MN HF805

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must require candidates for licenses to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing students in prekindergarten through grade 12 to demonstrate at least level 4 proficiency in American Sign Language on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview evaluation.

Teachers renewing licenses to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing students must complete 30 continuing education clock hours on hearing loss topics, including American Sign Language, American Sign Language linguistics, or deaf culture, and demonstrate at least level 4 proficiency on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview evaluation in each renewal period.

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must review whether the oral/aural deaf education license remains appropriate for meeting the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students and decide whether to discontinue or incorporate it into the deaf and hard-of-hearing license requirements.

The board must report its findings to legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education no later than February 1, 2020, and amend or adopt rules consistent with its report no later than July 1, 2021.

Changes to relicensure requirements are effective for renewal applications beginning July 1, 2024.