SF334

The legislative bill SF No. 334 aims to modify professional development requirements for educators in Minnesota. Its primary focus is to enhance the training provided to various groups of teachers and educational staff involved in teaching reading across different grades, including special education, pre-kindergarten programs, and multilingual learners. The bill proposes that certain educators must complete approved evidence-based training programs by specific deadlines:

1. By July 1, 2026:

   • Reading intervention teachers for kindergarten through 3rd grade.
   • All classroom teachers for kindergarten through 3rd grade, and for pre-kindergarten programs.
   • Special education teachers.
   • Curriculum directors.
   • Instructional support staff, contractors, and volunteers involved in Tier 2 interventions.
   • Staff responsible for selecting literacy instructional materials.
   • Teachers licensed to teach English to multilingual learners.

2. By July 1, 2027:

   • Teachers who provide reading instruction to students in grades 4 to 12.
   • Teachers in state-approved alternative programs.

Additionally, the bill allows for a temporary reduction in required instructional hours for students in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. This reduction, by 5-12 hours, is to facilitate the necessary professional development training for teachers. This training must take place on a day when students are already scheduled to receive instruction. Schools, including charter schools, can adjust the teaching hours after proper consultation with their teaching staff.

The bill facilitates compliance by allowing districts to request deadline extensions from the commissioner of education and confirms that training by a certified facilitator can fulfill the professional development requirements. Overall, the bill is designed to standardize and improve the quality of reading education across all educational levels in the state.