District 27A Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, on Monday was appointed to the conference committee for House File 140, a bill relating to teacher licensure standards. The legislation passed by the House creates a tiered teacher licensure system, which would be administered by a new Professional Educator Licensing Board. This bill follows recommendations put forward by the Office of the Legislative Auditor in 2015, which indicated that teacher licensure system was in need of significant changes in Minnesota.

“I am excited to have been named to the Teacher Licensure Bill conference committee,” Bennett said. “I’m very happy to be working on such an important issue — helping to make teacher licensing in our state more transparent and easier to understand for both prospective and current teachers.”

HF140 aims to address recommendations made by the OLA by accomplishing the following: 

Establishing a tiered licensure framework that ensures high standards, clear expectations, consistency, transparency and identifies several accessible and affordable pathways for teacher licensure.

Incorporate the unique and valuable skill-set of career and technical education instructors within the tiered framework, including recognition of industry-related professional credentials and verifiable work experience.

Adopt technical and clarifying recommendations from nonpartisan offices to provide increased comprehension of teacher licensure provisions in state statutes and rule.

Once the conference committee report is passed, the report will head to the House and Senate to be voted on. If passed by both bodies, it will be sent to the governor for his signature to become law.