Dornink introduces bill that would allow more educators to become licensed special education teachers
Published on Monday, March 18, 2024 at 8:57 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Senate Education Policy Committee considered a bill authored by 23rd District Sen. Gene Dornink (R-Brownsdale) to make it easier for teachers to transition into the special education specialty field.
Gene Dorninck
This legislation, SF 4219, amends the Special Education (SPED) Teacher Pipeline Grant Program passed last session and expands coverage and availability of this successful grant program.
“Teachers with special education licenses are some of the most difficult to recruit in rural areas, and we need more teachers to meet demand.” Dorninck said in a news release. “By making these grants available to schools and higher education institutions, we hope to enable existing educators to become licensed special education teachers.”
Under current law, Tier 3 or Tier 4 teachers are not eligible to participate in the SPED grant program. Dorninck's bill would therefore allow schools to use the funds for employees who have expressed a desire to become SPED teachers. The law also has a section to ensure compatibility with the Grow Your Own program.
SPED Pipeline grants are partnerships between educator preparation programs and K-12 schools to recruit and prepare employees to become fully licensed special education teachers. These programs offer customized support, including scholarships, stipends, and unique student mentoring and field placement experiences, among other personalized programs.
For more information about the SPED Teacher Pipeline program, visit www.education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/equitdiv/pipeline.
