H.F. No. 1768 Summary

• Modifies alternative teacher preparation program eligibility to include nonprofit corporations organized for education purposes that partner with colleges or universities, in addition to school districts and charter schools.

• Establishes a new Alternative Teacher Preparation Grant Program under section 122A.2455, with $1,000,000 appropriated for fiscal year 2018 and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, with a base funding level of $2,000,000.

• Grant programs must demonstrate commitment to increasing licensed diverse teachers in Minnesota public schools and place successful participants in shortage areas or schools where more than one-half of pupils are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

• Requires grant recipients to submit annual reports to the commissioner and Board of Teaching with disaggregated data on participant demographics and program placement within one year of receiving the grant.

• Changes reporting requirement from interim reports in even-numbered years to biennial reports in odd-numbered years, due by January 15 instead of February 15.