PROPOSED ORDER OF THE
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
AMENDING RULES
The scope statement for this rule, SS 117-24, was published in Register No. 828A4, on December 23, 2024, and approved by State Superintendent Jill K. Underly, PhD, on January 23, 2025. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction hereby proposes an order to amend s. PI 34.065 (1); to repeal and recreate s. PI 34.072; and to create ss. PI 34.0725 and 34.111 (zg) to (zq), relating to program coordinator licenses. ANALYSIS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Explanation of agency authority: The state superintendent is authorized under s. 115.28 (7) (a), Wis. Stats., to promulgate rules establishing the standards of attainment and procedures for the licensing of educators in the state:
115.28 General duties. The state superintendent shall:
(7) Licensing of teachers
(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 (2) and (3), 118.191, 118.1915, 118.192, 118.193, 118.194, 118.195, and 118.197; 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. Related statute or rule: N/A
Plain language analysis: The proposed rule amends ch. PI 34, Wis. Admin. Code, to align licensure requirements with existing approved preparation programs for career and technical education and gifted and talented coordinator licenses, while designating other program coordinator licenses as obsolete due to the absence of corresponding preparation programs. Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulations: Because educator licensure in the United States is typically governed by each state and local government, federal regulations are generally silent with respect to the issuance of teacher licenses. As a result, the requirements for licensure vary by state.
Summary of any public comments and feedback on the statement of scope for the proposed rule that the agency received at a preliminary public hearing and comment period held and a description of how and to what extent the agency took those comments into account and drafting the proposed rule: The Department held a preliminary public hearing and comment period on January 10, 2025, and did not receive any comments on the statement of scope for the proposed rule.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: Illinois requires a Professional Educator License (PEL) for everyone wishing to be a teacher, school support personnel, or an administrator at a public or recognized non-public school. Endorsements are added to the PEL to indicate grade level and content/subject area(s) for teachers, support personnel title, or administrative title. For program coordinator positions, an administrative certification may be required along with an appropriate endorsement (i.e., Learning Behavior Specialist I for special education program coordinator). There does not appear to be a separate program coordinator license.
Iowa: Iowa does not offer a general program coordinator license, but does have several comparable endorsements which can be added to the underlying teaching license, including gifted and talented, coaching, K-8 and 5-12 reading, and reading specialist, as well as an athletic director license which can be conferred without an underlying teaching license with certain coursework and training.
Michigan: There does not appear to be a program coordinator license in Michigan; therefore, no comparable rules are likely to exist.
Minnesota: There does not appear to be a program coordinator license in Minnesota; therefore, no comparable rules are likely to exist.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies: Chapter PI 34 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code contains the rules governing the licensure of school personnel, including those authorized to be an administrative program coordinator in the following instructional and non-instructional areas: 1) career and technical education; 2) children at risk; 3) dean of students; 4) gifted and talented; 5) school to work; 6) Title I; 7) athletics and co-curricular programs; 8) personnel; 9) public relations; 10) research; 11) school network administrator; 12) standards and assessment; and 13) other non-instructional positions as determined by an employing school district. Since the rules were promulgated, only the career and technical education coordinator and the gifted and talented coordinator licenses have approved education preparation programs in the state. As such, the department proposes amending the current rules to recognize and clarify the eligibility requirements for these specific licenses. All other program coordinator license areas listed under s. PI 34.072, Wis. Admin. Code, would be eliminated and moved to the list of obsolete licenses under s. PI 34.111, Wis. Admin. Code. These licenses would still be renewable; however, only one person in the state currently holds a license issued under this subsection, other than the career and technical education coordinator and the gifted and talented coordinator licenses. Without a rule change, the department would be required to implement ch. PI 34, Wis. Admin. Code, as the rules currently exist, requiring recognition of license areas for which no preparation programs are available. 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: Carl Bryan
Legislative Policy Coordinator
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
(608) 266-3275
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. RULE TEXT
