4. Describe the methods that will be used to monitor and regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation plan of this waiver request
WDPI will publish the data by December 31, 2020 to meet implementation requirements of the waiver. WDPI will continue to collect school-level expenditure data and will publish 2019-20 expenditure data on the regularly scheduled timeframe in the spring of 2021.
5. Describe how schools will continue to provide assistance to the same populations served by programs for which waivers are requested
This waiver does not affect the provision of programming, but would rather move back the deadline for reporting school-level expenditure data. Moreover, schools in Wisconsin have already set preliminary budgets for the 2020-21 school year. It is also important to note, given the large proportion of school budgets that go to salaries, that school districts were required to issue preliminary layoff notices by April 30 under state statutes.
6. If the waiver relates to provisions of subsections (b) or (h) of section 1111 of ESEA, describe how the SEA requesting the waiver will maintain or improve transparency in reporting to parents and the public on student achievement and school performance, including the achievement of the subgroups of students identified in section llll(b)(2)(B)(xi) of ESEA
Under Wisconsin state law, school boards are still required to make their budgets publicly available. This waiver would not affect the reporting of student achievement data, which has already been suspended under a separate waiver received by Wisconsin, and would not suspend this year’s reporting requirement. This waiver would instead delay the publication of school-level expenditure data with the goal of improving transparency so LEAs are better able to discuss and explain the data to their public and the department is better able to display it in an accessible manner.
As required under the waiver process, the state educational agency must provide the public and all local education agencies in the state with notice of and the opportunity to comment on this request. The Department’s application for waiver authority is available to review at https://dpi.wi.gov/esea. Written Comments
Public comment on the application described above may be submitted by using the Department’s form for submitting comment at https://forms.gle/Ta91WQbjhoPibUs96. Questions or additional comment may be accepted by using the contact information below. Written comments should be submitted no later than 10 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2020, in order to receive consideration. Agency Contact Person
Dan Bush
Director, School Financial Services Team
Division for Finance and Management
Department of Public Instruction
125 South Webster Street
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
