What are the primary state laws that govern my employment rights?
In Minnesota, the most important law governing public employees is the Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act, Minn. Stat. Ch. 179A (PELRA). In PELRA, you will find the right to bargain collectively and be represented by a union and many other rights and responsibilities that arise from those two basic rights. For teachers, the law they encounter most frequently is probably the continuing contract law (Minn. Stat. 122A.40, formerly known as Minn. Stat. 125.12), or the tenure act (Minn. Stat. 122A.41, formerly known as Minn. Stat. 125.17). These two laws contain all the details about hiring, probationary periods, obtaining continuing contract status or tenure, peer evaluation, unrequested leaves of absence (ULA), and termination or discharge from employment. The rest of the preK-12 education statutes are found in the 120s of the Minnesota Statutes, as follows: Chapter Title 120A Education Code; Compulsory attendance 120B Curriculum and assessment 121A Student rights, responsibi
