MN HF17

Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must approve Tier 1 teacher licenses only if the district or charter school demonstrates the position was posted but unable to hire a fully licensed teacher and completed a criminal background check on the candidate.

Tier 1 licenses are issued for one year and may be renewed up to three times if the teacher completes a content examination, cultural competency training, and mental illness training within specified timeframes; career and technical education teachers and those in shortage areas may renew without limitation.

School districts are prohibited from giving preference in hiring or dismissal of teachers based on seniority.

School districts must report all new hires and terminations, including layoffs, by race and ethnicity annually to the Department of Education without personally identifying individuals.

All provisions are effective the day following final enactment.