CR 16-016 Rule Text

PROPOSED ORDER OF THE

STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

ADOPTING PERMANENT RULES

The scope statement for this rule, SS 139-15, was published in Register No. 720A3 on December 21, 2015, and approved by State Superintendent Tony Evers on January 5, 2016. Pursuant to Coyne v. Walker, the Department of Public Instruction is not required to obtain the Governor’s approval for this rule. Coyne v. Walker, 2016 WI 38.

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction hereby proposes to repeal s. PI 8.01 (2) (L) 1. (Note) and ch. PI 8 Appendix A; to amend s. PI 8.01 (2) (f) 2.; and to create s. PI 8.001 (6g), relating to standards for school district instructional design and programs.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

ANALYSIS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

Statute interpreted: s. 121.02 (1) (f), Stats.

Statutory authority: s. 121.02 (5), Stats.

Explanation of agency authority:

Under s. 121.02 (5), Stats., the state superintendent shall promulgate rules to implement and administer the section related to school district standards, including hours of instruction. As such, PI 8 is amended to include a definition of innovative instructional methods, as used by school districts, in order to count toward hours of direct instruction under s. 121.02 (1) (f), Stats.

Related statute or rule: N/A

Plain language analysis:

The purpose of this rule change is to acknowledge innovative instructional methods used by school districts to provide direct instruction. The proposed rule provides a definition of innovative instructional design as an instructional program aligned to school district standards and used to improve student academic achievement through instruction offered virtually, in an alternative setting, or outside of the normal school day. Additionally, the proposed rule repeals the recommended minimum allocations of instructional time contained in Appendix A. By amending this rule, the proposed rule allows that hours of direct instruction provided through innovative instructional models count toward the required hours of direct instruction under s. 121.02 (1) (f), Stats.

Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulations: N/A

Comparison with rules in adjacent states: N/A

Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies:

Over time, school districts have developed new and innovative methods of direct instruction. The proposed rule is needed to address these practices and update how school districts calculate hours of instruction using innovative instructional methods. Without this change, PI 8 will be inconsistent with current school district practice.

Anticipated costs incurred by private sector: N/A

Effect on small business:

The proposed rules will have no significant economic impact on small businesses, as defined in s. 227.114 (1) (a), Stats.

Agency contact person: (including email and telephone)

Carl Bryan

Budget and Policy Analyst

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

[e-mail]

[phone]

Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:

Comments should be submitted to Carl Bryan using the contact information above. Comments must be submitted no later than 15 days after publication of the Notice of Submittal of Rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse in the Administrative Register. The Department will publish a hearing notice in the Administrative Register which will provide information on the deadline for the submission of comments.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

SECTION 1. PI 8.001 (6g) is created to read:

PI 8.001 (6g) “Innovative Instructional Design” means an instructional program aligned to school district standards and used to improve student academic achievement through instruction offered outside of the normal school day, virtually, or in an alternative setting.