STAR Manual Guide for School Year 2019-2020

Staff Automated Report (STAR) Manual
Why, How, and What do I Report

Fiscal Year 2020
School Year 2019-2020
Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board

1021 Bandana Boulevard East, Suite 222
Saint Paul, MN 55108-5111
STAR Webpage
(https://mn.gov/pelsb/districts/data-submissions/star/)
Send all STAR related communications to star.pelsb@state.mn.us.
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Staff Automated Report (STAR) Manual: School Year 2019-2020
Table of Contents
Frequently Used Acronyms ........................................................................................................................................3
Section One: Welcome to the STAR Transition Year ..................................................................................................4
Section Two: Important Licensure Information .........................................................................................................6
Section Three: The Basics of STAR System .................................................................................................................7
Section Four: Meet the New STAR System.................................................................................................................9
Section Five: STAR Data Elements ........................................................................................................................... 13
Licensed Staff Employment (LA Files).................................................................................................................. 13
Licensed Staff Assignment (LB Files) ................................................................................................................... 20
Non-Licensed Staff Records (NA Files) ................................................................................................................ 27
Section Six: Errors/ Validations ............................................................................................................................... 32
Section Seven: Licensure Violations ........................................................................................................................ 33
Section Eight: Licensed Full-Time Equivalent .......................................................................................................... 35
Section Nine: Average Salary Calculation ................................................................................................................ 37
Section Ten: STAR Data Collection Format.............................................................................................................. 38
Section Eleven: Changes in Assignment Codes ....................................................................................................... 40
Section Twelve: Board Resolution and Allowances................................................................................................. 45
Parent and Family Educators ............................................................................................................................... 45
Internal Hires and Out-of-Field Permissions ....................................................................................................... 45
School Counselors Serving Pre-Kindergarten Students ....................................................................................... 45
Science ................................................................................................................................................................. 45
Specialties in Pre-Kindergarten ........................................................................................................................... 45
Section 13: Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................................. 46
Adult Basic Education (ABE) ................................................................................................................................ 46
Assignment Code 180100, 180160, 180170 and Grade Level Error.................................................................... 46
Elementary Education Specialty Areas ................................................................................................................ 46
ESL Teachers and Core Content Classes .............................................................................................................. 46

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Independent Studies or Credit Recovery ............................................................................................................ 47
Licensed School Nurse – Alternative Health Plan Option ................................................................................... 47
Licenses and Permissions .................................................................................................................................... 48
PSEO Classes and College in the Classroom Courses .......................................................................................... 49
Reporting Online Classes ..................................................................................................................................... 50
Reporting Special Education Assignments .......................................................................................................... 51
Science, Math, and Technology Integrated Curriculum ...................................................................................... 53
Special Education Seat Time or Assessment Time .............................................................................................. 53
Substitute Teachers ............................................................................................................................................. 53
Superintendent and Community Education Directors ........................................................................................ 54
Team Teaching or Special Education Multidisciplinary Teams ........................................................................... 54
Section 13: Assignments Requiring Licensure ......................................................................................................... 55
Administrative Assignments ................................................................................................................................ 55
General Education ............................................................................................................................................... 56
Special Education................................................................................................................................................. 63
Career and Technical Education Programs (CTE) ................................................................................................ 66
Section Fourteen: Non-Licensed Classification Codes: Assignments Not Requiring Licensure............................... 69
List of Web Links ...................................................................................................................................................... 71
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Frequently Used Acronyms
The acronyms listed on this page are frequently used throughout the manual or in communications with PELSB
staff.
Acronym Definition
AOSA Administrator on Special Assignment
BOSA Board of School Administrators
CTE Career and Technical Education
EDIAM Education Identity and Access Management
ESSA Every Student Succeeds Act
FACS Family and Consumer Sciences
FFN File Folder Number
FTE Fulltime Equivalency
IOWA Identified Official with Authority
IPP Innovative Program Permission
ITV Interactive Television
LA Employment records or Licensed Employment Files
LB Assignment records or Licensed Assignment Files
MDE Minnesota Department of Education
NA Non-Licensed records or files
OFP Out-of-Field Permission
PELSB Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
PSEO Post-Secondary Education Options
STAR Staff Automated Report
TOSA Techer on Special Assignment
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Section One: Welcome to the STAR Transition Year
STAR has gone, and is continuing to go, through a major redevelopment phase.
Important note: The overall format and file specs for data uploaded has not changed! This is due to
the fact that we did not want to make vendors rush through updating their systems. The data that
we no longer collect can be filled with zeros.
What’s New?
File Folder Numbers: all file folder numbers must be reported as a seven-digit number. This means that file
folder number 123456 will now be reported as 0123456.
System: there is a completely new web based system. This manual contains some pictures of the system.
Sandbox: Until you have hit the submit button, all your data is kept in what is referred to as a sandbox. This
allows you to edit and add records until your records are error free and submitted. Data will not be loaded into
the Minnesota Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) system until you hit submit.
Security System: the Department of Education has moved to a new security system called Education Identity
and Access Management (EDIAM). This new system allows the district Identified Official with Authority (IOWA)
to assign staff to STAR access without having to wait for PELSB staff to approve the status. You must have an
EDIAM account and be assigned by your district IOWA in order to access the new STAR system.
What’s Different?
Uploading Files: Employment and Assignment files will now be loaded separately.
Running Edits: edits are now run on employment, assignment, and non-licensed files separately.
Terminology: there has been a few changes in terminology. The biggest changes are the use of the terms
validations and violations, continue reading for an explanation of these two terms.
Edit Report: these are now called Validations. The reason is because the system is validating that the data is
correct and meets the parameters of the system.
Discrepancy Report: these are now called Violations. Since these are licensure violations, we thought this was
a more clear and concise term.
What’s Gone?
State Ethnicity: we are no longer collecting the state ethnicity date (the number 1-5 ethnicity choice). For
uploading purposes, zero fill this field.
Pupil Count: we no longer need the pupil count on the assignment record. For uploading purposes, zero fill
this field.
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What’s Missing, but Still Coming?
Note: Some of these may occur during the submission period. Any important communications will be emailed
to STAR Coordinators and posted on the STAR webpage.
PELSB STAR Lookup: unfortunately we have not yet had time to create the lookup tool that allows STAR
Coordinators to see the last five years of STAR data. We are talking about if this is a feature to add to STAR or if
there is a better home on our website to access this tool.
Warnings: we have not had time to program the warnings into the system.
Prior Year Data: data that is validated by looking at prior year information will not be checked this submission.
This will effect employment and termination statuses and years of experience.
Unreported Schools: we have not had time to build this edit into the system, so please ensure that all active
schools for your district are reported appropriately. Forgetting to reported staff at a school site will affect the
data on the Minnesota Report Card.
Violations: there are some violations we did not have time to get into the system for the fall submission. This
may cause some assignments to be listed as not licensed for assignment and others listed as STAR Manual
Check. STAR staff will need to complete an override.
Overrides: unfortunately we do not yet have the override system for violations that need to be manually
cleared. We are hoping to have this once the fall report is completed. So, for the fall submission, the STAR staff
will keep a list of violations that are cleared and will send an email to STAR Coordinators confirming which
violations have cleared and which are still active.
And Even More: there are quite a number of features that the STAR team and IT programmer have dreamily
discussed, so we will continue to add features over the next year or so.
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Section Two: Important Licensure Information
For Administrators
The Code of Ethics for School Administrators states that a school administrator will employ, recommend for
employment, or assign persons who are appropriately licensed or hold a permission from the appropriate state
board. If the person does not have the appropriate license, then the school must apply for a permission from
either the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) for educators or the Board of School
Administrators (BOSA) for administrators. If a person does not qualify for a license or permission, the person
cannot be placed in a position requiring a Minnesota educator or administrator license. If a teacher holds an
expired license, the teacher cannot be placed in a position requiring a Minnesota educator or administrator
license until their license is renewed. When there is an urgent need that is not able to be filled, please contact
PELSB to determine how to legally fill this need for teaching and related services positions or BOSA for
administration positions.
Please note that according to Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.22 a district or charter school will not contract
with a person for educational services until they have verified through PELSB License Lookup the teacher has a
valid Minnesota license. Use the “Details” button to confirm approval of permissions or to find information
about the issuance of the license.
It is the responsibility of the administrator to ensure all staff employed are correctly licensed or the appropriate
permission is received before placing the person in the assignment. If there are questions in regards to the
correct license required, send an email to star.pelsb@state.mn.us.
For Teachers
The Code of Ethics for Minnesota Teachers states that a teacher will only accept positions for which they are
licensed or hold a permission.
Teachers applying for a license or renewal should verify the status of their application through PELSB License
Lookup. Teachers who have signed a permission signature page should verify the permission was approved
through the Educator License Lookup “Details” button (permissions may take up to a month to grant).
Permissions
PELSB has two permissions available for educators. Information and applications can be found on the
Permissions webpage.
Out-of-Field Permissions (OFP) authorizes a licensed Tier 2, 3, or 4 teacher to work outside of their licensure
field or grade level. An OFP is valid for one school year in the field and district indicated on the application.
Innovative Program Permission (IPP) authorizes a Tier 3 or 4 teacher to provide instruction in multiple subjects
within an established innovative program. An IPP is valid for one school year in the district indicated on the
application.
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Section Three: The Basics of STAR System
The What and Why of STAR
STAR is the reporting of licensed and non-licensed staff employment and assignment data from all public school
districts and charter schools.
Minnesota Statutes, section 125B.07, subdivision 6 requires the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to
collect, maintain, and store data about licensed and non-licensed staff from each public school district and
charter school. Minnesota Session Laws – 2017, 1st Special Session Chapter 5, Article 12, Section 20 (c)
transferred the responsibility of the STAR report and collection to PELSB.
The STAR report consists of a licensed staff employment report, licensed staff assignment report, and non-
licensed staff report and generates a licensed violation report. The STAR system has been rewritten into a new
system due to some licensure changes. Additional changes will occur throughout the next year or two.
Communications will be emailed to STAR Coordinators and posted on the STAR webpage.
Data Usage
There are many agencies and reports which use this data to either determine educational needs, funding needs,
compliance with laws, answer questions, and many other purposes. The data collected is considered public
information. Below are some examples of how the data is or has been used:
• MDE Data Center: STAR data is used on the Minnesota Report Card.
• PELSB Data Reports: STAR reports and data are used to create several staffing reports used by the
public.
• United States Department of Education: The data collected is used to determine compliance with Every
Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The data is also used to complete required Federal Reports.
• Office for Civil Rights: The licensed and non-licensed assignment, race, ethnicity, and gender data is
used to determine compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• National Center for Education Statistics: STAR data is used as a part of a comprehensive collection of
education related data completed by all states that provide state-by-state comparisons.
• American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association: The number of classroom
teachers and their salaries are used to produce state-by-state comparisons on selected topics.
• Council for Chief State School Officers: The teacher data for math and science classes is used in the
“Math and Science Indicators Report” which contains information from each state and provides state-
by-state comparison.
• Others: As is requested or required, additional staff data may be reported to assist with policy
development or accountability mandates. Some examples of others are graduate students working on
capstone or doctorate projects, districts who want to ensure their salaries are comparable with
neighboring districts, and organizations that want to share information with teachers.
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STAR Timeline
STAR data is reported two times each year: Fall and Spring.
Fall Submission:
• The first submission is a snapshot of October 1 (or the first week in October).
• Opening Date: October 1, 2019
• Due Date: November 26, 2019
Spring Submission:
• The second submission is a snapshot of March 1 (or the first week in March).
• Opening Date: March 2, 2020
• Due Date: April 27, 2020
Important: Opening dates and due dates may change due to the fact that the STAR system will continue to
undergo some rewrites during the year. Any changes will be communicated via email messages to STAR
Coordinators and posted on the STAR webpage.
The Snapshot
A Snapshot is a picture of the licensed and non-licensed staff on a particular date. Since education is an ever-
changing organism, many schools have altered schedules, so the snapshot you report could be October 1/March
1 or the first week in October/March. This snapshot allows PELSB, BOSA, MDE, and the public to know who is
working in your district/schools and what they are doing. The snapshot date is NOT the day the report is due.
Important Note: any staff no longer with the district on the Snapshot date (who were not reported on the
previous submission) and any staff new to the district after the Snapshot date do not need to be included in
this submission.
Accessing the System

The district IOWA needs to assign you as the STAR Coordinator through the Education Identity and Access
Management (EDIAM) Security System.
Once you have been assigned through EDIAM, you can log into the STAR system and begin your work.
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Section Four: Meet the New STAR System
Home Page
The Home page lists the organizations that can be accessed. If approved for more than one district or charter
school, choose the desired district or charter school by either name or number.
Menu Bar: Home

Hovering the pointer over the Home option on the menu bar will provide the following options: Upload, Run
Edits, Submit, Violations, or PELSB Home.
• Upload: choose to upload employment, assignment, or non-licensed data
• Run Edits: edits on the data in either employment, assignment, or non-licensed
• Submit: submit licensed or non-licensed data
• Violations: view any licensure violations
• PELSB Home: opens the PELSB webpage
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Employment Page
The Employment (LA) Sandbox is where the employment records are kept. Clicking on Employment on the
menu bar will open the search option. To view the complete list of records, click on search (leaving the name
and file folder boxes empty). This will provide a table with all records in the sandbox listed. The records can
sorted by File Folder Number, Name, Gender, or Birth Date. There is also a User ID of the individual who last
loaded or edited the data, a link to any assignment records or validations that may be associated with this
record, and an actions option that allows editing or deleting of the record.
Menu Bar: Employment

Hovering the pointer over the Employment option on the menu bar will provide the following options: Search,
Create, Upload, Run Edits, Validations, or Clear All.
• Search: search employment data in the sandbox by name, file folder number, or leave those options
blank and hit “Search” for the complete list
• Create: create a record manually
• Upload: upload employment data – only for districts that use a vendor or have data created into a text
file
• Run Edits: run edits on employment data – edits are ONLY ensuring the data entered is within the
parameters of the system and matches what is on the educator’s file
• Validations: this is the new error and warning report – search by name, file folder number, or leave
those options blank and hit “Search” for the complete list.
If there are any errors or warnings, a table with the following information will be provided: File Folder
Number, Staff Name, Message, Severity, Field, User ID, and Links
 Message: explains the issue
 Severity: identifies the issue as error or warning
• Errors must be corrected in order to submit data
• Warnings should be checked to ensure is correct and, if so, can be ignored
 Field: identifies the data element
To fix any issues, click on edit to open the record.
 All the error messages for this record will be on the top of the page
 The boxes for each of the element fields in question are outlined in red
 Make changes, save, and run edits
 Click on validations to ensure errors were cleared
• Clear All: This option deletes all the data in the sandbox from the system
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Assignment Page
The Assignment (LB) Sandbox is where the assignment records are kept. Clicking on Assignment on the menu
bar will open the search option. To view the complete list of records, click on search (leaving the four boxes
empty). This will provide a table with all records in the sandbox listed. The records can sorted by File Folder
Number, Name, School Number, or Assignment Code. There is also a Grade Level, User ID of the individual who
last loaded or edited the data, a link to any employment records or validations that may be associated with this
record, and an actions option that allows editing or deleting of the record.
Menu Bar: Assignment

Hovering the pointer over the Assignment option on the menu bar will provide the following options: Search,
• Search: search assignment data in the sandbox by name, school number, file folder number, assignment
code, or leave all options blank and hit “Search” for the complete list
• Upload: upload assignment data – only for districts that use a vendor or have data created into a text file
• Run Edits: run edits on assignment data – edits are ONLY ensuring the data entered is within the
parameters of the system and matches what is on the educator’s file
• Validations: this is the new error and warning report – search by file folder number or leave the box
blank and hit “Search” for the complete list
If there are any errors or warnings, a table with the following information will be provided: File Folder
Number, Message, Severity, Field, User ID, and Links
 Severity: identifies the issue as error or warning
• All errors must be corrected in order to submit data
• Warnings should be checked to ensure information is correct and, if so, can be ignored
 Field identifies the data element
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Non-Licensed Page
The Non-Licensed (NA) Sandbox is the area where non-licensed staff records are kept. Clicking on Non-Licensed
on the menu bar will open the search option. To view the complete list of records, click on search (leaving the
four boxes empty). This will provide a table with all records in the sandbox listed. The records can be sorted by
Identifier Number, Name, School Number, Classification, Gender, or Birth Date. There is also a User ID of the
individual who last loaded or edited the data, a link to the validations that may be associated with this record,
and an actions option that allows editing or deleting of the record.
Menu Bar: Non-Licensed

Hovering the pointer over the Non-Licensed option on the menu bar will provide the following options: Search,
• Search: search non-licensed data in the sandbox by name, school number, identifier number,
Classification, or leave all options blank and hit “Search” for the complete list
• Upload: upload non-licensed data – only for districts that use a vendor or have data created into a text
file
• Run Edits: run edits on non-licensed data – edits are ONLY ensuring the data entered is within the
parameters of the system
• Validations: this is the new error and warning report – search by name, identifier number, or leave the
box blank and hit “Search” for the complete list
If there are any errors or warnings a table with the following information will be provided: Identifier
Number, Staff Name, Message, Severity, Field, User ID, and Links.
 Severity: identifies the issue as an error or a warning
• All errors must be corrected in order to submit data
• Warnings should be checked to ensure information is correct and, if so, can be ignored
 Field: identifies the data element
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Section Five: STAR Data Elements
Licensed Staff Employment (LA Files)

The LA Files offer a snapshot of the staff who are employed by your school district or charter school and who
have an assignment that requires a license by PELSB, BOSA, or MDE on October 1 (fall submission) or March 1
(spring submission). Employed staff are those your district or charter school have the authority to hire and
terminate (your district holds the contract).
If a licensed staff is doing a position that does not require a license, this person should be reported in the NA
files. Unless the school board or administrator requires the position to be filled by an individual who holds a
Minnesota educator license and/ or the position is a part of the teacher contract. For example, while Voluntary
Pre-K teachers are not required to be licensed, a district may decide that they will only hire teachers who hold a
license and these teachers are on a teacher contract.
If a staff is doing both licensed and non-licensed positions, the staff will have a file in LA, LB, and NA. Do NOT
report employment information for staff that are NOT employed by your district.
Include (report the following):

• Terminated staff that were reported by your district in a licensed capacity on the prior submission
(include a termination or inactive code).
• Long-Term substitutes (a substitute teacher fulfilling one assignment for more than 15 days
consecutively or is considered the Teacher of Record).
• Reserve teacher: a teacher who works as a day-to-day building substitute.
• Teachers who were reported on the prior submission as on Leave of Absence or inactive should be
reported with the current status updated (inactive, returned to position, or terminated).
Exclude (do not report the following):

• Staff who provide services to your district, but are employees of another district or organization
(another district or organization has hiring/terminating authority). These staff WILL be reported in the
LB files.
• Staff whose assignment is 100 percent in a position that does NOT require licensure by PELSB, BOSA, or
MDE. These individuals should be reported as non-licensed staff in the NA record unless your school
district or charter school requires a license for the position.
• Staff who are contracted and their position does NOT require licensure by PELSB, BOSA, or MDE. If their
assignment REQUIRES a license, these staff will be reported in the LB files.
• Student workers.
• Short-Call substitutes (a substitute teacher fulfilling one assignment for less than 15 consecutive days
and is NOT the Teacher of Record).
• Coaches.
• School Readiness and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten staff that are not licensed. Report these individuals
on the NA records.
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LA Files Data Element Descriptions
District Number
Value – 0001-9999
The district number is the four-digit number
identifier assigned by MDE to a district or charter
school.
When manually entering or viewing the records,
this will not appear, but this number is still needed
when uploading data as it will assist in verifying you
are entering the data into the correct district.
District Type
Value 01-99
The district type is a two-digit number, assigned by MDE, which identifies the type of the school district. The
definitions of types can be viewed at MDE Organization Reference Glossary, a section in MDE-ORG.
When manually entering or viewing the records, this will not appear, but this number is still needed when
uploading data as it will assist in verifying you are entering the data into the correct district.
File Folder Number

Value 0000000-9999999
The File Folder Number (FFN) is a seven-digit number assigned by PELSB upon application for licensure and used
as a unique identifier. All staff who hold a license or permission will have an FFN. The existence of an FFN does
not guarantee a license has been processed and approved.
Use PELSB License Lookup to find an individual’s FFN or status of a license. You can search by name or FFN. You
will click on either the “License” button, which brings you to a PDF copy of the license, or the “Details” button,
which will show you the licensure information, permission information, and the application status.
If a FFN is not available, you will report the person with seven zeros (0000000) as the FFN. This person will
appear as a violation.
Social Security Number

In school year 2016-2017 STAR stopped collecting social security numbers on STAR due to security issues. If you
are uploading a file, you will need to have nine zeros in place for the file to upload correctly. If you are manually
entering data you will see no option to enter this data.
Staff Name
Report the name as follows: Last, First Middle
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Birthdate
Report birth date in the following pattern: YYYYMMDD (year month day)
Example: January 27, 1975 = 19750127
Do not use commas and report single-digit months and days with a preceding zero. If you receive a birth date
error, check to ensure your information is correct and reported in the correct pattern before emailing.
Gender
Please enter or choose one of the following: M – Male F – Female
Ethnicity and Race

Non-scientific ethnic and race designation as defined by the United States Department of Education. The
manner of collecting this data is left to the discretion of the district, but districts should make it clear to staff this
data is used for the purpose of compliance with federal and state civil rights and data requests, specifically
requests that are aimed at increasing Teachers of Color and American Indian teachers in Minnesota education.
Please be clear with your staff that you are required to report this data.
Since PELSB is now offering the option to teachers to self-identify on their applications, if you receive an error on
ethnicity or race, you will need to confirm with your staff and change the data on your report. If you staff
confirms that you are correct and PELSB is incorrect, please email star.pelsb@state.mn.us for directions on how
the teacher can have the information on their file changed.
Each item under Ethnicity and under Race must have a Y (yes) or N (no).
The Race section requires at least one Y.
Ethnicity:
• Hispanic/Latino – a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American or other
Spanish culture or origin – regardless of race.
Race:
• American Indian or Alaskan Native – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Central,
North, or South American and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or
community recognition.
• Asian – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the
Indian subcontinent.
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of
Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
• Black or African American – a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
• White or Caucasian – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East,
or North Africa.
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Employment Status
This code is used to identify the current employment status of all license staff.
Status Code Description of code
00 Default value used for staff returning from the previous year.
Newly Licensed staff who is a Minnesota graduate or is being reported for the first time since
01
receiving a Minnesota license.
Staff returning after a break in service, was not reported the previous submission, or was in a
02
non-licensed position the previous submission. Years of experience must be reported.
Transferred from another public Minnesota school and was reported on the previous
03
submission.
Transferred from a school in another state, country, or a non-public school and was not
04
reported on the previous submission. Years of experience must be reported.
Newly licensed staff that is an out-of-state or out-of-country graduate and reported in STAR for
05
the first time in a licensed position.
Long-Term Substitute is a licensed individual filling a licensed position for more than 15
consecutive school days and/or acting as Teacher of Record (as defined in Minnesota
06 Administrative Rules 8710.0310 subpart 1.N). Use this identification only if the person is
considered an employee of the district. If a long-term substitute is considered a contractor,
not an employee, you will report only an assignment record, not an employment record.
Inactive/ Transfer/ Termination

This code is used to identify why an individual became inactive since the prior STAR submission.
Returning staff, not inactive

00 default value
Inactive or Leave of Absence (employed but no regular assignment)

Note: Report an Inactive or Leave of Absence code on each submission that a staff person remains in
this status. Failure to do so will generate an Unreported Staff Error, preventing a final submission.
21 Maternity/Paternity/Adoption
22 Illness
23 Personal Obligations/Other
24 Travel
25 Professional Growth
26 Military Service
28 Extended Leave/Alternative Career Exploration/Sabbatical
29 Employed but has no Assignment in your District
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Transfer (no longer in a licensed position)
Note: On the next submission after reporting this status, you can delete this record.

30 Intra-district transfer from a licensed assignment to a non-licensed assignment
Terminations (no longer employed in your district)

Note: On the next submission after reporting this status, you can delete this record.

46 Staff Reduction
47 Personal Reasons
49 Retirement
50 Death
51 Educator in another District
52 Education in another State or Outside of the United States
54 Other Educational Occupation
57 Not Offered Reemployment for Reasons Other than Staff Reduction
Long-Term Substitute (use only if the individual was reported as employed on the previous
59
submission)
60 Unknown/Other
Contract Salary
A six-digit number, right justified, preceded by zeroes, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, no commas or
decimals.
Example: $10,550.32 will be reported as 010550.
• Report the salary as it is on the snapshot date (October 1, March 1) even if the salary changes after the
snapshot date due to a contract update.
• Report only salary that pertains to licensed assignments, include incentives as well as payment for
optional/overload periods.
• If an individual is working part time in a non-licensed assignment, DO NOT include the portion of the
salary that is paid for the non-licensed assignment. Including non-licensed assignment salary in the
reported salary will result in an inflated average salary and could cause an error.
• If an employee is paid hourly, estimate the annual salary. This can be done by calculating the contracted
hours or by assuming their current schedule will be the same all year.
• Do not include benefits or salary for extracurricular activities, coaching, summer school, or advisors.
• This data is used to determine average salary.
Contract Days
Value – 000-265
Three-digit number representing the total number of days contracted to report to work. For individuals
reported with an inactive, transfer, or termination code, report 000.
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Highest Education Level
Report all staff with their actual highest level of education.
• This indicates academic degrees and credits toward a further degree. It does not correspond to contract
step and lane, length of experience progressions, or clock hours.
• All numbers are based on quarter credits. To convert semester credits earned to quarter credits, use
the following formula: # of semester credits X 1.5 = # of quarter credits. Example: 10 semester credits X
1.5 = 15 quarter credits.
• Choose the code that best fits the education level of the employee. It is important to report at least the
degree level. This information is reflected on the MDE Minnesota Report Card.
Code Degree Level

01 0-2 years
02 3 years
03 BA (Bachelor’s degree)
04 BA +15-29 credits
07 BA +60 or more credits
08 MA (Master’s degree)
09 MA +15-29 credits
12 MA +60 or more credits
13 ED Specialist
14 PhD (Doctoral degree)
Out-of-District Assignment
Value – Y (yes) or N (no)
• Report N for staff that provide services requiring licensure full time (100%) in the district. Do not report
Y for staff that serve your district 100 percent, even if they have an extra assignment in another district.
The other district will report the assignment as an intentional overload assignment.
• Report Y for staff that provide services requiring licensure less than 100 percent FTE in your district AND
providing services in other districts. This includes when district contract with non-public school for
licensed services, such as a special education.
• Total FTE across the state is used to determine the average salary.
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Fulltime/Part-time
Value – F (full time) or P (part time).
Refers to part-time or fulltime assignment, does not require year round employment.
For example:
• Report F when staff serves as a teacher part time and a principal part time.
• Report P on both LA files and NA files when staff serves as a licensed teacher part time and as a non-
licensed aid part time.
• Report F when staff is hired as full time, but provides services outside of the district part of the day.
• Report F when staff employed full time, but has assignments occur only during one reporting
submission, for the submission the assignments do not occur, report code of 29 on the employment
status.
Years of Experience (Superintendent, Principal, Classroom Teacher, Other)

Value – 00-99
Two-digit number used to indicate the number of years of experience acquired by an individual serving in an
assignment for which licensure is required. Do not include the current year; this is automatically updated upon
submitting a final report.
• Report only for staff whose New Licensed Staff code is 02 (returning from break in service) or 04
(transferred from out of Minnesota or non-public school).
• It is important to report years of experience for staff with the status of 02 and 04 since any staff with
less than three years of experience are considered inexperienced under ESSA.
• If a staff is serving in more than one area, report only experience in one category per year with
precedence as follows: superintendent, principal, teacher, other. For example, if your superintendent is
also an elementary principal, the year of experience will fall under superintendent.
• Superintendent and principal experience also includes assistant superintendent and assistant principal
positions.
• When determining years of experience, you may include years of service outside of Minnesota or in a
non-public school setting, but only for the years that the teacher held a license.
• Staff may not receive credit for years in which:
• They were considered inactive, regardless of whether or not they received a salary.
• They were not considered employees, but rather worked for a school district as an independent
contractor.
Local Use
This field may be used by local districts for linking staff records. It is not required for state reporting.
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Licensed Staff Assignment (LB Files)
The LB Files offer a snapshot of the assignments provided to schools and programs designated to public school
districts or charter schools on October 1 (fall submission) or March 1 (spring submission) which require a license
by PELSB, BOSA, or MDE regardless of employment. Schools and programs designated to your district refer to
those that have an official school or site number assigned at MDE.
To find a school or site number on the STAR system, click on the

Create option under Assignment and then click the arrow on the
School Number box. The school or site numbers are listed in
numerical order and include the name of the school or program. If
you find one is missing, you will need to email mde.school-
verify@state.mn.us, in the email include the name and number of the
school or program
missing and ask
that it be made
active for STAR. If a site or program is listed that is not
active during this reporting session, you will send an email
to MDE including the name and number of the school or
program and ask that it be made inactive for STAR. If you do
not know the number of a missing school or program, you
can find this on MDE-ORG, checking under the district view
of your district.
A separate record for each assignment, school, and grade level should be reported. This means that it is
possible for a staff member to have multiple LB records. If a teacher’s assignment, school number, grade level
of the students, and periods/length are the same, then multiple assignments can be combined as needed.
Include (report the following):

• Assignments provided by employees of your district AND by staff not employed by your district.
• ONLY assignments that take place during the snapshot of the submission.
• All services being received by your students via Interactive TV (ITV) broadcast that are taught by staff of
another district.
• Early childhood and parent educator staff in assignments requiring licensure. Any early childhood and
pre-kindergarten or preschool programs that receive state or federal funding must be reported. School
Readiness and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten staff that are licensed.
• Online Learning (OLL) classes provided to students within your district.
• Long-term substitute assignments (assignments that are more than 15 school days consecutively and/ or
the substitute is Teacher of Record)
• College classes taught in the district school or charter school by a school staff member; commonly
referred to as College in the Classroom.
• Adult Basic Education programs
• Any before or after school courses that are a required part of the students’ academic day (to determine
the requirement, is the student required to attend these courses, do they receive a grade and/ or credit
for attending this course, will their absent of attending effect a grade and/ or credit for this course)
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Exclude (do NOT report an LB record for):
• Assignments that have taken or will take place before or after the submission snapshot.
• Assignments that are provided in schools or programs designated to another district. The district
receiving the services will report these assignments.
• Coaching assignments.
• Student worker assignments.
• Short-call substitute assignments (assignments that last less than 15 school days consecutively AND the
teacher is not teacher of record).
• Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) assignments that are taught by college employees on the
college campus or online college classes that are open to all college students, even if the student is
doing the online class in a study hall during the school day.
• Extracurricular activities that do not award credit or are not a required part of the students’ academic
day.
• Staff who are contracted and their position does NOT require licensure by PELSB, BOSA, or MDE.
• School Readiness and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten staff who do not hold a license.
LB Files Data Element Descriptions
District Number
Value – 0001-9999
The district number is the four-digit number
identifier assigned by MDE to a district or
charter school.
When manually entering or viewing the
records, this will not appear, but this number
is still needed when uploading data as it will
assist in verifying you are entering the data
into the correct district.
District Type
Value 01-99
Page 21 of 71
File Folder Number
Value 0000000-9999999
The File Folder Number (FFN) is a seven-digit number assigned by PELSB upon application for licensure and used
as a unique identifier. All staff who hold a license or permission will have an FFN. The existence of an FFN does
not guarantee a license has been processed and approved.
Use PELSB License Lookup to find an individual’s FFN or status of a license. You can search by name or FFN. You
will click on either the “License” button, which brings you to a PDF copy of the license, or the “Details” button,
which will show you the licensure information, permission information, and the application status.
If a FFN is not available, you will report the person with seven zeros (0000000) as the FFN. This person will
appear as a violation.
School Number
Value – 000-999
The school number is a three-digit number assigned by MDE to identify a school or program site within a public
school district or charter school. School number is distinct from district number, even when the district consists
of only one school site.
• District wide staff (for example, superintendent) will be reported with school number 000.
• School number is reported for each assignment. It is possible that one person may be reported with
several school numbers.
• There two major reasons ensuring school number is reported correctly.
MDE Minnesota Report Card provides a snapshot of data for the entire district as well as each school
site. If a person providing services in two different school sites is reported only in one school site,
the data will be incorrect.
There are several programs which are housed within a school building, but receive their own school
number (for example, school readiness, alternative learning program, etc.). This is to ensure that
MDE is able to assign funding to the appropriate programs. For this reason, it is important that if a
program within a school has a separate school number, it is reported under that number.
• School numbers and other related information are reported and verified by school districts via MDE
District and School Site Verification.
• Any communications regarding School Number should be sent to mde.school-verify@state.mn.us.
Social Security Number

In school year 2016-2017 STAR stopped collecting social security numbers due to security issues. If you are
uploading a file, you will need to have nine zeros in place for the file to upload correctly. If you are manually
entering data you will see no option to enter this data.
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Assignment Code
Six-digit number that best describes the course or function the staff person is assigned to perform or teach.
Report all staff who serve your school district or charter school in a capacity for which PELSB, BOSA, or MDE
require a license. Report each assignment separately. This means there may be multiple assignments for one
individual.
• Only assignment codes for assignments requiring licensure may be used in this field. If you use a non-
licensed classification code in this field, you will receive an error.
• A list of all assignment codes can be found on pages 55-68.
• For guidelines on reporting online classes, refer pages 50-51.
• For guidelines on reporting Special Education classes, refer to pages 51-52.
Grade Level
Two-digit number that describes the grade level of students taught in the assignment.
• Use specific grade levels when possible and group grades when individual grades do not apply.
• If assignments are covering multiple grades and can be easily split into separate assignments, you should
report these assignments separately.
• If a teacher’s license does not cover a level in the grouped grade code AND the teacher is not working
with that grade level, do not use that code, it will generate a violation.
• The assignment code lists may specify a grade-level code. When this happens, you must use that grade
level or you will receive an error.
• For assignment codes 180100, 180160, and 180170, each grade level must be reported separately. If
your elementary grade levels are truly combined, then you have a couple of choices for reporting these:
Report the grade with the most students.
Report each grade separately, but split the time in half.
 For example, if an elementary class has both 5th and 6th grade for 30 hours a week, report each
grade with 15 hours.
• Staff serving all grades (K-12) may report two records (18 and 19) or use grade level 37 if the assignment
code is 890200 Gifted Education Teacher, 890300 Homebound Teacher, 021610 Dance, 022300
Classroom/General Music, 022401 Vocal Music, 022501 Band, 022502 Orchestra, and 190000-196119
Special Education.
• DO NOT use grade-level 26 if the 5th and 6th grade runs on an elementary schedule; report these as
separate elementary assignments.
• Refer to the next page for the Grade Level Table
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Grade Level Table
Grade Code Description

01 1st grade
02 2nd grade
03 3rd grade
04 4th grade
05 5th grade
06 6th grade
07 7th grade
08 8th grade
09 9th grade
10 10th grade
11 11th grade
12 12th grade
15 Elementary grades 1-6 – not valid with 180101, 180100, 180160, or 180170
Pre-Kindergarten – not valid with 180100 – this grade level has been updated for 2019-2020
16
and should be used only for ages 4 and 5
17 Kindergarten
18 Elementary grades K-6 – not valid with 180101, 180100, 180160, or 180170
19 Secondary grades 7-12
24 Senior High grades 9-12
26 Middle School grades 5-6 – do NOT use for 5-6 classes that run on an elementary schedule
27 Middle School grades 7-8
30 Adult/Parent Student
K-12 – instructional assignment serving all grades in assignment codes 890200, 890300,
37
021610, 022300, 022401, 022501, or 190000-196119
40 ages birth-2 years – new code
41 ages 3-5 years – new code
99 Administrative and Non-Instructional Staff or as designated
Page 24 of 71
Mode of Teaching
One-digit code that describes the mode of instruction provided.
Code Definition
0 Default (zero or blank) – General Mode of Teaching (one teacher in the classroom)
College in the Classroom – Report code C for classes that are taught on the high school campus, by
C
district staff and award both high school and college credit.
Interactive Television (ITV) – Reported by the district receiving the services from another district via
I ITV. Report only if the ITV instruction is being received in your district and the teacher is not an
employee of your district. ITV classes offered as a PSEO do not need to be reported.
Online Learning – Report code L for online learning assignments. This should be reported by the
district receiving the online services, regardless of employment status. This designation will
calculate the same as an X for purposes of the FTE. Refer to pages 50-51 for guidelines on how to
L
report online assignments. Online college classes (available to all college students) completed by
students during a study hall do not need to be reported. Instead, these should be reported as
either a study hall or a facilitating of computer programs.
Immersion Programs – Report code M for language immersion teaching programs. This code allows
M for reporting immersion programs at the secondary level or for elementary specialists. Even when
you use the elementary immersion code, please use the mode of teaching M.
Independent Study – Report code N when a teacher has time set aside specifically for independent
N study students. If independent study students work with the teacher within another class or
outside of the student’s academic day, do not report. This is a new code.
Innovative or Experimental Programs – Report code P when a person is working on an Innovative
Program Permission (IPP) within either a project based learning program, innovative program,
P experimental program, alternative education setting, or any program using an IPP. The IPP is the
permission replacing the Board or Experimental Waiver. This new code allows districts to use the
assignment code for the course and not requiring assignment codes specific to IPPs.
Special Education Multidisciplinary Team – Report code S when a special education teacher is a
member of a formal Special Education Multi-Disability Team whose members work together to
S
serve a group of students among whom a variety of disabilities are represented. This will assist in
avoiding incorrect violation issues.
Team Teaching – Report code T when the teacher is one of two or more teachers teaching at the
T same time, in the same classroom, presenting the same curriculum to the same group of students.
Report the teacher only with the assignment code that is appropriate for their license.
Extra Assignment – Report code X for overload assignments or assignments that are in addition to
those that already calculate to 1.0 FTE. An individual cannot have an FTE greater than 1.05 (in one
X
district or combined districts) unless one or more of the assignments are reported with an X in
Mode of Teaching.
Page 25 of 71
Periods per Week
A two-digit number representing the number of periods per week the assignment takes place.
• Kindergarten teachers working on a traditional schedule:

One half-day assignment – report a total of 15 periods to calculate .5 FTE.
Two half-day assignments – report a total of 30 periods to calculate to a 1.0 FTE.
Full-day, every-other-day assignment (for example, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) – report a total of
18 periods.
Full-day, every-day assignment – report a total of 30 periods to calculate a 1.0 FTE.
• To calculate 1.0 FTE report
Pre-kindergarten to 6th- grade teachers working on a traditional schedule – 30 periods per week
Middle School Teachers working on a traditional schedule – 25 periods per week
7th to 12th grade teachers working on a traditional schedule – 25 periods per week
Grade level 37 on a traditional schedule – 30 periods per week
Grade level 30 on a traditional schedule – 30 periods per week
For Block Scheduling (75 or more minutes), in any grade level – 15 periods per week
Administrators and all other non-instructional staff (grade level 99) – 30 periods per week
For unique schedule, please send an email to star.pelsb@state.mn.us for assistance.
Length of Period
A three-digit number describing the number of minutes each period is, not including passing time.
• Right justify and precede by zeroes as necessary to create a three-digit number (example, 25-minute
assignment would be reported as 025).
• When an individual is doing the same assignment code all day, you can report the length of period with
000 (for example, principal, all day kindergarten teacher, all day 4th grade teacher, etc.).
• Length of Periods 045-060 and 000 will default to 60 minutes for purposes of calculating the FTE.
• Block schedules with length of period 75 minutes or more must be reported with the correct number of
minutes for the correct FTE calculation to occur.
Report with the following minutes per period:
Report Minutes in the Classroom
000 Default value, considered equal to 60 minutes
010-044 Shorter than typical length, report actual minutes
045-060 Considered typical length, report 000 or 060 or actual length
061-074 Longer than typical length, but not long enough for block, report actual minutes
075-180 Considered Block Length period, report actual minutes
Total Number of Pupils

Number of pupils is no longer required. If you are uploading a file from your school system, you will need to fill
this with 000. If you are manually entering a record, this option will not be present.
Local Use
Page 26 of 71
Non-Licensed Staff Records (NA Files)
The NA Files offer a snapshot of the staff employed by a public school district or charter school (the district or
charter school has the authority to hire or terminate) in positions not requiring licensure by PELSB, BOSA, or
MDE.
The NA Files differ from the licensed files in the fact that the employee information and assignment are reported
in the same record. This means, if an individual has more than one assignment or serves in more than one
building, the employee will have more than one record.
Non-licensed staff whose services are contracted and are not considered employees of the district should not be
reported on STAR UNLESS a license is required by PELSB, BOSA, or MDE. If a license is required, these individuals
should be reported on the licensed side of STAR. For example, the school does not hire janitors, but contracts
with a cleaning company for janitorial services; these individuals should NOT be reported. Another example, the
school contracts with a non-profit organization for additional science teachers; these teachers should be
reported on the LB files.
Non-licensed staff employed full time by one district, but serving in more than one district, should be reported
only by the district of employment.
If a position does not require a license by PELSB, BOSA, or MDE, but the district requires a license, these staff can
be reported on either the licensed or non-licensed side, depending on whether they are considered by the
district as licensed or non-licensed positions. For example, while School Readiness does not require licensure, a
district school board or administrator could decide that only those licensed as a teacher will be hired for the
position. If the district places these folks on the teacher contract, then they should be reported on the licensed
side.
Include staff who meet ALL the following criteria in the NA Files:
• Staff who are serving in a capacity that does NOT require licensure, AND
• Staff your school district has the authority to hire and terminate, AND
• Staff who are employed as of October 1 (fall submission) or March 1 (spring submission) of the reporting
year.
This includes:
• Licensed staff who are serving in a position not requiring a license
• School Business Officer
• Technology Coordinator
• Director of Federal Programs
• Director of Athletics
• Personnel Director
Exclude, do not report:

• Staff employed by another district who provide services that do NOT require licensure by PELSB, BOSA,
or MDE.
• Staff who are contracted and their position does NOT require licensure by PELSB, BOSA, or MDE.
• Student workers
• School board members
• Coaches
Page 27 of 71
NA Files Data Element Descriptions
District Number
Value – 0001-9999
The district number is the four-digit number identifier
assigned by MDE to a district or charter school.
When manually entering or viewing the records, this will
not appear, but this number is still needed when uploading
data as it will assist in verifying you are entering the data
into the correct district.
District Type
Value 01-99
Unique Identifier Number

The unique identifier number replaced the social security numbers in 2016-2017. It is requested that districts
use the same unique identifier for as long as staff are working in your district.
Follow this pattern to create the unique identifier:

• The first four digits use the four-digit DISTRICT NUMBER. If your district number is less than four digits,
precede the number with zeros. For example, 79 would be 0079.
• The remaining five digits, assign a number unique to each individual in the fashion you choose. This can
be a numerical order 00000, 00001, 00003, or the last five digits of an individual’s employee or social
security number.
Each non-licensed staff must have their own number.
DO NOT report all zeros.
Page 28 of 71
School Number
Value – 000-999
The school number is a three-digit number assigned by MDE to identify a school or program site within a public
school district or charter school. School number is distinct from district number, even when the district consists
of only one school site.
• District wide staff (for example, superintendent) will be reported with school number 000.
• School number is reported for each assignment. It is possible that one person may be reported with
several school numbers.
• There two major reasons ensuring school number is reported correctly.
MDE Minnesota Report Card provides a snapshot of data for the entire district as well as each school
site. If a person providing services in two different school sites is reported only in one school site,
the data will be incorrect.
There are several programs which are housed within a school building, but receive their own school
number (for example, school readiness, alternative learning program, etc.). This is to ensure that
MDE is able to assign funding to the appropriate programs. For this reason, it is important that if a
program within a school has a separate school number, it is reported under that number.
• School numbers and other related information are reported and verified by school districts via MDE
District and School Site Verification.
• Any communications regarding School Number should be sent to mde.school-verify@state.mn.us.
Staff Name
Report the name as follows, including the comma: LAST, FIRST MIDDLE
Birth Date
Report birth date in the following pattern: YYYYMMDD (year month day).
Gender
Please enter or choose one of the following: M – Male F – Female
Ethnicity and Race

Non-scientific ethnic and race designation as defined by the United States Department of Education. The
manner of collecting this data is left to the discretion of the district, but districts should make it clear to staff this
data is used for the purpose of compliance with federal and state civil rights and data requests. Please be clear
with your staff that you are required to report this data.
Each item under Ethnicity and under Race must have a Y (yes) or N (no).
The Race section requires at least one Y.
Page 29 of 71
Ethnicity:
• Hispanic/Latino – a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American or other
Spanish culture or origin – regardless of race.
Race:
• American Indian or Alaskan Native – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Central,
North, or South American and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or
community recognition.
• Asian – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the
Indian subcontinent.
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of
Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
• Black or African American – a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
• White or Caucasian – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East,
or North Africa.
Employment Status
Two-digit code used to identify the employment status of all non-licensed staff.
Code Definition
00 Default Value/Returning Staff
20 New Hire (not employed by your district the previous submission)
Employee Classification
Six-digit code used to identify the general occupation of the employee. Refer to pages 69-70 for the Non-
Licensed Classification Codes. Do not use licensed assignment codes in the NA Files. This will generate an error.
Qualified Paraprofessionals
For further information in regards to paraprofessionals, please see the Paraprofessionals webpage on the MDE
website.
Paraprofessionals who work in a Title I program must meet federal qualification requirements even if the
position is not paid with Title I funds. In a Targeted Assistance Title I school, this applies to paraprofessionals
who provide Title I-supported services to students identified for assistance. In a School Wide Title I school, this
applies to all paraprofessionals including paraprofessionals supporting students receiving special education
services.
All paraprofessionals who work in the Title I program must have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Paraprofessionals who assist with instruction must meet additional requirements with one of three options
currently available in Minnesota:
• Option A: Completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education (a minimum of 60
semester credits or the amount required to complete two years of full-time enrollment as defined by
the institution attended); or
• Option B: Obtained an associate's (or higher) degree; or
• Option C: Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing by passing the ParaPro test.
Page 30 of 71
Hours Worked Per Week
Value – 01-60
A two-digit number representing the typical number of hours the non-licensed staff person works per week, not
including overtime. (1.0 FTE = 40 hours)
• Report based on the week of October 1 (fall submission) and March 1 (spring submission).
• Hours worked per week for staff with multiple assignments should be reported separately. For example,
an employee who drives school bus 18 hours a week and performs custodial duties 16 hours a week,
would have two records: 1) bus driver – 18 hours and 2) custodian – 16 hours.
• Fractions of an hour should be rounded to the nearest hour. For example, 36.5 should be rounded to 37
or 36.4 should be rounded to 36.
Fulltime/Part-time
Value – F (full time) or P (part time).
Refers to part-time or fulltime assignment, does not require year round employment.
• A staff person who serves part time as a licensed teacher and part time as a non-licensed aid, code P in
both the LA and NA Files.
• A staff person who is hired as full-time, but serves in more than one district, code F.
Local Use
Page 31 of 71
Section Six: Errors/ Validations
The error report no longer exists. Once you have loaded or enter all your data, you will “Run Edits.” When this
is completed, you will click on “Validations” to determine if there are any errors or warnings present.
Employment, Assignment, and Non-Licensed validations are all separate.
IMPORTANT
• Validations do not check for licensure Violations! This is only a check on if the data submitted meets
the parameters of the system. It is possible to have a clear validation table AND have licensure
violations.
• A clear Validation table DOES NOT automatically submit your report. You must complete the “Submit”
option under “Home” in order for the data to be submitted to the state database.
When you click on “Validations” you are brought to a search page. If “no records found” is listed on the page,
this means there are no errors or warnings. If you have errors or warnings, you will find a table with a list of the
errors and warnings. The data provided on each table is dependent on the file type.
• Employment validation table includes File Folder Number, Staff Name, Message, Severity, Field, User ID,
and Links.
• Assignment validation table includes File Folder Number, Message, Severity, Field, User ID, and Links.
• Non-Licensed validation table includes Identifier Number, Staff Name, Message, Severity, Field, User ID,
and Links.
On all three file types:
• Message tells you what the issue is
• Severity will tell you if it is an error or a warning
• Field shows which data element is incorrect
All errors must be corrected in order to submit your data. Warnings should be checked to ensure your
information is correct and, if so, can be ignored. To fix any issues, click on edit to open the record. Once
opened, all the error messages for this record will be on the top of the page. You will also notice that the boxes
for each of the element fields in question are outlined in red. You can make your changes, save the changes,
then run edits again. You will need to click on validations to verify errors were cleared.
Since the STAR rewrite is currently in process, a list of errors and warnings and how to fix them will be posted
separately from this manual.
Page 32 of 71
Section Seven: Licensure Violations
In the old system you received a Discrepancy Report once you had an error-free edit. In this new system, once
all your validations are cleared on the Licensed Employment and Assignment data you will need to submit the
licensed data by choosing “Submit” under “Home.” Submitting the data begins the licensure assignment
violation check. Once you have submitted the data, you will select “Violations” under the “Home” option.
Similar to the Validations you will receive a table with a list of the violations.
At this time the Violation edits are undergoing programming, so the list of violations and how to fix them will be
posted separately from this manual. There are some general information that can be provided.
Missing Violations
• Due to time restraints, not all violations will be written into the system for the 2019-2020 Fall
submission. This means some items may show on the report as a violation when they are not.
• Since the override system that allows STAR staff to clear a violation that is incorrect will not be
developed in time for the submission, STAR staff will keep a list of violations that are cleared and will
provide a letter to districts outlining which violations have been cleared and which have not at the close
of the submission window.
• IT staff plan to complete the violation and override programming in January and STAR staff will run the
data through a state-wide edit to clear any violations that were mistakes.
• We apologize for this issue and want to ensure districts that no violations will appear on an individual’s
records if it was determined the violation was incorrect. We do ask that you keep the letter clearing the
violation for your records for at least three to five years and place a copy in the teacher’s file. PELSB will
also place documentation in each staff’s licensure file.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 Licenses

Tier 1 and Tier 2 licenses are only to be used in the district who has signed the license application. If the
educator does not have a Tier 1 or Tier 2 license assigned to your district, the educator cannot work in your
district until their license has been assigned to your district.
Permissions
OFPs and IPPs are only to be used in the district who has signed the license application. If the educator holds an
OFP or IPP not assigned to your district, the educator and district will need to apply for another OFP or IPP. If
the educator holds a tier 2 license for your district or a tier 3 or 4 license, they can work in the position for the
fifteen days as a short-term substitute.
Job Descriptions
Job descriptions for Teachers or Administrators on Special Assignment (TOSA and AOSA) need to be emailed to
star.pelsb@state.mn.us and must include a list of duties for the position.
Violation Clean-Up Phase

The Violation Clean-Up Phase is the step PELSB staff complete in order to assist districts in removing any
“mistaken” violations or to bring educators into compliance.
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Communications
STAR staff will email STAR Coordinators, making it vitally important for the district STAR Coordinators to respond
to the email. We understand that once you have completed the STAR report you may happily leave it behind for
the other equally vital items waiting on your desk. If we do not receive a response within a week we will send a
second email, possibly including the superintendent or director of the district or charter school. This is to assist
in contacting you. Unfortunately, due to the amount of discrepancies, making telephone calls is not possible.
No License or Expired License

If the violation is a no license or expired license discrepancy, the superintendent or director of the district or
charter school and the authorizer of a charter school will be included in the initial email. It is the administrators’
duty to ensure all educators are licensed. BOSA can choose to bring disciplinary actions against an administrator
who hires educators with no license or expired licenses.
Permissions and Licenses

Please remember that OFPs, IPPs, Tier 1 licenses, and Tier 2 licenses must be assigned to all districts that will
receive services by the educator in question. There are two exceptions to this requirement:
• Host Districts (usually Special Education Co-ops) can share permissions or licenses with their district
members (as long as the Host holds the permission)
• Permissions in special education low incident areas can be shared region wide.
Time Line of Clean-Up Phase

Due to the overwhelming amount of email STAR staff receive during the STAR submission, the clean-up phase
may not begin until after the due date. You are welcomed, and encouraged, to begin the clean-up phase once
you have the list of violations instead of waiting for STAR staff. In the fall we have two to four weeks to work on
clearing discrepancy issues. In the Spring we have no more than two weeks to clear discrepancies.
Out-of-Compliance Letters
Working with STAR staff to clear discrepancies is very important.
A list of those who remain in violation will be provided for several different individuals/ agencies accompanied
with a letter:
• State agencies – the list will include the district, school number, file folder number, assignment, and
violation information
° PELSB teacher ethics
° BOSA
° MDE
• District Superintendent – the list will contain the file folder number, name, assignment, and violation
information for each individual
• Charter School Director – the list will contain the file folder number, name, assignment, and violation
information for each individual
• Charter School Authorizers – the list will include all charter schools for that particular authorizer and will
indicate either the list of individuals in violation or a statement that the charter school is completely in
compliance
• Educator – the letter will include information about why compliance is important, if the educator has
been out of compliance previously, and whether or not there is anything the educator can do to clear
the violation. If the violation was cleared after the submission was finalized but before the letters were
sent out, the letter to the educator will explain that the violation has been cleared.
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Section Eight: Licensed Full-Time Equivalent
The STAR edit program calculates a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) for each assignment and then calculates an overall
FTE for each individual. This FTE is NOT intended to match FTE of the school district.
Part-time FTE is less than .80. A full-time FTE is between .80 and 1.05. If an FTE is more than 1.05, at least one
assignment needs to be reported with a mode of teaching X to indicate intentional overload or L to indicate
online learning assignments.
The FTE calculation is based on the following STAR data:
• Periods per Week

• Length of Period (zeroes reported and anything reported between 45-60 minutes are automatically
converted to 60 minutes for purposes of the FTE calculation)
• Grade Level
Equation to Calculate Assignment FTE

Periods per week X Minutes per period = Minutes per week
Minutes per week/Denominator (refer to Grade Level Denominator table) = Assignment FTE
• Step 1: Multiply the Periods per Week times the Length of Period to get the minutes per week. NOTE: if
reported Length of Period is 45 to 59 minutes in length, use 60 as the period length.
• Step 2: The total minutes per week become the numerator in the calculation.
• Step 3: The denominator in the calculation depends on the grade level reported.
• Step 4: Divide the total minutes from step 2 by the denominator from step 3.
To calculate a 1.0 FTE:

For Traditional Schedules:
• 30 hours per week = 1 FTE for all non-instructional staff (admin, nurses etc.)
• 30 hours per week = 1 FTE for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teachers
• 30 hours per week = 1 FTE for grades K-6 teachers
• 25 hours per week = 1 FTE for grade level 25 (middle School) teachers
• 25 hours per week = 1 FTE for grades 7-12 teachers
• 30 hours per week = 1 FTE for grade 37 (all grades K-12)
• 30 hours per week = 1 FTE for grade level 30 (adult)
Block Schedules: if the Length of Period is 75 minutes or greater:
• 15 periods per week = 1 FTE (regardless of grade level)
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Grade Level Denominator Table
STAR Grade Code Actual Grade Level FTE Denominator
16 Pre-Kindergarten 1800
17 Kindergarten 1800
1–6 1st grade – 6th grade (individual grade – match number) 1800
18 Kindergarten – 6th grade range (all grades) 1800
15 1st grade – 6th grade range (all grades) 1800
26 5th grade – 6th grade (Middle School only) 1500
25 5th grade – 8th grade range (Middle School – all grades) 1500
27 7th grade – 8th grade (Middle School only) 1500
7 – 12 7th grade – 12th grade (individual grade – match number) 1500
23 7th grade – 9th grade range (junior high) 1500
19 7th grade – 9th grade range (all grades) 1500
24 9th grade – 12th grade range (all grades) 1500
37 Kindergarten – 12th grade range (all grades) 1800
30 Adult/Parent 1800
99 Non-Instructional 1800
Examples
Teacher A: Secondary English Teacher
Assignment Periods per Week Minutes Grade Level Calculation of FTE
050400 5 55 7 5 X 60=300/1500=0.20
050100 5 55 8 5 X 60=300/1500=0.20
050300 5 55 9 5 X 60=300/1500=0.20
990300 10 55 99 10 X 60=600/1800=0.33
990150 3 42 99 3 X 42=126/1800=0.07
Add all assignment FTEs: 0.20+0.20+0.20+0.33+0.07=1.00
Teacher B: Music Teacher
022300 30 30 18 30 X 30=900/1800=0.50
022501 5 55 27 5 X 60=300/1500=0.20
022501 5 55 24 5 X 60=300/1500=0.20
990150 5 30 99 5 X 30=150/1800=0.08
Add all assignment FTEs: 0.50+0.20+0.20+0.08=.98
Teacher C: Middle School Math Teacher and non-licensed Media Center Aide
110505 3 85 26 3 X 85=255/1500=0.17
110301 3 85 27 3 X 85=255/1500=0.17
Add all licensed assignment FTEs: 0.17+0.17=0.34
Non-Licensed Media Center Aide = 15 hours
Individual will have an LA, LB, and NA record.
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Section Nine: Average Salary Calculation
The basic average salary is calculated by dividing the reported salary by the total calculated FTE. The salary for
part-time employees will be calculated by the system as if the employee were full time.
The equation to calculate average salary is

Salary/FTE = average salary
Example: A teacher with a calculated FTE of .50 and a salary of $25,000 would have an average
salary of $50,000 (25,000 divided by .50 = 50,000).
If the Out-of-District indicator reported on the LA Files is Y, FTEs reported in other districts are added together to
determine with the overall total FTE.
The average salary calculation for all Out-of-District = Y individuals is performed during the STATEWIDE Edit
process that occurs after all districts have completed error-free edits.
District 1 FTE + District 2 FTE = Overall Total FTE.
Salary/Overall Total FTE = average salary.
Example: A teacher employed in your district has a salary of $45,000 and an Out-of-District indicator
of Y. The FTE in your district is .25 and another district has reported an FTE of .50. This teacher’s
average salary would be $60,000 (45,000 divided by (.25 + .50) = 60,000).
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Section Ten: STAR Data Collection Format
If you would like to create a text file to upload your data, your text files must match the below data collection
format.
Please ensure:
• Total record length is 140 characters

• Right justify all numeric fields
• Left justify all alpha fields
Licensed Staff Employment Record Layout – Record Type Indicator = LA

DATA ELEMENT NUMBER OF CHARACTERS
Record Type Indicator 2
Contracting District Number 4
Contracting District Type 2
File Folder Number 7
Social Security Number 9 (all zeros)
Staff Name 48
Gender 1
Birth Date 8
Race/Ethnicity 1 (zero)
New Licensed Staff 2
Inactive/Transfer/Termination 2
Contract Base Salary 6
Highest Education Level 2
Contract Days 3
Years of Experience – Superintendent 2
Years of Experience – Principal 2
Years of Experience – Classroom Teacher 2
Years of Experience – Other 2
Out-of-District Assignment 1
Full Time/Part Time 1
District Use 10
Hispanic 1
American Indian or Alaskan Native 1
Asian 1
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1
Black or African American 1
White 1
Filler 17
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Licensed Staff Assignment Record Layout – Record Type Indicator = LB
District of Service Number 4
District of Service Type 2
File Folder Number 7
School Number of Assignment 3
Social Security Number 9 (all zeros)
Assignment Code 6
Grade Level 2
Mode of Teaching 1
Periods per Week 2
Length of Period 3
Zero Fill 2
Total Number of Pupils 3 (all zeros)
District Use 10
Filler 84
Non-Licensed Staff Record Layout – Record Type Indicator = NA

Contracting District Number 4
Contracting District Type 2
School Number of Assignment 3
Social Security Number 9
Staff Name 48
Gender 1
Birth Date 8
Race/Ethnicity 1 (zero)
New Non-Licensed Staff 2
Employee Classification 6
Hours Worked per Week 2
Zero Fill 2
Full Time/Part Time 1
District Use 10
Hispanic 1
American Indian or Alaskan Native 1
Asian 1
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1
Black or African American 1
White 1
Filler 33
Page 39 of 71
Section Eleven: Changes in Assignment Codes
Everything New
Assignments in Multiple Licensure Fields
During the last couple of years there have been two incidents that outlined the need to rethink assignment
codes that fall into multiple licensure fields.
• Some districts have been trying to connect their course numbers with STAR assignment codes and have
trouble connecting assignment codes that fall into multiple licensure fields.
• Data requests broken down by licensure areas has caused incomplete or murky data.
Due to this, assignment codes that fell into multiple licensure areas have been split into multiple assignment
codes.
This table identifies the assignment codes that have been effected by this change, including new assignment
codes created for this need. It also includes the old assignment codes from which they were separated.
2019-2020 New Assignment Code Licensure Areas 2018-2019 Old Assignment Code
010410 Agriculture Economics Agriculture 150600 Economics
020207 Media Arts/ Photography (Arts) Visual Arts 020207 Media Arts/ Photography
020603 Visual Arts and Technology Visual Arts 301700 Web Page Design
Visual Arts
021509 TV/ Film Production (Arts) Theatre Arts 021509 TV/ Film Production
Dance
Visual Arts
021510 Media Production or Studies (Arts) Theatre Arts 050509 Film/ Radio/ TV Broadcasting
Dance
021610 Dance (Performing Arts) Dance 021610 Dance
English
Communication Arts
050372 Mass Media Communications 050372 Mass Media Communications
Journalism
Speech
Communication Arts
050509 Film/ Radio/ TV Broadcasting 050509 Film/ Radio/ TV Broadcasting
Speech
080610 Dance (Physical Education) Physical Education 021610 Dance
100150 Computer Assisted Design (CAD) Technology
301800 CAD Drafting
Drafting (non-vocational) Industrial Arts
Technology
100207 Electricity (non-vocational) 100400 Electricity
Industrial Arts
Technology
100208 Electronics (non-vocational) 100403 Electronics
Industrial Arts
Technology 020207 Media Arts/ Photography
100350 Media Arts and Technology
Industrial Arts 301700 Web Page Design
Page 40 of 71
Technology
101701 Technical Drawing/ Drafting 101701 Technical Drawing/ Drafting
Industrial Arts
102100 Communication Technologies (non- Technology
102100 Communication Technologies
vocational) Industrial Arts
301300 Computer Programming
102400 Computer Programming and Technology 301400 Computer Hardware
Technologies Industrial Arts Technology
301500 Network Technology
Technology
102500 Technology – Media Production 102500 Media Production
Industrial Arts
119990 Mathematics in Computer 301300 Computer Programming
Mathematics
Programming and Technologies 301700 Web Page Design
Middle School Science
130310 Physical Science (Physics) Physical Science 130310 Physical Science
Physics
130320 Physical Science (Chemistry) Physical Science 130310 Physical Science
Chemistry
130355 Astronomy (Physics) Physical Science 130355 Astronomy
Physics
Physical Science
130356 Astronomy (Earth and Space) 130355 Astronomy
Earth and Space
Science
130502 Environmental Science (Life) Physical Science 130502 Environmental Science
Life Science
130503 Environmental Science (Chemistry) Physical Science 130502 Environmental Science
Chemistry
130504 Environmental Science (Earth and Physical Science
130502 Environmental Science
Space Science) Earth and Space
Science
140325 Business Economics Business 150600 Economics
150600 Economics (Social Studies) Social Studies 150600 Economics
194100-194107 Mild to Moderate
194130-194137 Developmental Disabilities
Special Education Mental Impairment teaching core
– Mild to Moderate – teaching core content
content
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194140-194147 Developmental Disabilities 194110-194117 Moderate to Severe
– Moderate to Severe – teaching core Special Education Mentally Handicapped teaching Core
content Content
199803 Developmental Disabilities – Mild 199801 Specific Disability, Mild to
Special Education
to Moderate Moderate Mental Impairment
199804 Developmental Disabilities – 199802 Specific Disability, Moderate
Special Education
Moderate to Severe to Severe Mental Impairments
021509 TV/ Film Production
300373 Media and Informational
Media Center 050372 Mass Media Communications
Production
102500 Media Production
Business
301300 Computer Programming 301300 Computer Programming
Computers
Business 301400 Computer Hardware
301400 Computer Hardware Technology
Computers Technology
Business
301500 Network Technology 301500 Network Technology
Computers
Business
301700 Web Page Design 301700 Web Page Design
Computers
Brand New Assignment Codes

New Assignment Code Notes
000754 Teacher-Coordinator Work
Experience/ Career Exploration (WECEP) – New CTE code (CTE Approved Program code 000755)
Special Education
To be used for general social studies courses and other
150101 Other Social Studies Classes social science courses that do not fall in the other existing
codes.
New CTE code (CTE Approved Program codes 171512 and
171512 Information Technology Careers
171720) for courses focusing on IT careers.
Assignment for teaching media literacy, media safety, and
301605 Media Literacy other topics that fit into this category specifically for the
Library Media Specialist.
Deactivated Assignment Codes

Deactivated Assignment Codes Notes
There was not a direct link to an approved CTE program
000680 Supervisor/ Special Needs Program code and this assignment code had not been used in two
years.
049956 Performing Arts Occupations code and this assignment code had not been used in two
years.
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079091 Teacher-Coordinator Public Affairs/
code and this assignment code had not been used in two
Community Service
years.
• For general Technology/ Industrial Arts courses, report
under code 100207.
100400 Electricity • For CTE courses, use the appropriate CTE code for
construction career, manufacturing careers, automotive
careers, or communication technologies careers.
• For general Technology/ Industrial Arts courses, report
under code 100208.
100403 Electronics • For CTE courses, use the appropriate CTE code for
construction career, manufacturing careers, automotive
careers, or communication technologies careers.
170312 Service Station Mechanics code and this assignment code had not been used in two
years.
171303 Mechanical Drafting code and this assignment code had not been used in two
years.
171705 Industrial Design Technology
Occupations
years.
177601 Industrial Equipment Maintenance
and Service
years.
179990 Fluid Power Mechanics code and this assignment code had not been used in two
years.
These new codes are replacements for
• 194100-194107 Mild to Moderate Mental Impairment
teaching core content
• 194110-194117 Moderate to Severe Mentally
• 194100-194107 Mild to Moderate Mental
Handicapped teaching core content
Impairment teaching core content
• 199801 Specific Disability Mild to Moderate Mental
• 194110-194117 Moderate to Severe
Impairment
Mentally Handicapped teaching Core
• 199802 Specific Disability Moderate to Severe Mental
Content
Impairments.
• 199801 Specific Disability, Mild to
Moderate Mental Impairment The need for this change came from many years of
• 199802 Specific Disability, Moderate to questions in regards to how to report teachers working in
Severe Mental Impairments developmental disabilities since there was no
developmental disabilities assignment code.
Creating new codes instead of renaming the old codes was
determined to preserve the history of the assignment codes.
Page 43 of 71
This code was determined as unneeded and courses that fall
in this area can be reported under four other codes,
depending on the focus:
• 160100 Self-Management/ Life Skills – since many of
the skills taught in Computer Communications and the
Internet are life skills in the twenty-first century, it was
determined this was an appropriate place for the
curriculum
301600 Computer Communications and the • 160250 Career and College Readiness – many of the
skills taught in Computer Communications and the
Internet
Internet are needed for careers and college education
• 160300 Study Skills – many of the skills taught in
Computer Communications and the internet could be
considered study skills needed for completing courses
in the twenty-first century
• 301605 Media Literacy – the skills that a Library Media
Specialist would teach under Computer
Communications and the Internet can be covered under
media literacy
• For general technology/ industrial arts courses
report as 100150.
• For Communication Technology Careers report
under 171300.
301800 CAD Drafting • For Construction Careers report under 171000,
171020, or 171100.
• For Manufacturing Careers report under 171310,
171700, 171710, or 171730.
While these codes will remain active for the 2019-2020
893000-893007 Experimental Program
school year for a transition and will not be 100% deactivated
teaching core content
until fall of 2020, districts are encouraged to start reporting
these courses under the appropriate assignment code with a
890413 Non-Core Experimental Programs
mode of teaching P to indicate the individual holds an IPP.
Page 44 of 71
Section Twelve: Board Resolution and Allowances
Parent and Family Educators

During the summer of 2017, the interim directors of Board of Teaching and Educator Licensing had agreed that
until rulemaking on the Parent and Family Educators License can be opened, the license will be allowed to teach
a parenting class for teenage parents during the school day and award elective credits for the class. All the
students in the class must be teenage parents and the curriculum must be the same that would be provided to
adult parents in an ECFE program.
When reporting this assignment please report the high school grade level of the students.
This will create a discrepancy, but a manual override will be completed by the STAR staff.
Internal Hires and Out-of-Field Permissions

In April 2019 the board resolved that when hiring internal staff member for a position requiring an Out-of-Field
Permission, or when renewing an Out-of-Field Permission, the district requirement for posting the position is
waived until the board is able enter into rulemaking for Out-of-Field Permissions.
School Counselors Serving Pre-Kindergarten Students

In January 2019, the PELSB board resolved that school counselors can provide counseling services to
prekindergarten students until the board is able to enter into rulemaking for School Counselors.
Science
In 2013 the Board of Teaching had resolved that if a science teacher holds a 7-12 license and adds a 9-12 science
license to their existing license, then the teacher can teach the 9-12 subject in grades 7 and 8.
For example, the teacher holds an old Life Science 7-12 and had added Earth Science 9-12 to her license. She
can now teach Earth Science for 7th and 8th graders.
Specialties in Pre-Kindergarten
In June 2017 the Board of Teaching resolved that K-12 Music, Art, Physical Education, and ESL teachers can
provide instruction in their specialty area for pre-kindergarten (ages 3-5) until the Board of Teaching enters into
rulemaking to determine the best solution for pre-kindergarten specialties.
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Section 13: Frequently Asked Questions
This section contains information regarding questions that have been received by STAR staff. For addition
questions, to suggest an addition to this section, or to find documentation, please email star.pelsb@state.mn.us.
Adult Basic Education (ABE)

When an ABE program is a part of a public school district or charter school, the teacher must be licensed; the
teaching license, however, can be in any subject matter.
The only exception is in the case of English as a Second Language (ESL) ABE classes. Minnesota Statutes 124D.52
subdivision 4 states that an individual who holds a bachelor’s or higher degree in ESL, applied linguistics, or
bilingual education may teach an ESL ABE class, even if he/she does not have a teaching license. These
situations are reported in the NA Files (use code 999980). In this situation, please email a copy of the
individual’s degree to star.pelsb@state.mn.us to verify the degree is appropriate.
Assignment Code 180100, 180160, 180170 and Grade Level Error

Assignment code 180100, 180160, and 180170 cannot use grade levels 15 (elementary grades 1-6) or 18
(elementary grades K-6). If an individual is teaching multiple grade levels at the elementary level, a separate
assignment MUST be reported for each grade level.
If the individual is teaching multiple grades in the same classroom, report each grade separately, but split the
assignments. For example, a teacher of a 1st and 2nd grade class could be reported as 15 periods a week for
grade 1 and 15 periods a week for grade 2.
Elementary Education Specialty Areas

Individuals licensed in Elementary Education may teach up to 33% total FTE in specialty areas (physical
education, art, music, and keyboarding).
This means that only 33% of their total assignment can be a specialty. The teacher cannot, for instance, teach
33% of the day in art and 33% of the day in physical education. If a teacher is needed to teach more than 33% of
the day in a specialty area, an out-of-field permission will be needed.
ESL Teachers and Core Content Classes

ESL teachers who are teaching core content classes to ESL students, providing the only instruction in the content
area, AND awarding graduation credit for the content area, must hold both an ESL license and content license
(or permission).
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Independent Studies or Credit Recovery
Independent Studies
An Independent Studies class is a study hall class with an individual main focus for each student. The student
will bring work to do that will be turned into another teacher and the student is given a grade from that teacher.
The teacher monitoring the independent studies classroom is not necessarily the teacher who is working with
the student and will be reported with 990300 (Monitoring, Study Hall, Computer Lab, etc.).
Credit Recovery
• A Credit Recovery class which involves students bringing assignments from another teacher to complete
and the teacher monitoring the classroom is not the teacher who is grading the student should be
reported as a Study Hall class 990300.
• A Credit Recovery class which involves students completing independent study through an online or
computer program should be reported as Facilitator/Monitor Online Curriculum 990330.
• A Credit Recovery class which involves the classroom teacher teaching and awarding credit (being the
Teacher of Record) requires the teacher to have the correct license or permission.
If the school receives specific funding though the Department of Education for independent study or credit
recovery, please check with the specific department approving the funding on licensure requirements. For
instance, State Approved Alternative Programs (SAAP) require the teacher to hold the appropriate license or
permission while teaching credit recovery courses.
Licensed School Nurse – Alternative Health Plan Option

Minnesota Statues, Section 121A.21 provides guidance on School Health Services. Districts that have 1000 or
more students are required to have a fulltime Licensed School Nurse holding a PELSB license or a Certified Public
Health Nurse or enter into another arrangement approved by the Commissioner of Education.
Schools that have more than 1000 students and are unable to locate a Licensed School Nurse or Certified Public
Health Nurse can contact the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to explore the Alternative Health Plan
option.
LPNs and RN’s who do not hold the PELSB School Nurse license (usually those who do not hold a 4-year degree)
can work under the supervision of an individual who holds a PELSB School Nurse license.
While a district or charter school with less than 1000 students are not required to have a licensed school nurse,
they are required to meet the health needs of their students. The district or charter school need to find a strong
public health support as associate degree nursing programs do not generally include public health curriculum
that is called on to support health in schools.
Page 47 of 71
Licenses and Permissions
Additional information regarding licenses and permissions can be found on the PELSB website. Each tier level
has a separate application that contains information pertaining to that tier.
Tiered Licenses
Tier 1 License
An individual must hold a bachelor’s degree and have a job offer from a Minnesota public school or charter
school. This license is a one-year license specific to the district requesting the license and the content area on
the application.
If a host district or Co-op employs a teacher with a tier 1 license assigned to the host district or Co-op, any
member district may receive services from that teacher. In the new STAR system this will create a discrepancy
until we are able to add the edit to the violation.
If a district is applying for a tier 1 license to add their district to a teacher’s license, please have the applicant
indicate on the application whether this position is in addition to the existing district or if their position with the
existing district is over.
Tier 1 licenses do not qualify for any permissions, if a tier 1 teacher is needed in multiple areas the teacher will
need to apply for multiple subject areas. All licensure areas can be listed on the same application. Please
ensure the district verification form also includes all the required licensure fields.
Tier 2 License
An individual must hold a bachelor’s degree, have a job offer from a Minnesota public school or charter school,
and meet one of the three qualification requirements (enrolled in a Minnesota teacher preparation program,
hold a master’s degree in the content area, or meets the requirements in another area listed on the application).
This license is a two-year license specific to the district requesting the license and the content area on the
application.
If a host district or Co-op employs a teacher with a tier 2 license assigned to the host district or Co-op, any
member district may receive services from that teacher. In the new STAR system this will create a discrepancy
until we are able to add the edit to the violation.
If a district is applying for a tier 2 license to add their district to a teacher’s license, please have the applicant
indicate on the application whether this position is in addition to the existing district or if their position with the
existing district is over.
Tier 2 licenses qualify for Out-of-Field permissions (OFP), but only if the OFP is NOT 100% out of the licensure
field. Please contact PELSB staff at special.permission.pelsb@state.mn.us or 651-539-4200 for specifics on what
percentage can qualify for an OFP. Tier 2 licenses do not qualify for Innovative Program Permissions (IPP), so
multiple OFPs will be needed in place of an IPP.
Tier 3 License
An individual must hold a bachelor’s degree, completed a teacher preparation program or a portfolio approved
by PELSB (must submit a copy of the approval letter with the application), and has passed the Minnesota
Teacher Licensure Examination pedagogy and content tests (or applying for a field not requiring the tests). This
is a three-year license.
This license qualifies for OFPs and IPPs.
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Tier 4 License
An individual must hold a bachelor’s degree, completed a teacher preparation program, passed the Minnesota
Teacher Licensure Examination pedagogy and content tests (or applying for a field not requiring the tests), met
the basic skills requirements, and worked in Minnesota for at least three years. This is a five-year license.
This license qualifies for OFPs and IPPs.
Out-of-Field Permission (OFP)

• Out-of-Field Permission replaced the personnel variance beginning the end of October 2018.
• An OFP allows teachers holding a Tier 2, 3, or 4 teaching license to work outside of their licensure field.
• A teacher holding a tier 2 cannot be 100% outside of their licensure field.
• OFPs are active for one school year and can be renewed up to four additional years beyond the initial
year.
• When hiring an internal applicant (has worked in a licensed position within your district this previous
year) or renewing an OFP, the district does not need to advertise the position.
Innovative Program Permission (IPP)

• The Innovative Program Permission replaced the experimental or board waivers beginning the end of
October 2018.
• An IPP allows teachers holding a Tier 3 or 4 license to teach in multiple licensure areas within an
established innovative program (including State Approved Alternative Programs, Care and Treatment
Centers, or Correctional Facilities).
• If an innovative program is a part of a school setting not listed above, the district will need to provide an
explanation of how the program is innovative. Examples of an innovative program may be project based
learning or integrated curriculum.
• A tier 2 teacher does not qualify for an IPP. If a Tier 2 teacher is needed for an innovative program, the
district will need to obtain multiple out-of-field permissions for the individual.
• When reporting assignments taught by an individual working under an IPP, please use the Mode of
Teaching P.
PSEO Classes and College in the Classroom Courses

PSEO classes taught off campus (generally on the college campus) by a college professor, these do not need to
be reported.
PSEO classes taught via an online programs available to all college students and the high school staff is only
monitoring the students and does not provide instruction, then report the teacher with Facilitator/Monitor
Online Curriculum 990330.
College in the Classroom are PSEO classes taught by a high school teacher. The high school teacher needs to be
reported using the assignment code for the academic subject of the class. College in the Classroom courses
should be reported with Mode of Teaching C. These teacher must hold the appropriate licensure field or
permission for the course. Determination of a teacher’s qualification to teach these classes are done by the
cooperating college.
Page 49 of 71
Reporting Online Classes
For assignments that are online, identify the assignment Mode of Teaching as an L for online learning. For
individuals who are teaching online classes in addition to a regular fulltime position this Mode of Teaching will
read as an intentional overload, allowing a higher FTE.
Fulltime online teacher ONLY in your district

Report the classes with Periods per Week and Length of Period the same as if it were a brick and mortar class.
Example: Teacher has five online courses: two comprehensive language arts classes, one British literature class,
and two technical writing classes. All five classes are a mixture of high school grades. Teacher would be
reported as:
Periods per Minutes per
Assignment Grade Level
Week Period
050100 Comprehensive Language Arts 10 60 24
050300 Literature 5 60 24
050405 Technical Writing 10 60 24
Fulltime online teacher in multiple districts

The Periods per Week and Length of Period need to be split by all districts reporting the individual based on the
number of districts. This can be done either by following the example providing below or by reporting each
assignment with 1 period per week at 60 minutes.
Example: Teacher has five online math courses and serves four districts. The organization that employs the
teacher has directed each district to report the teacher with the following. STAR would then calculate each
district’s FTE and add them for the overall total FTE.
Week Period
110301 Algebra 10 15 9
110505 Basic Mathematics 5 15 27
111101 Pre-Algebra 10 15 7
Fulltime in classroom and online overload assignments

If the online assignments are an overload, or extra assignment, to one or more districts then Period per Week
and Length of Period should be reported as 1 Period per Week per online class with a Length of Period of 60
minutes. This will prevent overly large FTEs.
Example: Teacher has a full day school and is reported by the employing district with all courses. The teacher
also teaches two online classes of Personal Finance. Each district for whom the teacher is providing this service
will report the online courses with the appropriate grade levels being served as:
Week Period
Grade level of students in
149922 Personal Financial Management 1 60
reporting districts
Page 50 of 71
If the online classes are provided to your district through a separate agency, please find out from the agency if
the assignment is provided to only your district or multiple districts to determine how to report the individual. If
you are unable to find out this information, please report the online classes as one period a week and 60
minutes per period.
FTE errors for online teachers

If you receive an FTE error for an online teacher and you have reported the online class as more than one period
per week, change the period per week to one.
If additional assistance is needed to determine how to report the online courses without an error, send an email
to star.pelsb@state.mn.us.
Reporting Special Education Assignments

Determining the Appropriate Assignment Code
What are the duties of the Special Education Teacher?
• Performs IEP Management: This is a regular part of the Special Education duties. Report this duty with
the appropriate categorical assignment code.
• Assigned to a resource or supplemental classroom (not main class for core content): This is a regular
part of the Special Education duties. Report this duty with the appropriate categorical assignment code.
• Provides IEP services and support through a pull out situation: This is a regular part of the Special
Education duties. Report this duty with the appropriate categorical assignment code.
• Provides support and services to students within the mainstream classroom, a push-in model: This is a
regular part of the Special Education duties. Report this duty with the appropriate categorical
assignment code.
• Assigned to Seat Time or Assessment work with Special Education students: This is a regular part of the
Special Education duties. Report this duty with the appropriate categorical assignment code.
• Teaches a Life Skills or Study Skills class for Special Education students: This is a regular part of the
Special Education duties. Report this duty with the appropriate categorical assignment code.
• Assisting or team teaching with a mainstream teacher in the mainstream classroom: Report this duty
with the appropriate categorical assignment code.
• Providing the initial and main instruction (and/or awarding grades and credits) to a student in a Core
Content Area (English or Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, World Languages, Social
Studies, Performing Arts, or Visual Arts): Under the appropriate categorical area, report with the core
content code.
• Duties do not fall within any of the above areas, email star.pelsb@state.mn.us for assistance in
determining the best assignment code to report.
Reporting the Student Grade Level

Report the Special Education teacher with either the grade level or grade range in which they are working. If the
teacher is working with grades K-12, report with grade level 37.
Page 51 of 71
Choose a Mode of Teaching
Is the special education teacher:
• The only teacher providing instruction and working with students within the categorical area of the
teacher’s licensure? Report with general mode of teaching zero (0).
• The only teacher providing instruction BUT working with students outside of the categorical area of the
teacher’s licensure AND working with the appropriately licensed teacher as a part of an IEP team?
Report with mode of teaching code S for multidisciplinary team teaching.
• Working in the classroom with another teacher, special education or general education?
o If working with a general education teacher AND the students are within the categorical area of
the special education licensure, report with mode of teaching T for team teaching.
o If working with a special education teacher OR the students are not within the categorical area
of the special education licensure, report with mode of teaching S for team teaching.
• If there is ever doubt on which mode of teaching to use for special education teachers, use the mode of
teaching S.
Periods per Week and Length of Period

A. For a special education teacher working 100% FTE:
a. If reporting one assignment code
i. Periods per week:
1. Early childhood, elementary, and K-12 grades = 30 periods per week
2. Middle school, secondary grade levels = 25 periods per week
ii. Length of Period should be default (000) or 060
b. If reporting multiple assignment codes
i. Periods per week:
1. Early childhood, elementary, and K-12 grades = total number of periods should
add up to 30 hours
2. Middle school, secondary grade levels = total number of periods should add up
to 25 hours
ii. Length of Period should be default (000) or 060
B. For a special education teacher working less than a 100% FTE
a. Periods per week
i. Early Childhood, elementary, and K-12 grades = determine total number of periods by
multiplying 30 with the FTE (example: for a 75% FTE = 30 X .75= 22.5) and then round up
to the nearest full number (example: 22.5 = 23)
ii. Middle school, secondary grade levels = determine total number of periods by
multiplying 25 with the FTE (example: for a 75% FTE = 25 X .75 = 18.75) and then round
up to the nearest full number (example: 18.75 = 19)
b. Length of Period should be default (000) or 060
Total Number of Pupils

STAR is no longer collecting total number of pupils.
Page 52 of 71
Science, Math, and Technology Integrated Curriculum
Assignment code 890450 Science, Math, and Technology Integrated Curriculum has been created for positions
such as Project Lead the Way. This code is not required to be used if the district feels it is not appropriate. For
example, if the district feels the class is focused more on mathematics, the district has the choice of using the
Integrated Curriculum code or a mathematics code for reporting.
If you have questions about what licenses can teach Project Lead the Way courses, send an email to
star.pelsb@state.mn.us. If the teacher’s license does not match with the information the STAR Team has AND
the position is not a part of an approved CTE program, the district will need to apply for an IPP, making sure to
note on the application that it is for a Project Lead the Way program.
Special Education Seat Time or Assessment Time

For Special Education staff that are performing assessments or monitoring seat time for Special Education
students, please report using the assignment code for that teacher’s Special Education categorical licensure
area.
Substitute Teachers
Short-Term Substitute
A short-term substitute is an individual filling the same position for less than 15 consecutive days. This teacher
is not the Teacher of Record as defined by Minnesota Administrative Rules 8710.0310 subpart 1.N.
These individuals will not be reported.
IF the class is scheduled for 15 days or less (a class that meets once a week for a certain amount of time) a short-
term substitute can NOT fill this assignment. This is because the teacher would be considered the Teacher of
Record.
A short-term substitute cannot be a Home bound teacher unless the time period is 15 or less days.
Long-Term Substitute
A long-term substitute is an individual filling the same position for more than 15 consecutive days and/or a
teacher who will be the Teacher of Record. These individuals must be reported. These individuals need to have
the appropriate license or permission to fill the position.
If this person is contracted with your district as an employee you will report an LA File with an employment
status 06. If you do not know the Years of Experience, please email star.pelsb@state.mn.us to find out what we
have on record. If this person is no longer with the district during the following submission, you will need to
report with termination status 59.
If this person is not considered an employee of the district, then you do not need to complete an LA record for
this person, only an LB record.
Lifetime Substitute License

To qualify for a lifetime substitute license can be received if a teacher meets the following requirements:
A. Holds or held a Tier 3 or 4 license, a Minnesota five-year standard license or equivalent, or a
professional license from another state
Page 53 of 71
B. Must be receiving retirement payments as a result of teaching experience. In Minnesota this would be
from the Teacher Retirement Association (TRA).
An individual holding a lifetime substitute license may provide long-term substitute services in a classroom when
both of the following conditions are met:
1. The classroom teacher is on leave (the position is not a new or empty position)
2. The substitutes previous license was within the grade level and subject of the assignment
Reserve Teacher
A reserve teacher (assignment code 899999) is a substitute that is hired fulltime by a district to fill daily positions
as needed. These individuals should be reported, even though they often fill only short-term positions, because
they are employed by the district. They will have an LA file and an LB file.
Superintendent and Community Education Directors

The Superintendent can fill the position of Community Education Director when the district has fewer than
6,000 residents (all persons living in the district, not just the K-12 population). In these situations, you will
report this section of their job as Administrator on Special Assignment 900099.
Team Teaching or Special Education Multidisciplinary Teams

Special Education
If special education teachers are working on a multidisciplinary team, report them with a mode of teaching S for
Special Education Multidisciplinary Team Teaching. It is preferred that you report the assignment that matches
the teacher’s special education categorical licensure area, but if you forget, the Mode of Teaching S will ensure
the teacher is not on the discrepancy report.
General Education
For General Education teachers that are team teaching (multiple teachers in the same classroom teaching
together), report the teacher with a Mode of Teaching T and only the assignment for which the teacher is
licensed.
Example: Teacher C is licensed in Communication Arts and Teacher D is licensed in Social Studies. They are team
teaching a class five days a week for 60 minutes a day with 28 students. Both would be reported with 5 Periods
per Week and a Length of Period 60. Teacher C would be reported with a Communication Arts assignment code
and Teacher D would be reported with a Social Studies assignment code. Both teachers will be reported with 14
students.
Is Something Missing?
Is there a topic missing from this section? Please send an email star.pelsb@state.mn.us to suggest any topics
that need further explanations.
Page 54 of 71
Section 13: Assignments Requiring Licensure
Organized alphabetically in each category.
Administrative Assignments
These assignment require an administrative license and must be reported with grade level 99.
Superintendents and Principals

Assignment Name Code Assignment Name Code
Assistant Elementary Principal 931002 Elementary Principal 931001
Assistant Middle School Principal 933002 Middle School Principal 933001
Assistant Principal, K-12 Building 933010 Principal, K-12 Building 933000
Assistant Secondary Principal 932002 Secondary Principal 932001
Assistant Superintendent 920002 Superintendent 920001
Directors, Supervisors, and Other Administrators

Director, Elementary Education
Administrator on Special Assignment 900099 960500
Programs
ALP or ALC Administrator 900088 Director, Secondary Education Programs 960400
Assistant Director, Special Education 960301 Director, Special Education 960300
Dean of Students, Administrative 990850 Director, Support Services 960650
Director, Community Education 960700 Supervisor, General Education 916500
Director of Curriculum 960200 Supervisor, Special Education 917000
Page 55 of 71
General Education
Support Services
Must report with grade level 99.
Guidance and Counseling, Elementary 940302 School Nurse 940800
Guidance and Counseling, Middle School 940301 School Psychologist 940500
Guidance and Counseling, Secondary 940300 School Social Worker 940700
Librarian 940400 Speech-Language Pathologist 940200
Media Generalist or Library Media
941000 No data No data
Specialist
Other Non-Instructional Assignments

Must report with grade level 99.
Program Coordinator, School Readiness
Academic Interventionist 990310 950250
Plus Program
Assessment/ Testing Coordinator 990420 Program Coordinator, Special Education 990500
Program Coordinator, Voluntary Pre-
Behavior Interventionist 990360 950150
Kindergarten Program
Charter School Leadership 990800 Q Comp Coach/ Peer Reviewer 990270
Curriculum Development and Design/
990410 Q Comp Program Coordinator 990130
Standards Coordinator
Dean of Students 990900 Q Comp Teacher Leader 990710
Facilitator/ Monitor Online Curriculum
990330 Q Comp Teacher Mentor 990230
(non-instructional)
Gifted Education Coach 990340 Staff Development 990200
Teacher Coach/ Peer Reviewer (non-Q
Grant Coordinator 990350 990260
Comp)
Monitoring, Study Hall, Computer Lab,
990300 Teacher Leader (non-Q Comp) 990700
etc.
Program Coordinator (non-Q Comp) 990120 Teacher Mentor (non-Q Comp) 990220
Teacher on Special Assignment – Non-
Program Coordinator, ECFE 950100 990099
Instructional
Program Coordinator, Gifted Education 950500 Teacher Prep 990150
Program Coordinator, School Readiness 950200 Technology Integration Specialist 990320
Page 56 of 71
Other Instructional Assignments
Unless otherwise noted, report actual grade level of students.
Math, Science, and Technology
Adult Basic Education (grade level 30) 890100 890450
Integrated Curriculum
Gifted Education Teacher 890200 Reserve Teacher (grade level 99) 899999
Service Learning Teacher: use Self-
Grad Standards Instructor 890700 No data
Management or Life Skills Code
Teacher on Special Assignment –
Homebound Teacher 890300 890099
Instructional
Title 1 Teacher: Use Elementary Math or
Homeroom or Advisory 890600 No data
Elementary Reading Codes
Humanities 890500 Tutor (licensed teacher) 890800
Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Bilingual Kindergarten or Elementary
180160 Pre-Kindergarten 180102
Education
ECFE Child Educator 180403 Pre-School 180103
ECFE Parent Educator (grade level 30) 180401 School Readiness 180750
General Elementary Education 180100 School Readiness Plus Program 180755

Immersion Kindergarten or Elementary
180170 Voluntary Pre-K Program 180104
Education
Kindergarten (grade level 17) 180101 No data No data
Visual and Performing Arts

Visual Arts
Commercial Arts or Graphics Design 020601 Middle or Junior High School Visual Arts 020400
Elementary Classroom Visual Arts 020300 Single or Mixed Form Studio Arts 020502
Foundations of Studio Arts 020501 Visual Arts and Technology 020603
Media Arts or Photography (Arts) 020207 Visual Art History or Appreciation 020102
Page 57 of 71
Performing Arts
Band 022501 Oral Interpretation (performing arts) 021503
Classroom or General Music 022300 Orchestra 022502
Dance (performing arts) 021610 Theatre Arts 021603
Dramatic Literature (performing arts) 021337 TV or Film Production (arts) 021509
Media Production or Studies (arts) 021510 Vocal Music 022401
Communication Arts, Literature, and Reading

Communication Arts and Literature

Composition 050400 Journalism 050403
Comprehensive Language Arts 050100 Literature 050300
Creative Writing 050402 Mass Media Communications 050372
Dramatic Literature (Communication
050337 Oral Communications or Discussion 050508
Arts)
Oral Interpretation (Communication
English, Advanced Placement 050380 050503
Arts)
English, International Baccalaureate 050390 Public Speaking 050501
Film, Radio, or TV Broadcast 050509 Technical Writing 050405
Film Studies 050507 No data No data
Reading
Reading, Elementary 050194 Reading, Secondary 050199
World Languages and Cultures

Classical Languages
Greek 060106 Latin 060105
Hebrew 060212 Latin, Advanced Placement 060125
Page 58 of 71
Modern Languages
American Sign Language 060201 Italian 060213
Arabic 060202 Japanese 060214
Chinese 060203 Japanese, Advanced Placement 060254
Chinese, Advanced Placement 060253 Ojibwa 060221
Dakota 060222 Other Languages not listed 069991
French 060208 Russian 060218
French, Advanced Placement 060258 Spanish 060219
German 060209 Spanish, Advanced Placement 060359
German, Advanced Placement 060259 No data No data
Cultural Studies
American Indian History, Language, and Exploratory Language or Cultural
150110 060401
Cultures (Social Studies Category) Program
English as a Second Language/ English Learners

English as a Second Language (NOT
060206 ESL/ ELL teaching Science 063003
content specific)
ESL/ ELL teaching Communication Arts/
063000 ESL/ ELL teaching Social Studies 063005
Literature
ESL/ ELL teaching Mathematics 063001 ESL/ ELL teaching Visual Arts 063002
ESL/ ELL teaching Performing Arts 063004 ESL/ ELL teaching World Languages 063006
ESL/ ELL teaching Reading 063007 No data No data
Health and Physical Education

Bilingual Health Education 080102 Physical Conditioning or Fitness 080310
Dance (physical education) 080610 Safety, First Aid, or First Responder 080106
Specialized Individual, Dual, and Team
General Physical Education 080300 080306
Sports
Health Education or Personal Wellness 080100 Swimming 080302
Page 59 of 71
Drivers Education
Driver and Traffic Safety Behind-the-
Driver and Traffic Safety Classroom 080700 080710
Wheel
Life, Career, and Post-Secondary Preparation

Career and College Readiness 160250 Study Skills 160300
Teacher Coordinator Work-Based
Self-Management or Life Skills 160100 160000
Learning
Family and Consumer Science (FACS)

Child Development or Parenting 090102 Food and Nutrition 090107
Clothing and Textiles 090103 General Family and Consumer Science 090100
Family Living 090106 Housing and Home Furnishings 090109

Family Resources Management,
Consumer Economics, Personal Finance
Industrial Art and Technology Education (Non-Vocational)

Basic Building Construction Processes 100100 General Industrial Technical Education 100600
Communications Technologies (non-
102100 Home and Building Maintenance 100800
vocational)
Computer Assisted Design (CAD) Manufacturing and Metalworking Tech
100150 101300
Drafting (non-vocational) Systems
Computer Programming and
102400 Media Arts and Technology 100350
Technologies
Electricity 100207 Media Production 102500
Principles of Technology or Technology
Electronics 100208 100690
Systems
Elementary Industrial Technical
100500 Technical Drawing or Drafting 101701
Education
Energy, Power, and Transportation Tech
101600 Woodworking Technology 101901
Systems
Page 60 of 71
Mathematics
7th grade Math 110200 Elementary Math 110100
8th Grade Math 110210 General or Consumer Math 110502
Algebra, Advanced or Integrated Math 3 111300 Geometry or Integrated Math 2 111200
Mathematics in Computer Programming
Algebra or Integrated Math 1 110301 119990
and Technologies
Basic Mathematics 110505 Other Math Classes not listed 119991
Bilingual Mathematics 111102 Pre-Algebra 111101
Calculus 110600 Pre-Calculus or Integrated Math 4 110601
Calculus, Advanced Placement or Probability and Statistics or Discrete
110610 111500
International Baccalaureate Math
Natural Sciences
Aeronautics/ Aviation 130413 Elementary Science 130010
Astronomy (earth and space) 130356 Environmental Science (Chemistry) 130503
Astronomy (physics) 130355 Environmental Science (earth and space) 130504
Bilingual Science 130102 Environmental Science (Life) 130502
Biology, Advanced Placement or
130290 Integrated Science 130100
International Baccalaureate
Biology, General 130216 Life Science 130210
Biology, Secondary Level 130215 Physical Science (Chemistry) 130320
Biology, Special Topics (Forensics) 130295 Physical Science (Physics) 130310
Chemistry, Advanced Placement or
130390 Physics, Advanced 130352
Physics, Advanced Placement or
Chemistry, General 130333 130359
Chemistry, Special Topics 130395 Physics, General 130351
Earth Science 130412 No data No data
Agricultural Education (Non-Vocational)

Agricultural Economics 010410 Horticulture, Animal, or Crop Production 200300
Agriculture, Introduction 200100 Natural Resources Management 200505
Agricultural Management 200501 No data No data
Page 61 of 71
Computer and Information Technology

Computer Hardware Technology 301400 Media and Informational Production 300373
Computer Programming 301300 Media Literacy 301605
General Business Computer Applications 301200 Network Technology 301500

Keyboarding - Basic Computer
301100 Web Page Design 301700
Operations
Keyboarding (Elementary) - Basic
Computer Operations and Maintenance
Business Education (Non-Vocational)


Consumer Economics or Personal
Accounting/ Bookkeeping 140102 149922
Financial Management
Business Communications 140310 Office Procedures 140301
Business Economics 140325 Other Business Classes not listed 149991
Business Math 149982 Personal and Business Law 149918
Business Organization or Management 140330 Sales or Marketing 140320
Social Studies and Social Sciences


American Indian History, Language, and
150110 Other Social Studies Classes 150101
Culture
Anthropology or Archaeology 150102 Philosophy 151300
Political Science or Civics and
Bilingual Social Studies 151102 151000
Government
Economics (social studies) 150600 Psychology 151103
Social Studies - Advanced Placement or
Elementary Social Studies 150100 151090
Geography 150700 Social Studies – Integrated 159991
History 150800 Sociology 151200
Page 62 of 71
Special Education
Use these codes for teachers NOT providing direct instruction in a CORE Academic subject. Also, use these
codes for Special Education LIFE SKILLS or STUDY SKILLS classes.
Academic and Behavioral Specialist 199810 Early Childhood Special Education 190500
Autism Spectrum Disorders 190202 Emotional Behavior Disorders 190200
Blind or Visually Impaired 190498 Learning Disabilities 190201
Deaf or Blind 190490 Oral Aural Deaf Education 190480
Deaf or Hard of Hearing 190497 Other Health Disabilities 190301
Developmental Adapted Physical
190302 Physical Disabilities 190300
Education
Developmental Disabilities - Mild to
199803 Traumatic Brain Injury 190700
Moderate
Developmental Disabilities - Moderate
to Severe
Use the following codes for Special Education teachers ONLY when they are providing direct instruction in a
CORE academic subject.
Academic and Behavioral Specialist (ABS)

ABS Assignment Name Code ABS Assignment Name Code
Teaching Communications Art/ Literature 194120 Teaching Science 194123
Teaching Mathematics 194121 Teaching Social Studies 194125
Teaching Performing Arts 194124 Teaching Visual Arts 194122
Teaching Reading 194127 Teaching World Languages 194126
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

ASD Assignment Name Code ASD Assignment Name Code
Blind or Visually Impaired (BVI)

BVI Assignment Name Code BVI Assignment Name Code
Page 63 of 71
Deaf or Blind
Deaf or Blind Assignment Name Code Deaf or Blind Assignment Name Code
Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH)

DHH Assignment Name Code DHH Assignment Name Code
Teaching Communications Art/ Literature 194070 Teaching Mathematics 194071
Teaching Performing Arts 194074 Teaching Reading 194077
Teaching Science 194073 Teaching Social Studies 194075
Teaching Visual Arts 194072 Teaching World Languages 194076
Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD)

EBD Assignment Name Code EBD Assignment Name Code
Learning Disabilities (LD)

LD Assignment Name Code LD Assignment Name Code
Developmental Disabilities – Mild to Moderate

Mild to Moderate Assignment Name Code Mild to Moderate Assignment Name Code
Developmental Disabilities – Moderate to Severe

Moderate to Severe Assignment Name Code Moderate to Severe Assignment Name Code
Page 64 of 71
Oral Aural Deaf Education
Oral Aural Assignment Name Code Oral Aural Assignment Name Code
Other Health Disabilities (OHD)

OHD Assignment Name Code OHD Assignment Name Code
Physical Health Disabilities (PHD)

PHD Assignment Name Code PHD Assignment Name Code
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

TBI Assignment Name Code TBI Assignment Name Code
Page 65 of 71
Career and Technical Education Programs (CTE)
If your program receives Perkins or CTE Levy funding, these are the assignment codes you will use. These codes
can also be used for general education courses that are not a part of a Perkins funded CTE Program.
STAR staff has separated the STAR CTE assignment codes into the same categories as MDE CTE department has
on Table C. For this reason, some assignments may appear in more than one category. This was done to assist
districts in determining the appropriate STAR code to report.
Administration, Special Needs, and Support

Teacher-Coordinator – Work Experience
Assistant Director, Local District 000111 000755
Career Exploration (WECEP)
Teacher-Coordinator Work Experience/
Career Accommodation Specialist 000690 000754
Career Exploration (WECEP) – Special Ed
Director, Local District 000110 Technical Tutor 000790
Director, Secondary Career and Technical
000115 Vocational Evaluator (grade level 99) 000710
Center
Employment Placement Specialist 001050 Work Experience – Disadvantaged 000745
Support Service Facilitator 000670 Work Experience – Handicapped 000750

Teacher-Coordinator, Diversified
009095 This cell left blank No data
Occupations
Agriculture/ Agri-Business/ Natural Resources Occupations

Agriculture Business Management 010400 Animal Science and Technology 019910
Forestry and Natural Resources
Agriculture – Combined Program 019901 010700
Management
Agriculture Exploration or Intro to
010001 Horticulture Landscaping Management 010500
Agriculture
Teacher-Coordinator, Agriculture Co-Op
Agriculture Mechanics Technology 010300 019090
Programs
Business and Office Occupations

Accounting 140100 Business Simulation 140500
Administrative Support Occupations 140710 Data Processing 140200

Teacher-Coordinator, Business and Office
Banking and Finance 140120 149090
Co-op Programs
Page 66 of 71
Marketing Occupations
Teacher-Coordinator, Marketing Co-op
Marketing Occupations 040800 049090
Programs
Family and Consumer Science Occupations and Careers

Childcare, Guidance, and Education
090201 Hospitality Services Careers 092900
Occupations
Consumer Homemaking Occupations 090101 Housing Occupations 090204
Consumer Homemaking Occupations –
090112 Individual, Family Life, and Parenting 090121
Option 4
Teacher-Coordinator, FACS or Service
Creative Design Careers 090300 099090
Occupations Co-op Programs
Early Childhood Careers 090200 Tourism Occupations 090320
Fashion and Apparel or Textile
090214 Upholstery 093500
Occupations
Public Affairs or Community Service
Foods Occupations 092902 070002
Occupations
Service Occupations and Careers

Building Care or Maintenance Occupations 091100 Foods Occupations 092902
Childcare, Guidance, and Education
090201 Hospitality Services Careers 092900
Occupations
Consumer Homemaking Occupations 090101 Housing Occupations 090204
Consumer Homemaking Occupations – Teacher-Coordinator, FACS or Service
090112 099090
Option 4 Occupations Co-op Programs
Cosmetology 092602 Tourism Occupations 090320
Creative Design Careers 090300 Upholstery 093500
Public Affairs or Community Service
Early Childhood Careers 090200 070002
Occupations
Fashion and Apparel or Textile
090214 This cell left blank No data
Occupations
Health Occupations and Careers

Allied Health 070208 Medical Careers 072100
Dental Assisting 070101 Nursing Services 070303
Emergency Medical Technician 070907 Teacher-Coordinator, Health Occupations 079090
Health Sciences and Technology Education 070300 This cell left blank No data
Page 67 of 71
Trade/ Industrial Occupations and Careers
Transportation Careers
Auto Body Mechanics 170301 Small Engines Mechanics 173100
Auto Mechanics 170302 Transportation Careers 170300
Auto or Truck Service and Repair 170322 Truck or Bus Driving Occupations 178803
Aviation Occupations 170400 Truck or Diesel Mechanics 171200
Recreational Vehicle Repair Occupations 173101 Vehicle Services Occupations 170303
Manufacturing Careers
Electromechanical Technology
171310 Metal or Material Processing Occupations 172300
Occupations
Jewelry-Goldsmithing and Silversmithing 179960 Metals Fabrication and Metal Work 172350
Machine Shop Operations 172302 Metals or Fabrication Occupations 170321
Manufacturing Careers 171700 Sheet Metal Working and Fabrication 172305
Manufacturing Technology 171710 Welding Occupations 172306
Mechanical Technology Occupations 171730 This cell left blank No data
Communication Technology Careers (includes Electronics Careers and Information Technology Careers)
Broadcast Media Occupations 171510 Drafting Occupations 171300
Commercial Arts 170700 Electronics Occupations 171500
Commercial Photography 170900 Graphic Arts 171900
Communication Technology Careers 171600 Information Technology Careers 171512
Communications Media Occupations 171515 Media Production 171508
Communications Technology Occupations 171502 Principles of Technology 171720
Construction Careers
Cabinet Making 173601 Construction Occupations – General 171000
Construction Occupations – Planning and
Construction Careers 171100 171020
Management
Construction Occupations – Finishing 171016 This cell left blank No data
Work-Based Learning – Trade and Industry Programs

Assignment Name Code
Teacher-Coordinator, Trade and Industrial
179090
Co-op Programs
Page 68 of 71
Section Fourteen: Non-Licensed Classification Codes:
Assignments Not Requiring Licensure
Paraprofessionals/ Instructional Aides

Classification Code Classification Code
General Classroom Instructional Aide – Special Education Instructional Aide –
999802 999823
“Qualified” “Qualified” NOT REQUIRED
General Classroom Instructional Aide – Special Education Instructional Aide –
999803 999821
“Qualified” NOT REQUIRED Not “Qualified”
General Classroom Instructional Aide –
999801 Title I Instructional Aide – “Qualified” 999812
Not “Qualified”
Title I Instructional Aide – Not
Non-Instructional Paraprofessional 999825 999811
“Qualified”
Special Education Instructional Aide –
999822 This cell left blank. No data
“Qualified”
Other Assignments Not Requiring Licensure

Administrative Positions Not Requiring Non-Licensed School Readiness Plus
999970 999977
Licensure Supervisor/Coordinator
Clerical or Secretarial 999940 Non-Licensed School Readiness Staff 999981
Computer Programmers or Operator 999920 Non-Licensed Voluntary Pre-K Staff 999982
Non-Licensed Voluntary Pre-
Cook Manager 999947 999978
Kindergarten Supervisor/Coordinator
Custodian 999950 Nurse 999936
Dean of Students 999971 Other Non-Licensed Personnel 999980
Dietitian 999930 Professional Non-Licensed Personnel 999965
School Business Official or Business
Food Service Director 999946 999905
Manager
Graphic Artist 999925 School Food Service Worker 999945
Laborer 999975 Skilled Crafts 999960
Library Media Aide 999915 Student Support or Health Services 999935
Technology Coordinator or Non-
Non-Licensed Gifted and Talented Coach 999984 999919
licensed Technology Integrationist
Non-Licensed Gifted and Talented
999983 Transportation 999955
Education Coordinator
Non-Licensed School Readiness Plus Staff 999979 This cell left blank. No data
Page 69 of 71
Non-Licensed Vocational and Career and Technical Instructors
As defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.30. These are courses that are NOT funded through Perkins or
CTE Levy funding.

Part-Time Agricultural Occupations Part-Time Family and Consumer
999798 999796
Instructor Science Occupations Instructor
Part-Time Business, Marketing, and Office Part-Time General Career and
999797 999799
Occupations Instructor Technical Education Instructor
Part-Time Communication Technology Part-Time Hospitality Service Careers
999795 999791
Careers Instructor Instructor
Part-Time Manufacturing Careers
Part-Time Construction Careers Instructor 999794 999790
Instructor
Part-Time Creative Design Careers
999793 Part-Time Medical Careers Instructor 999789
Instructor
Part-Time Early Childhood Careers Part-Time Transportation Careers
999792 999788
Instructor Instructor
Page 70 of 71
List of Web Links
This is a list of the website addresses for links which appear in this manual. The page number for the initial
appearance of the link will be identified on the below table.
Page Name of Link Web Address

https://secure.education.mn.gov/cas/login?service=htt
0 STAR Webpage
ps%3a%2f%2fsecure.education.mn.gov%2fSTAR%2f
Code of Ethics for School
6 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/3512.5200/
Administrators
Professional Educator Licensing and
6 https://mn.gov/pelsb/
Standards Board
6 Board of School Administrators https://bosa.mn.gov/BOSA/index.htm
6 Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.22 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/122A.22
http://w20.education.state.mn.us/LicenseLookup/educ
6 License Lookup
ator
Code of Ethics for Minnesota
Teachers
6 Permissions webpage https://mn.gov/pelsb/districts/requests/
6 Out-of-Field Permissions https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/8710.0320/
6 Innovative Program Permission https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/8710.0321/
Minnesota Statutes, section 125B.07,
7 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/125B.07
subdivision 6
Minnesota Session Laws – 2017, 1st https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2017/1/Session+Law
7
Special Session /Chapter/5/
Education Identity and Access
8 https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/datasub/
Management Security System
MDE Organization Reference http://w20.education.state.mn.us/MdeOrgView/refere
14
Glossary nce/orgTypes
Minnesota Administrative Rules
8710.0310 subpart 1.N
20 MDE-ORG http://w20.education.state.mn.us/MdeOrgView/
MDE District and School Site
22 https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/datasub/SiteVerif/
Verification
30 Paraprofessionals https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/para/
Minnesota Statutes 124D.52
46 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/124D.52
subdivision 4
47 Minnesota Statues, Section 121A.21 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/121A.21
53 Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.30 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/122A.30
Page 71 of 71

STAR Manual Guide for School Year 2019-2020

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STAR Manual Guide for School Year 2019-2020

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Staff Automated Report (STAR) Manual

Why, How, and What do I Report

School Year 2019-2020

Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board

Send all STAR related communications to star.pelsb@state.mn.us.

Section One: Welcome to the STAR Transition Year ..................................................................................................4

Section Two: Important Licensure Information .........................................................................................................6

Section Three: The Basics of STAR System .................................................................................................................7

Section Four: Meet the New STAR System.................................................................................................................9

Section Five: STAR Data Elements ........................................................................................................................... 13

Licensed Staff Employment (LA Files).................................................................................................................. 13

Licensed Staff Assignment (LB Files) ................................................................................................................... 20

Non-Licensed Staff Records (NA Files) ................................................................................................................ 27

Section Six: Errors/ Validations ............................................................................................................................... 32

Section Seven: Licensure Violations ........................................................................................................................ 33

Section Eight: Licensed Full-Time Equivalent .......................................................................................................... 35

Section Nine: Average Salary Calculation ................................................................................................................ 37

Section Ten: STAR Data Collection Format.............................................................................................................. 38

Section Eleven: Changes in Assignment Codes ....................................................................................................... 40

Section Twelve: Board Resolution and Allowances................................................................................................. 45

Parent and Family Educators ............................................................................................................................... 45

Internal Hires and Out-of-Field Permissions ....................................................................................................... 45

School Counselors Serving Pre-Kindergarten Students ....................................................................................... 45

Specialties in Pre-Kindergarten ........................................................................................................................... 45

Section 13: Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................................. 46

Adult Basic Education (ABE) ................................................................................................................................ 46

Assignment Code 180100, 180160, 180170 and Grade Level Error.................................................................... 46

Elementary Education Specialty Areas ................................................................................................................ 46

ESL Teachers and Core Content Classes .............................................................................................................. 46

Licensed School Nurse – Alternative Health Plan Option ................................................................................... 47

Licenses and Permissions .................................................................................................................................... 48

PSEO Classes and College in the Classroom Courses .......................................................................................... 49

Reporting Online Classes ..................................................................................................................................... 50

Reporting Special Education Assignments .......................................................................................................... 51

Science, Math, and Technology Integrated Curriculum ...................................................................................... 53

Special Education Seat Time or Assessment Time .............................................................................................. 53

Substitute Teachers ............................................................................................................................................. 53

Superintendent and Community Education Directors ........................................................................................ 54

Team Teaching or Special Education Multidisciplinary Teams ........................................................................... 54

Section 13: Assignments Requiring Licensure ......................................................................................................... 55

Administrative Assignments ................................................................................................................................ 55

General Education ............................................................................................................................................... 56

Career and Technical Education Programs (CTE) ................................................................................................ 66

Section Fourteen: Non-Licensed Classification Codes: Assignments Not Requiring Licensure............................... 69

List of Web Links ...................................................................................................................................................... 71

Accessing the System

Menu Bar: Home

Menu Bar: Employment

Menu Bar: Assignment

Menu Bar: Non-Licensed

Licensed Staff Employment (LA Files)

Include (report the following):

Exclude (do not report the following):

File Folder Number

Social Security Number

Ethnicity and Race

Status Code Description of code

Inactive/ Transfer/ Termination

Returning staff, not inactive

Inactive or Leave of Absence (employed but no regular assignment)

Status Code Description of code

Terminations (no longer employed in your district)