HF4729

Purpose

This bill aims to support school employees by funding and strengthening paraprofessional training, updating qualification standards, and expanding education-finance provisions. It also includes provisions related to school employee health insurance and increasing the minimum starting salary for nonlicensed school personnel. The measure would modify and add to existing Minnesota statutes to implement these changes.

Main provisions at a glance

• Paraprofessional training requirements
  • Schools must provide paid orientation or professional development (PD) for paraprofessionals and other instructional support staff.
  • Minimum: eight 16-hour blocks of training per year, with six blocks completed before the first instructional day or within 30 days of hire.
  • At least 50% of PD for paraprofessionals working directly with students must address their required duties.
  • Training must be relevant to the employee’s job, and schools must certify compliance annually to the state education commissioner.
• Transitional provisions for 2024-25
  • For the 2024-25 school year only, training hours may be reduced to six, and schools must cover paraprofessional test materials and testing fees for those who have not yet completed the required competency assessments.
• Financial reimbursement for paraprofessional training
  • Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the state education commissioner must reimburse schools for paraprofessional training costs.
  • Reimbursement amount equals the prior-year compensation expenses attributable to paraprofessionals trained (wages, employer FICA taxes, and retirement contributions).
  • The commissioner may exclude reimbursed costs from other school revenue calculations.
• Transitional and targeted funding in 2026
  • In fiscal year 2026, the commissioner must reimburse six hours of training plus an additional payment equal to 33.33% of the base amount to be used for test preparation or additional training.
• Consultation and collaboration
  • Districts must consult the exclusive representative for employees receiving this training before planning the training.
• Paraprofessional qualifications and competencies
  • Starting in the 2025-26 school year, paraprofessionals may meet federal qualifications under CFR Title 34, 300.156, if they have:
  • at least two years of college credits or an associate degree, or
  • pass a Department of Education-approved assessment, or
  • demonstrate a defined set of competencies (a long list including understanding roles, goals of education, relevant laws and policies, behavior management, collaboration with teachers, support for inclusion, and ability to reinforce instruction in math, reading, and writing).
  • In addition, starting 2025-26, paraprofessionals may meet CFR Title 34, 200.58 qualifications if they have two years of college credits or an associate degree or higher and demonstrate strong knowledge in reading, writing, and mathematics (or readiness for these areas).
  • Districts may provide administrative assistance to help paraprofessionals complete these requirements.
  • For federal purposes, meeting the competencies can be treated as satisfying the corresponding federal qualification standards or assessments, and the department must assist in meeting federal qualification requirements (including waivers when needed). State aid must not be withheld from paraprofessionals who demonstrate the required competencies.
• Documentation and records
  • Districts must keep records showing paraprofessionals have completed the required assessments and competencies in their personnel files.

Significant changes to existing law

• Amends Minnesota Statutes to add new paraprofessional training and qualification requirements (e.g., adds 121A.642 and related references).
• Revisions involve requirements for paid orientation/PD, mandatory training hours, and state reimbursements for training costs.
• Repeals or modifies existing sections (e.g., 43A.316 subdivision 11.1) as part of implementing the new framework.
• Codifies requirements within multiple chapters (including 121A, 123B, 124D, 126C) to align paraprofessional support with broader education-finance and policy changes.

Implementation notes

• Transitional years (2024-25 and 2025-26) set temporary flexibilities and establish funding mechanisms to support training and competency development.
• The bill ties funding to specific training outputs (hours, test materials, additional training) and to compliance reporting by school administrators.

Potential impacts

• Schools receive financial support to train paraprofessionals more comprehensively.
• Paraprofessional roles may be more clearly defined through standardized competencies and federal qualification references.
• Paraprofessionals may need to complete assessments or meet competency benchmarks to maintain eligibility for state aid programs.
• The changes may influence hiring, professional development planning, and collaboration with licensed teachers and exclusive representatives.

Notable terms and concepts

• Paraprofessional training, paid orientation, professional development (PD)
• Paraprofessional competency grid / competencies
• Federal qualifications: CFR Title 34, sections 300.156 and 200.58
• Two years of college credits; associate degree
• State/local academic assessment
• FICA taxes; retirement contributions
• Exclusive representative
• Read Act (Minnesota Read Act)
• Administrative assistance for competency requirements
• Reimbursement for paraprofessional training costs
• Test materials and testing fees
• Consultation with exclusive representative
• Compliance certification to the commissioner

Relevant Terms paraprofessional, orientation, professional development, PD, competency, CFR 34 300.156, CFR 34 200.58, two years of college credits, associate degree, state/local assessment, exclusive representative, Read Act, FICA, retirement contributions, reimbursement, testing fees, test preparation, administrative assistance, school employee health insurance, minimum starting salary, nonlicensed school personnel, Minnesota Statutes 43A.316, 121A.642, education finance.