Speech-language pathologist licenses issued by the Department of Public Instruction and modifying administrative rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction. (FE)

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to issue a tier II provisional teaching license that authorizes the license holder to be employed as a speech-language pathologist in a public school to an individual who 1) holds a valid speech-language pathology license issued by the Hearing and Speech Examining Board or a valid speech-language pathologist compact privilege and 2) is eligible for a teaching license based on a successful background check.

Under DPI’s current administrative rules, there are multiple pathways through which an applicant may obtain a DPI license that authorizes the license holder to be employed as a speech-language pathologist in a public school. For example, an applicant is eligible for a tier II provisional license to teach as a speech-language pathologist if the applicant completes an approved teacher training program in school speech-language pathology and demonstrates to DPI certain content and pedagogical knowledge. Alternatively, an applicant is eligible for a tier I license in speech-language pathology if the applicant holds a master’s degree and holds a speech-language pathologist license issued by the Hearing and Speech Examining Board. A tier I license is valid for one year but may be renewed if the license holder is not yet eligible for a tier II license at the end of the one-year term. An applicant who has worked as a school speech-language pathologist under the tier I license for at least one year in this state is eligible for a tier II provisional license if the applicant completes training on 1) children with disabilities, 2) minority group relations, and 3) resolving conflicts in a school setting. The bill eliminates the tier I license for speech-language pathology and the subsequent tier II license based on teaching under the tier I license for one year. The bill also specifies that an applicant is eligible for a tier II license that authorizes the license holder to be employed as a speech-language pathologist in a public school if the applicant holds a valid speech-language pathology license issued by the Hearing and Speech Examining Board or a valid speech-language pathologist compact privilege.

Who's behind it

Eric Wimberger, a Republican, is its author⁠.

4 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DPI