AB859: Bill Text

LRB-5381/1

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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 859

January 18, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Thiesfeldt, Wittke and L. Myers, cosponsored by Senators Darling and Bernier. Referred to Committee on State Affairs.

AB859,1,3 An Act to affect 2019 Wisconsin Act 170, section 4 (1) (dm); relating to: administration of the online early learning pilot program in the 2022-23 school year.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

2019 Wisconsin Act 170 requires the Department of Public Instruction to award a three-year contract to a service provider to administer an online early learning pilot program to low-income children who reside in certain school districts. Act 170 provides that the service provider must administer the program during the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 school years and specifies that the service provider must administer the program in the following school districts:

1. A first class city school district (currently, only Milwaukee Public Schools).

2. The two urban school districts that have the largest reading achievement gaps.

3. Three rural school districts selected by DPI that have reading achievement gaps.

This bill provides that, in the 2022-23 school year, the service provider may, after giving first preference to low-income children who reside in the school districts specified in Act 170, extend administration of the program to low-income children who reside in school districts other than those specified in Act 170. The bill provides that, if the contract DPI awarded to the service provider contains provisions inconsistent with the bill, then the service provider may extend administration of the program only if DPI consents.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB859,1 Section 1. 2019 Wisconsin Act 170, section 4 (1) (dm) is created to read:

AB859,2,11 [2019 Wisconsin Act 170] Section 4 (1) (dm) 1. In the 3rd school year of the contract under par. (b), the service provider awarded the contract under par. (b) may, after giving 1st preference to any eligible child who applies to participate in the online early learning program, extend administration of the online early learning program to children who satisfy the income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) and who reside in school districts other than a school district described in par. (d). The service provider may use any remaining amounts paid under par. (c) 1. or provided under par. (c) 2. to extend administration of the online early learning program as provided under this subdivision.

AB859,2,15 2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., if the contract under par. (b) contains provisions inconsistent with subd. 1., the service provider awarded the contract under par. (b) may extend administration of the online early learning program as provided under subd. 1. only if the department consents.

AB859,3,2 3. If the service provider awarded the contract under par. (b) elects to extend administration of the online early learning program to additional children as provided under subd. 1., the service provider shall report to the department under pars. (e) and (em) 1. the same information with respect to the additional children as the service provider is required to report under pars. (e) and (em) 1. with respect to eligible children.

AB859,3,3 (End)