MADISON, Wis – Representative Joe Sheehan (D-Sheboygan) along with his Democratic colleagues in the Senate and Assembly introduced the “Teaching is a Profession” Bill Package on February 4th. This package includes bills LRB-6172, LRB-4546, LRB-4254, and LRB-4488. These are all aimed at recognizing teaching as a profession on a legislative level. LRB-6172 requires the state to pay student teachers for their hours worked. LRB-4546 adds an elected teacher representative to school boards to be a voice for those the school boards are governing. LRB-4254 is a Grow Your Own bill that encourages high school students, through clubs, dual enrollment programs, etc., to enter the teaching profession. LRB-4488 provides a longevity bonus for teachers who stay in the district for at least five years. These bills will continue to build a strong teacher workforce through a variety of professional support systems. Representative Sheehan made the following statement:
“We can all agree that educators are a critical part of preparing our youth, and society, for a successful future. For years our schools have told us that there is a crisis around hiring and retaining quality educators in our state. This legislative package supports our education workforce by treating our teachers as the professionals they are. I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure our state upholds its responsibility to our children, our educators, and our schools.”
