H.F. No. 3555 Summary

• Allows school boards to renew probationary teachers while placing teachers with continuing contracts on unrequested leave of absence if a plan meets new requirements.

• Permits districts to exempt up to 5% of teachers from unrequested leave of absence or nonrenewal based on a committee selection process requiring equal superintendent and union representatives, with at least 3 from each side.

• Requires exempted teachers to demonstrate excellent teaching or professional performance and be members of protected classes underrepresented among district teachers or licensed teachers in Minnesota who have experienced systemic barriers to the profession.

• Mandates the selection committee complete comprehensive antiracism training approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board before selecting teachers for exemption.

• Requires final committee decisions and teacher notifications by February 1 each year, with exemptions valid for one school year unless renewed or granted as two-year exemptions from nonrenewal; applies to both general school districts and first-class city school districts.