Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to provide financial support for teacher candidates who are completing student teaching requirements as part of their educator preparation programs in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Funding Allocation: The bill allocates $20,000,000 for the fiscal year 2026 from Minnesota's general fund. This money is designated to create programs that support teacher candidates during their student teaching period.
• Grant Distribution: The Minnesota Department of Education is tasked with awarding a grant to a nonprofit organization. This organization will be responsible for distributing stipends to teacher candidates.
• Stipends for Teacher Candidates: The stipends will go to candidates completing at least 12 weeks of student teaching at approved teacher preparatory programs. The grant aims to compensate candidates at a rate of $15 per hour or more.
• Consideration of Teaching Duration: When distributing the stipends, the length of the student teaching period should be taken into account to ensure fair compensation.
• Administrative Costs: Up to 5% of the grant can be used by the nonprofit organization for administrative expenses related to managing the grants and stipends. Similarly, the Minnesota Department of Education can use up to 5% of the initial allocation for administering the grant process.
• Impact on Financial Aid: The stipend is not intended to affect the candidate's existing financial aid packages.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new financial support mechanism specifically for student teachers, a group that has not historically received direct financial compensation for their practical training.

Relevant Terms

• Education finance
• Teacher candidates
• Student teaching
• Stipends
• Financial aid
• Grant administration
• Nonprofit organization