This bill, Minnesota Senate File No. 2123, relates to workforce development and aims to allocate funding for teacher apprenticeship programs. The key points are:

• Appropriations: Allocates funds from the workforce development fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to reimburse school districts for teacher apprenticeship costs. This is a one-time appropriation.
• Program Requirements: A registered teacher apprenticeship must include:
  1. School district involvement to develop necessary teaching skills.
  2. Structured on-the-job training with an experienced mentor.
  3. Instruction from an approved teacher training program.
  4. Wage increases as participants gain skills.
  5. A sequence of training that results in a Tier 3 teaching license.
• Eligibility & Partnerships: School districts can apply and are encouraged to collaborate with higher education institutions, other districts, charter schools, and cooperative units.
• Program Integration: School districts may incorporate existing "Grow Your Own" or teacher residency programs and combine funding with other teacher recruitment initiatives.
• Guidance & Oversight: Apprenticeship programs should consider existing models in Minnesota and other states, and the Commissioner of Education must work with the Commissioner of Labor and Industry and the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to:
  1. Set funding criteria.
  2. Oversee registered teacher apprenticeships.
  3. Develop legislative recommendations to improve the pathway to teacher licensure.
• Legislative Reporting: The Commissioner of Education must report on the funding's impact and propose statutory or rule changes to enhance teacher apprenticeship programs.

This bill seeks to address teacher shortages by expanding teacher apprenticeships as a licensure pathway.