MN SF1555

Seeks to increase teachers of color and American Indian teachers from 4% to 8% of Minnesota's teacher workforce and ensure 20% of teacher candidates are of color or American Indian by 2020

Expands alternative teacher professional pay systems to allow hiring bonuses and incentives for effective teachers in high-need schools and to support "Grow Your Own" programs for nonlicensed educational professionals of color or American Indian background

Increases annual teacher shortage loan forgiveness from $1,000 to $2,000 per teacher and expands eligibility to include teachers in licensure fields with shortages, economic development regions with shortages, and underrepresented demographic groups in the teaching profession

Establishes $2,500,000 annual appropriation for the teacher shortage loan forgiveness program starting in 2018, with base funding continuing in 2019 and later

Appropriates $600,000 annually for 2018-2019 for American Indian teacher preparation grants and expands "Grow Your Own" pathway grants for school districts to develop programs supporting paraprofessionals and cultural liaisons of color or American Indian background