The Assembly Education Committee approved a bi-partisan bill today that would require the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to more effectively include experienced teachers with-out-of-state licenses or teachers with the Wisconsin “license to teach based on reciprocity,” in the state’s licensure system.
The bill, Assembly Bill (AB) 195, aims to increase the pipeline of teachers by recognizing those who hold licenses in other states, and have successfully completed two semesters of teaching in Wisconsin. The bill also moves the “license to teach based on reciprocity” to provisional status instead of initial. This will make it easier for teachers with this license to obtain a Wisconsin Lifetime License.
The bill initially failed to recognize private school teaching experience but WCRIS testified before the committee last month, urging inclusion for private school experience.
The bill’s lead sponsors (Rep. Tranel, R-Cuba City and Rep. Myers, D-Milwaukee) generously agreed to co-sponsor an amendment and worked with WCRIS to draft the language.
The WCRIS amendment to AB 195 passed unanimously Thursday. Once amended, the bill passed the Assembly Education Committee 12-2.
It moves to the full Assembly for a vote, perhaps as early as next week. After that, the bill moves on to the Senate.
The current licensing process for out-of-state teachers, which AB 195 is seeking to change, only recognizes teaching experience from the state in which the teacher is licensed.
Stay tuned to Current Events for updates on this exciting improvement to Wisconsin’s teacher licensing system.
