WI AB109

Federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands in Wisconsin may opt to evaluate applicants for lifetime (tier III) teaching licenses in their associated American Indian language by submitting written notice to the Department of Public Instruction.

If a tribe exercises this option, DPI must notify the tribal government whenever someone applies for a tier III lifetime license in that tribe's language, and the tribe determines whether the applicant is highly skilled in the language.

Applicants endorsed by the tribal government as highly skilled receive the tier III lifetime license; those not endorsed may still renew a tier II license but cannot obtain the lifetime license.

Under current law, any provisional teaching license holder becomes eligible for a tier III lifetime license after completing 6 semesters of teaching experience—this bill creates an exception for American Indian language teachers when tribes opt into the review process.

Prepared by the Joint Legislative Council's Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations and referred to the Committee on Education.