Wednesday, September 4, 2002
Ninety-Fifth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
August 26, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
In accordance with sec. 1.11(2)(j), Wis. stats., the Department of Health and Family Services reports that it has not conducted any Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements during the reporting period of July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002.
Sincerely,
Phyllis J. DuBe
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
August 29, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
We have completed an evaluation of the full-time open enrollment program, as directed by s.
13.94(11), Wis. Stats. Under the program, students may apply to attend school in any K-12 public school district in the state, regardless of whether they live in that district. Families of students who transfer from their local district do not pay tuition. However, a local district loses state aid for each student who transfers to another district and gains state aid for each student who transfers from another district.
In the 2001-02 school year 9,457 students, or 1.1 percent of all public school students, participated in the program. Although participation increased significantly during the first four years of the program, it is still too early to determine whether public schools have improved as a result of district competition to retain and attract students. Few districts report developing new or innovative programs in response to the program, perhaps because most school districts gained or lost 20 students or less. Similarly, fiscal effects of the program have been limited to those districts that experienced significant participation. In 2001-02, 308 of 426 school districts in Wisconsin had net gains or losses of less than $75,000.
Although parental satisfaction with the program appears to be high, several issues related to open enrollment pose challenges for the program's future. First, the Legislature may wish to carefully consider the costs associated with funding the education of home-schooled students under proposals for on-line virtual schools that accept students from across the state. In addition, school district staff are concerned about the increasing administrative burden of processing open enrollment transfer applications, and program rules related to special education are under federal review.
We appreciate the cooperation and courtesy extended to us by the department of Public Instruction management and staff. The response from the Superintendent of Public Instruction is Appendix 4.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
September 3, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2001 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us/
Archiquette, Tana Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
Dilweg, Sean Correctional Services Corporation
Essie, Patrick Correctional Services Corporation
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
Roth Judd
Director
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Relating to criteria and procedures for reimbursement of interpreting services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Submitted by Department of Health and Family Services.
Report received from Agency, August 29, 2002.
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs, September 4, 2002.
Relating to communication services.
Submitted by Department of Revenue.
Report received from Agency, August 29, 2002.
Referred to committee on Universities, Housing, and Government Operations, September 4, 2002.
Relating to providing access to the 4th, 8th, and 10th grade knowledge and concepts examinations and the high school graduation test.
Submitted by Department of Public Instruction.
Report received from Agency, August 30, 2002.
Referred to committee on Education,
September 4, 2002.
Relating to Wisconsin works.
Submitted by Department of Workforce Development .
