Attracting and retaining a racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse teacher workforce is vital to reflect the diversity of Minnesota’s student population.
The goal of Come Teach in Minnesota is to support districts and charter schools in recruiting and retaining teachers who are American Indian or teachers of color to move to and teach in Minnesota.
Program Summary
The Come Teach in Minnesota Program is a competitive grant administered be the Minnesota Department of Education. It provides funding for districts or charter schools to offer hiring bonuses for licensed teachers who are American Indian or people of color who move to Minnesota. Hiring bonuses can be offered to teachers who:
- Will qualify for a Minnesota professional educator license within two academic years after hire.
- Have moved to the region in Minnesota where they are hired.
- Belong to a racial or ethnic group that is underrepresented among teachers, compared to students in the district or school.
Staff receiving a hiring bonus must be employed as a classroom teacher. Teachers on special assignment (TOSA), school nurses, guidance counselors, or other related-service personnel are not eligible for this program.
Hiring and Retention Bonus
Eligible teachers hired by participating employers may receive a hiring bonus up to $5,000. Additionally, if a teacher who received a hiring bonus successfully completes four years of service in the hiring district or charter school, that teacher can receive a retention bonus equal to their hiring bonus.
Getting Licensed to Teach in Minnesota
Those who wish to teach in K-12 public schools in Minnesota must earn a professional educator’s license. The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, is the state agency that oversees teacher licensing.
Minnesota has a tiered system for educator licensure with four different levels, or tiers, available depending on a candidate’s educational attainment, experience, assessment scores, and evaluation. A Tier 2 or higher license is required to be eligible for the Come Teach in Minnesota hiring and retention bonuses.
Most candidates with prior teaching experience who are coming from out-of-state apply for either a Tier 2 or Tier 3 license. To qualify for a Tier 2 license, a candidate must have a job offer with a Minnesota public school and meet Tier 2 requirements. Tier 2 candidates do not need to meet testing requirements.
A Tier 3 does not require a job offer, but it does require that you meet testing requirements prior to applying for licensure. See the Out-of-State testing FAQ document for more guidance.
View the visual guide to tiered licensure requirements in Minnesota.
Both Tier 2 and Tier 3 applications can be found on PELSB’s Apply for a License webpage.
Availability
NEW FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR • Funds for hiring bonuses are available to all Minnesota public schools beginning November 2023.
[!IMPORTANT] District contacts, you must enroll in the program to be eligible for reimbursement. Complete the Enrollment Process at the MDE Website.
[!TIP] Job seekers, be sure to tell potential employers about your eligibility for the Come Teach in Minnesota program in your application cover letter.
Job Seekers: Get Free 1-on-1 Career Guidance
Get advice and answers when you talk to a Come Teach in MN navigator. Click below to schedule your free, 15-minute telephone session.
Come Teach in MN navigators are familiar with districts and charter schools across Minnesota, and with the licensing process. They can help you determine the best path for finding a teaching job in Minnesota based on where you are now and where you want to be. They can also connect you directly with school leaders that are interested in hiring.
Previous Participating Employers (October, 2022 to October, 2023)
Elk River-Otsego-Rogers-Zimmerman** 📣 Openings
- Hiawatha Academies 📣 Openings
- Hopkins Public Schools 📣 Openings
- KIPP MN 📣 Openings
- Madelia Public Schools 📣 Openings
- Modern Montessori 📣 Openings
- Northeast College Prep 📣 Openings
- Northeast Metro Intermediate District 📣 Openings
- Osseo 279 📣 Openings
Contact: Susan Hang, Recruitment and Retention Manager • [email protected] • 763-391-7013 - Pelican Rapids Public Schools 📣 Openings
- Prodeo Acedemy 📣 Openings
- Rockford Area Schools 📣 Openings
- Sejong Academy 📣 Openings
- Sojourner Truth Academy 📣 Openings
- St. Cloud Area Schools 📣 Openings
- St. Michael-Albertville Schools 📣 Openings
Contact: Grace Sawatzke, Human Resources Specialist • [email protected] - St. Paul Public Schools 📣 Openings
- Universal Academy 📣 Openings
Previous Participating Employers (January, 2022 to October, 2022)
- Elk River-Otsego-Rogers-Zimmerman 📣 Openings 🎯 Fact Sheet
- Minnetonka 📣 Openings 🎯 Fact Sheet
- Rochester 📣 Openings
- Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan 📣 Openings 🎯 Fact Sheet
- Roseville 📣 Openings
- St. Francis 📣 Openings
- Stillwater 📣 Openings
- Twin Cities German Immersion School 📣 Openings 🎯 Fact Sheet
- Wayzata 📣 Openings 🎯 Fact Sheet
- Windom 📣 Openings
- Zumbrota Mazeppa 📣 Openings