PELSB Makes Pre-K Change Effective Immediately
Specialty teachers authorized to provide subject-specific instruction to prekindergarten students
On February 11, 2022, the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board voted to allow all specialty teachers to be able to provide subject-specific instruction to prekindergarten students. For example, a music teacher can teach music to pre-K students. Previously, only some specialty teachers were allowed to teach pre-K students. To fall under this new flexibility, the specialty teacher must hold a K-12 license in one of the following areas:
- American Indian LanguSpecage, History, and Culture,
- Dance,
- Theater Arts,
- English as a Second Language,
- Library Media Specialist,
- Vocal and Instrumental Music,
- Physical Education,
- Reading,
- Visual Arts, and
- World Languages and Culture.
This flexibility is limited to the specialty teacher’s licensure area. That is, the specialty teacher can only provide instruction aligned to the license they hold (i.e., music, reading, etc.).
The ability to provide subject-specific instruction to pre-K students is effective immediately. Questions regarding this policy change should be sent to katherine.anthony-wigle@state.mn.us.
