Education Minnesota opposed licensure law because it lowered standards

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ST. PAUL, Minn. Sept. 26, 2017 – Rep. Jennifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie, claimed in a Tuesday news release that Education Minnesota opposed legislation that would have required the Minnesota Board of Teaching to report allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor to law enforcement, which was part of a larger education bill that included changes to teacher licensure.

Education Minnesota President Denise Specht issued the following statement in response.

“Education Minnesota opposed changes to the state’s teacher licensing law because it radically lowered the standards for receiving a teaching license in Minnesota, and then said the state’s teacher evaluation law would only apply to the least trained teachers ‘to the extent practicable,'” Specht said. “Our union never opposed the changes to the mandatory reporting requirements for the Board of Teaching. It is misleading to say otherwise.”

About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.