KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HF3421 • 2026

Early literacy field experience required for teacher candidates providing early literacy instruction, and rulemaking required.

Early literacy field experience required for teacher candidates providing early literacy instruction, and rulemaking required.

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Clardy, Greene, Youakim, Mueller, Bakeberg, Virnig
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
Committee report, to adopt as amended
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about specific consequences for failing the field experience or how existing programs will adapt to meet new requirements before the specified start date.

Teacher Training for Early Literacy

The bill requires teacher preparation programs to include a supervised field experience in early literacy instruction based on evidence-based practices starting from the 2027-2028 school year and allows the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to create rules about this requirement.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires teacher preparation programs to include a supervised field experience for teaching early reading skills based on proven methods.
  • Gives the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board the power to make rules about what areas need this training, how long it should last, and what students must learn from it.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Teacher preparation programs that train teachers for early literacy instruction.
  • The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board which will make rules about the field experience requirement.

Terms To Know

Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
A board responsible for setting standards and licensing requirements for teachers in Minnesota.
Evidence-based best practices
Teaching methods that have been proven to be effective through research and data.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a teacher candidate fails the field experience.
  • It is unclear how existing programs will adapt to meet these new requirements before the 2027-2028 school year.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-25 House

    Committee report, to adopt as amended

  2. 2026-02-26 House

    Authors added Bakeberg and Virnig

  3. 2026-02-23 House

    Authors added Youakim and Mueller

  4. 2026-02-19 House

    Author added Greene

  5. 2026-02-17 House

    Introduction and first reading, referred to Education Policy

Official Summary Text

Early literacy field experience required for teacher candidates providing early literacy instruction, and rulemaking required.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A bill for an act

relating to education; requiring early literacy field experience for teacher candidates

providing early literacy instruction; requiring rulemaking; amending Minnesota

Statutes 2024, section 122A.092, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.092, is amended by adding a subdivision

to read:

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Subd. 10.

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Early literacy field experience.

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(a) A teacher preparation provider approved

by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to prepare teacher candidates

to provide instruction in early literacy must require a supervised early literacy field experience

aligned to evidence-based best practices in reading consistent with sections 120B.118 to

120B.124. The early literacy field experience requirement applies to teacher candidates

who enroll in teacher preparation programs in the 2027-2028 school year or later.

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(b) The early literacy field experience must be integrated with learning experiences in

reading instruction, including instruction on reading methods or equivalent, and must provide

teacher candidates with opportunities to apply evidence-based literacy practices with students.

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(c) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules regarding

the early literacy field experience requirement, including but not limited to:

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(1) defining licensure areas in which teacher candidates must complete the early literacy

field experience;

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(2) establishing expectations for the scope and outcomes of the early literacy field

experience;

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(3) ensuring the field experience occurs primarily within a school building during the

instructional day, while allowing for waivers when appropriate to accommodate unique

program delivery models or documented hardship; and

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(4) requiring the field experience includes observation with actionable feedback to ensure

growth and attainment of related reading standards.

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(d) In adopting rules under this subdivision, the board must allow flexibility for teacher

preparation programs to demonstrate that candidates have met required standards through

field experiences.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective July 1, 2026.

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