38. Exploring Emergency Educator Licenses

When a school district can’t find a licensed educator, they may hire an unlicensed person with certain conditions. This is commonly referred to as an emergency license, and they also can be used by counselors, social workers, librarians and school administrators. The number of these licenses has nearly tripled in the past decade, prompting the Wisconsin Policy Forum to investigate. This episode features a conversation with the researcher who looked into this issue. These licenses aren't necessarily a problem, but they could signal deeper issues. We talk about the kinds of questions school board members should ask about emergency licenses. In addition, a new group of Wisconsin school board members sill soon take office. The WASB hosts New School Board Member Gatherings in April, and we talk to Member Services Director Ben Niehaus about why these complimentary meetings are worthwhile for new members. Learn more about these meetings at the event webpage.