Subdivision 1. Purpose. This section establishes a program to support districts and schools recruiting and offering hiring bonuses for licensed teachers who are American Indian or a person of color from another state or country in order to meet staffing needs in shortage areas in economic development regions in Minnesota.
Subd. 2. Eligibility. A district or school must verify that the hiring bonus is given to teachers licensed in another state who:
(1) qualify for a Tier 3 or Tier 4 Minnesota license;
(2) have moved to the economic development region in Minnesota where they were hired; and
(3) belong to a racial or ethnic group that is underrepresented among teachers compared to students in the district or school under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), clause (2).
Subd. 3. Bonus amount. A district or school may offer a signing and retention bonus of a minimum of $2,500 and a maximum of $5,000 to a teacher who meets the eligibility requirements. A teacher who meets the eligibility requirements and meets a licensure shortage area in the economic development region of the state where the school is located may be offered a signing bonus of a minimum of $4,000 and a maximum of $8,000. A teacher must be paid half of the bonus when starting employment and half after completing four years of service in the hiring district or school if the teacher has demonstrated teaching effectiveness and is not on a professional improvement plan under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, paragraph (b), clause (12) or (13), or section 122A.41, subdivision 5, paragraph (b), clause (12) or (13), or is not being considered for termination for a reason listed in section 122A.40, subdivision 9, including a teacher hired by a school district located in a city of the first class. A teacher who does not complete their first school year upon receiving a hiring bonus must repay the hiring bonus.
Subd. 4. Administration. The commissioner must establish a process for districts or schools to seek reimbursement for hiring bonuses given to teachers in shortage areas moving to and working in Minnesota schools experiencing specific shortages. The commissioner must provide guidance for districts to seek repayment of a hiring bonus from a teacher who does not complete the first year of employment. The department may conduct a pilot program with a small number of teachers during the 2022-2023 biennium to establish feasibility. The department must submit a report by December 1, 2022, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education detailing the effectiveness of the program and recommendations for improvement in future years.
Subd. 5. Come Teach in Minnesota Hiring Bonus program account. (a) An account is established in the special revenue fund known as the "Come Teach in Minnesota Hiring Bonus program account."
(b) Funds appropriated for the Come Teach in Minnesota Hiring Bonus program under this section must be transferred to the Come Teach in Minnesota Hiring Bonus program account in the special revenue fund.
(c) Money in the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner for hiring bonuses under this section. Any returned funds are available to be regranted.
(d) Up to $35,000 annually is appropriated to the commissioner for costs associated with developing and administering the program under this section.
1Sp2021 c 13 art 3 s 1
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 120 - 129C — Education Code: Prekindergarten - Grade 12
Chapter 122A — Teachers And Other Educators
Section 122A.01 — Definitions.
Section 122A.05 — Professional Practices; Intent.
Section 122A.06 — Definitions.
Section 122A.07 — Professional Educator Licensing And Standards Board Membership.
Section 122A.092 — Teacher Preparation Programs.
Section 122A.093 — Fraud; Gross Misdemeanor.
Section 122A.11 — Definitions.
Section 122A.12 — Board Of School Administrators.
Section 122A.14 — Duties Of Board Of School Administrators.
Section 122A.15 — Teachers, Supervisory And Support Personnel, Definitions, Licensure.
Section 122A.16 — Qualified Teacher Defined.
Section 122A.17 — Validity Of Certificates Or Licenses.
Section 122A.18 — Board To Issue Licenses.
Section 122A.181 — Tier 1 License.
Section 122A.182 — Tier 2 License.
Section 122A.183 — Tier 3 License.
Section 122A.184 — Tier 4 License.
Section 122A.185 — Teacher Licensure Assessment.
Section 122A.187 — Expiration And Renewal.
Section 122A.188 — Licensure Denial; Appeal.
Section 122A.19 — Bilingual And English As A Second Language Teachers; Licenses.
Section 122A.20 — Suspension Or Revocation Of Licenses.
Section 122A.21 — Teachers' And Administrators' Licenses; Fees.
Section 122A.22 — District Verification Of Teacher Licenses.
Section 122A.23 — Applicants Trained In Other States.
Section 122A.2451 — Alternative Teacher Preparation Providers And Programs.
Section 122A.26 — Community Education Teachers; Licensure Requirements.
Section 122A.27 — Alternative Preparation Licensing For Administrators.
Section 122A.28 — Teachers Of Deaf And Hard-of-hearing Students; Licensure Requirements.
Section 122A.29 — Teachers Of Blind And Visually Impaired Students; Licensure Requirements.
Section 122A.31 — American Sign Language/english Interpreters.
Section 122A.33 — License And Degree Exemption For Head Coach.
Section 122A.40 — Employment; Contracts; Termination.
Section 122A.41 — Teacher Tenure Act; Cities Of The First Class; Definitions.
Section 122A.414 — Alternative Teacher Pay.
Section 122A.4144 — Supplemental Agreements; Alternative Teacher Pay.
Section 122A.415 — Alternative Compensation Revenue.
Section 122A.4155 — Alternative Compensation Rural District Application Assistance.
Section 122A.417 — Alternative Teacher Compensation Revenue For St. Croix River Education District.
Section 122A.42 — General Control Of Schools.
Section 122A.43 — Short-term, Limited Contracts.
Section 122A.44 — Contracting With Teachers; Substitute Teachers.
Section 122A.45 — Teacher Contracts For Summer School.
Section 122A.46 — Extended Leaves Of Absence.
Section 122A.47 — Return To Full-time Work.
Section 122A.48 — Teacher Early Retirement Incentive Program.
Section 122A.49 — Sabbatical Leave For Teachers.
Section 122A.50 — Preparation Time.
Section 122A.51 — Teacher Lunch Period.
Section 122A.54 — Exchange Teachers.
Section 122A.55 — Staff Exchange Program.
Section 122A.56 — Faculty Exchange And Temporary Assignment Program.
Section 122A.57 — Exchanges Between Education Faculty.
Section 122A.58 — Coaches, Termination Of Duties.
Section 122A.59 — Come Teach In Minnesota Hiring Bonuses.
Section 122A.60 — Staff Development Program.
Section 122A.61 — Reserved Revenue For Staff Development.
Section 122A.624 — Educational Effectiveness Program.
Section 122A.625 — Educational Effectiveness Plan.
Section 122A.627 — Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports.
Section 122A.63 — Grants To Prepare Indian Teachers.
Section 122A.635 — Collaborative Urban And Greater Minnesota Educators Of Color Grant Program.
Section 122A.66 — Teacher Training; Effects Of Drugs And Alcohol.
Section 122A.68 — Teaching Residency Program.
Section 122A.69 — Practice Or Student Teachers.
Section 122A.695 — Best Practices.
Section 122A.70 — Teacher Mentorship And Retention Of Effective Teachers.
Section 122A.71 — Research On Program Effectiveness.
Section 122A.72 — Teacher Centers.
Section 122A.73 — Grants For Grow Your Own Programs.
Section 122A.74 — Principals' Leadership Institute.
Section 122A.76 — Statewide Concurrent Enrollment Teacher Training Program.
Section 122A.90 — Interstate Agreement On Qualifications Of Educational Personnel.