S.F. No. 1725 Summary

• Modifies alternative teacher preparation programs to allow two-year preliminary teacher licenses (renewable for one year) and permits candidates to demonstrate mastery through nontraditional means including portfolios and teaching experience.

• Reduces alternative teacher compensation revenue aid from $260 to $91 per pupil and adds new teacher development and evaluation aid of $169 per pupil for districts implementing teacher development plans.

• Establishes a Teacher Shortage Task Force with representatives from education, business, and labor organizations to review teacher recruitment and retention data and report recommendations to the legislature by January 15, 2018, and annually thereafter until January 16, 2020.

• Expands the concurrent enrollment teacher training program to include the Metropolitan Educational Cooperative Service Unit and requires flexible delivery models such as online education for teachers earning graduate credits.

• Appropriates $19.004 million for fiscal years 2018-2019 for teacher recruitment and retention initiatives including marketing campaigns, principal leadership development, paraprofessional pathways, loan forgiveness, and educator of color programs.