AB43: Bill Text

AB43,,5530 (a) “CESA region” means the geographic territory within the boundaries of a cooperative educational service agency.

AB43,,5531 (b) “Local educational agency” means a school district or a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x).

AB43,,5532 (c) “Urban school district” means a school district in which the number of pupils enrolled, as defined in s. 121.004 (7), in the previous school year was at least 16,000.

AB43,,5533 (2) Literacy coaching program. The department shall establish a literacy coaching program to improve literacy outcomes in this state. The literacy coaching program established under this subsection shall include all of the following:

AB43,,5534 (a) Literacy coaches who support the implementation of evidence-based literacy instructional practices in grades kindergarten to 12 in local educational agencies in this state. Coaches under this paragraph shall collaborate with local educational agencies to establish goals for literacy outcomes for specific grade levels and literacy areas and provide ongoing support to local educational agencies to meet those goals.

AB43,,5535 (b) Literacy coaches who focus on early literacy instructional transitions by providing in-person trainings for teachers who teach 4-year-old kindergarten, 5-year-old kindergarten, or first grade in local educational agencies. Coaches under this paragraph shall provide in-person trainings to evaluate existing early literacy curricula and goals and to assist local educational agencies to create local, standards-aligned, and developmentally appropriate curricula and instruction for 4-year-old kindergarten to first grade pupils.

AB43,,5536 (c) Trainings for literacy coaches under par. (a) on how to identify evidence-based literacy instructional practices.

AB43,,5537 (d) Trainings for literacy coaches under par. (b) on how to facilitate regional trainings focused on early literacy instructional coherence.

AB43,,5538 (3) Regional literacy coaches. (a) 1. The department shall contract with individuals who demonstrate knowledge and expertise in evidence-based literacy instructional practices and instructional experience in grades 4-year-old kindergarten to 12 to serve as literacy coaches under sub. (2) (a).

AB43,,5539 2. The department shall contract with individuals who demonstrate knowledge and expertise in early literacy instructional practices and instructional experience in grades 4-year-old kindergarten to one to serve as literacy coaches under sub. (2) (b).

AB43,,5540 3. The department shall contract for the total number of literacy coaches required under par. (b).

AB43,,5541 (b) To ensure that literacy coaching services are provided statewide, the department shall assign literacy coaches as follows:

AB43,,5542 1. To each urban school district, one literacy coach under sub. (2) (a) and one literacy coach under sub. (2) (b).

AB43,,5543 2. To each CESA region, as follows:

AB43,,5544 a. If the total number of pupils enrolled in local educational agencies other than urban school districts located in the CESA region in the previous school year was 40,000 or fewer, one literacy coach under sub. (2) (a) and one literacy coach under sub. (2) (b).

AB43,,5545 b. If the total number of pupils enrolled in local educational agencies other than urban school districts located in the CESA region in the previous school year was 40,001 to 80,000, 2 literacy coaches under sub. (2) (a) and 2 literacy coaches under sub. (2) (b).

AB43,,5546 c. If the total number of pupils enrolled in local educational agencies other than urban school districts located in the CESA region in the previous school year was 80,001 to 120,000, 3 literacy coaches under sub. (2) (a) and 3 literacy coaches under sub. (2) (b).

AB43,,5547 d. If the total number of pupils enrolled in local educational agencies other than urban school districts located in the CESA region in the previous school year was greater than 120,000, 4 literacy coaches under sub. (2) (a) and 4 literacy coaches under sub. (2) (b).

AB43,,5548 (4) Participation; local educational agencies. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the department may not require a local educational agency to participate in the program under sub. (2).

AB43,,5549 (b) Each urban school district shall participate in the program under sub. (2).

AB43,,5550 (5) Payments. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (er), the department shall pay to each urban school district and each local educational agency that elects to work with a literacy coach under sub. (2) (a) an annual payment of $7,000.

AB43,,5551 (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (er), the department shall pay to each urban school district and each local educational agency that participates in a regional training led by a literacy coach under sub. (2) (b) an annual payment of $6,000.

AB43,2056 Section 2056. 115.41 of the statutes is renumbered 115.41 (1).

AB43,2057 Section 2057. 115.41 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5554 115.41 (2) From the appropriation account under s. 20.255 (3) (ci), beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the department shall provide payments, in the amount of $9,600 per individual per semester, to prospective teachers who are participating in the program under sub. (1). The department may promulgate rules to implement this subsection.

AB43,2058 Section 2058. 115.421 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5556 115.421 Student teacher stipends. From the appropriation account under s. 20.255 (3) (cs), beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the department shall provide payments, in the amount of $2,500 per individual per semester, to an individual who is completing student teaching as part of a teacher preparatory program approved by the state superintendent under s. 115.28 (7) (a). The department may promulgate rules to implement this section.

AB43,2059 Section 2059. 115.422 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5558 115.422 Grow your own programs; teacher pipeline capacity building. (1) In this section, “grow your own program” means a program to encourage individuals to pursue a career in teaching or to facilitate teacher licensure. “Grow your own programs” include high school clubs that encourage careers in teaching, payment of costs associated with current staff acquiring education needed for licensure, support for career pathways using dual enrollment, support for partnerships focused on attracting or developing new teachers, or incentives for paraprofessionals to gain licensure.

AB43,,5559 (2) Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ch), the department shall award grants to a school district or the operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) to reimburse the school district or charter school for costs associated with grow your own programs.

AB43,,5560 (3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section, including criteria for awarding a grant.

AB43,2060 Section 2060. 115.424 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5562 115.424 Cooperating teacher stipends. From the appropriation account under s. 20.255 (3) (ct), beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the department shall provide payments, in the amount of $1,000 per teacher per semester, to a cooperating teacher who is overseeing an individual who is completing student teaching. The department may promulgate rules to implement this section.

AB43,2061 Section 2061. 115.436 (3) (am) of the statutes is renumbered 115.436 (3) (am) 1. and amended to read:

AB43,,5564 115.436 (3) (am) 1. Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, from From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ae), the department shall, subject to par. (b), pay to each school district that received aid under this section par. (a) in the previous school year but does not satisfy the requirement under sub. (2) (a) or (2m) (a) is ineligible to receive aid under pars. (a) and (c) in the current school year 50 percent of the amount received by the school district under par. (a) in the previous school year.

AB43,2062 Section 2062. 115.436 (3) (am) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5566 115.436 (3) (am) 2. From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ae), the department shall, subject to par. (b), pay to each school district that received aid under par. (c) in the previous school year but is ineligible to receive aid under pars. (a) and (c) in the current school year 50 percent of the amount received by the school district under par. (c) in the previous school year.

AB43,2063 Section 2063. 115.437 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5568 115.437 (1) In this section, “number of pupils enrolled” has the meaning given in s. 121.90 (1) (intro.) and includes 40 percent of the summer enrollment. “Number of pupils enrolled” does not include pupils described in the exception under s. 121.90 (1) (f) (g).

AB43,2064 Section 2064. 115.437 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 115.437 (2) and amended to read:

AB43,,5570 115.437 (2) Except as provided in par. (b), annually Annually, on the 4th Monday of March, the department shall pay to each school district an amount equal to the average of the number of pupils enrolled in the school district in the current and 2 preceding school years multiplied by $75 in the 2013-14 school year, by $150 in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years, by $250 in the 2016-17 school year, by $450 in the 2017-18 school year, by $654 $766 in the 2018-19 2023-24 school year, and by $679 and $63 in $811 in the 2024-25 school year and each school year thereafter. The department shall make the payments from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (aq).

AB43,2065 Section 2065. 115.437 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2066 Section 2066. 115.449 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5573 115.449 Out-of-school-time programs; grants. (1) In this section, “out-of-school-time program” means any of the following:

AB43,,5574 (a) A program that provides programming, activities, learning support, and supervision for pupils in grades kindergarten to 12 before school, after school, or both before and after school.

AB43,,5575 (b) A day camp licensed by the department of children and families.

AB43,,5576 (c) A recreational or educational camp licensed by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or a local health department under s. 97.67.

AB43,,5577 (d) A program that the department determines will help program participants make progress in the following goals as appropriate for age groups served:

AB43,,5578 1. Developing a sense of connection to school and their place in it.

AB43,,5579 2. Improving academic outcomes, including homework completion, grades, and study behaviors.

AB43,,5580 3. College graduation and career readiness.

AB43,,5581 4. Reducing rates of participation in risky behaviors through access to a safe and welcoming environment during out-of-school-time hours.

AB43,,5582 5. Improving social and emotional skills and accessing opportunities to demonstrate leadership.

AB43,,5583 6. Accessing experiences and opportunities that contribute to the development of the whole child, such as civic engagement and community service.

AB43,,5584 (2) Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dk), the department shall award grants to school boards, charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), and organizations to support high-quality after-school programs and other out-of-school-time programs that provide services to school-age children.

AB43,,5585 (3) The department may promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

AB43,2067 Section 2067. 115.76 (12) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5587 115.76 (12) (a) 1. A biological natural parent.

AB43,2068 Section 2068. 115.76 (12) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2069 Section 2069. 115.76 (12) (a) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2070 Section 2070. 115.76 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5591 115.76 (13) “Person acting as a parent of a child” means a relative of the child or a private individual allowed to act as a parent of a child by the child’s biological natural or adoptive parents or guardian, and includes the child’s grandparent, neighbor, friend or private individual caring for the child with the explicit or tacit approval of the child’s biological natural or adoptive parents or guardian. “Person acting as a parent of a child” does not include any person that receives public funds to care for the child if such funds exceed the cost of such care.

AB43,2071 Section 2071. 115.77 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5593 115.77 (1) In sub. (1m) (a) to (d), except as provided in s. 118.51 (12) (b), if a child with a disability is attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.50, 118.51, or 121.84 (1) (a) or (4), “local educational agency” means the school district that the child is attending.

AB43,2072 Section 2072. 115.79 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5595 115.79 (1) (b) An educational placement is provided to implement a child’s individualized education program. Except as provided in s. 118.51 (12) (b), if a child with a disability is attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.50, 118.51, or 121.84 (1) (a) or (4), the school board of the school district that the child is attending shall provide an educational placement for the child and shall pay tuition charges instead of the school district in which the child resides if required by the placement.

AB43,2073 Section 2073. 115.7915 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 115.7915 (1) (ah).

AB43,2074 Section 2074. 115.7915 (1) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5598 115.7915 (1) (ad) “Accrediting entity” has the meaning given in s. 118.60 (1) (ab).

AB43,2075 Section 2075. 115.7915 (1) (ap) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5600 115.7915 (1) (ap) “Preaccreditation” has the meaning given in s. 118.60 (1) (c).

AB43,2076 Section 2076. 115.7915 (1) (at) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5602 115.7915 (1) (at) “Preaccrediting entity” has the meaning given in s. 118.60 (1) (cm).

AB43,2077 Section 2077. 115.7915 (1) (aw) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5604 115.7915 (1) (aw) “Program cap” means the total number of children who attended eligible schools under the scholarship program under this section in the 2023-24 school year.

AB43,2078 Section 2078. 115.7915 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5606 115.7915 (2) Scholarship requirements. (intro.) Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, the department shall, subject to sub. (2m), provide to a child with a disability a scholarship under sub. (4m) (a) to attend an eligible school if all of the following apply:

AB43,2079 Section 2079. 115.7915 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,,5608 115.7915 (2) (b) The governing body of the eligible school notified the department of its intent to participate in the program under this section as provided under sub. (3) (a).

AB43,2080 Section 2080. 115.7915 (2) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5610 115.7915 (2) (c) (intro.) Any of the following applies to the eligible school:

AB43,2081 Section 2081. 115.7915 (2) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. a. and amended to read:

AB43,,5612 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. a. The For the 2023-24 school year, the eligible school has been either is approved as a private school by the state superintendent under s. 118.165 (2) or is accredited by Cognia, Inc., Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, Wisconsin Association of Christian Schools, National Lutheran School Accreditation, Christian Schools International, Association of Christian Schools International, the diocese or archdiocese within which the eligible school is located, or any other organization recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation, as of the an accrediting entity on August 1 preceding the school term for which the scholarship is awarded, 2023.

AB43,2082 Section 2082. 115.7915 (2) (c) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5614 115.7915 (2) (c) 1. The eligible school participates in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 for the school year for which the scholarship is awarded.

AB43,2083 Section 2083. 115.7915 (2) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5616 115.7915 (2) (c) 2. The eligible school is accredited by an accrediting entity by August 1 of the school year for which the scholarship is awarded.

AB43,2084 Section 2084. 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,,5618 115.7915 (2) (c) 3. (intro.) If the eligible school participates in the program under this section in the 2023-24 school year, all of the following apply to the eligible school: