AB814: Bill Text

AB814,1,3 An Act to create 20.255 (2) (ch) and 115.455 of the statutes; relating to: grants for world languages instruction in elementary schools and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to award grants to school districts to add instruction in world languages, other than English, in grades one to six. Under the bill, a school board may apply for a six-year grant to pay for a portion of the compensation of up to two teachers and to phase in world languages instruction in grades one to six.

The bill directs DPI to establish criteria for awarding a grant and requires teachers from participating schools to attend professional development workshops to be offered by DPI twice each year. A component of the professional development program will be methods for integrating the world language into the curricula of other classes taught concurrently with the world language.

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:

AB814, 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

AB814, s. 2 Section 2. 20.255 (2) (ch) of the statutes is created to read:

AB814,2,4 20.255 (2) (ch) Grants for world languages instruction . The amounts in the schedule for grants to school districts for world languages instruction under s. 115.455.

AB814, s. 3 Section 3. 115.455 of the statutes is created to read:

AB814,2,10 115.455 Grants for world languages instruction. (1) Beginning in the 2008-09 school year, the state superintendent shall award grants to school districts to add instruction in world languages, other than English, in grades 1 to 6. Grants awarded under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ch) over a nonrenewable, 6-year term.

AB814,2,11 (2) The department shall promulgate rules establishing all of the following:

AB814,2,12 (a) The world languages eligible for a grant under this section.

AB814,2,16 (b) Criteria for selecting recipients of a grant under this section. Criteria shall include the quality of the application and the ability of the applicant to continue teaching world languages at the end of the 6-year term. The department shall strive to distribute grants among urban, rural, and suburban school districts.

AB814,2,17 (c) The schedule of payments to be made pursuant to each grant.

AB814,2,19 (3) Except as provided in sub. (4), each school board receiving a grant under this section shall use the moneys as follows:

AB814,3,2 (a) During the first school year of the grant, $30,000 to assign one teacher to teach a world language to first grade students.

AB814,3,4 (b) During the 2nd school year of the grant, $30,000 to assign one teacher to teach one or more world languages to 1st and 2nd grade students.

AB814,3,6 (c) During the 3rd school year of the grant, $60,000 to assign 2 teachers to teach one or more world languages to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students.

AB814,3,8 (d) During the 4th school year of the grant, $60,000 to assign 2 teachers to teach one or more world languages to 1st to 4th grade students.

AB814,3,10 (e) During the 5th school year of the grant, $30,000 to assign 2 teachers to teach one or more world languages to 1st to 5th grade students.

AB814,3,12 (f) During the 6th school year of the grant, $30,000 to assign 2 teachers to teach one or more world languages to 1st to 6th grade students.

AB814,3,15 (4) In each school year of the 6-year grant, each school board receiving a grant under this section shall use a portion of the moneys to send the following 3 teachers to twice-yearly professional development workshops offered by the department:

AB814,3,18 (a) One teacher who is funded by a grant awarded under this section and who is teaching a world language in the grade level added, pursuant to the schedule under sub. (3), in the school year the workshop is offered.

AB814,3,21 (b) For the purpose of integrating a world language into their curricula, 2 teachers who do not teach a world language but who teach at the same grade level as the teacher specified in par. (a).

AB814,3,24 (5) If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ch) in any fiscal year is insufficient to fully fund the grants awarded under this section, the department shall prorate the available moneys among the school districts receiving a grant under this section.

AB814,3,25 (End)