118.193 History History: 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 43; s. 35.17 correction in (2) (intro.).

118.194 118.194 Initial license to teach; Montessori.

118.194(1) (1) Notwithstanding s. 118.19 (4m), (6) to (9), (12), and (14), the department shall grant an initial license to teach to an individual who is eligible for licensure under s. 118.19 (4) and (10) and who satisfies all of the following:

118.194(1)(a) (a) Possesses a bachelor’s degree.

118.194(1)(b) (b) Successfully completed a teacher education program accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education or approved by the Association Montessori Internationale.

118.194(1)(c) (c) Successfully completed an introductory course in special education for which the individual earned at least 3 postsecondary credits.

118.194(1)(d) (d) Earned a passing score on any standardized examinations required by the state superintendent for a license to teach the same educational levels and subjects issued in accordance with s. 118.19 and on an examination identical to the Foundations of Reading test administered in 2012 as part of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure or identical to the most recent edition of that test.

118.194(2) (2) A license under sub. (1) authorizes an individual to teach the educational levels for which the individual has successfully completed a teacher education program described in sub. (1) (b) at a school that uses the Montessori method as its primary method of instruction. The department shall treat an initial license to teach granted under sub. (1) in the same manner the state superintendent treats an initial license to teach granted in accordance with s. 118.19.

118.194 History History: 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 106; 2021 a. 214; s. 35.17 correction in (1) (intro.).

118.195 118.195 Discrimination against handicapped teachers prohibited.

118.195(1) (1) No person otherwise qualified may be denied a certificate or license from the state superintendent under s. 118.19 (1) because the person is totally or partially blind, deaf or physically handicapped nor may any school district refuse to employ a teacher on such grounds, if such handicapped teacher is able to carry out the duties of the position which the person seeks.

118.195(2) (2) Any school board may request the state superintendent for advice and assistance in interpreting this section.

118.195 History History: 1993 a. 492; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27.

118.196 118.196 Teacher development program.

118.196(1) (1) A school board, governing body of a private school, or a charter management organization may apply to the department of workforce development for a grant under s. 106.272 to design and implement a teacher development program that satisfies the requirements under sub. (2) with an educator preparation program approved by the department and headquartered in this state.

118.196(2) (2) 

118.196(2)(a) (a) The school board, governing body, or charter management organization and the educator preparation program under sub. (1) shall design the teacher development program to prepare employees of the school district, private school, or charter management organization who work closely with students to successfully complete the requirements for obtaining a permit under s. 118.192 or an initial teaching license under s. 118.19, including any standardized examination prescribed by the state superintendent as a condition for permitting or licensure.

118.196(2)(b) (b) To implement the teacher development program designed under par. (a), the school board, governing body, and charter management organization shall allow employees who are enrolled in the program to satisfy student teaching requirements in a school in the school district, in the private school, or in the charter management organization, and the partnering entity under sub. (1) shall prepare and provide intensive coursework for participating employees.

118.196(2)(c) (c) The school board, governing body, and charter management organization shall permit an individual who does not hold a bachelor’s degree to enroll in a teacher development program developed and implemented under this section.

118.196(3) (3) Notwithstanding s. 118.19 (3) (a), the department may issue an initial teaching license to an individual who completes a teacher development program designed and implemented under this section.

118.196 History History: 2017 a. 59.

118.197 118.197 Initial license to teach; alternative preparation programs.

118.197(1) (1) Notwithstanding s. 118.19 (4m), (6) to (9), (12), and (14), the department shall grant an initial license to teach to an individual who is eligible for licensure under s. 118.19 (4) and (10) and who satisfies all of the following:

118.197(1)(a) (a) The individual possesses a bachelor’s degree.

118.197(1)(b) (b) The individual successfully completed an alternative teacher certification program operated by an organization that satisfies all of the following criteria:

118.197(1)(b)1. 1. The organization operates in at least 5 states.

118.197(1)(b)2. 2. The organization has been operating an alternative teacher certification program for at least 10 years.

118.197(1)(b)3. 3. The organization requires candidates to pass a subject area exam and the pedagogy exam known as the Professional Teaching Knowledge exam to receive a certificate under the alternative teacher certification.

118.197(2) (2) A license under sub. (1) authorizes an individual to teach the subject and educational levels for which the individual has successfully completed an alternative teacher certification program. The department shall treat an initial license to teach granted under sub. (1) in the same manner the state superintendent treats an initial license to teach granted in accordance with s. 118.19.