Committee approves bill to alter teacher licensure system

Potential changes to the state’s teacher licensure system took center stage again when the House Education Policy Committee approved HF3800 Wednesday.

Sponsored by Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL-New Brighton), the bill would change two provisions relating to teacher licensure, reflecting recommendations made by Gov. Tim Walz. It now heads to the House Floor. There is no Senate companion.

“In 2017, the Legislature changed our teacher licensing system in order to make it less complex, but what we really did was drastically reduce the requirements to teach in Minnesota classrooms,” Kunesh-Podein said.

“I’m all for the teacher license system to be a little bit easier to navigate, but we sure don’t want to lower our standards,” she said.  

Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein

The proposal is a slimmed down version of HF1329, which Kunesh-Podein introduced last year. Some components were included in the education omnibus bill that cleared the House but were eliminated during conference committee. While HF3800 is significantly refined, the proposal still draws similar support and opposition as previous iterations.

One change would allow Tier 1 teachers to join bargaining units. The other change would eliminate one of the five pathways for individuals with a Tier 2 license to acquire a Tier 3 license; through the elimination of the three years of teaching experience option.

While the state’s Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board doesn’t have a formal position on the bill, Executive Director Alex Liuzzi indicated that the board does not believe the change would negatively impact the progression through the tiered-licensure system.

“Please note that this change would not suddenly remove teachers from the classroom. An individual on a Tier 2 has eight years on that Tier 2 license and can request more with good cause,” he said.  

Opponents of this proposal say changes to the system are premature, and that they’ll disenfranchise lower-tiered teachers who have been following that pathway.

“The current tiered system finally provides me with a path toward licensure in a field in which I actually teach. It gives me a chance at professional security within a public school setting,” explained N’ Jai-An Patters, a Minneapolis Public Schools’ teacher with a Tier 2 license.

Patters has three post-secondary degrees and experience teaching at the university level, she said. The proposal under consideration would require her to reenroll in a traditional teacher preparation program in order to keep teaching.  

“This proposal would turn away qualified, sought after teachers, and it’s my fear that once the profession loses these individuals they may be gone from teaching for good,” she said.  

Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) said he has varying opinions on the tier licensure system, but noted that early evidence suggests it has been effective in making the licensing system less complex.

“We have committed to do this, and it’s important that we live up to commitments that we as a Legislature make, and to let this play out and analyze later,” he said.