This bill proposes significant modifications to teacher licensure provisions and the administration of grant programs, transferring oversight from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to the Department of Education. It mandates the Department to report on initiatives aimed at increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the teacher workforce, including recommendations for state policy and funding. The bill emphasizes the inclusion of culturally competent training and evidence-based reading strategies in teacher preparation curricula, while also establishing new criteria for grant awards that prioritize support for teacher candidates of color or American Indian descent.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Education in managing grant programs related to teacher recruitment and retention, particularly for underrepresented groups. It sets a maximum of $10,000 in direct financial assistance that an institution may provide to a single teacher candidate in one academic year and requires institutions to report data on candidates of color and American Indian candidates. The bill also appropriates funds for various initiatives, including collaborative grants, mentoring programs, and a marketing campaign to recruit diverse teachers, while establishing a support position for alternative pathway candidates and funding for a licensure pathway program for heritage language and culture teachers.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 120B.117, 120B.363, 122A.09, 122A.092, 122A.181, 122A.635, 122A.70, 136A.1276