The final respondent spoke in favor of the Department amending its licensure rules to provide an alternative to the Foundations of Reading Test for special education teachers to demonstrate knowledge of reading.
Agency Response: The proposed change is outside the scope of this rule. However, the comments were reviewed and forwarded to program staff for their consideration in future rulemaking.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: Pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/21B-30, Illinois requires all new teachers to pass the education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) for their applicable grade level, based on its standards. The edTPA can only be waived for out-of-state applicants who have 1 year of teaching experience. Out-of-state teachers, teaching on a provisional license must pass the edTPA during the one-year validity of the provisional license in order to be fully licensed.
Iowa: Pursuant to 281 Iowa Administrative Code section 79.15, Iowa requires all new teachers to pass the applicable grade level pedagogy test in order to attain licensure. Candidates have three options: the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching series, the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT), or the appropriate education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).
Michigan: Michigan does not require an assessment of pedagogical knowledge.
Minnesota: Pursuant to Minnesota Administrative Rules Chapter 8705, Minnesota uses the edTPA as one measure of teacher preparation program effectiveness. However, edTPA scores are not currently used as a licensure requirement in Minnesota.Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies:
Chapter PI 34 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code contains the current administrative rules governing the licensure of school personnel, including rules around the completion of an educator preparation program as a condition for an applicant obtaining educator licensure. Under the rule, an educator preparation program’s conceptual framework shall contain a system to assess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of students based on the educator standards in subch. II of PI 34. The assessment shall, in part, measure a student’s pedagogical knowledge of the teaching profession, whereby the assessment shall include a passing score on a research-based performance assessment approved by the State Superintendent. Since the rules were promulgated in August 2018, the Department has identified further flexibility for student applicants seeking to work in the teaching profession in the assessment of pedagogical knowledge. The proposed rule is designed to provide flexibility in the assessment of pedagogical knowledge by expanding the means in which educator preparation programs could use to assess pedagogical knowledge as a condition for obtaining licensure. The rule change will create options for educator preparation programs to assess pedagogical knowledge while maintaining high standards in assessing competency in pedagogy. Absent a rule change, the Department would be required to implement PI 34 as the rule currently exists, thus limiting assessment options for educator preparation programs seeking to endorse qualified candidates for licensure.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business or in preparation of economic impact report:
N/A
Anticipated costs incurred by private sector:
N/A
Effect on small business:
The proposed rules will have no significant economic impact on small businesses, as defined in s. 227.114 (1) (a), Stats. Agency contact person: (including email and telephone)
Carl Bryan
Administrative Rules Coordinator
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
(608) 266-3275
Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:
Comments should be submitted to Carl Bryan, Department of Public Instruction, 125 S. Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841 or at adminrules@dpi.wi.gov. The Department will publish a hearing notice in the Administrative Register which will provide information on the deadline for the submission of comments. SECTION 1. PI 34.021 (2) (d) is amended to read:
PI 34.021 (2) (d) Pedagogical knowledge. The assessment of pedagogical knowledge shall include a passing score on a research-based performance assessment approved by the state superintendent.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE:
The proposed rules contained in this order shall take effect on the first day of the month commencing after the date of publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register, as provided in s. 227.22 (2) (intro.), Stats. Dated this _____ day of ____________, 2020
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Carolyn Stanford Taylor
State Superintendent
