Assembly Bill 420 amends the current requirements for teacher preparatory programs in Wisconsin. Under existing law, the state superintendent of public instruction can only approve these programs if they require students to complete student teaching for a full semester. This bill expands the approval criteria to include programs that require student teaching for a full summer session as well. The amendment specifies that the student teaching must follow the daily schedule and calendar of the cooperating school, whether it is a semester or summer session.

Additionally, the bill maintains the stipulation that no teaching license may be granted to applicants who completed their professional training outside of Wisconsin unless they also completed the required student teaching. The state superintendent is granted the authority to make exceptions to these requirements in cases where the academic calendars of the institution and the cooperating school differ significantly. The bill also mandates that the state superintendent promulgate rules to implement these changes and recognizes accreditation from various accrediting agencies for the purpose of program approval.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 118.19(3)(a), 118.19