1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; directing the state Board of Teaching to adopt rules to 
1.3 	issue licenses to teach in multiple science fields or levels; amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2004, section 122A.09, subdivision 4.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 122A.09, subdivision 4, is amended to 
1.7 	read:
1.8 		Subd. 4.License and rules. (a) The board must adopt rules to license public school 
1.9 	teachers and interns subject to chapter 14.
1.10 	(b) The board must adopt rules requiring a person to successfully complete a skills 
1.11 	examination in reading, writing, and mathematics as a requirement for initial teacher 
1.12 	licensure. Such rules must require college and universities offering a board-approved 
1.13 	teacher preparation program to provide remedial assistance to persons who did not 
1.14 	achieve a qualifying score on the skills examination, including those for whom English is 
1.15 	a second language.
1.16 	(c) The board must adopt rules to approve teacher preparation programs. The board, 
1.17 	upon the request of a postsecondary student preparing for teacher licensure or a licensed 
1.18 	graduate of a teacher preparation program, shall assist in resolving a dispute between the 
1.19 	person and a postsecondary institution providing a teacher preparation program when the 
1.20 	dispute involves an institution's recommendation for licensure affecting the person or the 
1.21 	person's credentials. At the board's discretion, assistance may include the application 
1.22 	of chapter 14.
1.23 	(d) The board must provide the leadership and shall adopt rules for the redesign of 
1.24 	teacher education programs to implement a research based, results-oriented curriculum 
2.1 	that focuses on the skills teachers need in order to be effective. The board shall implement 
2.2 	new systems of teacher preparation program evaluation to assure program effectiveness 
2.3 	based on proficiency of graduates in demonstrating attainment of program outcomes.
2.4 	(e) The board must adopt rules requiring successful completion of an examination 
2.5 	of general pedagogical knowledge and examinations of licensure-specific teaching 
2.6 	skills. The rules shall be effective on the dates determined by the board but not later 
2.7 	than September 1, 2001.
2.8 	(f) The board must adopt rules requiring teacher educators to work directly with 
2.9 	elementary or secondary school teachers in elementary or secondary schools to obtain 
2.10 	periodic exposure to the elementary or secondary teaching environment.
2.11 	(g) The board must grant licenses to interns and to candidates for initial licenses.
2.12 	(h) The board must design and implement an assessment system which requires a 
2.13 	candidate for an initial license and first continuing license to demonstrate the abilities 
2.14 	necessary to perform selected, representative teaching tasks at appropriate levels.
2.15 	(i) The board must receive recommendations from local committees as established 
2.16 	by the board for the renewal of teaching licenses.
2.17 	(j) The board must grant life licenses to those who qualify according to requirements 
2.18 	established by the board, and suspend or revoke licenses pursuant to sections  122A.20 and  
2.19 	214.10. The board must not establish any expiration date for application for life licenses. 
2.20 	(k) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing 
2.21 	their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation in 
2.22 	the areas of using positive behavior interventions and in accommodating, modifying, and 
2.23 	adapting curricula, materials, and strategies to appropriately meet the needs of individual 
2.24 	students and ensure adequate progress toward the state's graduation rule.
2.25 	(l) In adopting rules to license public school teachers who provide health-related 
2.26 	services for disabled children, the board shall adopt rules consistent with license or 
2.27 	registration requirements of the commissioner of health and the health-related boards who 
2.28 	license personnel who perform similar services outside of the school.
2.29 	(m) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing 
2.30 	their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further reading 
2.31 	preparation, consistent with section  122A.06, subdivision 4. The rules do not take effect 
2.32 	until they are approved by law. Teachers who do not provide direct instruction including, at 
2.33 	least, counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, audiovisual 
2.34 	directors and coordinators, and recreation personnel are exempt from this section. 
2.35 	(n) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing 
2.36 	their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation 
3.1 	in understanding the key warning signs of early-onset mental illness in children and 
3.2 	adolescents.
3.3 	(o) The board must: (1) adopt rules to license qualified candidates to teach chemistry, 
3.4 	physics, biology, and earth and space science; and (2) license a science teacher to teach 
3.5 	in a new science content area or level if the teacher holds a continuing license to teach 
3.6 	science and receives a qualifying score on an appropriate Praxis II test in a science subject 
3.7 	other than the teacher's currently licensed science field or level. A qualifying score is the 
3.8 	same test score used for initial licenses to teach science. A science teacher who seeks 
3.9 	licensure in a different science content area or level under this paragraph is responsible 
3.10 	for the actual costs of the required testing.

3.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.