PROPOSED ORDER OF THE
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
AMENDING RULES
The scope statement for this rule, SS 104-23, was published in Register No. 816A1, on December 4, 2023, and approved by State Superintendent Jill K. Underly on December 21, 2023. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction hereby proposes an order to amend s. PI 34.023 (4) (a), relating to cooperating teachers and school-based supervisors. ANALYSIS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Explanation of agency authority:
Under. 118.19 (1), Wis. Stats., any person seeking to teach in a public school, including a charter school, or in a school or institution operated by a county or the state shall first procure a license or permit from the department. Under s. 115.28 (7) (a), Wis. Stats., the superintendent of public instruction shall 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, 118.192, 118.193, 118.194, and 118.195, Wis. Stats. Related statute or rule:
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Plain language analysis:
The proposed rule change is a technical correction of ch. PI 34 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code to clarify the requirements for cooperating teachers and school-based supervisors employed by a clinical program as part of an educator preparation program's conceptual framework. The proposed rule change amends s. PI 34.023 (4) (a) to clarify that a cooperating teacher or school-based supervisor shall hold a valid license at the tier II, III, or IV level in the subject or position that corresponds to the area of supervision. Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulations:
Because educator preparation in the United States is typically governed by each state and local government, federal regulations are generally silent with respect to the preparation of student teachers. As a result, the requirements for teacher preparation programs 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 December 14, 2023, and did not receive any comments on the statement of scope for the proposed rule.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: Under Ill. Admin. Code tit. 23 § 25.610, “cooperating teacher” means a person employed by a school district directly engaged in teaching students in a school and who is immediately responsible for a student engaged in clinical experiences. Further, under Ill. Admin. Code tit. 23 § 25.620, student teaching must be done under the active supervision of a cooperating teacher who is licensed and qualified to teach in the area, has three years of teaching experience, has received a proficient or above performance rating in the most recent evaluation, and is directly engaged in teaching subject matter or conducting learning activities in the area of student teaching. Iowa: Under Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-79.2, “cooperating teachers” means appropriately licensed classroom teachers of record who provide guidance and supervision to teacher candidates in the cooperating teachers' classrooms during the candidates' field experiences in the schools. Further, under Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-79.14, a teacher candidate’s clinical experience must take place in the classroom of a cooperating teacher who is appropriately licensed in the subject area and grade level endorsement for which the teacher candidate is being prepared.
Michigan: Under Mich. Admin. Code R. 390.1123, an applicant for a standard teaching certificate shall satisfactorily complete an approved program in teacher preparation that includes, in part, supervised directed teaching must be in the grade range and discipline area for which the superintendent of public instruction is to grant an endorsement.
Minnesota: Under Minn. R. 8705.1010, each educator preparation program shall have a clear and consistent conceptual framework and ensure that each cooperating teacher paired with a teacher candidate during their student teaching and practicum has a minimum of three years of teaching experience in the licensure area, holds a professional license aligned with the assignment, has completed professional development in coaching strategies for adult learners, and has fulfilled all other requirements outlined in state statute. For field experiences, cooperating teachers shall have a minimum of two years of teaching experience, hold either a Tier 2 license or a professional license aligned with the assignment, and meet all other requirements specified in state statute. Finally, each cooperating teacher must receive training that addresses the cooperating teacher’s role, program expectations, candidate assessments, procedures, and timelines.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies:
Chapter PI 34 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code contains the current rules governing the licensure of school personnel, including rules around completion standards for each educator preparation program as a condition for receiving educator licensure. Under current rule s. PI 34.023 (4), an educator preparation program's conceptual framework shall include a clinical program which uses cooperating teachers and school-based supervisors who meet all of the following requirements: 1) hold a valid Wisconsin license, or an equivalent license if the clinical program is located outside of Wisconsin; 2) volunteered for an assignment as a cooperating teacher or school-based supervisor; 3) have at least 3 years of teaching experience, including one year of experience at the current place of employment, or at least 3 years of pupil services or administrator experience, including one year of experience at the current place of employment; and 4) have completed training in the supervision of clinical students and the applicable standards under subch. II of ch. PI 34. The proposed rule change amends s. PI 34.023 (4) (a) to clarify that a cooperating teacher or school-based supervisor shall hold a valid license at the tier II, III, or IV level in the subject or position that corresponds to the area of supervision. Without a rule, the department will continue to administer PI 34 as it currently exists, and educator preparation programs will be required to meet requirements for a clinical program under the existing rule. Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business or in preparation of economic impact report:
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Anticipated costs incurred by private sector:
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Effect on small business:
