three elementary students in a science classroom

Science Teacher Licensure Rulemaking

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB or Board) has determined that science teacher licenses in grades 5 through 12 must be streamlined from four licenses into one (or two) licenses. To implement its mandate, the Board is looking for applicants to join a writing group to draft rule revisions to Minnesota teacher education and licensure standards in science.

Seeking Writing Group Applicants

PELSB is seeking applicants for these new writing groups who fit at least one of the following categories:

  • Unit director or science program director of a Minnesota teacher preparation provider;
  • Teacher educator in a teacher preparation program for a science licensure area;
  • Teacher educator in science who teaches a course that meets some of the licensure standards in a science area;
  • Middle school or high school Life Science teacher;
  • Middle school or high school Earth & Space teacher;
  • Middle school or high school Physics teacher;
  • Middle school or high school Chemistry teacher;
  • Administrator or Human Resources Director from a Twin Cities metropolitan area or Greater Minnesota school.

Writing Group Duties

The writing group will meet online from September 2026 through January 2027 to revise current Minnesota science teacher education and licensure standards and draft Board-mandated changes to these rules. The rule drafts will be presented to the Board by February 2027. 

Note that the writing group is unpaid – this is a volunteer position. Applicants must commit to communicate respectfully and listen to understand all perspectives, including those that differ from their own, to create fair and equitable implementation of the Board mandate.

Meeting Dates

The writing group will meet on the following dates (Wednesdays) from 4pm until 5pm on each date:

  • September 2026 (9/23)
  • October 2026 (10/7 and 10/21)
  • November 2026 (11/4 and 11/18)
  • December 2026 (12/2 and 12/16)
  • January 2027 (1/6 and 1/20)

Application

To be considered for an appointment to the working group, please complete the application online. The application should take about 20 minutes to complete. This form will close on September 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. If you have questions, contact PELSB Rulemaking Attorney Steven Rollin.