HF 3799 Bill Summary

• Establishes tiered licensure system for teachers (initial, standard, and master licenses) and principals (initial, standard, and master licenses) based on performance metrics and years of experience, effective September 1, 2011.

• Creates alternative teacher preparation programs allowing school districts, nonprofits, and universities to prepare teachers for two-year limited-term licenses with a minimum 200-hour instructional phase.

• Implements teacher and principal evaluation systems tied to student achievement growth, with at least 35 percent of evaluation measures linked to student achievement gains under section 120B.35.

• Establishes continuing tenure system requiring teacher employment continuation at least every five years based on evidence of satisfactory academic achievement growth, with option for termination after five-year reviews.

• Grants Commissioner of Education authority to intervene in persistently low-achieving schools and charter schools in improvement or corrective action status, and authorizes rulemaking for English language proficiency standards.