The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) was created by the state legislature in 2017, when the legislature combined the work of the Board of Teaching (BOT) and the Minnesota Department of Education’s Licensing Division. PELSB is tasked with:
- Licensing teachers, including related services providers, in Minnesota,
- Establishing and maintaining teacher licensure standards and requirements,
- Establishing and enforcing the Teacher Code of Ethics,
- Approving and overseeing teacher preparation providers and programs to prepare candidates for licensure in Minnesota, and
- Administering the Teacher Mentorship and Retention of Effective Teachers Grant and the Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators of Color (CUGMEC) Grant.
The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must conduct an audit that evaluates whether and how approved teacher training programs for candidates for the following licensure areas meet subject matter standards for reading:
(1) early childhood education in accordance with Minnesota Rules, part 8710.3000;
(2) elementary education in accordance with Minnesota Rules, part 8710.3200; and
(3) special education in accordance with Minnesota Rules, part 8710.5000.
The board must submit an initial report with its findings to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 and higher education by January 15, 2025, and a final report by August 1, 2026. Each report must:
(1) identify the reading standards for each licensure area; identify how they are aligned to the requirements of the Read Act, including requirements on evidence-based instruction, phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension; and identify how they are aligned to the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.092, subdivision 5;
(2) describe how the board conducted the audit;
(3) identify the results of the audit; and
(4) summarize the program effectiveness reports for continuing approval related to reading standards reviewed by the board, including the board determinations under Minnesota Rules, part 8705.2200.
ACTIVITY SUMMARY
The board issued 14,386 new licenses, renewed 22,709 licenses, and granted 4,000 permissions for the 101,900 licensed teachers in Minnesota. Oversees 670 licensure preparation programs, 38 licensure preparation providers, and Licensure via Portfolio and Heritage Language Licensure Pathways Program. The board held 12 meetings, 1 retreat, and has 6 committees with regularly scheduled meetings. Took discipline action on 103 ethics cases. Collects licensure and assignment data from 536 Districts and Charter Schools. Distributes up to $17 million in grant funding. Has 2 active rulemaking projects.