Senator Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point) has co-authored a bill that allows the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to expand the pool of qualified candidates to receive teaching licenses.

Minnesota has seen a steady decrease in available substitute teachers, a problem that was only further exacerbated by Covid. Prior to the pandemic, substitute teachers were in short supply as teacher retention numbers fell. Distance learning and the accompanying challenges have kept candidates from entering the pool of educators. SF-2861 would allow a person with an Associate Degree, professional certification, or five years of relevant work experience along with a background check to fill in the teaching gaps in our schools. This change would go into effect starting July 1 of this year, to allow schools to fill openings for the 2022-2023 school year.  

“Students across the state have had interrupted learning schedules for over two years, and now that they’re back to in-person learning, we need to address the shortage of teachers,” said Sen. Ruud. “This bill expands the pool of candidates for substitute teacher positions, ensuring kids once again have proper instruction and guidance in the classroom.”

This shortage has hindered in-person learning and has caused schools to shuffle their staff and schedules. Proposed legislation focuses on recruiting candidates so Minnesota can get its education system back on track, allowing schools and educators to focus on improving literacy and education with proper personnel.

The bill was referred to the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee.