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, 2015 and completes the program in a 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.
   

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.    
 

3

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

4

Delays payment of the credit by providing that individuals who earned a qualifying master’s degree in 2015 or 2016 may claim the credit in tax year 2017, but not earlier.  These claims would not preclude a claim by the same qualified teacher for a master’s degree program earned in 2017.