose that has been operating continuously for at least three years in
Minnesota or any other state.

(c) The commissioner must give priority to applicants based in Minnesota when awarding
grants under this section.

(d) The commissioner may award a grant to an alternative teacher preparation program
that has previously received a grant under this section.

Subd. 3.

Use of grants.

(a) An alternative teacher preparation program receiving a grant
under this section must use the grant to:

(1) establish initial unit approval to become an alternative teacher preparation program;

(2) expand alternative teacher preparation programs by expanding program approval to
other licensure areas identified as shortage areas by the commissioner of education;

(3) recruit, select, and train teachers who reflect the racial or ethnic diversity of students
in Minnesota; or

(4) establish professional development programs for teachers who have obtained teaching
licenses through alternative teacher preparation programs.

An alternative teacher preparation program may expend grant funds on regional management
and operations, development, and central support services, including financial support and
support for technology and human services.

(b) An alternative teacher preparation program may use grant funds awarded under this
section as a match for nonstate funds, subject to paragraph (a).

(c) Appropriations made to this program do not cancel and are available until expended.

Subd. 4.

Report.

An alternative teacher preparation program receiving a grant under
this section must submit a report to the commissioner and the Professional Educator Licensing
and Standards Board on the grantee's ability to fill teacher shortage areas and positively
impact student achievement where data are available and do not identify individual teachers.
A grant recipient must submit the report required under this subdivision in the form and
manner specified by the commissioner by January 31, 2018, and each of each even-numbered
year thereafter for four years following the most recent year of receipt of funding under this
program. The report must include disaggregated data regarding:

(1) the racial and ethnic diversity of teachers and teacher candidates licensed through
the program; and

(2) program participant placement.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.

Subdivision 1.

Department of Education.

The sum indicated in this section is
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal year
designated.

Subd. 2.

Alternative teacher preparation grant program.

(a) For transfer to the
commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for alternative teacher preparation program
grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1276:

$

1,000,000

.....

2023

(b) The commissioner may prioritize grants to new or expanding programs.

(c) The base for this program is $1,000,000.

(d) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education may use no more than three
percent of this appropriation to administer the program under this subdivision.

(e) A grant recipient must submit a report to the commissioner of the Office of Higher
Education and to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board by January 31,
2024, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1276, subdivision 4.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective July 1, 2022.