SB390: Bill Text

LRB-3811/5

MJL:cjs&jlg:km

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Senate BILL 390

February 16, 2000 - Introduced by Senators Shibilski, Grobschmidt, Erpenbach, Plache and Schultz, cosponsored by Representatives Olsen, Ott, Hebl, Hasenohrl, Richards, Kreuser, Young, Ryba, Miller, Berceau and Lassa. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB390,1,4 An Act to create 20.255 (2) (dp), 20.255 (2) (dr), 115.455 and 118.015 (2m) of the statutes; relating to: creating a classroom book collections grant program and reading specialists grant program, granting rule-making authority and making appropriations.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates a grant program for classroom book collections administered by the department of public instruction (DPI). Under the bill, a school board may apply for a grant on behalf of a school in the school district if no more than 50% of the school's pupils scored at the proficient level or above on the third grade reading examination in the previous school year. Each grant applicant must specify on the grant application how it proposes to use the grant to change reading instruction and how these changes are designed to improve pupils' reading ability. DPI must award each eligible school board a grant equal to $500 multiplied by the number of kindergarten to grade three classrooms in the school.

Current law requires each school board to hire a DPI-certified reading specialist to develop and coordinate a comprehensive reading curriculum for grades kindergarten to 12. This bill creates a reading specialists grant program under which a school district may receive a grant equal to 50% of the cost in the prior school year of the average starting salary of a reading specialist if at least 10% of the pupils enrolled in a school in the school district failed in the previous school year to score at the basic level or above on the third grade reading examination and the school board either hires an additional reading specialist, or, if the school board already employs more than one reading specialist, the school board retains the same number of reading specialists during the 2000-01 school year. A school board that receives a grant must ensure that at least one reading specialist serves only pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten to three.

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:

SB390, s. 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 - See PDF for table

SB390, s. 2 Section 2. 20.255 (2) (dp) of the statutes is created to read:

SB390,2,5 20.255 (2) (dp) Classroom book collections grant program. The amounts in the schedule for the classroom book collections grant program under s. 115.455.

SB390, s. 3 Section 3. 20.255 (2) (dr) of the statutes is created to read:

SB390,2,8 20.255 (2) (dr) Reading specialists grant program. The amounts in the schedule for the reading specialists grant program under s. 118.015 (2m).

SB390, s. 4 Section 4. 115.455 of the statutes is created to read:

SB390,3,6 115.455 Classroom book collections grant program. (1) A school board may apply to the department for a classroom book collections grant under this section on behalf of a school in the school district if no more than 50% of the pupils enrolled in the school who took the examination under s. 121.02 (1) (r) in the previous school year received a score of proficient or higher. Each grant applicant shall describe in its application how it proposes to use grant moneys under this section to change reading instruction and how these changes are designed to improve pupils' reading ability.

SB390,3,11 (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dp), the department shall award grants to eligible school districts in an amount equal to $500 multiplied by the number of kindergarten to grade 3 classrooms in the school under sub. (1). If the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (dp) is insufficient, the department shall prorate the amount appropriated among the eligible school districts.

SB390,3,13 (3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

SB390, s. 5 Section 5. 118.015 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB390,3,21 118.015 (2m) Grant program. (a) A school board may apply to the department for an annual grant equal to 50% of the cost in the prior school year of the average statewide starting salary, including benefits, of a reading specialist, as determined by the department, if at least 10% of the pupils enrolled in a school in the school district who took the examination under s. 121.02 (1) (r) in the previous school year failed to receive a score of basic or higher and if the school district enters into an employment contract of at least one year with an additional reading specialist.

SB390,3,24 (b) A school board that receives a grant under this subsection shall ensure that at least one reading specialist serves only pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten to 3.

SB390,4,4 (c) The department shall reimburse school districts under this subsection from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dr). If the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (dr) is insufficient, the department shall prorate the amount appropriated among the eligible school districts.

SB390,4,6 (d) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this subsection.

SB390, s. 6 Section 6. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB390,4,15 (1) Notwithstanding section 118.015 (2m) (a) of the statutes, as created by this act, a school district is eligible for a grant under section 118.015 (2m) of the statutes, as created by this act, in the 2000-01 school year if the school district employed more than one reading specialist before the effective date of this subsection, and if the term of the employment contract of each reading specialist under this subsection extends until at least June 30, 2001. A school district is not eligible for a grant under this subsection if it receives a grant in the 2000-01 school year under section 118.015 (2m) of the statutes, as created by this act.

SB390, s. 7 Section 7. Effective date.

SB390,4,17 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 2000.

SB390,4,18 (End)