DOA:......Kretschmann, BB0497 - Aid for Career and Technical Education
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
Aid for career and technical education
This bill creates a categorical aid for school districts and independent charter schools for the purpose of increasing high school career and technical education pathways in public high schools. The bill defines a “high school career and technical education pathway” as a series of career and technical education opportunities that prepare a pupil for a postsecondary option in a specific career area. Under the bill, DPI must pay each school district and independent charter school a proportional amount of the amount appropriated for this purpose. The proportional amount is based on the number of pupils in the high school grades in that school district or independent charter school in the previous school year divided by the total number of pupils in the high school grades in all school districts and independent charter schools in the previous school year.
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. 20.255 (2) (dk) of the statutes is created to read:
20.255 (2) (dk) Aid for career and technical education. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for payments to school boards and independent charter schools under s. 115.433.
****Note: This Section involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
Section 2. 115.433 of the statutes is created to read:
115.433 Aid for career and technical education. (1) In this section, “high school career and technical education pathway” means a series of career and technical education opportunities that prepare a pupil for a postsecondary option in a specific career area.
(2) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dk), the state superintendent shall provide payments to school boards and operators of a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) for the purpose of increasing high school career and technical education pathways in public schools. Aid payments under this subsection may be used for expenses related to creating career and technical education courses and high school career and technical education pathways and for expanding access to existing career and technical education courses and high school career and technical education pathways. The department shall pay to a school board or operator of a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) an amount calculated as follows:
(a) Determine the total number of pupils in the high school grades enrolled in school districts and charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) in the previous school year.
(b) Determine the number of pupils in the high school grades enrolled in the school district or charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) in the previous school year.
(c) Divide the amount determined under par. (b) by the amount determined under par. (a).
(d) Multiply the quotient calculated under par. (c) by one of the following amounts, whichever is applicable:
1. In the 2025-26 school year, $5,000,000.
2. In the 2026-27 school year, the unencumbered balance of the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dk) at the close of the 2025-26 fiscal year.
3. In the 2027-28 school year, and each school year thereafter, one-half of the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (dk) for the applicable fiscal biennium.
(3) The department may promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.
(end)
