S.F. No. 4166 Summary

• Establishes state goal to increase percentage of teachers of color and American Indian teachers in Minnesota by at least two percentage points per year to reach more diverse teaching workforce reflecting student population by 2040.

• Creates new "Grow Your Own" grant program for eligible districts and Head Start programs to develop residency programs, serve adult learners, and support secondary students pursuing teaching careers through tuition scholarships and stipends.

• Requires Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to publish biennial reports beginning in 2020 assessing effectiveness of state-funded teacher diversity programs and progress toward diversity goals.

• Amends teacher licensing exam requirements to provide equitable testing opportunities including monthly untimed exams, fee waivers for federal grant recipients, free practice tests, and multilingual exam options for language immersion teachers.

• Appropriates $15,000 in fiscal year 2021 for reports and unspecified amounts for educator of color grants, Grow Your Own programs, and mentoring/induction initiatives.