Joint Finance Committee Passes State Budget

The Joint Finance Committee officially voted 12-4 to pass the state budget early this morning. The budget bill now goes to the legislature for approval. It must be approved by both the Senate and Assembly before it can be signed into law by the Governor.

In its final, wrap-up motion the Joint Finance Committee voted to modify some of the changes to teacher licensing law that they had previously inserted into the budget in May. 

The wrap-up motion approved by the Committee deletes the provision that would have required DPI to issue a teaching license to teach English, social studies, math, or science to any individual with a bachelor's degree, if the school board, operator or governing body of the school in which the individual intends to teach determines that the individual is proficient in the subject they intend to teach and has relevant experience. It also deletes a similar provision related to issuing licenses other than English, social studies, science and math to individuals with relevant experience. 

However, the Committee maintained the provisions related to technical education subjects. This would require DPI to grant an initial teaching license to teach a technical education subject, including technology education and any technology related occupation, to an individual who scores at least 100 points based on a point system, with at least 25 points based on the individual’s experience in a technical field and at least 25 points based on a pedagogical experience, and agrees to complete a curriculum determined by the school board of the district in which the individual would teach. An individual granted a teaching license under this provision would not be required to possess a bachelor’s degree.  A license granted under this provision would be good for three years.

The Committee also voted to create a new provision that would require DPI to grant an initial teaching license to any individual who was granted a teaching license by another state and completed at least one year of teaching experience in that state. 


Other education changes approved in the final wrap-up motion:

• Funding for the Student Information System is reduced by $2.3 million
• Modifying current law to allow two or more school districts or local units of government that together have at least 100 employees to provide health insurance benefits on a self-insured basis.