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WI AB620

WI AB620
Teacher and administrator licensure in parental choice programs and in the Special Needs Scholarship Program and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

summary

Introduced
11/07/2025
In Committee
11/07/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/23/2026

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

With certain exceptions, this bill requires that, beginning on July 1, 2027, teachers and administrators at private schools participating in a parental choice program or in the Special Needs Scholarship Program hold a license or permit issued by the Department of Public Instruction. Under current law, teachers and administrators at choice schools must have at least a bachelor’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education, but they are not required to be licensed by DPI. There are no current law requirements regarding who may teach or be employed as an administrator at SNSP schools. Similar to current law, the bill creates an exception to the licensure requirement for a teacher who teaches only courses in rabbinical studies and for an administrator at a private school that prepares and trains pupils attending the private school in rabbinical studies. In addition, the bill provides a grace period for a teacher or administrator who has been teaching or employed as an administrator for at least the five consecutive years immediately preceding July 1, 2027, which allows the teacher or administrator to apply for a temporary, nonrenewable waiver of the licensure requirement. An applicant for a waiver must submit a plan for becoming licensed as required under the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill requires teachers and administrators in private schools participating in parental choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) to obtain state licensure, beginning July 1, 2027. Currently, these educators only need a bachelor's degree, but the new law mandates that teachers must have a teaching license or permit from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and administrators must have an administrator's license. The bill includes some important exceptions: teachers who exclusively teach rabbinical studies are exempt from the licensing requirement, and educators who have been teaching or administering for at least five consecutive years before July 1, 2027, can apply for a temporary, non-renewable waiver. To receive the waiver, applicants must submit a plan for becoming licensed, and the waiver will expire on July 1, 2032. This change aims to ensure that educators in these school choice programs meet professional standards comparable to those in public schools, while providing a transition period for existing educators to obtain the necessary credentials.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (23)

Last Action

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (on 03/23/2026)
(1 Companion Bills)

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