MN HF2385

School boards and teachers' bargaining representatives must negotiate a plan for unrequested leave of absence, effective beginning the 2017-2018 school year, instead of the previous discretionary "may negotiate" language.

For school years 2012-2013 through 2016-2017, boards may exempt teachers in Montessori programs, language immersion programs, advanced placement courses, and instrumental/vocal music directors from standard unrequested leave procedures if they meet unique curriculum needs, though teachers within these programs must still follow standard seniority rules.

Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, boards and teacher representatives must negotiate plans for discontinuing and terminating teachers when positions are eliminated, replacing the current inverse-order employment requirement.

Teachers holding only provisional licenses cannot exercise seniority to be retained in positions where they hold only provisional licenses unless the displaced teacher also holds only a provisional license in that field; exceptions apply for vocational education licenses.

Requires any teacher contract executed beginning 2017-2018 to contain either an unrequested leave plan or a plan for discontinuing/terminating teachers, and repeals the current subdivision 11 unrequested leave provisions effective 2017-2018 school year.