Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to provide financial support to teacher candidates who are undergoing student teaching as part of their teacher preparation programs. The goal is to ease the financial burden on these individuals during their unpaid student teaching period.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation of Funds: The bill allocates $20,000,000 from the general fund for the fiscal year 2026. This money is designated for creating programs that support teacher candidates during their student teaching.

• Grant Distribution: The Minnesota Department of Education will partner with a nonprofit organization experienced in managing sensitive data. This organization will distribute stipends to teacher candidates who are student teaching for at least 12 weeks in programs approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.

• Stipends Details: Each eligible student teacher will receive compensation calculated at a minimum rate of $15 per hour. Importantly, these stipends will not impact the student teacher's financial aid packages.

• Administrative Costs: Up to 5% of the grant money can be used by the nonprofit for the administration of the stipend distribution.

• One-Time Appropriation: The funding is specified as a one-time appropriation for the fiscal year 2026.

Significant Changes

This bill introduces a new financial support system for student teachers in Minnesota, which did not previously exist. By providing stipends, the bill aims to reduce financial barriers and encourage more individuals to pursue careers in teaching.

Relevant Terms

• Education finance
• Teacher candidates
• Student teaching
• Stipends
• Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
• Nonprofit organization