This is the preview version of the Wisconsin State Legislature site.
Please see http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov for the production version.
Further, the state superintendent has the authority to establish, by rule, standards for certifying teachers participating in American Indian language and culture education programs under s. 115.28 (17) (a) to (c), Stats.:
115.28 General duties. The state superintendent shall:
(17) American indian language and culture education.
(a) Establish by rule standards for certifying the abilities of teachers participating in American Indian language and culture education programs under subchIV to read and write or speak an American Indian language and to possess knowledge of American Indian history and culture.
(b) Establish by rule standards for certifying the abilities of home school coordinators, counselors and aides participating in American Indian language and culture education programs under subchIV to possess knowledge of American Indian history and culture.
(c) Promulgate rules which further define “American Indian" under s. 115.71 (2) (d).
Finally, the state superintendent has the authority to issue a license to teach the visually impaired based on the criteria established by rule:
118.19 Teacher certificates and licenses; administrator and pupil services professional licenses.
(4m) The state superintendent may not issue a license to teach the visually impaired unless the applicant demonstrates, based on criteria established by the state superintendent by rule, that he or she is proficient in reading and writing braille and in teaching braille. In promulgating rules under this subsection, the state superintendent shall take into consideration the standard used by the librarian of congress for certifying braille transcribers.
Related statute or rule: See Clearinghouse Rule 17-093, relating to stakeholder workgroup revisions to licensure, which became effective August 1, 2018, and codifies current rules relating to educator licensure.
Plain language analysis:
The proposed rule makes the following revisions to the current administrative rules governing educator licensure:
- Creating a definition for kindergarten under s. PI 34.001 (11m).
- Technical language changes regarding program improvement plans under s. PI 34.008.
- Clarifying language referring to classroom teaching under s. PI 34.022 (5).
- Clarifying language regarding a Tier I license with stipulations for pupil services licenses under s. PI 34.028 (2) (f) 1.
- Amending s. PI 34.029 to permit Tier I license holders to teach in a CESA or one of the state’s residential schools.
- Amending s. PI 34.033 (1) relating to Tier I, long-term substitute teacher licenses to authorize license areas in subchapters VI, VII and VIII.
- Technical language change to s. PI 34.034 to indicate that Tier I professional teaching permits authorize the license holder to teach kindergarten through grade 12.
- Adding special education program aide licenses under PI 34.036 to the exceptions in which an individual may not have a Tier 1 license in special education for more than 3 years under PI 34.039 (1).
- Creating s. 34.040 (1) (c) under Tier II provisional educator license, to state that the subject area and grade level of a license issued shall be based on the license areas endorsed by the accredited preparation program that the applicant completed.
- Clarifying language in s. PI 34.040 (1) (b) that the age level of a Montessori license shall be based on the age levels endorsed by the Montessori training program completed by the applicant.
- Clarifying language for licenses based on equivalency to address standards or assessment under s. PI 34.040 (2) (h).
- Included tribal schools in the rule’s definition for “educational entity” under s. PI 34.041 (1) (a) for the purpose obtaining a lifetime license.
- Technical language changes to the prekindergarten through grade 12 license under s. PI 34.047.
- Amending 34.052 (1) to state that the grade levels of the added license shall be the same as the individual's existing license.
- Amending s. PI 34.052 (4) to state that an individual may add one or more of the provided additional middle and high school subject area licenses by passing the applicable content knowledge test approved by the state superintendent.
- Including geography as an additional subject area for licensure under s. PI 34.052 (4).
- Amending PI 34.052 to indicate the effective date for licenses added under this section shall be July 1 of the year in which the test was passed if the test was passed by August 31 of that year or the following July 1.
- Clarifying language to create a renewal period for the American Indian-related licenses under s. PI 34.053 through 34.056 for individuals who do not have a bachelor’s degree.
- Technical changes to improve clarity of rule language regarding individuals who meet the alternative eligibility requirements for individuals who earn an American Indian history, culture, and tribal sovereignty license under s. PI 34.056.
-Technical language changes to rules governing vocational licenses under s. PI 34.084 to clarify current practice that applicants shall have completed an approved educator preparation program plus related occupational experience to obtain licensure.
- Creating s. PI 34.039 (4) (am) to permit applicants to obtain certification from the National Blindness Professional Certification Board as an option for renewal.
- Clarifying license and preparation program continuation language under s. PI 34.110.
- Technical language changes to various clerical errors found in the rule.
- Technical corrections to align other PI code chapters with the changes in PI 34.
Any other changes to PI 34 that are needed to align the chapter with current statutes or to clarify existing rule will also be made.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulations:
Because education in the United States is typically governed by each state and local government, federal regulations are generally silent with respect to teacher licensure. As a result, the requirements for teacher licensure vary by state.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
- Illinois (Illinois Compiled Statutes 105 ILCS 5/21B-5): The Illinois State Board of Education expects all of its certified teachers to complete a state-approved teacher preparation program and have at least a bachelor’s degree. While the minimum degree requirement for Illinois teachers is a bachelor’s degree, some of these programs are at the graduate level. License applicants graduated from an out-of-state teacher preparation program are recognized by the Illinois Department of Education if it has been approved by that state’s Department of Education, or if it leads to a teaching certificate or license in that state. License applicants who graduated from a foreign college or university must have their foreign credentials evaluated and converted to fit the American credits/courses standard to receive licensure.
- Iowa (Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 282.13): The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners requires that, in order to be eligible for a teaching license in Iowa, graduates from Iowa institutions must meet the following requirements: 1) A baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution; 2) Completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program in Iowa, including the required assessments; and 3) Recommendation for licensure from the designated recommending official where the program was completed. Graduates from out-of-state institutions must meet the following requirements: 1) A baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution; 2) completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program, including the coursework requirements for a content area teaching endorsement, coursework in pedagogy, and a student teaching or internship placement, completed for college semester credit through a regionally-accredited institution; 3) Recommendation for licensure from the designated recommending official where the program was completed; 4) Valid or expired license from another state; and 5) Completion of the required Iowa assessments (not required if the applicant completed their teacher preparation program prior to January 1, 2013, or if the applicant has three years or more teaching experience on a valid license in another state). Applicants who have completed certain nontraditional programs may or may not be eligible for licensure in Iowa.
- Michigan (Michigan Administrative Code Section R 390.1101-390.1216): The Michigan Department of Education Office of Professional Preparation Services requires that applicants pursuing certification via a traditional route should hold a bachelor’s degree, complete a state-approved teacher preparation program, and earn passing scores on the state-required tests. The traditional route to certification leads to the issuance of a provisional certificate, Michigan’s initial teaching certificate for new teachers. After successfully completing three years of teaching experience and continuing education, those holding an initial certificate may upgrade to a Professional Education Certificate. Highly effective and qualified teachers may then move up to the third tier of certification, the Advance Professional Education Certificate. Provisional and interim certificates to teach are available for applicants who are pursuing alternative pathways to licensure.
- Minnesota (Minnesota Administrative Rules Chapter 8710): The Minnesota Board of Teaching requires all applicants for teacher licensure in the state to graduate from a state-approved teacher preparation program and hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, as well as demonstrated completion of a human relations course, which is included in all Minnesota approved teacher preparation programs. Teacher preparation programs completed outside of Minnesota may count if the program is equivalent to that of an approved Minnesota teacher preparation program. If the applicant did not complete a teacher preparation program in one of the states with a reciprocal licensing agreement, the applicant must also complete an approved human relations course in order to be licensed in the state. Applicants who have completed an online teacher preparation program will be recognized as long as the program is regionally accredited, approved by the state in which it is offered, be a field for which Minnesota offers licenses, and include a supervised practicum and student teaching. Graduates of foreign teacher preparation programs must have their credits evaluated by a member agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies:
The Department recently promulgated a rule revising PI 34 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, Clearinghouse Rule 17-093 relating to stakeholder workgroups revisions to licensure, which became effective August 1, 2018. Upon further review, the Department has identified further points of clarification within the rule. Without a rule change, the Department will be required to implement rules for educator licensure as they currently exist in PI 34; applicants for specific licenses may face unclear guidance on license requirements as a result.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business or in preparation of economic impact report: N/A
Anticipated costs incurred by private sector: N/A
Effect on small business:
The proposed rules will have no significant economic impact on small businesses, as defined in s. 227.114 (1) (a), Stats.
Agency contact person: (including email and telephone)
Carl Bryan
Administrative Rules Coordinator
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
(608) 267-9127
Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:
Comments should be submitted to Carl Bryan, Department of Public Instruction, 125 S. Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841 or at adminrules@dpi.wi.gov. The Department will publish a hearing notice in the Administrative Register which will provide information on the deadline for the submission of comments.
  SECTION 1. PI 8.01 (2) (a) 2. a. and b. are amended to read:
PI 8.01 (2) (a) 2. a. Each school district board shall ensure that all instructional staff of charter schools located in the school district hold a department issued license or permit to teach at the level and in the subject of their assignments or a tier I charter school instructional staff license or permit issued under s. PI 34.241 or 34.24234.031.
b. For purposes of this subdivision, a virtual charter school is located in the school district specified under s. 118.40 (8) (a), Stats. Virtual charter school instructional staff shall meet the requirements under s. 118.40 (8) (b), Stats., and s. PI 34.243.
SECTION 2. PI 34.001 (8) and (11) are amended to read:
Loading...
Loading...
Links to Admin. Code and Statutes in this Register are to current versions, which may not be the version that was referred to in the original published document.