DOA:......Kretschmann, BB0258 - Community-Based 4K Approach
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
EDUCATION
Primary and secondary education
Community-based 4k approach
Under current law, a school board may, but is not required to, provide four-year-old kindergarten (4k). Currently, many school boards provide 4k using a public-private partnership approach, often referred to as the community approach. The community approach includes contracts between school boards and community-based providers that define the roles and responsibilities of the parties related to the operation of a 4k program.
Under this bill, DPI must, in consultation with DCF, develop a model community-based approach 4k contract by January 1, 2026. DPI must also, in consultation with DCF, establish by rule a standard per pupil payment to be paid to the community-based provider under the model contract.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 115.445 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
115.445 (title) Four-year-old kindergarten; grants and model community-based approach 4k contract.
Section 2. 115.445 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 115.445 (1m).
Section 3. 115.445 (1c) of the statutes is created to read:
115.445 (1c) In this section:
(a) “Community-based approach contract” means a written document that defines the roles and responsibilities of a school board and a community-based provider related to the operation of a 4-year-old kindergarten program.
(b) “Community-based provider” means a head start agency designated under 42 USC 9836, a family child care center, as defined in s. 49.136 (1) (j), or a group child care center, as defined in s. 49.136 (1) (k). Section 4. 115.445 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
115.445 (2m) (a) By no later than January 1, 2026, and in consultation with the department of children and families, the department shall develop a model community-based approach contract.
(b) In consultation with the department of children and families, the department shall, by rule, establish the standard per pupil payment amount a school board pays to a community-based provider under the model community-based approach contract developed under par. (a).
Section 9134. Nonstatutory provisions; Public Instruction.
(1) Four-year-old kindergarten contracts; emergency rules. The department of public instruction may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 to implement s. 115.445 (2m). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b), and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.
(end)
