Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to financially support teacher candidates during their student teaching period by providing stipends. This initiative is meant to ease the financial burden on aspiring teachers and encourage more individuals to pursue teaching careers.

Main Provisions

• Funding Allocation: $20 million is set to be appropriated from Minnesota's general fund for the fiscal year 2026.
• Stipend Distribution: The Minnesota Department of Education will award a grant to a nonprofit organization. This organization will be responsible for disbursing stipends to teacher candidates who complete at least 12 weeks of student teaching through approved teacher preparatory programs.
• Stipend Amounts: Compensation should reflect an hourly rate of $15 or more. Stipends should be paid directly to the teaching candidates and should not impact their existing financial aid.
• Eligibility Criteria: Nonprofit grantees chosen to distribute the stipends must be capable of managing sensitive and personal information.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill introduces a new financial aid program specifically targeted at student teachers, emphasizing compensation for teaching time, which was not previously available in this structured manner in Minnesota.
• The stipends introduced are not counted against the candidates' financial aid packages, ensuring they receive full benefits.

Relevant Terms

• Education finance
• Teacher candidates
• Student teaching
• Stipends
• Nonprofit organization
• Grant administration
• Minnesota Department of Education
• Financial aid packages