New program is in place, new teachers on the way

The state Department of Public Instruction, with the support of Gov. Scott Walker, rolled out changes in teacher licensing in August 2012.

The new program, called License Based on Equivalency (LBE), created an alternate path to teaching for candidates who have not completed a bachelor's degree through a state-approved college or university education program.

"We know there are people who have completed college, have work and content area expertise, and would like to share their knowledge by becoming teachers in our public schools," State School Superintendent Tony Evers said at the time.

Under the program, candidates with three years of teaching experience in a private school, at a workplace training center, child care center, at the postsecondary level or in industry can provide evidence of their expertise and become eligible to receive a license to teach in a Wisconsin public school.

A performance-based assessment process then is used to determine competency in the Wisconsin educator standards.

As we reported in early 2012, Gov. Scott Walker took a baby step in 2011 toward keeping his campaign promise to allow such "real-world experience" in licensing teachers.

But his move to require that charter school teachers need only a bachelor's degree to teach, rather than a teacher's license, was removed from the state budget.

It sparked discussions, though, between Walker's office and Evers. The state superintendent is independently elected and has worked with Walker on several education initiatives.

Evers' Department of Public Instruction took on the task of creating the new program.

Walker was supportive, and hailed it when it was announced, saying, "Wisconsin has fantastic teachers across the state. We will continue to work together to strengthen this honored profession. We must also help districts find qualified men and women with workplace experience who are interested in sharing their knowledge with the next generation, especially in high need areas like science and math. Today's announcement represents a positive move in the right direction."

The department has received 175 applications under the new licensing program and one already has received a license. Another 91 have cleared one step in the process, spokesman Patrick Gasper said.

In 2013, Walker revived his move to require the department to grant a charter school teaching license to any person who has a bachelor's degree and demonstrates, based upon criteria established by DPI, that the person is proficient in the subjects that he or she intends to teach, legislative budget documents show.

This time, the Legislature approved that, and Walker signed it.

In addition in that budget Walker and lawmakers approved a streamlining of licensing requirements for teachers at virtual schools.

The actions rate a Promise Kept.