MN HF1870

School boards must negotiate unrequested leave of absence plans that base decisions on teachers' subject matter licensure and evaluation outcomes from least to most effective category, then by seniority within each category, effective immediately for negotiated plans and statewide starting in 2016-2017 school year.

Beginning in 2016-2017 school year, school boards must discharge or demote teachers for discontinuance of position or lack of pupils based on evaluation outcomes (from least to most effective) and seniority within each effectiveness category, rather than seniority alone.

Teachers categorized as effective or better on evaluations retain reinstatement rights for five years after unrequested leave, while teachers categorized as ineffective or less retain reinstatement rights for only one school year following placement on leave.

Teacher effectiveness categories and underlying evaluation data used for unrequested leave, discharge, and demotion decisions are classified as private data on individuals, though school boards may share effectiveness categories with teacher union representatives to verify decision order.

Two-year limited-term licenses issued under alternative teacher preparation programs are clarified not to be provisional licenses, and school boards are not required to reassign teachers to accommodate seniority claims of other teachers in leave or discharge decisions.