Wisconsin Legislative Council
AMENDMENT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Memo published: February 8, 2024 Contact: Katie Bender-Olson, Principal Attorney
2023 Assembly Bill 640 Assembly Amendment 1
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 640
2023 Assembly Bill 640 creates a provisional teaching license for individuals who worked as classroom
paraprofessionals for at least three days per week for at least one school year. To receive the license, an
individual must receive recommendations from the principal of the school where the individual worked,
the director of teaching and learning, and the school district administrator. The bill requires that an
experienced teacher, meaning one who has taught for at least three school years, must mentor the
individual during the first school year the individual is employed as a teacher.
The provisional license allows an individual to teach within the school district that recommended the
individual for licensure. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) must issue a lifetime license to an
individual who obtains a provision license under the bill and successfully completes six semesters of
teaching.
ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 1
Assembly Amendment 1 imposes additional qualifications on paraprofessionals seeking the teaching
license, creates additional requirements related to teacher mentoring, and changes the type of DPI
license an individual may obtain under the bill.
The amendment requires that an individual must have worked as a paraprofessional for at least three
consecutive school years, rather than one. To be eligible for the teaching license, an individual must also
have either: (1) earned at least 60 credits from an institution of higher education or technical college; or
(2) have earned an associate degree. The individual must also intend to obtain a bachelor’s degree and a
Tier II DPI teaching license based on completing an educator preparation program.
Additionally, the amendment requires that the experienced teacher who provides mentoring to the
individual must have previously mentored a first year or newly employed teacher. The school district
must also provide paid release time to the mentoring teacher to observe the individual and provide
feedback.
Next, if the individual will teach any grade from kindergarten to third, the school district must provide
the individual with early literacy professional development.
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Finally, the amendment changes the type of teaching license from a provisional license to a Tier I
license. Under DPI administrative rules, a Tier I license is for a limited period and does not lead to a
lifetime teaching license. The amendment provides that a license issued under the bill may be renewed
once, if the school district administrator requests renewal and provides evidence the individual made
substantial progress towards obtaining a bachelor’s degree.
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The amendment specifies that the professional development be the type required of other K-3 teachers, principals, and
reading specialists described in 2023 Wisconsin Act 20. - 2 -
BILL HISTORY
Assembly Amendment 1 was offered by Representative Dittrich on January 23, 2024. On February 7,
2024, the Assembly Committee on Education adopted the amendment on a vote of Ayes, 10; Noes, 4.
The committee then passed the bill, as amended, on a vote of Ayes, 9; Noes, 5.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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