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Dayton signs teacher exam law

Published (2/24/2012)
By Erin Schmidtke
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Teachers-to-be are now required to pass a basic skills exam before receiving a license to teach in Minnesota.

Gov. Mark Dayton signed the new law Feb. 22. He vetoed an earlier version of the bill last session, but approved it this year following negotiations with legislators and stakeholders. The law is effective Feb. 23, 2012.

Previous law allowed those who have completed a teacher preparation program to receive up to three one-year licenses without passing a basic skills exam. According to the new statute, teaching candidates must produce a passing score on the exam before obtaining their licenses.

Rep. Andrea Kieffer (R-Woodbury), who sponsors the law with Sen. Ted Daley (R-Eagan), introduced the legislation out of concern that teachers were instructing children while being potentially unable to pass the basic skills test themselves. She believes this measure will increase the quality and rigor of teachers in Minnesota.

HF1770*/ SF1493/CH122

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