Minnesota:
•
Common core state standards initiative. Minnesota is one of 48 states that have agreed to adopt a common core of state standards for various subject areas (except math).
•
Core subject areas. Minnesota defines core academic subjects as language arts; mathematics; science; social studies, including history, geography, economics, and government and citizenship; health and physical education; and the arts.
•
Charter school teacher requirements in core subject areas. Minnesota requires the licensure/certification of teachers in charter schools to be identical to those of all other public school teachers.
•
Additional subject area licenses based on taking a test. Minnesota allows teachers in only the science subjects to get another science license based on taking a state approved test.
•
License based on experience or equivalency. Minnesota has an active portfolio review process. Applicants must pay a $500 fee. Also, applicants must have taught in the area of discipline and demonstrate competency standards.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
Chapter
PI 34 contains the requirements an individual must meet to be licensed as an educator in Wisconsin. It replaced Chapters
PI 3 (containing the requirements an individual must meet to be licensed) in 2004 and PI 4 (containing the procedures and standards for approval of professional education programs leading to licensure) in 2000. Chapter
PI 34 advanced licensure and educator preparation programs to be standards-based and competency-based rather than credit-based.
Since the passage of Chapter
PI 34 ten years ago, changes in teaching, learning, and instructional delivery require further modification to Wisconsin's licensure and educator preparation criteria. Also, modifications need to be made to clarify certain requirements. There is an increasing need for flexibility in licensure to allow rural schools to offer a full range of education offerings to students and allow teachers to more easily obtain licensure in other subjects while meeting the highly qualified teacher provisions under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
These proposed changes aim to provide more tools to schools and flexibility to educators that at the same time ensure educator quality.
Small Business Impact
The proposed rules will have no significant economic impact nor fiscal impact on small businesses, as defined in s.
227.114 (1) (a), Stats.
Fiscal Estimate
Chapter
PI 34 contains the requirements an individual must meet to be licensed as an educator in Wisconsin. The proposed changes aim to provide more tools to schools and flexibility to educators that at the same time ensure educator quality.
State fiscal effect
The rule provisions that are likely to have a state fiscal effect include:
•
Validating discrete tests in each of the areas of language arts (English literature and composition, journalism, and speech), mathematics (or computer science), science (physical science, chemistry, physics, earth and space, environmental, and biology), and social studies (geography, history, political science, economics, psychology, and sociology). Currently, an individual takes a broadfield test in language arts, science or social studies to receive a specific license within that subject. The costs related to examination validation are indeterminate but will likely be absorbed by the agency. It is assumed that the Educational Testing Service will develop the discrete examinations at no cost to the department but may charge a fee to persons taking the test.
•
Developing a process that verifies content competencies for charter school instructional staff teaching in core academic subjects and an equivalency process for individuals to obtain or add additional licenses. The department may solicit bids from higher education institutions and professional associations to plan and provide an appropriate evaluation process to establish the content competencies and equivalency requirements. If an appropriate evaluation process cannot be contracted, the department will have to develop such a process. The department will incur the costs of developing, delivering and administering the evaluation process. These costs are indeterminate. If the department is not able to absorb these costs, it may charge applicants an appropriate fee to cover the costs of the process.
It is unknown whether this rule will have a fiscal effect on the University of Wisconsin (UW) system. A copy of the proposed rules has been submitted to the UW system with a request for a fiscal note.
Local government fiscal effect
By making it easier for teachers to receive additional licenses, the proposed rules may provide flexibility for school districts in making teacher assignments utilizing current staff. Any cost savings associated with such flexibility are indeterminate.
Agency Contact Person
Deborah Mahaffey
Assistant State Superintendent
Division for Academic Excellence
Phone: (608) 266-3361
Notice of Hearing
Regulation and Licensing
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to authority vested in the Department of Regulation and Licensing in ss.
15.08 (5) (b),
51.30,
146.82,
227.11 (2) and
440.04, Stats., the Department of Regulation and Licensing will hold a public hearing at the time and place indicated below to consider an order to revise Chapter
RL 7, relating to the Impaired Professionals Procedure.
Hearing Information
Date: August 6, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: 1400 East Washington Avenue
Room 121A
Madison, WI
Appearances at the Hearing and Submittal of Written Comments
Interested persons are invited to present information at the hearing. Persons appearing may make an oral presentation but are urged to submit facts, opinions and argument in writing as well. Facts, opinions and argument may also be submitted in writing without a personal appearance by mail addressed to Pamela Haack, Department of Regulation and Licensing, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, WI 53708-8935. Written comments must be received by August 9, 2010, to be included in the record of rule-making proceedings.
Copies of Proposed Rule
Copies of this proposed rule are available upon request to Pamela Haack, Paralegal, Department of Regulation and Licensing, Division of Board Services, 1400 East Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708, or by email at
pamela.haack@wisconsin.gov.
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Regulation and Licensing
Statutes interpreted
Statutory authority
Explanation of agency authority
The Department of Regulation and Licensing is authorized under s.
440.03 (1), Stats., to promulgate rules defining uniform procedures to be used by the department and the attached boards, examining boards and affiliated credentialing boards.
Related statute or rule
Plain language analysis
These proposed rules modernize and clarify the language of ch.
RL 7. Under the current rules, the Impaired Professionals Procedure is an alternative to the disciplinary process. Under the proposed rules, the renamed Professional Assistance Procedure may also be used in conjunction with the disciplinary process.
Comparison with federal regulations
None.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states
Illinois:
Each profession is managed independently of other professions. See also section 1285.235 of the Illinois Rules, Mandatory Reporting of Impaired Professionals by Health Care Institutions.
Iowa:
Iowa administrative code s.
653.14.
http://php.iowa.gov/ about_iphp.html. Section 653-14.5 (272C) defines who is deemed ineligible to participate in the program.
Michigan:
Section 333, Public Health Code. The Health Professional Recovery Program (HPRP) is administered by a private contractor under the direction of the HPRP and Bureau of Health Professions in the Michigan Department of Community Health. It is funded by participants and insurers. Several professions are included.
Minnesota:
MN Statutes s.
214.31-214-37. Includes the following professions: chiropractors, dentists, marriage and family therapists, nurses, pharmacists, podiatrists, social workers, veterinarians.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
The Department of Regulation and Licensing created a Task Force consisting of various stakeholder organizations, including the Boards of Pharmacy, Nursing and Medicine, trade associations representing hospitals, doctors, nurses and pharmacists, the Wisconsin Association of Justice Representatives and experts in the treatment of alcohol and drug dependency. The Task Force met six times in 2009 to discuss improvements to the existing procedure. A committee of the Task Force then convened in 2009-2010 to draft the rule changes with the department. All aspects of the procedure were explored in the Task Force meeting, including its effectiveness, requirements for entry, confidentiality, length of participation, terminology, practice restrictions, therapist involvement, disciplinary action and oversight of treatment providers and facilities by department staff and board members. Reports on procedures in other states were presented to the Task Force, in addition to information relating to laboratory facilities and treatment resources.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business
The department does not anticipate a significant fiscal impact on small businesses. The changes are revisions to a program that is in operation and is funded by participants and license holders.
Section
227.137, Stats., requires an “agency" to prepare an economic impact report before submitting the proposed rule-making order to the Wisconsin Legislative Council. The Department of Regulation and Licensing is not included as an “agency" in this section.
Small Business Impact
After review by the department's Small Business Review Advisory Committee, it was determined that these proposed rules will have no significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses, as defined in s.
227.114 (1), Stats. The Department's Regulatory Review Coordinator may be contacted by email at
hector.colon@drl.state.wi.us, or by calling (608) 266-8608.
Fiscal Estimate
This rule change will have no fiscal impact on the state of Wisconsin or on local units of government.
Anticipated costs incurred by the private sector
The department finds that this rule has no significant fiscal effect on the private sector.
Agency Contact Person
Pamela Haack, Paralegal
Department of Regulation and Licensing
1400 East Washington Avenue, Room 116
P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708
Phone: 608-266-0495
Notice of Hearing
Transportation
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to s.
84.01 (35) (c), Stats., the Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing to consider the creation of Chapter
Trans 75, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to bikeways and sidewalks in highway projects.
Hearing Information
Date: August 4, 2010
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Hill Farms State Transportation Bldg.
Room 144B
4802 Sheboygan Avenue
Madison, WI
This hearing is held in an accessible facility. If you have special needs or circumstances that may make communication or accessibility difficult at the hearing, please call Thomas Huber at (608) 267-7757 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing. Accommodations such as interpreters, English translators, or materials in alternative format will, to the fullest extent possible, be made available upon a request from a person with a disability to accommodate your needs.
Copies of Proposed Rule
