SF3168

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to modify teacher licensure requirements in Minnesota to address and mitigate teacher shortages across the state.

Main Provisions

• Teacher Shortage Identification: The bill refines the definition of teacher shortage areas to include specific licensure fields and economic development regions that the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board identifies as having a lack of licensed teachers.
• Diversity in Teaching: It emphasizes the need for more Indigenous teachers and teachers of color in regions where the current percentage is lower than the percentage of Indigenous students and students of color in K-12. This is meant to ensure that schools better reflect the demographic composition of their student populations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Definition Updates: The updated legislation specifies that shortage areas are not only those with unfilled positions by licensed teachers but also areas where there is a significant demographic mismatch between teacher diversity and student diversity.
• Focused Recruitment: Only those individuals who help to close the diversity gap by increasing representation among Indigenous teachers and teachers of color are recognized as helping to address shortages as per the new definition.

Relevant Terms

• Teacher licensure
• Teacher shortage
• Indigenous teachers
• Teachers of color
• Economic development regions
• Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board