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Policy 424 - License Status

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that qualified teachers are employed by the school district and to fulfill its duty to ascertain the licensure status of its teachers. A school board that employs a teacher who does not hold a valid teaching license or permit places itself at risk for a reduction in state aid. This policy does not negate a teacher’s duty and responsibility to maintain a current and valid teaching license.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
  1. A qualified teacher is one holding a valid license to perform the particular service for which the teacher is employed by the school district.
  2. No person shall be a qualified teacher until the school district verifies, through the Minnesota education licensing system available on the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board website, that the person is a qualified teacher consistent with state law.
  3. The school district has a duty to ascertain the licensure status of its teachers and ensure that the school district’s teacher license files are up to date. The school district shall establish a procedure for annually reviewing its teacher license files to verify that every teacher’s license is current and appropriate to the particular service for which the teacher is employed by the school district.
  4. The school district must annually report to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board: (1) all new teacher hires and terminations, including layoffs, by race and ethnicity; and (2) the reasons for all teacher resignations and requested leaves of absence. The report must not include data that would personally identify individuals. 

Legal References:

  • Minn. Stat. §122A.16 (Qualified Teacher Defined)
  • Minn. Stat. §122A.22 (District Verification of Teacher Licenses)
  • Minn. Stat. §122A.40 (Employment; Contracts; Termination- Immediate Discharge)
  • Minn. Stat. §127A.42 (Reduction of Aid for Violation of Law)
  • Vettleson v. Special Sch. Dist. No. 1, 361 N.W.2d 425 (Minn.App. 1985)
  • Lucio v. School Bd. of Independent Sch. Dist. No. 625, 574 N.W.2d 737 (Minn.App. 1998)
  • In the Matter of the Proposed Discharge of John R. Statz (Christine D. Ver Ploeg), June 8, 1992, affirmed, 1993 WL 129639 (Minn. App. 1993)

Cross References:

Adopted: May 27, 2003
Reviewed: May 15, 2015
Revised: April 16, 2017
Revised: May 21, 2019
Revised: May 18, 2021
Revised: September 19, 2023