Licensing and Academic Standards (R 4615)

About the changes

Standards of Effective Practice

The Standards of Effective Practice are the pedagogical standards required of all teachers seeking their first professional license in Minnesota (completing a licensure program or the licensure via portfolio process). The Standards of Effective Practice had seen minimal changes since they were first adopted in 2001. After a three-year process, the Board has adopted new standards that ensure Minnesota teachers have the foundational knowledge and skills to provide the education Minnesota’s students deserve and need.

Substitute Teaching 

An individual holding a short-call substitute license is now authorized to replace a teacher or vacancy for up to 20 consecutive school days (formerly 15 consecutive days). 

Out-of-Field Permissions

A school district is now able to bypass the posting requirement (15 or 60 days) when:

1. The teacher is enrolled in a teacher preparation program aligned to the assignment; or

2. The assignment is 0.25 FTE or less.

Status: The Notice of Adoption is scheduled to be published in the April 20 State Register, resulting in an April 25 effective date for many of the rule changes. Please sign up for rulemaking updates for more information.

Rulemaking Record

PELSB held a virtual rules hearing on the proposed rule changes on Wednesday, August 24, 2022. Administrative Law Judge James Mortenson was the presiding judge. You can watch a recording of the rules hearing or review a transcript.

OAH Docket Number

Hearing Exhibits 

Exhibit A: The Request for Comments (as published in the State Register on September 23, 2019)
Exhibit B: Not included – a petition for rulemaking
Exhibit C1: A draft of the proposed rule changes (dated Dec. 16, 2021)
Exhibit C2: The Revisor’s certificate of approval
Exhibit D: The Statement of Need and Reasonableness (SONAR)
Exhibit E1: The Notice of Hearing (as mailed on May 2, 2022)
Exhibit E2: The Notice of Hearing (as published in the State Register on May 2, 2022)
Exhibit F: Not included - a letter from the Chief Administrative Law Judge authorizing the Board to omit the text of the proposed rules from the Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules published in the State Register
Exhibit G1: Certificate of Mailing the Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules
Exhibit G2: Certificate of Accuracy of the Mailing List
Exhibit H: Certificate of Additional Notice
Exhibit I: Certificate documenting that the Board sent a copy of the SONAR to the Legislative Reference Library (LRL)
Exhibit J: All written comment and submission on the proposed rule changes that the Board received during the comment period
Exhibit K: Other documents to demonstrate compliance with other laws and rules (See below)
Exhibit K1: Board resolution authorizing rulemaking (adopted on Sept. 14, 2018, revised on Dec. 14, 2018, and June 14, 2019)
Exhibit K2: Notice to Close Comment Period (as published in the State Register on May 3, 2021)
Exhibit K3: Certificate of Notifying Legislators of Publication of Notice of Intent to Adopt Rule
Exhibit K4: Consultation with Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB)
Exhibit L: Response to Pre-Hearing Comments
Exhibit M1: A draft of proposed rule changes (dated August 16, 2022)
Exhibit M2: Revisions adopted by the Board on July 29, 2022 and included in the rule draft dated August 16, 2022\

• Draft 1 (Dated August 14, 2019)
• Draft 2 (Dated December 3, 2020)
• Draft 3 (Dated June 29, 2021)
• Draft 4 (Dated December 16, 2021) 
• Revisions to Draft 4 (AR draft dated August 16, 2022)  
• Additional revisions to Draft 4 (AR draft dated December 20, 2022)
  
• Note: The AR drafts indicate changes to the rule language since the language was initially proposed (i.e., Draft 4) using strike outs and underlining. 

Comment Periods