Clarify Minnesota Indian Teacher Training Program (MITTP) Fund Uses – Key Takeaways From 2026-27 Minnesota Governor’s Biennial Budget

What’s proposed:
Clarify state law so MITTP funds may only be used to prepare American Indian educators for K–12 schools.
Why this change is needed:
- The program’s purpose is to address the shortage of American Indian teachers in K–12.
- Some public inquiries questioned whether funds could be used for higher education, workforce training, or non–K–12 roles.
- The statute is being clarified to prevent mission drift and ensure consistent use statewide.
What does NOT change:
- No new funding
- No funding cuts
- Existing partnerships and grants continue
- This is a policy clarification, not a program expansion
Who the program serves:
- American Indian teacher candidates and support staff preparing for K–12 licensure
- Joint partnerships between school districts and higher-education institutions, including:
  - UMN–Duluth / Duluth Public Schools
  - Bemidji State / Red Lake Schools
  - Moorhead State / White Earth–area schools
  - Augsburg / St. Paul & Minneapolis Public Schools
  - Plus competitive partnerships (e.g., SCSU, Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College, MSU Mankato)
Impact on students and families:
- Increases the number of American Indian teachers in K–12 classrooms
- Improves student outcomes by ensuring cultural representation and belonging
- Strengthens recruitment in areas with chronic teacher shortages
Cost:
Cost-neutral — no fiscal impact to the state.
Tribal position:
- Tribal governments were consulted
- Tribes identified this clarification as a priority
Bottom line:
This change locks the program to its original K–12 mission, ensuring funds are used exactly as intended to grow the American Indian teaching workforce in Minnesota schools.

Elizabeth Hanke for Mankato School Board

Clarify Minnesota Indian Teacher Training Program (MITTP) Fund Uses – Key Takeaways From 2026-27 Minnesota Governor’s Biennial Budget

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