As with the current rules, the proposed rules:
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Maintain an advisory council to advise the state superintendent in reviewing grant applications submitted under comprehensive AODA programs (This provision does not apply to student mini grants).
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Require applicants to provide for a 20% matching fund. Private and in-kind contributions may be used to meet this requirement (This provision does not apply to student mini grants).
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Prohibit the supplanting of funds which are otherwise available for the program.
The department will annually submit to school districts application materials specifying funding limits and eligibility criteria. For the upcoming school year, the department will send grant application materials to school districts in March. Grant applications must be returned to the department in the spring of 2000 and grants will be awarded prior to July 1, 2000.
Fiscal Estimate
To award grants under the AODA program, 1999 Wisconsin Act 9 appropriated:
•
$4,520,000 GPR under s. 20.255 (2) (dm) and $1,427,100 PR-S under s. 20.255 (2) (kd), Stats., in the 1999-2000 school year; and
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$4,520,000 GPR under s. 20.255 (2) (dm) and $1,498,600 PR-S under s. 20.255 (2) (kd), Stats., in the 2000-2001 school year.
The rule establishes criteria and procedures for awarding AODA program grants. The rule, while affecting the grant award and administration processes, would have no net effect on state or local revenues or costs.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
The proposed rules are not anticipated to have a fiscal effect on small businesses as defined under s. 227.114(1)(a), Stats.
Notice of Hearing
Public Instruction
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 118.43 (6m) and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., and interpreting s. 118.43, Stats., the department of public instruction will hold a public hearing as follows to consider emergency and proposed permanent rules, relating to state aid for achievement guarantee contracts and aid for debt service. Emergency rules were promulgated by the department effective January 28, 2000. The hearing will be held as follows:
Hearing Information
March 15, 2000 Madison
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. GEF 3 Building
Wednesday 125 South Webster St.
Room 041
The hearing site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation to access any meeting, please call David Carlson, Director, School Financial Services, at (608) 266-6968, or leave a message with the Teletypewriter (TTY) at (608) 267-2427 at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Reasonable accommodation includes materials prepared in an alternative format, as provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Copies of Rule and Contact Person
Lori Slauson, Administrative Rules &
Federal Grants Coordinator
Department of Public Instruction
125 South Webster Street
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707
Written comments on the proposed rules received by Ms. Slauson at the above address no later than March 20, 2000, will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing. Comments submitted via email will not be accepted as formal testimony.
Analysis by the Department of Public Instruction
1999 Wis. Act 9 requires the department to promulgate rules relating to 1) state aid for achievement guarantee contracts and 2) aid for debt service.
State Aid for Achievement Guarantee Contracts:
Beginning in the 2000-01 school year, the school board of an eligible school district may enter into a 5-year achievement guarantee contract with the department on behalf of one or more schools excluding those that already have such contracts, that are participating in the preschool through grade 5 program under s. 115.45, Stats., or that are in districts that were eligible to participate in 1996-97 and 1998-99 but did not. In the 2000-01 school year, the department is required to calculate and pay aid to schools participating in the program under s. 118.43 (3) (a) and (am), Stats., before making payments to schools that have contracts under s. 118.43 (3) (ar), Stats. The aid amount must equal $2,000 multiplied by the number of low-income pupils enrolled in the grades eligible for funding in each school. In making payments to districts on behalf of schools with contracts under s. 118.43 (3) (ar), Stats., the department is required to give priority to schools that have the highest percentage of low-income enrollment. The department is also required to ensure that it fully distributes the amount of aid appropriated. The rules set forth criteria and procedures for accepting and approving contracts, collecting data and paying aid.
Partial Debt Service Reimbursement:
Beginning in the 2000-01 school year, a school district is eligible to receive an amount equal to 20% of the annual debt service cost on bonds issued to fulfill a SAGE contract. The rules establish criteria and procedures for SAGE school districts to receive partial debt service reimbursement.
Fiscal Estimate
State Aid for Achievement Guarantee Contracts:
Under s. 20.255 (2) (cu) and (cv), Stats., 1999 Wisconsin Act 9 appropriated $18,484,000 in 1999-2000 and $58,754,600 in 2000-2001 for the department to pay aid to schools participating in the SAGE program. As required by the Act, the rule establishes criteria and procedures for paying state aid for achievement guarantee contracts. The department will pay an amount equal to $2,000 per low-income pupil enrolled in the participating schools. In making these payments for schools covered by contracts under s. 118.43 (3) (ar), Stats., the department shall give priority to schools that have the highest percentage of low-income pupil enrollment and shall ensure that it fully distributes the amount appropriated.
Since the Act did not allocate staff resources to administer the program, the department is reallocating limited state and federal funds for this purpose. The rules will have no fiscal effect on local governments or small businesses.
Partial Debt Service Reimbursement:
Under s. 20.255 (2) (cs), Stats., 1999 Wisconsin Act 9 appropriated $3,000,000 in 2000-01 for the department to pay to SAGE school districts an amount equal to 20% of the annual debt service cost on bonds issued to fulfill a SAGE contract. As required by the Act, the rule establishes criteria and procedures for SAGE school districts to receive partial debt service reimbursement.
It is assumed that there will be additional costs to the department to administer this program. It is expected that these costs will be absorbed by the agency. The rules will have no fiscal effect on local governments or small businesses.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
The proposed rules are not anticipated to have a fiscal effect on small businesses as defined under s. 227.114(1)(a), Stats.
Notice of Hearing
Public Instruction
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 115.435 (3) and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., and interpreting s. 115.435, Stats., the department of public instruction will hold a public hearing as follows to consider emergency and proposed permanent rules, relating to supplemental aid for school districts with a large area. Emergency rules were promulgated by the department effective January 28, 2000. The hearing will be held as follows:
Hearing Information
March 15, 2000 Madison
Wednesday GEF 3 Building
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. 125 South Webster St.
Room 041
The hearing site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation to access any meeting, please call David Carlson, Director, School Financial Services, at (608) 266-6968, or leave a message with the Teletypewriter (TTY) at (608) 267-2427 at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Reasonable accommodation includes materials prepared in an alternative format, as provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Copies of Rule and Contact Person
Lori Slauson, Administrative Rules &
Federal Grants Coordinator
Department of Public Instruction
125 South Webster Street
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707
Written comments on the proposed rules received by Ms. Slauson at the above address no later than March 20, 2000, will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing. Comments submitted via email will not be accepted as formal testimony.
Analysis by the Department of Public Instruction
1999 Wisconsin Act 9 created a grant to supplement aid under s. 121.08, Stats., to school districts that meet the following requirements:
1.
The school district had an enrollment in the previous school year of fewer than 500 pupils.
2.
The school district is at least 200 square miles in area.
3.
At least 65% of the real property in the school district is exempt from taxation under s. 70.11, Stats., owned by or held in trust for a federally recognized American Indian tribe or owned by the federal government.
The department shall award $350 for each pupil enrolled in an eligible school district that can verify through the clerks of municipalities in which the school district is located that it meets the criteria under 2 and 3. The department shall verify that the school district is eligible under 1. If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ad), Stats., is insufficient to pay the full amount, the funds shall be prorated among the entitled school districts.
The Act appropriated $125,000 beginning in the 1999-2000 school year. Since the timelines are too stringent to implement this grant program by the statutory October 15, 1999 date, the department is requiring applications to be submitted by April 3, 2000 and annually thereafter by October 15.
Fiscal Estimate
Under s. 20.255 (2) (ad), Stats., 1999 Wisconsin Act 9 appropriated $125,000 in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school year for the department to award supplemental aid to school districts meeting specific criteria. As required by the Act, the rule establishes criteria and procedures for awarding supplemental aid to eligible school districts. The department shall award $350 for each pupil enrolled in the district. If the funds appropriated for the program are insufficient, the funds shall be prorated among the entitled school districts. The rules will have no fiscal effect on local governments or small businesses.
It is assumed that there will be additional costs to the department to administer this program. It is expected that these costs will be absorbed by the agency.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
The proposed rules are not anticipated to have a fiscal effect on small businesses as defined under s. 227.114(1)(a), Stats.
Notice of Hearing
Workforce Development
