Special education teacher pathway program modified to include related services providers.

This bill expands Minnesota's Special Education Teacher Pathway Program to also include related services providers such as school counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and speech-language pathologists. It allows school districts and other educational entities to apply for grants to support these professionals in obtaining Tier 3 licensure through partnerships with accredited teacher preparation programs or universities. Grant funds can be used for tuition assistance, stipends, mentoring, licensure test preparation, and recruitment, with priority given to helping those with lower-tier licenses advance to Tier 3 status. The program requires annual reporting on participant numbers and fund usage, and it will become effective on July 1, 2026.