Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 39, March 25, 2024
Subpart. 1.
Interim conditional approval.
When amendments or additions to Minnesota statutes or to
Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board rules regarding teacher
licensure requirements necessitate substantial unit or preparation program
revisions, the board may grant interim conditional approval to any currently
approved unit and its currently approved teacher preparation programs upon
receipt of assurances on a form established by the board that the new
requirements will be met by their effective date. The unit or program is
returned to its former status upon full compliance with new requirements on a
schedule determined by the board.
Subp.
2.
Revocation or suspension of approval.
The board may revoke or suspend the approval status of a unit
or program when the board determines that the unit violated ethical or legal
practices or board rules. A provider may reapply for approval after two years
have passed since the date of the board action.
Subp. 3.
Appeal of board
decision.
A provider may appeal a decision by the board regarding the
approval status of a unit or a program to prepare Candidates for teacher
licensure pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14.
Subp. 4.
Voluntary
discontinuation.
A. For a unit to
voluntarily discontinue an approved licensure program, the unit must submit a
letter signed by the unit's administration to the executive director of the
board, including:
(1) a brief rationale for
discontinuing the program;
(2) the
last date when new candidates are allowed to enter the program; and
(3) a list of candidates enrolled with
expected completion dates.
B. The unit must notify all enrolled
candidates in writing of the program's discontinuation and their program
completion options.
C. A provider
must submit a request for initial program approval (RIPA) application according
to part 8705.2100 to
obtain approval of a program that has been voluntarily discontinued.
Subp. 5.
Discretionary variance.
The board may grant a discretionary variance to authorize a
provider or program to meet a requirement in this chapter in a manner other
than as specified in rule or to waive the requirement entirely when application
of the requirement would result in undue hardship. A provider may request a
discretionary variance by using a form developed by the board. To apply for a
discretionary variance, a provider must:
A. identify the requirement for which the
variance is requested;
B. describe
why adherence to the particular rule requirement would impose an undue burden
or hardship; and
C. describe the
alternative practices or measures in place to protect the rights and learning
opportunities of candidates and students and the rationale for any alternative
practices or measures.
The board shall review discretionary variance requests. If the
discretionary variance request is denied, the board shall provide a written
determination listing the reason for the denial. The board may attach
conditions to granting the variance if it is determined that conditions are
needed to protect the rights of candidates and students.
Subp. 6.
Interim
reports.
A. If the board identifies
new or repeated violations of the requirements in this chapter, chapter 8710,
or Minnesota Statutes, chapter 122A, the board may require the unit to submit
an interim report. The unit must submit an interim report within two months of
receiving notice, and the report must include evidence of how the violations
were resolved and how the unit or program has achieved compliance.
B. Upon receipt of the interim report, the
board must take one or more of the following actions:
(1) notify the unit in writing that
sufficient evidence has been submitted to determine that the violations
identified in the interim report are "Met";
(2) change the unit's approval status to "
continuing approval with focus areas" for the remainder of the unit's approval
period or until the unit provides evidence that all requirements identified in
the interim report are "Met";
(3)
change the unit's approval status to probationary for the remainder of the
unit's approval period but no longer than two years or until the unit provides
additional evidence that all requirements identified in the interim report are
"Met";
(4) disapprove the
unit;
(5) change a program's
approval status to "approved with focus areas" for the remainder of the
program's approval period or until the program provides evidence that all
requirements identified in the interim report are "Met";
(6) change a program's approval status to
"probationary" for the remainder of the program's approval period but no longer
than two years or until the program provides evidence that all requirements
identified in the interim report are "Met"; or
(7) discontinue its program or
programs.
C. When taking
a board action against a unit or program, the board must consider the nature
and severity of the violation of law or rule and the effect of the violation on
the rights of the candidates in the program.
