Educator licensing and standards provisions modifications and appropriation

A bill for an act

relating to education; modifying provisions for educator licensing and standards;

modifying rulemaking authority for paraprofessional credentials; providing for

additional data sharing agreements; modifying professional development

requirements for mental health; extending an appropriation; requiring rulemaking;

appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 120B.363,

subdivisions 1, 2; 122A.09, subdivision 9; 122A.092, by adding a subdivision;

122A.182, subdivisions 1, 5; 122A.187, subdivision 6; Minnesota Statutes 2025

Supplement, sections 122A.18, subdivision 1; 122A.181, subdivision 3; 122A.182,

subdivision 3; Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 10, section 5, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.363, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Rulemaking.

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By July 1, 2028,
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the
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Professional Educator Licensing and

Standards Board
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commissioner
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must adopt rules to implement a statewide credential for

education paraprofessionals who assist a licensed teacher in providing student instruction.

Any paraprofessional holding this credential or working in a local school district after

meeting a state-approved local assessment is considered to be highly qualified under federal

law. Under this subdivision,
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the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, in

consultation with
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the commissioner
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,
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must adopt qualitative criteria for approving local

assessments that include an evaluation of a paraprofessional's knowledge of reading, writing,

and math and the paraprofessional's ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing,

and math. The commissioner must approve or disapprove local assessments using these

criteria. The commissioner must make the criteria available to the public.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.363, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Training possibilities.

In adopting rules under subdivision 1, the
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board
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commissioner
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must consider including provisions that provide training in: students'

characteristics; teaching and learning environment; academic instruction skills; student

behavior; and ethical practices.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.09, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules.

(a)

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must adopt rules subject to the

provisions of chapter
14
to implement sections
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120B.363
,
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122A.05
to
122A.09
,
122A.092
,

122A.16
,
122A.17
,
122A.18
,
122A.181
,
122A.182
,
122A.183
,
122A.184
,
122A.185
,

122A.187
,
122A.188
,
122A.19
,
122A.20
,
122A.21
,
122A.23
,
122A.26
,
122A.28
,
122A.29
,

and
124D.72
.

(b) The board must adopt rules relating to fields of licensure and grade levels that a

licensed teacher may teach, including a process for granting permission to a licensed teacher

to teach in a field that is different from the teacher's field of licensure without change to the

teacher's license tier level.

(c) If a rule adopted by the board is in conflict with a session law or statute, the law or

statute prevails. Terms adopted in rule must be clearly defined and must not be construed

to conflict with terms adopted in statute or session law.

(d) The board must include a description of a proposed rule's probable effect on teacher

supply and demand in the board's statement of need and reasonableness under section
14.131
.

(e) The board must adopt rules only under the specific statutory authority.

Sec. 4.

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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Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 122A.18, subdivision 1, is amended

to read:

Subdivision 1.

Authority to license.

(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and

Standards Board must issue the following teacher licenses to applicants who meet the

qualifications prescribed by this chapter:

(1) Tier 1 license under section
122A.181
;

(2) Tier 2 license under section
122A.182
;

(3) Tier 3 license under section
122A.183
; and

(4) Tier 4 license under section
122A.184
.

(b) The Board of School Administrators must license supervisory personnel as defined

in section
122A.15, subdivision 2
, except for athletic coaches.

(c) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the Department of

Education must enter into a data sharing agreement to share:

(1) educational data at the E-12 level for the limited purpose of program approval and

improvement for teacher education programs. The program approval process must include

targeted redesign of teacher preparation programs to address identified E-12 student areas

of concern; and

(2) data in the staff automated reporting system for the limited purpose of managing and

processing funding to school districts and other entities. The board has authority to collect

and retain nonlicensed staff data on behalf of the Department of Education. The board must

share licensed and nonlicensed staff data with the department as outlined in the data sharing

agreement required under paragraph (d). The department may access and use the data as

required under federal or state law and for the purposes outlined in the data sharing

agreement.

(d) The Board of School Administrators and the Department of Education must enter

into a data sharing agreement to share educational data at the E-12 level for the limited

purpose of program approval and improvement for education administration programs. The

program approval process must include targeted redesign of education administration

preparation programs to address identified E-12 student areas of concern.

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(e) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the Board of School

Administrators must enter into a data sharing agreement to share data in the staff automated

reporting system for the limited purpose of managing and processing administrative licenses,

including overseeing ethics and compliance. The board must share licensed staff data with

the Board of School Administrators as outlined in the data sharing agreement. The Board

of School Administrators may access and use the data as required under federal or state law

and for the purposes outlined in the data sharing agreement.

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(e)
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(f)
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For purposes of the data sharing agreements under paragraphs (c)
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and (d)
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to (e)
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,

the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, Board of School Administrators,

and Department of Education may share private data, as defined in section
13.02, subdivision

12
, on teachers and school administrators. The data sharing agreements must not include

educational data, as defined in section
13.32, subdivision 1
, but may include summary data,

as defined in section
13.02, subdivision 19
, derived from educational data.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 122A.181, subdivision 3, is amended

to read:

Subd. 3.

Term of license and renewal.

(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and

Standards Board must issue an initial Tier 1 license for a term of one year. A Tier 1 license

may be renewed subject to paragraphs (b) to (d).

(b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must renew a Tier 1

license if:

(1) the district or charter school requesting the renewal demonstrates that it has posted

the teacher position but was unable to hire an acceptable teacher with a Tier 2, 3, or 4 license

for the position;

(2) the teacher holding the Tier 1 license took a content examination in accordance with

section
122A.185
and submitted the examination results to the teacher's employing district

or charter school within one year of the board approving the request for the initial Tier 1

license;

(3) the teacher holding the Tier 1 license participated in cultural competency training

consistent with section
120B.30, subdivision 8
, within one year of the board approving the

request for the initial Tier 1 license; and

(4) the teacher holding the Tier 1 license met the mental
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illness
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health
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training renewal

requirement under section
122A.187, subdivision 6
.

The requirement in clause (2) does not apply to a teacher that teaches a class in a career and

technical education or career pathways course of study.

(c) A Tier 1 license must not be renewed more than three times, unless the requesting

district or charter school can show good cause for additional renewals. A Tier 1 license

issued to teach (1) a class or course in a career and technical education or career pathway

course of study, or (2) in a shortage area, as defined in section
122A.06, subdivision 6
, may

be renewed without limitation.

(d) Starting July 1, 2027, a Tier 1 licensed early childhood education teacher, elementary

education teacher, special education teacher who is responsible for teaching reading,

kindergarten through grade 12 English as a second language teacher, grade 4 through 12

classroom teacher responsible for foundational reading skills instruction, teacher who

provides instruction to students in a state-approved alternative program, or a teacher who

is responsible for selecting literacy curriculum materials for grades 6 through 12, must

demonstrate progress toward meeting the evidence-based literacy training requirements of

section
120B.123, subdivision 5a
, for their second licensure renewal.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.182, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Requirements.

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards

Board must approve an application for a Tier 2 license in a specified content area if:

(1) the application has been submitted jointly by the applicant and the district;

(2) the application has been paid for by the district or the applicant;

(3) the applicant holds a bachelor's degree, unless specifically exempt by statute or rule;

(4) the district demonstrates that a criminal background check under section
122A.18
,

subdivision 8, has been completed for the applicant; and

(5) the applicant:

(i) has completed a state-approved teacher preparation program;

(ii) is enrolled in a Minnesota-approved teacher preparation program;
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or
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(iii) is enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparation program in a bordering state with

equivalent student teaching requirements;

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(iv) is enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparation program not offered in Minnesota

with equivalent student teaching requirements;

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(v) is enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparation program in a shortage area with

equivalent student teaching requirements; or

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(iii)
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(vi)
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has a master's degree in the specified content area.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 122A.182, subdivision 3, is amended

to read:

Subd. 3.

Term of license and renewal.

(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and

Standards Board must issue an initial Tier 2 license for a term of two years. A Tier 2 license

may be renewed three times.

(b) Before a Tier 2 license is renewed for the first time, a teacher holding a Tier 2 license

must participate in cultural competency training consistent with section
120B.30, subdivision

8
, and mental
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illness
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health
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training under section
122A.187, subdivision 6
.

(c) Starting July 1, 2027, a Tier 2 licensed early childhood education teacher, elementary

education teacher, special education teacher who is responsible for teaching reading,

kindergarten through grade 12 English as a second language teacher, grade 4 through 12

classroom teacher responsible for foundational reading skills instruction, teacher who

provides instruction to students in a state-approved alternative program, or a teacher who

is responsible for selecting literacy curriculum materials for grades 6 through 12, must

demonstrate that they have made progress toward completing the evidence-based literacy

training requirements of section
120B.123, subdivision 5a
, for the first renewal of their

initial license.

(d) The board must issue rules setting forth the conditions for additional renewals after

the initial license has been renewed three times.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.182, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Limitations on license.

(a) A Tier 2 license is limited to the content matter

indicated on the application for the initial Tier 2 license under subdivision 1, and limited

to the district or charter school that requested the initial Tier 2 license.

(b) A Tier 2 license shall not be construed to bring an individual within the definition

of a teacher for purposes of section
122A.40, subdivision 1
, or
122A.41, subdivision 1
,

clause (a).

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(c) A Tier 2 licensed teacher who obtains a Tier 2 license based on their enrollment in

a state-approved teacher preparation program under subdivision 1, clause (5), item (iii),

(iv), or (v), does not mean the teacher met the coursework requirements under section

122A.183, subdivision 2, clause (5), to obtain a Tier 3 license after three years of teaching

experience under a Tier 2 license.

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Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.187, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Mental
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illness
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health
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.

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards

Board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers renewing a teaching license under

sections
122A.181
to
122A.184
to include in the renewal requirements
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at least one hour of

suicide prevention best practices training
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focused professional development of at least five

hours in student mental health and wellness
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in each licensure renewal period based on

nationally recognized evidence-based programs and practices, among the continuing

education credits required to renew a license under this subdivision. Initial training must

include understanding the key warning signs
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and characteristics
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of early-onset mental illness

in children and adolescents,
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and
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including how to address mental health concerns where a

child may pose a threat to themselves or others.
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During subsequent licensure renewal periods,

training must include a more in-depth understanding of students' mental illness trauma,

accommodations for students' mental illness, parents' roles in addressing students' mental

illness, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders,
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suicide prevention,
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autism, the requirements of

section
125A.0942
governing restrictive procedures, and de-escalation methods, among

other similar topics.
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This subdivision does not allow or require teachers to diagnose or create

treatment plans for mental illness.
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Sec. 11.

Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 10, section 5, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Information technology costs.

(a) For information technology costs of the

Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board:

$

2,767,000

.....

2025

(b) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30,
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2027
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2029
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.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment.

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Sec. 12.
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ONETIME FUND TRANSFER.
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Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, on June 30, 2026, the Professional Educator

and Licensing Standards Board may permanently transfer any unexpended amount remaining

in the background studies account in the special revenue fund, estimated to be $......., to the

general fund. Transferred funds must be used for costs of the board's online educator licensing

system.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment.

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Sec. 13.
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APPROPRIATION; EARLY LITERACY FIELD EXPERIENCE

RULEMAKING.
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Subdivision 1.

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Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board.

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The sum

indicated in this section is appropriated from the general fund to the Professional Educators

Licensing and Standards Board in the fiscal year designated.

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Subd. 2.

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Early literacy field experience rulemaking.

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For rulemaking under Minnesota

Statutes, section 122A.092, subdivision 10:

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$

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.......

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.....

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2027

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective July 1, 2026.

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