Bill transfers educator grants and some licensure duties from PELSB to Minnesota Department of Education; staff protections added

Senate File 1462, discussed Feb. 27 in the State and Local Government Committee, would transfer administration of two grant programs and related responsibilities from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), and would secure employment protections for staff who transfer with those grants.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Clare Kunish, described the measure as largely operational: it moves the Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators of Color grant and the Teacher Mentorship and Retention grants to MDE, allows the commissioner to retain up to 5% of an appropriation for monitoring and administration, and transfers responsibility for the statewide paraprofessional credential to MDE while leaving administration of the alternative teacher pathway with PELSB. The bill also lists appropriations and operational funding items.

Dr. Elena Baile…