SB 554

Under current law, an individual must complete a teacher preparatory program

approved by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to qualify for a license

to teach under the traditional licensure pathway. A teacher preparatory program is

a sequence of courses included in a bachelor's degree program or post baccalaureate

degree program designed to prepare individuals for licensure. Current law requires

the SSPI to establish standards, requirements, and procedures related to approving

teacher preparatory programs.

Under the bill, in order to be approved by the SSPI, a teacher preparatory

program must provide at least six credits of instruction in literacy theory, skills, and

processes (literacy instruction) to individuals in the program who intend to apply for

a license to teach kindergarten to fifth grade, a license to teach special education, a

reading teacher license, or a reading specialist license. Under the bill, the literacy

instruction must align with the Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of

Reading from the International Dyslexia Association. The bill also requires each

teacher preparatory program to submit syllabi, names of textbooks, and other

instructional material that will be used in the literacy instruction to the Department

of Public Instruction prior to offering the required literacy instruction. Finally, under

the bill, the SSPI must post on DPI's Internet site the information received from a

teacher preparatory program related to the literacy instruction before the teacher

preparatory program offers the literacy instruction.

Under current law, DPI must consult with the governor's office, the

chairpersons and ranking members of the education committees in the assembly and

senate, the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, and the

Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities when performing

specific duties related to evaluating teacher preparatory programs. Under the bill,

DPI must also consult with the chairpersons and ranking members of the higher

education committees in the assembly and senate.