SF4799

Purpose

• Expand the Special Education Teacher Pathway Program to include related services providers. Create a grant-based pathway to grow a pipeline of trained, licensed Tier 3 or Tier 4 special education teachers and related services providers. Provide funding to school districts and eligible entities to support participants who commit to become teachers or providers after completing the program.

What changes to law (significant changes to existing law)

• The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 122A.77 to establish a new grant program and related framework (Special Education Teacher and Related Services Provider Pathway Program).
• It adds a dedicated pathway for related services providers and defines who qualifies as such providers.
• It creates a new special revenue fund account (the special education teacher and related services provider pathway program account) to receive and administer the grants.
• It specifies funding uses, reporting requirements, and an annual appropriation ceiling for administration costs.

Main provisions

• Grant program established: The commissioner of education must administer grants to develop a pathway for:
  • Trained licensed Tier 3 or Tier 4 special education teachers.
  • Related services providers (see list below).
• Eligibility and partnerships:
  • Applicants (school districts, charter schools, tribal contract schools, or cooperative units) must partner with:
  • A Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) approved teacher preparation program, or
  • A Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited teacher preparation program, or
  • A private nonprofit institution of higher education with an articulated transfer pathway to a board-approved teacher preparation program, or
  • An institution with an articulated transfer pathway to a board-approved program.
  • For related services providers, applicants must partner with a regionally accredited college or university or an appropriate prep program to meet licensure requirements for Tier 3 licensure.
• Related services providers defined: School counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, school social workers, and school speech-language pathologists.
• Grant uses and participant requirements:
  • Funds must support participants employed by the recipient who commit to becoming a special education teacher or related services provider after completing the program.
  • Eligible uses include tuition assistance or stipends, mentoring, licensure test preparation, technology support, and participant recruitment.
• Grant process:
  • Applications must follow forms and methods set by the commissioner.
  • The commissioner must prioritize training that helps Tier 1 or Tier 2 license holders obtain a Tier 3 license.
  • If demand allows, grants should be distributed roughly equally between applicants in greater Minnesota and the metropolitan area, as practicable.
• Reporting and transparency:
  • Each grant recipient must report within one year and then annually on participant numbers and how grant funds were used.
  • The commissioner must publish an annual report listing recipients and summarizing fund use.
• Funding and administrative framework:
  • A dedicated special education teacher and related services provider pathway program account is established in the state’s special revenue fund.
  • Funds appropriated for the program must be transferred into this account and are annually appropriated for the program.
  • Money not spent can be regranted.
  • Grant recipients may use funds for up to 60 months (5 years).
  • Up to $175,000 annually is appropriated to cover administrative and monitoring costs of the program.

How this changes practice

• Expands the pipeline beyond traditional special education teachers to include related services providers, addressing staffing shortages.
• Creates structured partnerships with approved educator preparation programs and accredited institutions to ensure licensure pathways are clear and credible.
• Establishes a dedicated funding stream and accountability measures to track progress and outcomes.

Relevant implications

• Districts and partner institutions gain a defined funding mechanism and timelines for recruiting and training Tier 3/4 educators and related services providers.
• The changes emphasize outcomes (participants becoming licensed professionals) and geographic equity between parts of the state.

Relevant Terms - Special education teacher pathway program - Related services providers - Tier 3 licensure - Tier 4 licensure - PELSB-approved teacher preparation program - CAEP-accredited teacher preparation program - articulated transfer pathway - regionally accredited college or university - school counselors - school nurses - school psychologists - school social workers - school speech-language pathologists - grant recipient - tuition assistance - stipends - mentoring - licensure test preparation - technology support - participant recruitment - greater Minnesota - metropolitan area - special revenue fund - special education teacher and related services provider pathway program account - annual appropriation - administrative costs - 60 months (grant period)