Educator Licensing

FEBRUARY 2007

Please share this information with appropriate district personnel and feel free to contact Daniel Bittman at 651-582-8807 or at with suggestions, questions or requested topics for future emails.

This newsletter contains information regarding the following:

  1. Online Applications for First-time Applicants
  2. Online Renewal
  3. Deadline Extension for STAR, Discrepancy, and Highly Qualified Reporting
  4. Licensure via Portfolio

5.Portfolio Profile

6.Special Renewal Requirement for Certain Speech-Language Pathologist Licenses Expiring on July 1, 2007

7.Praxis Tests

1.ONLINE APPLICATION FOR FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS

Educator Licensing successfully implemented the online system on January 25, 2007. Individuals seeking teacher, administrator or related services licensure for the first time may now apply online. Individuals applying for a first-time license will now complete the application online and submit the $88.00 processing fee by credit card (Visa or Mastercard). To begin the application review process, individuals will send in the copy of the electronic application confirmation with the supporting materials. The online application process will include a check-off list to help applicants determine the materials needed to support the application. Please call the Educator Licensing office at 651-582-8691 if you have questions.

2.ONLINE RENEWAL

The online renewal system is a quick and east way to renew! Teachers can review their continuing education clock hour record, renew their teaching license and check the status of their submitted renewal form. To enter the site, a file folder number and the first six digits of the serial number from the most recently issued Minnesota license is required. The serial number is located in the middle of the license. At this time, the online process is only available to those teachers issued a five year continuing license. This process is not currently available for teacherswho hold an administrative license or any individual holding a related service field including school nurse, school social worker or the speech pathologist license. However, plans to include certain administrative licenses are expected to be implemented in the near future.

3.DEADLINE - EXTENSION FOR STAR, DISCREPANCY AND HIGHLY QUALIFIED REPORTING

The STAR team members at the Department of Education are monitoring districts’ progress in completing STAR, Discrepancy and HQ data. As of January 30, 2007, there are a number of districts who have not completed all three reports. The deadline has been extended to February 15, 2007. We would appreciate it if you would check with your district STAR Coordinator to ensure that all three reports have been completed. The data submitted in these three reports will be published in the School Report Cards and will be used to fulfill mandatory reporting requests at federal and state levels.

If you have questions regarding this request, please ask your district STAR Coordinator to contact the STAR Hotline via email at or 651-582-8665.

4.LICENSURE VIA PORTFOLIO

Over one hundred individuals seeking a Minnesota teaching license have obtained full licensure through Licensure via Portfolio. Individuals have completed the requirements for licensure by demonstrating competencies in the required standards to obtain an initial license, expand an existing license and/or add a field to an existing license.

The Minnesota Department of Education Educator Licensing and Teacher Quality Division and the Minnesota Board of Teaching will be providing Licensure via Portfolio workshops for individuals interested in learning more about Licensure via Portfolio.

UpcomingLicensure via PortfolioWorkshops:

  • January 31, 2007, Bertha-HewittHigh School, from 9:00 to Noon.
  • February 15, 2007, at the Department of Education, Room CC16.
  • March 8, 2007, Little FallsHigh School, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  • March 29, 2007, at the Department of Education, Room CC16.

Registration materials are available at:

or contact Jan Keller at 651-582-8383 or .

5.PORTFOLIO PROFILE: Laura Medwetz, Special Education Teacher

Laura added Learning Disabilities to her teaching license.

Portfolio Development Can Enhance Professional Growth

The thought of developing a portfolio may seem overwhelming. Teachers already have a lot on their plates. I can honestly tell you that developing a portfolio is a time-consuming project. In fact, I’m sure I put at least 100 hours of work into the task. But I can also tell you that the process can be a rewarding opportunity for professional growth. If you are wondering if licensure via portfolio is the route for you, I’d encourage you to consider the following questions…

Do you have a clear understanding of the competencies needed in this field of licensure? In order to complete your portfolio, you need to understand “what it takes” to practice in this particular licensure area. Just as we consider the concepts, skills and applications of learning for students in our classrooms (in regard to a particular subject area), you need to approach this professional licensure area from the lens of a learner. Your first step is to print off the standards and competencies provided by MDE and then read through each one to evaluate if you really understand what is required in each of these subcategories. Each competency listed is very specific. If you don’t understand the detail embedded in the standard consider finding a resource such as a colleague, university advisor, or MDE staff to assist you with developing a clearer understanding.

Do you have a lot of experience in this field of licensure? For each one of the standards and competency areas you will need to retrieve evidence. If you have been teaching for many years, lesson plans, unit development, professional reports and committee work becomes pretty typical day-to-day business. Well now you’ll need to go back to your files, dust things off and start a collection to begin your portfolio work. Evidence comes in many forms, such as actual university transcripts and course descriptions, letters of support from colleagues, copies of lesson plans or resources you have developed. Be careful to attend to each specific competency area appropriately. Are you asked to show evidence of your theoretical knowledge base or actual teaching practice? Be able to identify the difference between the two when choosing useable artifacts or evidence.

Are you a reflective practitioner? The process of developing a portfolio can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. You will spend many hours reviewing and reflecting on your practice and contributions to the lives of the students and families that you serve. At times you will be in awe of your work. At other times you will identify areas for future growth and development. It is this type of work that can fuel one’s passion and create the landscape for continuing professional development.

If you answered yes to these questions…then I’d encourage you to “go for it.” It sounds like a portfolio project is the match for you. As you fill your portfolio, fulfillment in your work and professional life will follow.

6.SPECIAL RENEWAL REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST LICENSES EXPIRING IN 2007

In 1994, the Minnesota Board of Teaching license requirements for speech-language pathologists were changed to require new applicants for this Minnesota education license to hold a master’s degree in this field. At the same time, speech-language pathologists who were previously licensed with a bachelor’s degree only in this field were given until June 30, 2007, to either complete a master’s degree or provide transcript evidence of an additional 24 quarter or 16 semester credits in speech-language pathology or related special education instruction and services.

Licenses issued after 1994 to previously licensed bachelor’s degree only speech-language pathologists, who held bachelor’s degrees only at the time of initial licensure, included the additional credit requirement as a renewal condition on their license. As we approach the June 30, 2007, deadline for meeting this requirement, the following points may be helpful for individuals who have this renewal condition on their license:

  • If the individual later earned a master’s degree and did not submit a transcript showing the master’s degree and date awarded, the additional credit renewal requirement has remained on licenses issued to them, and the current license expires on June 30, 2007. These individuals need to submit a transcript showing the master’s degree and date awarded with their usual renewal application in 2007. Please do NOT submit transcripts alone, without the completed renewal application form and $57 check for the processing fee.
  • Individuals who have completed an assortment of college credits intended to be applied to this requirement may want to request a pre-submission verification that all the credits completed can be counted toward this requirement. Transcripts may be faxed to the attention of Jodie Witte at 651-582-8809 or the information provided to Jodie in a e-mail to for a review. In an e-mail message, be sure to include the name and number of the course, the university at which the course was completed, the number of credits and whether the credits are quarter or semester. Be sure to include your contact information and your file folder number. Only speech-language pathology or related special education instruction and services courses may be used for this requirement. If the content of the course is not clearly identified in the title of the course, a course description may be requested before acceptance can be determined. When the completed renewal application form is submitted to Educator Licensing, official transcripts for the courses must be included with the renewal application and fee. Please do NOT submit transcripts alone, without the completed renewal application form and $57 check for the processing fee.
  • If the individual has not completed the additional 24 quarter or 16 semester credits, the license cannot be renewed until the individual can provide the transcripts for these credits. If the license cannot be renewed in 2007, the license remains in the licensing database in “inactive” status, and, at some point in the future, when all 24 or 16 credits have been completed, the license may be renewed at that time by the usual renewal application and fee and submission of the official transcripts. Please do NOT submit transcripts alone, without the completed renewal application form and $57 check for the processing fee.
  • Speech-language pathologist licenses renewed within the last four years could be issued only to June 30, 2007. Although this current license was not issued for the full five years, the license has the usual continuing education renewal requirement. If the 2007 renewal application is submitted without the usual continuing education requirements met and only the additional credit transcripts are included, the new license issued in 2007 will be issued to June 30 of the year that is five years from the date of the previous renewal. If the 2007 renewal application is submitted with the usual continuing education requirements met and verified by the local continuing education committee and additional credit transcripts included, the license issued in 2007 will be issued for the full five years to June 30, 2012.

Questions regarding this requirement and related renewal a procedures may be address to Jodie Witte at 651-582-8867 or .

PRAXIS TESTS

All applicants for a first-time Minnesota teaching license must complete the required teacher licensure tests and achieve the Board of Teaching adopted score. Test registration Bulletins are available at college and university teacher

education offices or by contacting Educational Testing Service at or by calling 609-771-7395. The remaining test dates for 2006-07 are listed below.

Test DateRegistration Deadline

4/28/073/29/07

6/07/075/10/07

8/4/077/5/07

Please encourage teachers to register early to meet the testing conditions listed on their Minnesota teaching license as applicants have been turned away during the spring and summer sessions due to the volume of registrations.