Minnesota: College and Career Policies

The Minnesota Commissioner of Education has full authority to adopt assessments.

Minnesota requires districts to develop and evaluate principals and teachers to improve leadership and instruction, as well as to increase student learning and success. Minnesota charter schools must also evaluate teachers with evaluation and development processes that meet guidelines in statute (Minn. Stat,, §§ 123B.147 and 122A.40, Subd. 8, and § 122A.41, Subd. 5).

Minnesota requires districts to develop and evaluate principals and teachers to improve leadership and instruction, as well as to increase student learning and success. Minnesota charter schools must also evaluate teachers with evaluation and development processes that meet guidelines in statute (Minn. Stat,, §§ 123B.147 and 122A.40, Subd. 8, and § 122A.41, Subd. 5). 35% of these annual evaluations should e based on student performance data.

The Minnesota Board of Teaching licenses teachers.

In order to become a certified teacher in Minnesota, an applicant must earn a passing score on a board-adopted skills examination in reading, writing, and mathematics.

The Minnesota State Board of Teaching creates the standards by which preparation programs are assessed.

The board shall implement new systems of teacher preparation program evaluation to assure program effectiveness based on proficiency of graduates in demonstrating attainment of program outcomes. Teacher preparation programs including alternative teacher preparation programs under section 122A.245, among other programs, must include a content-specific, board-approved, performance-based assessments. The Minnesota Department of Education Educator Licensing Division expects all applicants for teaching licensure in the state to graduate from a state-approved teacher preparation program and hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, you must complete a Human Relations course, which is included in all Minnesota approved teacher preparation programs.

Minnesota updated the English language arts standards in 2010. These standards are aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

Minnesota requires 4 credits of English to graduate.

Minnesota has standards in 7 different content areas including arts, English language arts, health and physical education, math, reading, science, and social studies.

Minnesota requires 3 credits of math for graduation.

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) and alternate assessment, Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS), are the statewide tests that help districts measure student progress toward Minnesota's academic standards and meet the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Students take one test in each subject. Most students take the MCA, but students who receive special education services and meet eligibility criteria may take the MTAS.