License Renewal Conditions
Mandatory Renewal Requirements for the Renewal of Tier 3 and Tier 4 Licenses
The renewal of tier 3 teaching/related services licenses requires the completion of 75 clock hours and the renewal of tier 4 teaching/related services licenses requires the completion of 125 clock hours of professional development. All hours completed must be approved through the local school district’s continuing education committee. An applicant seeking renewal must earn a minimum of 75 clock hours during each three-year period preceding a tier 3 renewal and a minimum of 125 clock hours during each five-year period preceding a tier 4 renewal. As part of the 75 and 125 professional development hours, the Minnesota Legislature, by statute, currently requires ALL teachers to evidence the areas shown below.
Each school district, through its continuing education committee, is charged with determining the requirements to meet this condition. The legislation intentionally provides latitude so that districts can determine the requirement based on local goals and needs. Teachers should work through their local continuing education committee for guidance about what is expected and where to obtain the professional development.
Online professional development opportunities may be used to meet the requirements, as long as they meet the rule requirements. Teachers should work through their local continuing education committee for guidance about what is expected and where to obtain the professional development.
Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies
Applicants must include in their professional development activities which address positive behavioral intervention strategies. This category includes the renewal requirement of evidencing accommodating, modifying, and adapting curricula, materials, and strategies to appropriately meet the needs of individual students and ensure adequate progress toward the state's graduation rule.
Reading Preparation
Teachers must have in-service preparation in scientifically-based reading instruction, which the law identifies as:
“instruction and practice in phonemic awareness, phonics and other word-recognition skills, and guided oral reading for beginning readers, as well as extensive silent reading, vocabulary instruction, instruction in comprehension, and instruction that fosters understanding and higher-order thinking for readers of all ages and proficiency levels.”
Note: the following licensure fields are exempt from evidencing the reading preparation renewal requirement: school counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, audiovisual directors and coordinators, recreation personnel.
Key Warning Signs for Early-Onset Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents
Applicants must include in their professional development activities which provide an understanding of key warning signs for early-onset mental illness in children and adolescents. The 2016 Legislature requires a separate mandatory minimum of at least one hour of Suicide Prevention Best Practices as part of the renewal condition for Early-Onset Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents.
English Learners
Evidence of growth in best teaching practices through district-approved training for meeting the varied needs of English learners from children to adults. Minnesota statute requires this training align with Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) standards for English learners. This requirement may be evidenced in the summative evaluation.
Cultural Competency
Effective for all tiered license renewals in 2020 and thereafter, training that promotes self-reflection and discussion including, but not limited to the following topics: racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups; American Indian and Alaskan native students; religion; systemic racism; gender identity, including transgender students; sexual orientation; language diversity; and individuals with disabilities and mental health concerns. Training programs must be designed to deepen teachers' understanding of their own frames of reference, the potential bias in these frames, and their impact on expectations for and relationships with students, students' families, and the school communities.
Note: Minnesota Administrative Rule for Clock Hours; Requirements for Renewal of Professional Licenses. Administrative Rules 8710.7200 (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=8710.7200) MDE February 2020
