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 15, 2024 Contact: Emily Hicks, Staff Attorney
2023 Senate Bill 608
Senate Substitute
Amendment 1
2023 SENATE BILL 608
2023 Senate Bill 608 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.
SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 creates additional requirements related to teacher mentoring, imposes
additional qualifications on paraprofessionals seeking the teaching license, and changes and clarifies
the type of license an individual may obtain under the bill.
The amendment requires that the experienced teacher who provides mentoring to the license holder
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 license holder and provide feedback.
Additionally, 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. Further, the individual must be enrolled in a
teacher preparatory program. Under the amendment, the applicant must still receive recommendations
from the principal of the school where the individual works as well as the school district administrator,
but does not need a recommendation from the director of teaching and learning.
The amendment also requires the applicant submit their application for licensure by September 1 of the
school year in which the license is requested to be issued. Additionally, under the amendment, the
employing school district must ensure the license holder receives early literacy professional
development before the license holder teaches a grade from kindergarten to third.
1
1
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 -
Finally, the amendment changes the type of teaching license from a provisional license to a
nonrenewable Tier I license to teach for a term of five years. The amendment also removes the pathway
to lifetime licensure that is provided under the bill. The amendment prohibits DPI from issuing a
license based on experience as a paraprofessional in several teaching areas related to special education
and American Indian studies. Under the amendment, this license may expire before its term ends if the
employing school district notifies DPI or DPI determines that the license holder either: (1) is no longer
employed in the employing school district; or (2) is no longer enrolled in a teacher preparatory
program.
BILL HISTORY
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 was offered by Senator Knodl on February 12, 2024. On February 14,
2024, the Senate Committee on Education recommended adoption of the amendment and passage of
the bill, as amended, on votes of Ayes, 4; Noes, 2.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
EH:kp:jal