Bill > SF4011

This bill requires teacher candidates who are being prepared to teach early literacy, meaning reading and foundational language skills for young children, to complete a supervised field experience in this area. This practical experience must be aligned with evidence-based reading practices and will begin for students entering teacher preparation programs in the 2027-2028 school year. The experience will be integrated with learning about reading instruction methods and will give candidates a chance to apply these methods with actual students. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, which oversees teacher certification, will create rules for this requirement, including defining which teaching licenses this applies to, setting expectations for the experience's scope and goals, ensuring it primarily happens in a school setting during the school day with some flexibility for unique circumstances, and requiring observation and feedback to help candidates improve. The bill also appropriates $20,270 to the Department of Education for the rulemaking process related to this new field experience requirement, with both the new requirement and the appropriation taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Education

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2026/0/SF/4011/