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September 2023
September Updates
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As announced in an August 18, 2023, Press Release, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has established the Educator Workforce and Development Center to create more focus on programs to support districts, schools, communities and Tribal Nations in work to recruit, diversify, develop and retain educators in order to build the best teaching workforce in the nation.
Under Assistant Commissioner Angela Mansfield, the Center is led by Gregory Keith and Tyler Livingston, and continues to pursue a vision where every student has access to excellent and diverse educators. We will continue to use this newsletter to announce updates and opportunities related to increasing, diversifying, developing and training our educator workforce.
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The MDE has grant funding available for the Special Education Teacher Pipeline Program to develop a pipeline of trained, licensed Tier 3 or Tier 4 special education teachers. Approximately $10 million is available to districts, charters and cooperatives to help their Tier 1 and Tier 2 teachers, paraprofessionals, and other non-licensed employees to reduce financial barriers and otherwise support them to obtain their first professional teaching license as a special education teacher.
The grant opportunity was posted on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, and will be due Wednesday, October 18, 2023. Visit the Competitive Grant Opportunity webpage to learn more about the opportunity and to download application materials.
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The MDE has grant funding available to postsecondary institutions partnering with school districts (joint applicants) for the purpose of assisting American Indian people to become teachers and to provide additional education for American Indian teachers. This funding will assist with recruiting American Indians, providing professional development and assist students while working towards licensure as an American Indian teacher or prekindergarten-12th grade education careers.
The grant opportunity was posted on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, and will be due Wednesday, October 18, 2023. Visit the Competitive Grant Opportunity webpage to learn more about the opportunity and to download application materials.
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Where does one go to see all of the funded programs to recruit, diversify and retain the educator workforce?
Check out our updated Educator Workforce Funded Program Inventory posted on our Educator Workforce webpage. Compiled by staff at the Office of Higher Education (OHE), the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), and MDE, this tool provides a snapshot of each of the state and federal programs that districts and charters could leverage for their recruitment and retention efforts.
Note: ESSER funding expires at the end of September 2024, and there are several opportunities in the educator workforce space to utilize this resource before it ends. Note that there is no “supplement, not supplant” provision with these funds, so existing Grow Your Own, teacher recruitment or teacher mentoring programs could be funded. The 9/30/24 deadline is for obligations, not completion of spending. In particular, purchased or contracted services could continue after that date, so long as a binding commitment was signed by then. Some ideas include:
- Some LEAs have used funds to send administrators on recruiting trips to HBCUs (note: out of state travel requires pre-approval)
- Some LEAs have used funds for stipends for new teacher mentors, capacity building for mentor program
- Some LEAs have used funds for tuition payments for existing staff (for example, supporting associate educators to get preliminary licensure, grad credits for existing teachers to qualify to teach concurrent enrollment)
- Other support for education career pathway building (for example, concurrent enrollment fees from HS to IHE)
For assistance with questions about ESSER funding, contact John Ford.
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The 2023 state legislature allocated $3.5 million in funds to support the development or expansion of teacher mentorship programs for teachers new to the profession or district, including teaching residents, teachers of color, teachers who are American Indian, teachers in license shortage areas, teachers with special needs, or experienced teachers in need of peer coaching.
This grant is available to school districts; groups of school districts; schools or coalitions of schools; and coalitions of teachers. Grant applications are due September 22, 2023. Please visit Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board Grants webpage for more information.
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The 2023 state legislature allocated $400,000 in funds to support teachers holding a Tier 2 license to seek a Tier 3 license by completing a teacher preparation program or the licensure via portfolio process.
This grant is available to school districts; charter schools; educational service cooperatives; and partnerships between one and more teacher preparation provider and school district, including charter schools. Grant applications are due September 22, 2023. Please visit Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board Grants webpage for more information.
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The Statewide Induction and Mentoring pilot program is working to develop and retain a diverse educator workforce by implementing a program that provides culturally responsive learning and inclusive working environments. In June and August, mentors from twenty-five pilot sites completed four days of mentor training in anticipation of supporting their district's new or early career teachers. Mentor training focused on building a strong, trusting relationship with mentees through the use of the Knowing Teachers tool and extending curiosity about the teacher’s professional strengths, preferences, and needs. A primary goal for mentors and teachers is to establish an Optimal Learning Environment in which students and staff thrive. In October, monthly forums will begin for mentors and leaders focused on the use of high-leverage tools in the mentoring process.
Keep your eyes open for upcoming opportunities to register for statewide webinars focused on mentor resources and applying the Induction and Mentoring Framework in support of your district’s new teachers.
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Principal and school leaders have a crucial impact on the schools they lead. In partnership with the Regional Centers of Excellence, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) provides support and resources to principals/school leaders and their supervisors for developing instructional leadership skills.
This free service is the Principal Leadership Support Team and includes growth-focused, collaborative opportunities statewide. School leaders will receive our bi-monthly newsletter and other leaders are encouraged to subscribe to the newsletter. Leaders can also find a team member in your area using our Principal Support Contact Look-up tool and are welcome to contact Dr. Elizabeth Vaught, 651-582-8250, with any questions.
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The Educator Workforce and Development Center also houses our team that supports the teacher development and evaluation (TDE) & Q Comp programs, and Staff Development programs. Please visit those webpages for general resources. Local TDE/Q Comp leaders may particularly be interested in the opportunities advertised on this professional development page.
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The Come Teach in Minnesota program was revised in the 2023 legislative session. Come Teach seeks to recruit and retain teachers of color and American Indian teachers from out of state by offering hiring bonuses (up to $5,000) and retention bonuses (up to $5,000 after four years of service). As a result of lessons learned from the pilot as well as revised program language, MDE will be revamping the design of this program, opening it up on a statewide basis. Look for a program relaunch this November with informational webinars and updated guidance documents to be announced. For assistance with questions about this program, contact Tamara Valmé or 651-582-8413.
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We are creating a general mailbox for our new Center which we will share in the next update. In the meantime, please reach out to our existing mde.schoolsupport@state.mn.us mailbox for assistance with comments and questions.
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