Minnesota teachers must now pass Native American cultural competency training.
Minnesota Teachers Now Required to Complete Cultural Competency Training with Focus on Native Americans
Beginning this week, Minnesota teachers must now complete cultural competency training with a special focus on Native Americans. This training is mandated by Minnesota law and aims to address personal bias and its impact on relationships with students, families, and school communities.
The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) first introduced a more general version of cultural competency training in 2020. However, in April, Native Americans and Alaskan natives were given their own separate category within the training.
To pass the training, teachers must meet the Standards of Effective Practice, which requires them to not only understand their students’ various identities and beliefs but also affirm them and help them develop positive social identities. Teachers are also expected to support students in recognizing and addressing biases, discrimination, prejudices, and structural inequities.
PELSB argues that since most teachers are white, it is crucial for them to confront their implicit bias. They believe that understanding their own bias and their students’ unique lived experiences is a core requirement for effective teaching.
It is important to note that cultural competency training can range in cost from $30 to $670 for two graduate credits. The validity of cultural competency training providers is approved by PELSB’s Committee to Increase Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers.
Resistance and Support
The implementation of cultural competency training faced resistance during the public input period. One group, Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR) Twin Cities, argued that this training promotes divisiveness and rejects common culture and fairness in treatment. They believe that students should be encouraged to examine varying points of view rather than conforming to views attributed to their groups or cultures.
However, PELSB defended the licensure requirement, stating that it is necessary for teachers to foster trust with their students and provide a proper education. They believe that pedagogical knowledge of creating positive learning environments and working with all types of learners is essential for student learning.
Overall, the cultural competency training aims to equip teachers with the necessary skills to understand and support their diverse student populations, fostering inclusivity and promoting a more equitable education system.
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Current members of PELSB’s Committee to Increase Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers are Angela Osuji, Reuben Moore, Jessa Cook, and Gift Saloka.
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