AB916: Bill Text

A recipient of an educational technology block grant is required to provide information to DOA about educational technology in the school district, as requested by DOA after consulting with DPI.

Educational technology infrastructure grants

The bill requires DOA to create a program to provide grants to school districts and public libraries for the purpose of upgrading and modernizing wide area networks (commonly known as WAN) and local area networks (commonly known as LAN) that are used for instructional purposes.

Educational telecommunications access program

Under current law, DOA administers a program under which an educational agency may access a data line and video link (also known as the TEACH program). Current law limits the amount an educational agency may be charged for access to a data line or video link to $250 or $100 per month, depending on the connection speed. Under the bill, DOA may also provide a subsidy to an educational agency that obtains broadband services from a provider who is not participating in the TEACH program if the educational agency does not have physical access to a data line or video link provided under the TEACH program.

Digital Learning Resources

Under current law, DPI is required to make online courses available for a reasonable fee to school districts, charter schools, private schools, tribal schools, and CESAs. The bill requires DPI to create and operate a program that provides digital learning resources to the same educational entities and also to public libraries.

For further information see the state 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:

AB916,1 Section 1. 16.994 of the statutes is created to read:

AB916,3,12 16.994 Educational technology training and technical assistance grants. (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (c), the department shall award grants to cooperative educational service agencies and to consortia consisting of 2 or more school districts, charter school sponsors, secured correctional facilities, or cooperative educational service agencies, or one or more school districts, charter school sponsors, secured correctional facilities, or cooperative educational service agencies and one or more public library boards, to provide technical assistance and training in the use of educational technology. An applicant for a grant shall submit to the department a plan that specifies the school districts, charter school sponsors, secured correctional facilities, and public library boards that will participate in the program and describe how the funds will be allocated.

AB916,3,14 (2) In awarding grants under this section, the department shall do all of the following:

AB916,4,2 (a) Annually award grants to applicants on a competitive basis, except that the department shall annually award at least one grant to an applicant located in the territory of each cooperative educational service agency and at least 5 grants to applicants that include a school district whose membership in the previous school year divided by the school district's area in square miles is less than 10.

AB916,4,3 (b) Give preference to consortia that include one or more public library boards.

AB916,4,5 (c) To the extent possible, ensure that grants are equally distributed on a statewide basis.

AB916,4,7 (3) The department may not award more than 30 grants under this section in any school year.

AB916,4,11 (4) A recipient of a grant under this section shall provide information to the department about training and technical assistance funded by the grant, as requested by the department. The department shall consult with the department of public instruction about what information to request under this subsection.

AB916,2 Section 2. 16.996 of the statutes is created to read:

AB916,4,16 16.996 Educational technology block grants. (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (cd), the department shall annually pay $3,000 to each school district that is eligible for a grant under sub. (2). The department shall distribute the remaining balance in the appropriation account as follows:

AB916,4,19 (a) Two-thirds of the balance to eligible school districts whose membership in the previous school year divided by the school district's area in square miles is less than 10, in proportion to the membership of each school district.

AB916,4,22 (b) One-third of the balance to eligible school districts whose membership in the previous school year divided by the school district's area in square miles is at least 10, in proportion to the membership of each school district.

AB916,5,2 (2) A school district is eligible for a grant under this section only if the annual meeting in a common school district, or the school board in a unified school district or in a school district operating under ch. 119, adopts a resolution requesting the grant.

AB916,5,6 (3) A school district receiving a grant under this section shall provide information about educational technology in the school district to the department, as requested by the department. The department shall consult with the department of public instruction about what information to request under this subsection.

AB916,5,10 (4) (a) A school district receiving a grant under this section shall deposit the moneys in a separate fund. The moneys may be used for any purpose related to educational technology, except that a school district may not use the moneys to pay the salary or benefits of any school district employee.

AB916,5,12 (b) A school district may not use a grant under this section to replace funding for educational technology available from other sources.

AB916,5,14 (5) The department shall distribute grants under this section on the first Monday in February.

AB916,3 Section 3. 16.997 (2) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB916,5,20 16.997 (2) (dm) Allow the department to provide a subsidy to an educational agency that obtains broadband services from a provider who is not participating in the program established under sub. (1) if the educational agency does not have physical access to a data line or video link provided under the program established under sub. (1).

AB916,4 Section 4. 16.999 of the statutes is created to read:

AB916,6,2 16.999 Educational technology infrastructure grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (cj), the department shall develop and implement a program under which it provides grants to school districts and public library boards for the purpose of upgrading and modernizing wide area networks and local area networks that are used for instructional purposes in the school district or in the geographic area served by the public library.

AB916,5 Section 5. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB916,6 Section 6. 20.255 (1) (eg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB916,6,8 20.255 (1) (eg) Wisconsin Digital Learning Collaborative. The amounts in the schedule for the program established under s. 115.28 (53) to provide access to digital learning resources.

AB916,7 Section 7. 20.505 (4) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB916,7,3 20.505 (4) (c) Educational technology training and technical assistance grants. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule to award grants to cooperative educational service agencies and consortia under s. 16.994.

AB916,8 Section 8. 20.505 (4) (cd) of the statutes is created to read:

AB916,7,6 20.505 (4) (cd) Educational technology block grants. The amounts in the schedule to make payments to school districts under s. 16.996.

AB916,9 Section 9. 20.505 (4) (cj) of the statutes is created to read:

AB916,7,10 20.505 (4) (cj) Educational technology infrastructure grants. The amounts in the schedule to make payments to school districts and public library boards under s. 16.999.

AB916,10 Section 10. 115.28 (53) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB916,7,12 115.28 (53) (title) Digital learning resources.

AB916,11 Section 11. 115.28 (53) of the statutes is renumbered 115.28 (53) (a) and amended to read:

AB916,7,20 115.28 (53) (a) Make online courses available for a reasonable fee, through a statewide web academy, From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (1) (eg), establish and operate a program, to be known as the Wisconsin Digital Learning Collaborative, that provides access to digital learning resources to school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, and public libraries, charter schools, private schools, and tribal schools located in this state.

AB916,12 Section 12. 115.28 (53) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB916,7,22 115.28 (53) (b) Promulgate rules to implement this subsection.

AB916,7,23 (End)