SB555: Bill Text

2019 Senate BILL 555

November 8, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Bernier and Carpenter, cosponsored by Representatives Kulp, Wittke, Tusler, Mursau, Skowronski, Krug, Bowen and Murphy. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB555,1,4 An Act to renumber and amend 115.42 (1) (a) 1.; to amend 20.255 (3) (c), 115.42 (title), 115.42 (1) (b) and 115.42 (2) (a) 1.; and to create 115.42 (1) (a) 1. c. to e. of the statutes; relating to: grants for teachers who receive certain credentials in advanced structured literacy and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction administers a grant program for teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or licensed by DPI as a master educator (NBPTS/master educator grant program). Under the NBPTS/master educator grant program, an eligible teacher receives an initial grant, not to exceed $2,000, to reimburse the teacher for the costs the teacher incurred to obtain the certification or licensure. In each of the nine school years following the initial award, DPI awards the teacher a grant in the amount of $2,500 or, if the individual is teaching in a high-poverty school, $5,000 if the teacher maintains the certification or licensure, remains licensed to teach in this state, remains employed as a teacher in this state, and is placed in the effective or highly effective performance category under the applicable educator effectiveness system.

This bill expands the NBPTS/master educator grant program to include a teacher who is certified 1) at the fellow level by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, 2) by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction as a structured literacy interventionist or a structured literacy specialist, or 3) by the Academic Language Therapy Association as an instructor of certified academic language practitioner, certified academic language therapist, certified academic language practitioner, or qualified instructor of certified academic language therapists and practitioners. Under the bill, a teacher who satisfies one of these requirements is eligible for the same grants as a teacher who is certified by the NBPTS or is licensed as a master educator by DPI.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

SB555,1 Section 1. 20.255 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB555,2,9 20.255 (3) (c) Grants for national teacher certification or, master educator licensure, or advanced structured literacy training . A sum sufficient for grants under s. 115.42 to teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or, licensed by the department of public instruction as master educators, or certified by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, as provided under s. 115.42 (1) (a) 1. c., by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction, as provided under s. 115.42 (1) (a) 1. e., or by the Academic Language Therapy Association, as provided under s. 115.42 (1) (a) 1. d.

SB555,2 Section 2. 115.42 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB555,2,12 115.42 (title) Grants for national teacher certification or, master educator licensure, or advanced structured literacy training.

SB555,3 Section 3. 115.42 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 115.42 (1) (a) 1. (intro.) and amended to read:

SB555,2,15 115.42 (1) (a) 1. (intro.) The person is certified at least one of the following:

SB555,2,17 a. Certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or licensed.

SB555,3,2 b. Licensed by the department as a master educator under s. PI 34.19 34.042, Wis. Adm. Code.

SB555,4 Section 4. 115.42 (1) (a) 1. c. to e. of the statutes are created to read:

SB555,3,5 115.42 (1) (a) 1. c. Certified at the fellow level by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators.

SB555,3,9 d. Certified by the Academic Language Therapy Association in one of the following membership categories: certified academic language practitioner; certified academic language therapist; instructor of certified academic language practitioner; or qualified instructor of certified academic language therapists and practitioners.

SB555,3,11 e. Certified by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction as a structured literacy interventionist or a structured literacy specialist.

SB555,5 Section 5. 115.42 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB555,3,17 115.42 (1) (b) The grant under this subsection shall be an amount equal to the costs of obtaining certification or, licensure, or membership under par. (a) 1. that are borne by the person, not to exceed $2,000. The department shall award the grant under this subsection in the first school year in which the person meets the requirements under par. (a).

SB555,6 Section 6. 115.42 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB555,3,20 115.42 (2) (a) 1. The person maintains his or her national teacher certificate or, master educator license, or certification under sub. (1) (a) 1. c., d., or e.

SB555,3,21 (End)