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This bill makes certain additional school districts eligible for sparsity aid.
Under current law, a school district is eligible for sparsity aid in the amount of $400
per pupil if the school district's membership in the previous school year did not
exceed 745 pupils and if the membership divided by the school district's area in
square miles is less than ten. Also, under current law, a school district that was
eligible to receive sparsity aid in the previous school year but that is not eligible to
receive sparsity aid in the current school year because the school district's
membership exceeded 745 pupils may receive up to 50 percent of the aid the school
district received in the previous school year.
Under this bill, beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a school district with the
same density of pupils per square mile and a membership that exceeds 745 pupils
is eligible for sparsity aid in the amount of $100 per pupil. The bill also provides that,
beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a school district that is ineligible for sparsity
aid because it no longer satisfies the pupils per square mile requirement may receive
50 percent of the aid the school district received in the previous school year.
The bill provides an additional $10,100,000 for sparsity aid in the 2020-21
school year.

School mental health programs; aid
Under current law, DPI must make payments to school districts, independent
charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program that
increased the amount they spent to employ, hire, or retain social workers during the
two previous school years (eligible local education agency). Under current law, DPI
first pays each eligible local education agency 50 percent of the amount by which the
eligible local education agency increased its expenditures for social workers over the
previous two school years. If, after making these payments, there is money
remaining in the appropriation for this aid program, DPI makes additional
payments to eligible local education agencies. The amount of these additional
payments is determined based on the amount remaining in the appropriation and
the amount spent by eligible local education agencies to employ, hire, and retain
social workers during the previous school year.
This bill expands eligibility for the first round of payments under this aid
program to include increased spending on school counselors, school social workers,
school psychologists, or school nurses, or any combination thereof (pupil services
professionals), during the previous two school years. Additionally, the bill expands
eligibility for the second round of payments to any school district, independent
charter school, or private school participating in a parental choice program that
made expenditures to employ, hire, or retain pupil services professionals during the
previous school year. In other words, for the second round of payments, the bill
eliminates the requirement that a school district, independent charter school, or
private school increased its expenditures on pupil services professionals.
The bill provides an additional $19,000,000 for aid for school mental health
programs in the 2020-21 school year.
Summer school grants; urban school districts
Under current law, DPI must award a grant to a first class city school district
(currently, only Milwaukee Public Schools) for the purpose of developing,
redesigning, or implementing a summer school program. This bill expands the
summer school grant program to include additional urban school districts. Under
the bill, an urban school district is a school district that had a membership of at least
18,000 pupils in the previous school year. The bill requires DPI to annually allocate
$2,000,000 to MPS and to allocate the remaining amount appropriated equally to the
other urban school districts. The bill provides an additional $3,600,000 for summer
school grants in the 2020-21 school year.
Tribal language revitalization grants
Under current law, a school board, CESA, or Head Start agency may apply to
DPI for a grant to support instruction in one or more American Indian languages.
Under this bill, beginning in the 2020-21 school year, an applicant also may apply
to DPI for a two-year grant to develop, implement, and provide American Indian
heritage, language, and cultural instruction programs for children participating in
Head Start programs and for pupils in grades kindergarten to two.
The bill also authorizes DPI to contract with the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal
Council, Inc., to implement and administer those grant programs and provides an

additional $262,200 for tribal language revitalization grants in the 2020-21 school
year.
WRS annuities for teachers returning to work
Under current law, if a WRS annuitant, or a disability annuitant who has
attained his or her normal retirement date, is appointed to a position with a
WRS-participating employer, or provides employee services to a WRS-participating
employer in which he or she is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is
considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds, the
annuity must be suspended and no annuity payment is payable until after the
participant again terminates covered employment.
This bill creates an exception to this requirement for an annuitant who retired
from employment as a teacher with a school district who is subsequently rehired or
provides employee services as a teacher after retirement if 1) the participating
employer is a school district; 2) at least 30 days have elapsed from the date the person
left covered employment with a school district; 3) at the time the person initially
retires from a school district, the person does not have an agreement with any school
district to return to employment; and 4) the person elects to not become a
participating employee at the time the person is rehired as a teacher by a school
district or enters into a contract to provide employee services as a teacher after
retirement. In other words, the bill allows a teacher annuitant who retired from a
school district to return to work as a teacher for a school district that is a
participating employer and elect to not become a participating employee for purposes
of the WRS, and instead continue to receive his or her annuity.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB821-SSA1,1 1Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
SB821-SSA1,2 3Section 2. 20.255 (1) (kt) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821-SSA1,6,8
120.255 (1) (kt) Tribal language revitalization grant program operations. The
2amounts in the schedule to pay operational and administrative costs incurred by the
3Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., to implement and administer the tribal
4language revitalization grant programs under s. 115.745. All moneys transferred
5from the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (8) (hm) 5m. shall be credited to this
6appropriation account. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (a), the unencumbered
7balance on June 30 of each year shall revert to the appropriation account under s.
820.505 (8) (hm).
SB821-SSA1,3 9Section 3 . 20.255 (2) (ac) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,6,1510 20.255 (2) (ac) General equalization aids. The amounts in the schedule A sum
11sufficient
for the payment of educational aids under ss. 121.08, 121.09, 121.095,
12121.105, and 121.137 and subch. VI of ch. 121 equal to the amount determined by the
13joint committee on finance under s. 121.15 (3m) (c) in the 2020-21 fiscal year and
14biennially thereafter, and equal to the amount determined by law in the 2021-22
15fiscal year and biennially thereafter
.
SB821-SSA1,4 16Section 4. 20.255 (2) (bd) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,6,1817 20.255 (2) (bd) Additional special education aid. The amounts in the schedule
18for
A sum sufficient for the payment of aid under s. 115.881.
SB821-SSA1,5 19Section 5. 20.255 (2) (da) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,6,2220 20.255 (2) (da) Aid for school mental health programs. The amounts in the
21schedule for aid to school districts and independent charter schools employ, hire, and
22retain pupil services professionals
under s. 115.364.
SB821-SSA1,6 23Section 6. 20.255 (2) (dj) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,7,3
120.255 (2) (dj) Summer school programs; grants; urban school districts . The
2amounts in the schedule for grants to school boards districts for summer school grant
3programs under s. 115.447.
SB821-SSA1,7 4Section 7. 20.505 (8) (hm) 5m. of the statutes is created to read:
SB821-SSA1,7,65 20.505 (8) (hm) 5m. The amount transferred to s. 20.255 (1) (kt) shall be the
6amount in the schedule under s. 20.255 (1) (kt).
SB821-SSA1,8 7Section 8 . 40.22 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,7,128 40.22 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2) and s. 40.26 (6), each employee
9currently in the service of, and receiving earnings from, a state agency or other
10participating employer shall be included within the provisions of the Wisconsin
11retirement system as a participating employee of that state agency or participating
12employer.
SB821-SSA1,9 13Section 9 . 40.22 (2m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,7,2014 40.22 (2m) (intro.) An Except as otherwise provided in s. 40.26 (6), an employee
15who was a participating employee before July 1, 2011, who is not expected to work
16at least one-third of what is considered full-time employment by the department,
17as determined by rule, and who is not otherwise excluded under sub. (2) from
18becoming a participating employee shall become a participating employee if he or she
19is subsequently employed by the state agency or other participating employer for
20either of the following periods:
SB821-SSA1,10 21Section 10 . 40.22 (2r) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,8,322 40.22 (2r) (intro.) An Except as otherwise provided in s. 40.26 (6), an employee
23who was not a participating employee before July 1, 2011, who is not expected to work
24at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the department,
25as determined by rule, and who is not otherwise excluded under sub. (2) from

1becoming a participating employee shall become a participating employee if he or she
2is subsequently employed by the state agency or other participating employer for
3either of the following periods:
SB821-SSA1,11 4Section 11 . 40.22 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,8,75 40.22 (3) (intro.) A Except as otherwise provided in s. 40.26 (6), a person who
6qualifies as a participating employee shall be included within, and shall be subject
7to, the Wisconsin retirement system effective on one of the following dates:
SB821-SSA1,12 8Section 12 . 40.26 (6) (intro.), (a) and (b) of the statutes are created to read:
SB821-SSA1,8,149 40.26 (6) (intro.) Subsections (1) to (5) do not apply to a participant who applies
10for an annuity or lump sum payment during the period in which at least 30 days have
11elapsed between the participant's termination of employment as a teacher with a
12school district that is a participating employer, and becoming a teacher as an
13employee or contractor providing employee services as a teacher with any school
14district that is a participating employer if all of the following conditions are met:
SB821-SSA1,8,1815 (a) At the time the participant terminates his or her employment as a teacher
16with a school district, the participant does not have an agreement with any school
17district that is a participating employer to return to employment as a teacher or enter
18into a contract to provide employee services as a teacher for the school district.
SB821-SSA1,8,2019 (b) The participant elects on a form provided by the department to not become
20a participating employee.
SB821-SSA1,13 21Section 13. 115.364 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,9,222 115.364 (1) (a) “Eligible independent charter school” is a school under contract
23with one of the entities under s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. or with the director under s. 118.40
24(2x) that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ,
25hire, or retain social workers pupil services professionals over the amount it

1expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to
2employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services professionals.
SB821-SSA1,14 3Section 14. 115.364 (1) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,9,94 115.364 (1) (am) “Eligible private school” means a private school participating
5in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 that increased the amount it
6expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil
7services professionals
over the amount it expended in the school year immediately
8preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil
9services professionals
.
SB821-SSA1,15 10Section 15. 115.364 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,9,1511 115.364 (1) (b) “Eligible school district” is a school district that increased the
12amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social
13workers
pupil services professionals over the amount it expended in the school year
14immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social
15workers
pupil services professionals.
SB821-SSA1,16 16Section 16. 115.364 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821-SSA1,9,1817 115.364 (1) (c) “Pupil services professional" means a school counselor, school
18social worker, school psychologist, or school nurse.
SB821-SSA1,17 19Section 17. 115.364 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,9,2520 115.364 (2) (a) 1. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2)
21(da), pay to an eligible school district an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount
22by which the school district increased its expenditures in the preceding school year
23to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services professionals over the amount
24it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to
25employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services professionals.
SB821-SSA1,18
1Section 18. 115.364 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,10,82 115.364 (2) (a) 2. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2)
3(da), pay to an eligible independent charter school an amount equal to 50 percent of
4the amount by which the independent charter school increased its expenditures in
5the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services
6professionals
over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding
7the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services
8professionals
.
SB821-SSA1,19 9Section 19. 115.364 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,10,1510 115.364 (2) (a) 3. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2)
11(da), pay to an eligible private school an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount
12by which the private school increased it expenditures in the preceding school year
13to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services professionals over the amount
14it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to
15employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services professionals.
SB821-SSA1,20 16Section 20. 115.364 (2) (b) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,11,217 115.364 (2) (b) 2. a. Subject to subd. 2. b., if, after making the payments
18required under par. (a), moneys remain in the appropriation account under s. 20.255
19(2) (da), the state superintendent shall reimburse eligible school districts, private
20schools participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23, and
21independent charter schools under contract with one of the entities under s. 118.40
22(2r) (b) 1. or with the director under s. 118.40 (2x)
for an amount equal to
23expenditures made by the school district, private school, or independent charter
24school in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil
25services professionals
less the any amount of increased expenditures for which the

1school district, private school, or independent charter school was reimbursed under
2par. (a).
SB821-SSA1,21 3Section 21. 115.364 (2) (b) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,11,74 115.364 (2) (b) 2. b. If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da) in any fiscal
5year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under subd. 2. a., the state
6superintendent shall prorate state aid payments among the school districts, private
7schools, and independent charter schools eligible for the aid.
SB821-SSA1,22 8Section 22 . 115.436 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,11,129 115.436 (2) (intro.) A school district is eligible for sparsity aid under this section
10if it the school district's membership in the previous school year divided by the school
11district's area in square miles is less than 10 and the school district
satisfies all one
12of the following criteria:
SB821-SSA1,23 13Section 23 . 115.436 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821-SSA1,11,1514 115.436 (2) (b) The school district's membership in the previous school year was
15greater than 745.
SB821-SSA1,24 16Section 24 . 115.436 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
SB821-SSA1,25 17Section 25. 115.436 (3) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
SB821-SSA1,26 18Section 26 . 115.436 (3) (ac) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821-SSA1,11,2119 115.436 (3) (ac) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, from the appropriation
20under s. 20.255 (2) (ae) and subject to par. (b), the department shall pay all of the
21following:
SB821-SSA1,11,2322 1. To each school district eligible for sparsity aid under sub. (2) (a), $400
23multiplied by the school district's membership in the previous school year.
SB821-SSA1,11,2524 2. To each school district eligible for sparsity aid under sub. (2) (b), $100
25multiplied by the school district's membership in the previous school year.
SB821-SSA1,27
1Section 27. 115.436 (3) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821-SSA1,12,72 115.436 (3) (ag) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, from the appropriation
3under s. 20.255 (2) (ae), the department shall, subject to par. (b), pay to each school
4district that received aid under this section in the previous school year but does not
5satisfy the number of pupils per square mile requirement under sub. (2) in the
6current school year 50 percent of the amount the school district received under par.
7(a) or (ac) in the previous school year.
SB821-SSA1,28 8Section 28. 115.436 (3) (am) of the statutes is repealed.
SB821-SSA1,29 9Section 29 . 115.436 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,12,1310 115.436 (3) (b) If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ae) in any fiscal year
11is insufficient to pay the full amount under pars. (a), (am) (ac), (ag), and (ap), the
12department shall prorate the payments among the school districts entitled to aid
13under this subsection.
SB821-SSA1,30 14Section 30. 115.447 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,12,15 15115.447 (title) Summer school programs; grants; urban school districts .
SB821-SSA1,31 16Section 31. 115.447 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,12,1917 115.447 (1) In this section, “eligible “urban school district” means a 1st class
18city
school district that had a membership, as calculated under s. 121.07 (2), of at
19least 18,000 pupils in the previous school year
.
SB821-SSA1,32 20Section 32 . 115.447 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,12,2321 115.447 (2) (intro.) Beginning in the 2018-19 school year and in each year
22thereafter, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dj), the department shall
23award grants to eligible urban school districts to do any of the following:
SB821-SSA1,33 24Section 33 . 115.447 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821-SSA1,13,5
1115.447 (2m) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year and in each school year
2thereafter, the department shall allocate in each school year $2,000,000 for grants
3to an urban school district that is a 1st class city school district and shall allocate the
4remaining amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (dj) equally among the urban
5school districts that are not 1st class city school districts.
SB821-SSA1,34 6Section 34 . 115.745 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 115.745 (1) (intro.) and
7amended to read:
SB821-SSA1,13,118 115.745 (1) (intro.) A school board, a cooperative educational service agency,
9or an agency determined by the state superintendent to be eligible for designation
10under 42 USC 9836 as a head start agency, in conjunction with a tribal education
11authority, may apply to the department for a any of the following grants:
SB821-SSA1,13,13 12(a) A grant for the purpose of supporting innovative, effective instruction in one
13or more American Indian languages.
SB821-SSA1,35 14Section 35 . 115.745 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB821-SSA1,13,1815 115.745 (1) (b) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a 2-year grant to develop,
16implement, and provide American Indian heritage, language, and cultural
17instruction programs for children participating in head start programs and for
18pupils in grades kindergarten to 2.
SB821-SSA1,36 19Section 36. 115.745 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 115.745 (2) (a).
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