Amendment SSA2-SB608

SB608-SSA2,3 Section 3 . 118.198 of the statutes is created to read:

SB608-SSA2,3,15 118.198 License to teach; paraprofessional experience. (1) In this section:

SB608-SSA2,3,17 (a) “Employing school district” means a school district that employs an individual as a paraprofessional.

SB608-SSA2,3,19 (b) “Experienced teacher” means a teacher who satisfies all of the following criteria:

SB608-SSA2,3,21 1. For at least 3 school years, the teacher has been regularly employed in and taught in an employing school district.

SB608-SSA2,3,23 2. The teacher holds a Tier II, III, or IV license to teach issued by the department.

SB608-SSA2,3,25 3. The teacher has mentored a first-year teacher or a teacher who is newly employed by an employing school district.

SB608-SSA2,4,4 (2) Notwithstanding s. 118.19 (4m), (6) to (9), (12), and (14), the department shall grant a nonrenewable Tier I license to teach for a term of 5 years to an individual who is eligible for licensure under s. 118.19 (4) and (10) and who satisfies all of the following:

SB608-SSA2,4,6 (a) The individual worked as a paraprofessional in a classroom for at least 3 days a week for at least 3 consecutive school years in the employing school district.

SB608-SSA2,4,8 (b) The individual has earned at least 60 credits from an accredited institution of higher education or technical college or has earned an associate degree.

SB608-SSA2,4,11 (c) The individual is enrolled in a teacher preparatory program approved by the department that leads to a degree and licensure under s. PI 34.040 (2) (a), Wis. Adm. Code.

SB608-SSA2,4,13 (d) All of the following recommend the individual for the license under this section by signing the individual's application for the license:

SB608-SSA2,4,14 1. The principal of the school at which the individual worked under par. (a).

SB608-SSA2,4,16 2. The school district administrator of the employing school district or the school district administrator's designee.

SB608-SSA2,4,18 (e) The individual submits an application for a license under this section by September 1 of the school year in which the license is to be issued.

SB608-SSA2,4,19 (f) The individual has not held a license under this section.

SB608-SSA2,4,22 (3) (a) A license to teach issued under sub. (2) authorizes the license holder to teach only in the employing school district that recommended the license holder under sub. (2) (b).

SB608-SSA2,4,24 (b) The department may not issue a license to teach issued under sub. (2) in any of the following teaching areas:

SB608-SSA2,4,25 1. Early childhood special education.

SB608-SSA2,5,1 2. Cross-categorical special education.

SB608-SSA2,5,2 3. Speech-language pathology.

SB608-SSA2,5,3 4. Deaf or hard of hearing.

SB608-SSA2,5,4 5. Blind and visual impairment.

SB608-SSA2,5,5 6. American Indian language license.

SB608-SSA2,5,6 7. American Indian history, culture, and tribal sovereignty.

SB608-SSA2,5,12 (c) During at least the first school year that the license holder is employed as a teacher by the employing school district, the employing school district shall ensure that the license holder is mentored by an experienced teacher. The employing school district shall provide paid release time to the experienced teacher to observe the license holder teaching and provide feedback to the license holder about the experienced teacher's observations.

SB608-SSA2,5,16 (d) The employing school district shall ensure that an individual holding a license issued under sub. (2) receives the professional development described in 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, section 27 (2) (a), before the individual teaches a grade from kindergarten to 3 in the employing school district.

SB608-SSA2,5,18 (4) Notwithstanding the term of a license under sub. (2), a license under sub. (2) expires on the date that any of the following occur:

SB608-SSA2,5,22 (a) The employing school district notifies the department that the individual who holds the license is no longer employed by the employing school district or is no longer enrolled in a teacher preparatory program approved by the department that leads to licensure under s. PI 34.040 (2) (a), Wis. Adm. Code.

SB608-SSA2,6,2 (b) The department determines that the individual who holds the license is no longer employed by the employing school district or is no longer enrolled in a teacher preparatory program approved by the department that leads to licensure under s. PI 34.040 (2) (a), Wis. Adm. Code.

SB608-SSA2,4 Section 4. Effective date.

SB608-SSA2,6,4 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 2024.

SB608-SSA2,6,5 (End)