LRB-4774/1
FFK:skw
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
October 30, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Felzkowski, Larson,
Taylor and
Marklein, cosponsored by Representatives Mursau,
Edming, Myers,
Armstrong, Brandtjen, Dittrich, Goeben, Murphy, O'Connor, Rettinger,
Rozar, Schraa, Snyder and Joers. Referred to Committee on Education.
SB609,1,3
1An Act to amend 118.19 (14) (b) (intro.) of the statutes;
relating to:
2requirements for an initial license to teach grades kindergarten to five, an
3initial license as a reading teacher, and an initial license as a reading specialist.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, an applicant for certain initial teaching licenses, as a
condition for receiving the license, must pass an examination identical to the
Foundations of Reading test, commonly called the FORT, in addition to all other
requirements for licensure by the Department of Public Instruction. The FORT
requirement applies to the following licenses:
1. An initial teaching license that authorizes the holder to teach in grades
kindergarten to five.
2. An initial teaching license that authorizes the holder to teach in special
education.
3. An initial license as a reading teacher.
4. An initial license as a reading specialist.
Current law also provides an exception to the FORT requirement for an
applicant for a special education initial teaching license, under which the applicant
may demonstrate to DPI that the applicant completed a course of study in the
teaching of reading and reading comprehension, rather than passing the FORT. This
bill extends the exception currently available only to applicants for a special
education initial teaching license to applicants for all licenses to which the FORT
requirement applies. Specifically, the bill expands the exception to applicants for a
license to teach in grades kindergarten to five, an initial license as a reading teacher,
and an initial license as a reading specialist. Under current law and the bill, a teacher
who passes the FORT exam must notify DPI and DPI must add a notation to the
teacher's license indicating that the teacher passed the FORT.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB609,1
1Section
1. 118.19 (14) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB609,2,62
118.19
(14) (b) (intro.) The department shall waive the requirement under par.
3(a) for an applicant
seeking an initial teaching license that authorizes the holder to
4teach in special education if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
5department that the applicant has successfully completed a course of study that
6satisfies all of the following:
