Teachers and Licensure
All teachers working with Title I students must be appropriately licensed for the grade level and content area at the time of hire.
Additionally, all teachers in a Title I Schoolwide school must be appropriately licensed for the grade level and content area they are assigned to teach.
A teacher holding a valid 1-year or 3-year license with stipulations in the appropriate grade level and content area are considered appropriately licensed for Title I purposes.
DPI’s What Can I Teach with My License webpage contains more information about teaching licenses in general.
Substitute Teachers
Substitute teachers supporting Title I programs in Wisconsin must meet both Title I qualification rules and state substitute licensure rules.
A substitute teacher must be appropriately licensed for the specific Title I assignment if they teach or work with students for 45 or more consecutive days.
DPI’s What Can I Teach with My License webpage contains more details about substitute teaching.
Multi-level Systems of Support Licensure Guidance including Reading Teacher Licenses
When implementing multi-level systems of support, LEAs must ensure that staff providing instruction, interventions, or enrichment are appropriately licensed for the grade level and subject area they are teaching. Teachers providing reading interventions for more than 25 percent of their time must hold a Wisconsin reading teacher license; paraprofessionals may provide reading intervention support only under the supervision of appropriately licensed staff.
Overview of Paraprofessional Requirements
For full information, visit the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title I Paraprofessionals Hiring Requirements page.
Qualifications
In order to be qualified, a paraprofessional must:
- hold a high school diploma and
- have completed two years of post-secondary education (48 credits) or hold an associate's degree or
- have met a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness) by taking and passing one of the Hiring Requirements Options.
Targeted Assistance Schools
All paraprofessionals who work with Title I students in a Title I Targeted Assistance program must meet the above qualifications at the time of hire regardless of the funding source.
Schoolwide Schools
All paraprofessionals in a Title I Schoolwide school must meet the above qualifications, regardless of funding source. This includes special education paraprofessionals working in the building.
For full information, visit the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title I Paraprofessionals Hiring Requirements page.
Educator Rewards and Incentives
Rewards and incentives can be valuable tools in the effort to address resource inequities and make sure students in schools with the highest needs are matched with high performing educators who have the experience and skills to meet those needs.