AB431: Bill Text

LRB-0831/3

PG:cjs:jf

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly BILL 431

October 17, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Clark, Berceau, Danou, Hebl, Hulsey, Ohnstad, Pope, Shankland, Smith and Wright. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB431,1,3 An Act to create 20.255 (2) (ag) and 115.4365 of the statutes; relating to: awarding grants to certain rural school districts, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill appropriates money to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for the purpose of awarding grants to certain rural school districts. Under the bill, a school district is eligible for a grant if a public school in the school district that operates any grades from kindergarten to six (and no other grades) is located at least five miles from a public high school in the district or in an unincorporated area of the school district and the enrollment of the school district divided by its area in square miles is less than 20. The grant is equal to $50,000 plus an amount equal to the number of pupils enrolled in that K-6 school multiplied by $1,000.

A school district receiving a grant under the bill must use it to ensure that the K-6 school continues to operate, to implement an innovative instructional program in the school, or to transform the school into a magnet school.

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:

AB431,1 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

AB431,2 Section 2. 20.255 (2) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:

AB431,2,5 20.255 (2) (ag) Grants for rural school districts. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for grants to rural school districts under s. 15.4365.

AB431,3 Section 3. 115.4365 of the statutes is created to read:

AB431,2,7 115.4365 Grants for rural school districts. (1) In this section:

AB431,2,9 (a) "Eligible school" means a public school or charter school, other than a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r), to which all of the following apply:

AB431,2,11 1. Any grades from kindergarten to 6, and no other grades, are taught in the school.

AB431,2,14 2. The school is located in a school district in which the membership in the previous school year divided by the school district's area in square miles is less than 20.

AB431,2,16 3. The school is located at least 5 miles from a public high school in the same school district or in an unincorporated area of the school district.

AB431,2,19 (b) "Magnet school" means a public school with an instructional program or innovative educational program that is not available elsewhere in the school district and that is designed to draw pupils from throughout the school district.

AB431,3,4 (2) (a) The school board of a school district in which one or more eligible schools is located may apply to the department for a grant under this section. The department shall review the applications and select grant recipients based on criteria established by the department by rule.

AB431,3,8 (b) The department shall award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ag). Each grant shall be equal to the sum of $50,000 plus an amount equal to the number of pupils enrolled in the eligible school in the previous school year multiplied by $1,000.

AB431,3,11 (3) The school board shall use the funds received under this section to continue to operate the eligible school, to implement an innovative educational program in the eligible school, or to transform the eligible school into a magnet school.

AB431,3,13 (4) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

AB431,4 Section 4. Effective date.

AB431,3,16 (1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after publication of the 2013-15 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

AB431,3,17 (End)