Completing the edTPA is no longer a state requirement as of July 1, 2020. Moreover, the Governor suspended the edTPA requirement during the public health emergency from March 21, 2020, through May 11, 2020.
Starting July 1, 2020, there are only two situations where teacher candidates will still need to take the edTPA:
- They are applying for licensure using the License Based on Equivalency pathway
- The candidate's approved preparation program requires the edTPA for program completion
What is edTPA?
The edTPA is a pre-service teacher performance assessment. To complete the edTPA, candidates:
- choose a learning segment of 3-5 lessons in one class
- collect artifacts (lesson plans, instructional materials, teaching videos, assessments, and sample student work)
- write commentaries in response to prompts in the subject-specific edTPA handbook
- submit their artifacts and commentaries for professional scoring
Scorers rate candidate performance in planning, instruction, and assessment using rubrics in the edTPA handbooks.
When was it implemented?
Full Implementation was completed during the 2016-2017 year. Student teacher candidates from Wisconsin educator preparation programs (EPP) complete the edTPA before or during their student teaching placements.
How was it selected for Wisconsin?
After careful study, the Wisconsin Continuous Review Process Workgroup recommended and the state superintendent approved the edTPA as a required component in the multiple measure performance assessment system of educator preparation. A state edTPA workgroup is providing leadership with edTPA implementation and each EPP has identified a contact who is leading local program efforts.
- Continuous Review Process Work Group Report - Final Report and State Superintendent approval for the Continuous Review Process of program approval.
- edTPA Work Group Report - Policy recommendations and State Superintendent approval for Wisconsin edTPA implementation efforts.
Passing Scores
Effective September 1, 2016, initial licensure candidates must earn the following passing scores on the edTPA in order to be endorsed for an initial license:
- 38 for edTPA handbooks with 15 rubrics
- 32 for edTPA handbooks with 13 rubrics
- 45 for edTPA handbooks with 18 rubrics.
Information for School Districts
A critical part of the Wisconsin preparation process is the student teaching experience. It is during the candidates' full semester of student teaching, which occurs at the end of our preparation programs, that our candidates experience the authentic, rigorous, sustained day-to-day reality of what a teacher must be able to do every single day. Candidates are guided by a master teacher during this clinical experience and they hone their skills to demonstrate for us that they are "ready to teach" independently. Our school districts have been incredible partners in this process and now more than ever, we need your continued commitment.
Resources for the edTPA and student teaching placements:
- Letter from the State Superintendent to School Districts - March 2014
- edTPA: A New Step on the Pathway to Teacher Licensure in Wisconsin - a video overview of the edTPA process prepared by the UW System
- edTPA Orientation Webinar for Program Leaders, Faculty, and PK-12 Partners
- www.edtpa.aacte.org – This website provides a national perspective about the edTPA
- www.edpta.com – This website is used by student teacher candidates to register for the edTPA and to obtain logistical information about videotaping and preparing the edTPA portfolio.
- Letter to Districts about including edTPA parent video/audio release forms in district registration process.
- District Video Release Form-Student Teachers - English version - This is a parent permission form the school district will use during registration or during the school year.
- Questions about edTPA or seeking a presentation? - (to email us your questions or request a presentation)
Reach out to our approved Wisconsin educator preparation programs and ask for a student teacher, invite them to tell you more about edTPA, or recommend a master teacher from your district as a cooperating teacher. Also, consider a teacher intern through our Wisconsin Improvement Program.
Information for Wisconsin Educator Preparation Programs
Wisconsin colleges, universities, and alternative route to licensure program providers use the edTPA as a required performance assessment within their standards- and performance-based system of educator preparation.
- Handbooks Wisconsin has selected
- Wisconsin Policy decisions
- 2013 edTPA Field Test Summary Report
- edTPA Submission and Reporting Dates
- Wisconsin edTPA contacts at each educator preparation program
- Frequently Asked Questions about Clinical Placements and the edTPA in WI
- Teacher Candidate edTPA Confidentiality Assurance Form – This form is for teacher candidates to complete and provide to their EPP prior to student teaching
- edTPA Orientation Webinar for Program Leaders, Faculty, and PK-12 Partners
- 2014 Administrative Report - provides extensive reliability and validity evidence, as well as candidate performance analysis for more than 18,000 portfolios scored in 2014
Information for Wisconsin Student Teacher Candidates
Each Wisconsin educator preparation program provider assists student teacher candidates to select the appropriate edTPA portfolio handbook. Consult with your program provider for specific details prior to registering for the edTPA. The following information will help you prepare for the edTPA experience:
- www.edtpa.com
- edTPA Submission and Reporting Dates
- Teacher Candidate edTPA Confidentiality Assurance Form – This form is for teacher candidates to complete and provide to their EPP prior to student teaching
- Teacher Candidate Letter Home template - English version – this is a template for a letter to send home to parents during your student teaching experience
Information for Parents and the Public
Student teacher candidates in Wisconsin are assessed on their ability to teach in order to get a Wisconsin teaching license. As a parent, your child may be in a classroom that has a student teacher completing an edTPA performance assessment.
The student teacher will be using a parent permission form to ensure your child can be included in the video clip of the student teacher’s instruction. There are many restrictions upon the viewing and sharing of the video clip, and candidates who violate these restrictions may be denied a teaching license. Here are some resources to help you learn about edTPA:
- aacte.org faq-edtpa – This website provides a national perspective about the edTPA.
- edTPA Facts - This handout provides a general overview of edTPA.
- Using edTPA -This handout provides a deeper look at the edTPA.
- District Video Release Form-Student Teachers - English version – This is an example of a permission slip that you may receive.
What about educators who are prepared outside of Wisconsin?
Educators who complete a teacher preparation program outside of Wisconsin by August 31, 2016, do not need to complete an edTPA for licensure in Wisconsin. Candidates who complete their program after August 31, 2016, and have less than one year of out-of-state teaching experience of at least one-half time employment in a PK-12, private, or charter school (not a tutoring site), must post a passing score on the edTPA.