SF4011

Purpose

This bill adds a new requirement for teacher preparation programs to include a supervised early literacy field experience for teacher candidates. The field experience must align with evidence-based reading practices and be integrated with learning experiences in reading instruction. It applies to candidates who enroll in programs starting in the 2027-2028 school year or later.

Main Provisions

• Create a new subdivision (Subd. 10) in Minnesota Statutes 122A.092 establishing the early literacy field experience.
• Requires a supervised early literacy field experience for teacher candidates prepared by programs approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).
• The field experience must align with evidence-based best practices in reading and be consistent with Minnesota reading standards (sections 120B.118 to 120B.124).
• The field experience must be integrated with learning experiences in reading instruction, including instruction on reading methods or equivalent, and provide opportunities to apply evidence-based literacy practices with students.
• PELSB must adopt rules about the field experience, including:
  • defining licensure areas where the field experience must be completed
  • setting the scope and outcomes of the field experience
  • ensuring the field experience occurs mostly within a school building during the instructional day
  • allowing waivers when appropriate for unique program delivery models or documented hardship
  • requiring observation with actionable feedback to support growth and achievement of reading standards
• The rulemaking must allow flexibility for programs to show that candidates meet required standards through field experiences.

How It Would Work

• The field experience must be supervised and take place mainly in a real classroom during the school day.
• Waivers can be allowed to fit different program formats or hardship circumstances.
• The experience must include teacher candidate observations and actionable feedback to help them improve and meet reading standards.
• It must be tied to existing reading standards (120B.118–120B.124) and integrated into the teacher preparation program’s curriculum.
• Programs would need to demonstrate, through field experiences, that candidates meet the required standards for licensure in the defined areas.

Timeline and Implementation

• The requirement applies to teacher candidates who enroll in teacher preparation programs in the 2027-2028 school year or later.
• PELSB will adopt detailed rules to implement the field experience and determine which licensure areas require it.

Oversight, Flexibility, and Compliance

• PELSB is responsible for creating the rules and ensuring programs implement the field experience.
• The rules are intended to be flexible, allowing different program delivery models and waivers when justified by hardship or unique circumstances.
• Programs must ensure the field experience is integrated with reading instruction and aligned with standard reading curricula and practices.

Relevant changes at a glance

• Adds a mandatory early literacy field experience for teacher candidates.
• Connects field experience to existing reading standards and evidence-based practices.
• Places responsibility on PELSB to define details, scope, outcomes, and implementation rules.
• Introduces a phased timeline starting with the 2027-2028 school year.

Relevant Terms - early literacy field experience - teacher preparation provider - Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) - evidence-based best practices in reading - reading instruction - reading methods - Minnesota Statutes 122A.092 - sections 120B.118 to 120B.124 - licensure areas - field observation - actionable feedback - rulemaking - school building - instructional day - waivers - hardship - program delivery models - 2027-2028 school year