MN SF434

Requires persons entering board-approved teacher preparation programs on or after January 1, 2015, to pass a skills examination in reading, writing, and mathematics before admission to the program, rather than only before initial licensure.

Requires colleges and universities offering teacher preparation programs to provide remedial assistance with a formal diagnostic component to persons who did not achieve a qualifying score on the skills examination, including those for whom English is a second language.

Mandates the Board of Teaching to report annually to education committees on teacher candidate performance on the skills examination, including total number of test-takers, pass rates, score distribution, and repeat test-taker data.

Requires all teacher preparation programs to include a content-specific, board-approved, performance-based assessment measuring candidates in three areas: planning for instruction and assessment; engaging students and supporting learning; and assessing student learning.

Maintains existing requirement that candidates for initial licenses pass examinations of general pedagogical knowledge and licensure-specific teaching skills, including specific reading instruction assessments for prekindergarten and elementary teacher candidates.