Section 122A.19 Bilingual and English As a Second Language Teachers; Licenses

MINNESOTA STATUTES AND CODES

Section 122A.19 Bilingual and English As a Second Language Teachers; Licenses

122A.19 BILINGUAL AND ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHERS; LICENSES.

Subdivision 1.Bilingual and English as a second language licenses.

The Board of Teaching, hereinafter the board, must grant teaching licenses in bilingual education and English as a second language to persons who present satisfactory evidence that they:

(a) Possess competence and communicative skills in English and in another language;

(b) Possess a bachelor's degree or other academic degree approved by the board, and meet such requirements as to course of study and training as the board may prescribe.

Subd. 2.Persons holding general teaching licenses.

A person holding a general teaching license who presents the board with satisfactory evidence of competence and communicative skills in a language other than English may be licensed under this section.

Subd. 3.Employment of teachers.

Teachers employed in a bilingual education or English as a second language program established pursuant to sections 124D.58 to 124D.64 shall not be employed to replace any presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be replaced.

Subd. 4.Teacher preparation programs.

For the purpose of licensing bilingual and English as a second language teachers, the board may approve programs at colleges or universities designed for their training.

Subd. 5.Persons eligible for employment.

Any person licensed under this section shall be eligible for employment by a school board as a teacher in a bilingual education or English as a second language program in which the language for which the person is licensed is taught or used as a medium of instruction. A board may prescribe only those additional qualifications for teachers licensed under this section as are approved by the board of teaching.

Subd. 6.Affirmative efforts in hiring.

In hiring for all positions in bilingual education programs, districts must give preference to and make affirmative efforts to seek, recruit, and employ persons who are (a) native speakers of the language which is the medium of instruction in the bilingual education program, and (b) who share the culture of the limited English speaking children who are enrolled in the program. The district shall provide procedures for the involvement of the parent advisory committees in designing the procedures for the recruitment, screening and selection of applicants. This section must not be construed to limit the school board's authority to hire and discharge personnel.