Section 1

Provision

Subd. 1

Provides the following definitions:

• “Master’s degree program” is a graduate level program at an accredited university leading to a master of arts or science degree in a content area directly related to the qualified teacher’s licensure field or in which the teacher provides instruction.  Programs that include pedagogy or a pedagogy component do not qualify.
• “Qualified teacher” is a K-12 teacher holding a continuing license by the Minnesota Board of Teaching who began a master’s degree program after June 30, 2017 and completes the program during the taxable year.     
• “Core content area” is the academic subject of reading, English or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, or geography.
   

Subd. 2

Allows a credit of up to $2,500 for a qualified teacher who completes a master’s degree program in a taxable year.  The credit is available one time for each master’s degree program completed in a core content area.  
 

Subd. 3

Provides that the credit is refundable and appropriates the amount necessary to pay refunds authorized under the bill.