MN HF3231

Increases Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board from 11 to 13 members and limits members to serving no more than two consecutive terms instead of one additional term after initial service.

Modifies teacher licensure tiers (Tier 1-4) to streamline pathways and allow alternative routes to licensure including career and technical education teachers, world language teachers, and performing/visual arts teachers without requiring a bachelor's degree under specified circumstances.

Creates new section 122A.094 establishing teacher preparation provider approval requirements, eligibility criteria, and program standards for traditional and alternative teacher preparation programs to prepare candidates for Tier 2 and Tier 3 licenses.

Updates licensure requirements and renewal processes for Tier 1, 2, 3, and 4 licenses, including mandatory training on cultural competency, mental health/suicide prevention, behavior interventions, reading instruction, and English learner support for license renewal.

Modifies "shortage area" definition to specify that only teachers of color and Indigenous teachers who close the gap between their percentage and the percentage of students of color/Indigenous students in a region qualify as filling a teacher shortage.