Section 34.06. Program approval.

 

(1)  

(a) All institutions which offer professional education programs leading to licensure in Wisconsin shall submit to the state superintendent for approval, written evidence that their programs comply with the requirements of this chapter which ensures that students who will graduate from an institution after August 31, 2004 shall be able to complete the requirements of this chapter. This written evidence shall include all of the following:

1. The institution's relevant policies and practices affecting the preparation of professional school personnel.

2. The institution's conceptual framework under s. PI 34.15 for the preparation of professional educators including the research base for program design and improvement.

3. The institution's evaluation of its performance and outcomes within the context of its mission and goals as they relate to the standards in s. PI 34.15 (1) .

4. The institution's assessment system used to evaluate candidate quality as measured against the standards in subch. II and how the assessments are used to evaluate and improve programs.

5. The institution's report required under 20 USC 1027 , section 207 , including the pass rate of the institution's graduates on the teacher certification or licensure assessments required by the state.

6. The institution's evidence of systematic, ongoing collaboration with employing schools and school districts.

(b) All written evidence to meet the requirements under par. (a) shall be directed from the dean, director or chair of education to the director of teacher education and licensing at the department.

(2)  Initial approval under this section may be made after all of the following occur:

(a) An on-site review by a department team to determine adequate documentation and compliance with the requirements under sub. (1) is completed.

(b) Review and comment of the professional standards council, if provided.

(3)  

(a) Continuing program approval decisions shall be based on a continuous review process. Every institution shall be visited each year by the SCD department liaison or other department professional staff. The program evaluation and approval shall be based on the performance of candidates for license measured against the standards in subch. II as described in s. PI 34.15 (1) . Initial program approval shall be for a period not less than 5 years, and shall be reviewed annually by a department liaison as part of a continuous review process.

(b) If, during the years of continual approval, an institution initiates a complete redesign of the professional preparation program, the state superintendent shall review and may approve the redesigned program following the procedure set forth in sub. (2) .

(4)  Institutions shall submit new programs and substantive changes in previously approved programs to the state superintendent for approval prior to implementing the new program or change.

(5)  

(a) After reviewing the teacher education programs, the state superintendent shall grant approval in writing within 60 days after completing the on-site review under sub. (2) (a) or deny approval to each program as follows:

1. Denial of any program shall commence with a notice by the department that nonapproval is being considered for one or more professional programs leading to licensure. This notice shall be in writing indicating all areas of non-compliance and shall be sent by certified mail to the institution's chief administrator.

2. The notice under subd. 1. shall be followed by a formal campus visit by the state superintendent or, at his or her request, representatives of the professional standards council if the situation that created the need for a notice is not remedied within 60 days of the official notice. The chief administrator of the institution shall be given at least 30 days notice prior to the official visit by representatives of the professional standards council.

(b) The professional standards council acting in formal session may make a recommendation to the state superintendent for his or her consideration regarding approval or non-approval under this subsection.

(6)  If the state superintendent denies approval of the program leading to licensure, the institution shall either commence an appeal in accordance with s. PI 34.07 or shall provide notice to prospective and currently enrolled students of non-approval of the program leading to licensure.

(7)  The state superintendent may not approve any teacher preparation program that is not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. The state superintendent may grant conditional approval to a program if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The institution which sponsors the program submits to the state superintendent a plan of remedial measures which will bring the program into compliance with all of the requirements of this chapter; and

(b) The state superintendent is satisfied that such remedial measures will be implemented in a timely manner so that graduates of such a program will have completed all applicable work required in this chapter.

History: Cr. Register, April, 2000, No. 532 , eff. 5-1-00; CR 10-083 : am. (3) (a) and (5) (a) 1. Register November 2010 No. 659 , eff. 12-1-10.