A bill to revise teacher hiring and dismissal policies, authored by Senator Julia Coleman (R-Chanhassen), was heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The bill reduces restrictions placed on school districts when hiring new teachers while preventing the harmful practice of using seniority in their dismissal policies. Senator Coleman released the following statement about her bill:

“Our schools should be allowed to hire and retain the best possible teachers,” said Coleman. “It is critical for the future of our state that we provide more opportunities for teachers of color in the classroom, while improving the educational outcomes of our students. This bill takes a bold step in accomplishing that.”

The legislation will improve opportunities for teachers, especially for teachers who are relatively new to the profession and may not have seniority or advanced licensure. These teachers are the ones most likely to improve diversity in the education workforce.
Additionally, Coleman’s bill opens existing grant programs designed to help people enter the teaching profession through alternative teacher preparation programs, which helps bring down institutional barriers teachers of color might face.