SB183: Bill Text

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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 183

April 24, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Marklein, Darling, Kooyenga, Testin and Tiffany, cosponsored by Representatives Tranel, Dittrich, Edming, Felzkowski, Knodl, Kuglitsch, Kurtz, Mursau, Novak, Rohrkaste, Tittl and Wittke. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB183,1,2 An Act to amend 118.19 (14) (a); and to create 118.19 (14) (b) of the statutes; relating to: requirements for initial licensure as a special education teacher.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill allows the Department of Public Instruction to issue an initial license as a special education teacher to an individual who successfully completes a course in the teaching of reading and reading comprehension, provided the individual satisfies all other requirements for licensure by DPI. Specifically, the course must satisfy all of the following:

1. The course provides rigorous instruction in the teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency.

2. A student in the course receives feedback and coaching from an individual who holds either a masters degree in reading or a reading specialist license issued by DPI.

3. A student in the course demonstrates competence in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency by providing a portfolio of work.

Current law requires, as a condition for receiving an initial license to teach in special education, that an individual passes an examination identical to the Foundations of Reading test.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB183,1 Section 1. 118.19 (14) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB183,2,9 118.19 (14) (a) The Except as provided in par. (b), the department may not issue an initial teaching license that authorizes the holder to teach in grades kindergarten to 5 or in special education, an initial license as a reading teacher, or an initial license as a reading specialist, unless the applicant has passed an examination identical to the Foundations of Reading test administered in 2012 as part of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure. The department shall set the passing cut score on the examination at a level no lower than the level recommended by the developer of the test, based on this state's standards.

SB183,2 Section 2. 118.19 (14) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB183,2,15 118.19 (14) (b) The department shall waive the requirement under subd. 1. for an applicant seeking an initial teaching license that authorizes the holder to teach in special education if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the applicant has successfully completed a course that satisfies all of the following:

SB183,2,17 1. The course provides rigorous instruction in the teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency.

SB183,2,20 2. A student in the course receives feedback and coaching from an individual who holds either a masters degree in reading or a reading specialist license issued by the department.

SB183,2,23 3. A student in the course demonstrates competence in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency by providing a portfolio of work.

SB183,2,24 (End)