2019 Assembly BILL 268

June 7, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Rohrkaste, Thiesfeldt, Ballweg, Kulp, Kurtz, Magnafici, Novak, Oldenburg, Shankland, Skowronski, Snyder, Stafsholt, Steffen, Tusler and VanderMeer, cosponsored by Senators Darling, Roth, Testin and Wanggaard. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB268,1,3 An Act to create 20.255 (3) (dk) and 115.449 of the statutes; relating to: creating a grant program to support after-school and out-of-school-time programs, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates a grant program under which the Department of Public Instruction may award grants to school boards, operators of independent charter schools, governing bodies of private schools, or nonprofit organizations that meet certain criteria to support high-quality after-school programs and out-of-school-time programs. DPI must award grants in amounts of not less than $50,000 and not more than $100,000, and each grant recipient must provide matching funds in an amount equal to at least 25 percent of the amount of the grant awarded. Among other requirements, a grant recipient must provide consistent and reliable after-school programming for at least 2.5 hours each school day. In addition, the grant recipient may provide other out-of-school-time programs, including summer programs.

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:

AB268,1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB268,2 Section 2. 20.255 (3) (dk) of the statutes is created to read:

AB268,2,6 20.255 (3) (dk) After-school and out-of-school-time programs; grants. The amounts in the schedule for after-school and out-of-school-time program grants under s. 115.449.

AB268,3 Section 3. 115.449 of the statutes is created to read:

AB268,2,12 115.449 After-school and out-of-school-time programs; grants. (1) Grant program. The department shall establish and administer a program to award grants to support high-quality after-school programs and out-of-school-time programs. A recipient of a grant under this section may use the grant moneys to provide a broad range of activities to pupils, including any of the following:

AB268,2,15 (a) Educational activities in mathematics, science, arts, music, entrepreneurship, telecommunications, technology, drug and violence prevention, counseling, or character education.

AB268,2,17 (b) Activities for limited-English proficient pupils, as defined in s. 115.955 (7), that emphasize language skills and academic achievement.

AB268,2,18 (c) Remedial education or academic enrichment learning activities.

AB268,3,1 (d) Activities that promote parental involvement and family literacy.

AB268,3,3 (e) Activities to assist pupils who have been truant, suspended, or expelled to improve their academic achievement.

AB268,3,4 (f) Activities that enable pupils to be eligible for credit recovery.

AB268,3,5 (g) Tutoring and mentoring activities.

AB268,3,6 (h) Recreational activities.

AB268,3,8 (2) Eligible applicants. Any of the following may apply for a grant under this section:

AB268,3,9 (a) A school board.

AB268,3,10 (b) The operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x).

AB268,3,11 (c) The governing body of a private school.

AB268,3,13 (d) A private, nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that meets all of the following criteria: