SF4 Summary

• Establishes the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board as a new independent agency, transferring all teacher licensing and credentialing authority from the Board of Teaching and Minnesota Department of Education effective September 1, 2017.

• Reduces board membership from 11 to 9 members with specific composition requirements: five teachers (at least four from public schools, one from charter school), one superintendent, one district human resources director, one school principal, and one public member.

• Implements a four-tier licensure system replacing the previous one through five-year licenses: Tier 1 (one year, renewable), Tier 2 (two years, up to two renewals), Tier 3 (three years, up to three renewals), and Tier 4 (five years, unlimited renewal).

• Transfers responsibility for licensing supervisory personnel to the Board of School Administrators and establishes alternative teacher preparation program approval standards allowing school-based and nontraditional demonstration of competency.

• Requires implementation report by January 1, 2019 on the tiered licensure system including applicant numbers, approval/denial data, and rulemaking status.