MN HF1973

Amends teacher licensing rules to exempt nonnative English speakers from reading, writing, and mathematics skills examination requirements if they meet content and pedagogy requirements and teach in their native language or world language instruction.

Establishes Board of Teaching partnerships with postsecondary institutions and state diversity councils to recruit, educate, and license underrepresented student populations as K-12 teachers and early childhood education providers.

Creates teacher training grant program allowing school districts to apply for grants to offset costs for underrepresented paraprofessionals or nonlicensed employees pursuing teaching licensure, with grants paid directly to postsecondary institutions.

Provides refundable tax credit for individuals employed by Minnesota school districts pursuing initial teacher licensure, covering tuition, textbooks, and up to a specified amount for computer hardware, with income-based limitations.

Appropriates unspecified amounts from general fund for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 to fund teacher training grants, with unexpended funds carrying forward to subsequent fiscal years.