Read+the+rest+of+the+email+here+..

MTLE folks,

Sorry I haven’t been more on top of this … but it turns out that playing a waiting game on this might pay off – because **two big things have happened that will make it easier to get licensed in Minnesota.**

These are

1. An ALTERNATE METHOD to PASS THE BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENT, and

2. LOWERED PASSING SCORES on the MTLE Subject and Pedagogy Tests (but not on the Basic Skills Tests).

media type="custom" key="24823120"** 1. An ALTERNATE METHOD to PASS THE BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENT. ** It looks like there’s going to be a path OTHER THAN PASSING THE MTLE BASIC SKILLS TESTS to demonstrate your competency in these areas.

It looks like Minnesota is about to move towards an “alternate pathway” for showing mastery of the Basic Skills. The announcement of the plan is here: []

T he important part reads as follows:

[|Chapter 116] also creates a Teacher Licensure Advisory Task Force. The task force is directed to evaluate the MTLE Basic Skills tests and recommend methods  for teacher candidates to demonstrate skills mastery by February 14, 2014. The Board of Teaching  must adopt rules  by January 1, 2015 reflecting the task force recommendations.


 * WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?** I’m just guessing … but this is what I think …

In other words, for teacher candidates who are having trouble passing the MTLE Basic Skills tests:
 * the State probably **__will not__** lower the pass scores, but
 * the State **__will probably__** establish a “back door” to demonstrating those Reading/Writing/Math skills.
 * This **__will probably__** require you to take a class in the problem area or areas.
 * o then over the 8 or 12 weeks of the class, you’d complete a **__series of shorter tests__** that would demonstrate the same mastery.
 * o but each of the shorter tests would cover a much smaller range of materials …
 * o … and you’d be “coached” in the weeks leading up to the test. (So the class would cover how to write a comparison/contrast essay first AND THEN you would be given an essay assignment to demonstrate your understanding).


 * Timetable:**
 * On February 14 (in six days), an Advisory Group will make a recommendation to the Board of Teaching about what that “alternate pathway” to demonstrating Basic Skills should be.
 * The Minnesota Legislature is requiring the Board of Teaching to then enact those recommendations by 2015.
 * Probably, though, the Board will enact them immediately (which is what they did with the new Waiver rules.)


 * //So … this will be exciting news … and a sensible and progressive move by the Legislature and the Board of Teaching.//** I’m impressed by the good ol’ Minnesota common sense we’re seeing here.

media type="custom" key="24823124"** 2. LOWERED PASSING SCORES on the MTLE Subject Tests. ** In addition,the “passing score” has been lowered for **__54 of the MTLE Subject/Pedagogy Tests__** – including the two ESL tests (Test 114 and Test 115). The full list is here: [] (Thanks to Lorena for telling me about this!)

Some of you may have already received emails from the Board of Teaching informing you that your scores – which were failing scores – or now passing scores. (The email would have been from Erin Doan at MDE, [erin.doan@state.mn.us] – so you might want to check to see if you’ve received anything from her.


 * If your score is now a “passing score,” Erin’s email lets you know with this sentence:**


 * As a result of this action by the BOT, you now have a previous score on a subtest **
 * that meets the recently adopted new raw passing score for this subtest. **


 * If Erin’s email includes this sentence, it means you PASSED a SUBJECT AREA TEST that you had previously failed. **

The email from Erin Doan then explains how to (a) verify your passing score, (b) inform your college of your passing score, and (c) apply for a license if you now have passed all the requirements.


 * // Reading legislature announcements can be difficult and boring … //**// but in this case, it’s worth it. //The Minnesota Legislature and the Board of Teaching is working hard to make teacher licensure in Minnesota fairer, more respectful of diversity, and more possible for many teachers.

I’ll let you know what the “alternate means” of passing the MTLE Basic Skills requirement is … In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions.

// John //