Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

AB 518

Relating to: allowing individuals who hold a substitute teaching permit to substitute teach at private schools participating in a parental choice program.

Parochial and private schools Parole or probation School — Attendance Teacher — Certificate

Introduced, completed
Passes Assembly, completed
Passes Senate, stopped here
Governor signs, not reached
Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, all teachers at a private school participating in Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, Racine Parental Choice Program, or the statewide parental choice program must have a teaching license issued by the Department of Public Instruction or a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education. Under the bill, an individual who holds a substitute teacher permit issued by DPI may teach as allowed under the permit at a private school participating in a parental choice program.

Current law requires DPI to grant a substitute teacher permit, also known as the three-year short-term substitute teacher permit, to an applicant who 1) has an associate degree and successfully completes substitute teacher training or 2) is at least 20 years old, is enrolled in a teacher preparatory program and has enough credits to be a junior in that program, and has completed at least 15 hours of classroom observation. A substitute teacher permit authorizes the holder of the permit to teach as a short-term substitute in any subject in any grade level.

Registered lobbying interests · 5

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Votes

Assembly: Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 9, Noes 3

Passed 9–3 Nov 12, 2025 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2

Passed 3–2 Jan 9, 2026 official source full page