January 18, 2022

4576 Implementation Updates

Frequently Asked Questions  All new and revised answers are highlighted in the  updated FAQ(also available on the PELSB website on the Teacher Preparation Manual page).  The topics of new and revised questions are highlighted and listed below: Student teaching out of state (page 12) Field experience requirements (page 12) Student teaching music placements (page 21) Teacher educator qualifications pathway 4 (page 48) Please continue to submit questions about R4576 to our R4576 Unit and Program Rule Question Box.

Thank you to Unit Reviewers 

PELSB would like to extend an extra special thank you to members of our Pool of Unit Reviewers who have served on Unit Review teams for unit approvals using 8705.1010, 2021 Unit Rule. These reviewers have risen to the challenge of conducting exemplary reviews with limited precedence. We appreciate their willingness to serve and are confident that future review teams will continue to benefit from their time, effort and commitment.

Call for Additional Unit Reviewers 

Last summer, PELSB held its first training for our Pool of Unit Reviewers (PUR).  This is a great professional development opportunity and a wonderful way to provide a service to the profession while learning more about the implementation of 2021 Unit Rule. If you are interested in applying for the PUR, please review the information provided on the application and submit to Tyra.Reck@state.mn.us.  

Unit Leader Training

Thank you to everyone who attended the unit leader training. 

Please see the attached PowerPoint.

COVID-19 Updates 

Information has Moved 

You may now find information on COVID-related discretionary variances and resolutions at the bottom of the teacher preparation manual page ("COVID-19 Related Discretionary Variances and Resolutions").  In addition to the COVID-19 Policy Manual and the differences between resolutions and variances, there are templates available for student teaching and field experience variances due to COVID-19 disruptions and challenges in that section.  

edTPA Concerns during COVID surge

At the January 14, 2022 Board meeting, one cohort of teacher candidates provided public statements on the challenges of completing the Board-adopted teacher performance assessment during the current Covid omicron variant surge.  

The Board is unsure how widespread these concerns are and requests for providers to share information and data on current efforts to reduce challenges facing teacher candidates.  To share concerns about how candidates will complete the edTPA during the current wave of the pandemic, you may either submit a discretionary variance or contact a PELSB Teacher Education Specialist for guidance. 

 If you submit a discretionary variance, consider the following:

• Include facts rather than conjecture.
• Include other actions you plan to take to reduce the burden on teacher candidates during this time (for example, having teacher candidates complete student teaching 80% time for 15 weeks).
• Include what comparable data will be used demonstrate the effectiveness of teacher candidates and teacher preparation programs at this time. 

Discretionary variances will next be reviewed at the next Teacher Preparation Committee meeting on February 1, 2022 at 1 pm.  Please submit all requests no later than Tuesday, January 25th at 12 pm.  

Title II Update

Thank you for your patience as we awaited the launch of the updated Title II Website. Please continue to adhere to deadlines as published on the 2020-2021 Program Year schedule.