DOA:......Kretschmann, BB0436 - Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
EDUCATION
Primary and secondary education
Teacher apprenticeship pathway to licensure
This bill requires DPI to issue an initial license to teach to an individual who holds a bachelor’s degree, successfully completes a teacher apprenticeship offered through DWD, and if the initial license to teach in grades kindergarten to five, to teach in special education, or as a reading teacher or specialist, pass an examination identical to the Foundations of Reading test, commonly called the FORT. The bill also requires DPI to consult with DWD in the creation of DWD’s teacher apprenticeship program so that an individual who completes DWD’s teacher apprenticeship program will satisfy many of the requirements to obtain a license to teach from DPI, including the requirement that an applicant receive instruction in the study of minority group relations, that an applicant demonstrate competency related to various conflict resolution skills, and that an applicant for a license to teach reading or language arts to prekindergarten class to sixth grade successfully completes instruction in science-based early reading instruction. See Employment.
EMPLOYMENT
Teacher apprenticeships
DWD is currently operating a teacher apprenticeship pilot program, under which an individual serving as a teacher apprentice earns an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree that satisfy requirements for a license to teach issued by DPI while the individual earns money as a teacher apprentice. This bill requires DWD to, in consultation with DPI, prescribe the conditions under which an individual may serve as a teacher apprentice and to prescribe what an individual must do to demonstrate that the individual has successfully completed a teacher apprenticeship. See Education.
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:
Section 1. 106.023 of the statutes is created to read:
106.023 Teacher apprenticeships. (1) In consultation with the department of public instruction, the department shall prescribe the conditions under which a person may serve a teacher apprenticeship, as to higher education attendance requirements, level of supervision of an apprentice, and the credit for school attendance in serving the apprenticeship. The department shall also prescribe the criteria an individual must satisfy to demonstrate that the individual has successfully completed an apprenticeship under this section.
(2) Every person commencing a teacher apprenticeship shall enter into an apprentice contract under s. 106.01.
Section 2. 115.28 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
115.28 (7) (a) License all teachers for the public schools of the state; make rules establishing standards of attainment and procedures for the examination and licensing of teachers within the limits prescribed in ss. 118.19 (3), 118.191, 118.1915, 118.192, 118.193, 118.194, 118.195, and 118.197, and 118.198; prescribe by rule standards, requirements, and procedures for the approval of teacher preparatory programs leading to licensure, including a requirement that, to be approved by the state superintendent, a teacher preparatory program shall demonstrate that it provides instruction that prepares teachers to teach reading and language arts using science-based early reading instruction, as defined in s. 118.015 (1c) (b), and does not provide instruction on teaching reading and language arts that incorporates 3-cueing, as defined in s. 118.015 (1c) (c), and a requirement that, beginning on July 1, 2012, and annually thereafter, each teacher preparatory program located in this state shall submit to the department a list of individuals who have completed the program and who have been recommended by the program for licensure under this subsection, together with each individual’s date of program completion, from each term or semester of the program’s most recently completed academic year; file in the state superintendent’s office all papers relating to state teachers’ licenses; and register each such license.
Section 3. 115.28 (7) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
115.28 (7) (cm) Consult with the department of workforce development to develop the teacher apprenticeship under s. 106.023 in a manner in which an individual who completes a teacher apprenticeship under s. 106.23 satisfies the requirements for a license to teach under s. 118.19 (6), (8), (9), and (12).
Section 4. 118.198 of the statutes is created to read:
118.198 Initial license to teach; teacher apprenticeship. (1) The department shall grant an initial license to teach to an individual who is eligible for licensure under s. 118.19 (4) and (10) and who satisfies all of the following:
(a) The individual possesses a bachelor’s degree.
(b) The individual successfully completed a teacher apprenticeship under s. 106.023.
(c) If the initial teaching license 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, the individual satisfies the requirement under s. 118.19 (14).
(2) A license under sub. (1) authorizes an individual to teach the subject and educational levels for which the individual has successfully completed a teacher apprenticeship. The department shall treat an initial license to teach granted under sub. (1) in the same manner the state superintendent treats an initial license to teach granted in accordance with s. 118.19.
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