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Committee sends bill clarifying grant eligibility for PELSB-approved programs including Teach Minnesota
Summary
House File 1959, which would clarify that all PELSB-approved teacher-preparation programs — including alternative pathways such as Teach Minnesota — are eligible to apply for certain state grants, was re-referred to the Education Finance Committee on March 11.
The Minnesota House Education Policy Committee on March 11 voted to re-refer House File 1959 to the Education Finance Committee. The bill clarifies that all teacher-preparation programs approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), including alternative pathways such as Teach Minnesota, are eligible to apply for state grant programs that support teacher preparation and recruitment.
Rep. Mueller told the committee the measure is intended to remove ambiguity about grant eligibility so PELSB-approved alternative programs can apply for funding supporting mentorship, loan repayment or shortage-area incentives. "There is nothing in statute that says Teach Minnesota cannot apply for grants, but we want to be crystal clear that all PELSB approved programs are eligible," she said.
Meghna Sohoney of Teach Minnesota (TNTP) said the program recruits and trains teachers through an intensive "learn-and-earn" pathway that places participants as tier-2 teachers while they complete training and earn coaching and classroom support. Sohoney told the committee Teach Minnesota has placed more than 90 teachers over three years and that 88 percent of those teachers continue beyond the first year.
Caitlin Snyder of Education Minnesota supported the bill, and said programs and grants have differing requirements that can create confusion. She added that clarifying eligibility would let nontraditional pathways access funding subject to existing program-specific requirements.
Committee members asked technical questions about how grant programs such as loan-repayment awards interact with program-level grants. Nonpartisan staff indicated that program-specific rules differ; in some instances loan-repayment awards are applied to individual teachers rather than to preparation programs. Mueller said the bill's intent is to allow PELSB-approved programs to apply but does not change eligibility criteria within individual grant programs.
The committee approved a motion to re-refer the bill to Education Finance for further consideration.
