2019 WISCONSIN ACT 170
An Act to repeal 20.255 (3) (df); and to create 20.255 (3) (df) of the statutes; relating to: an online early learning pilot program and making an appropriation.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
170,1
Section 1
. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
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See PDF for table 
170,2
Section
2. 20.255 (3) (df) of the statutes is created to read:
20.255 (3) (df) Online early learning program; grant. The amounts in the schedule for contract payments under 2019 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 4 (1).
170,3
Section
3. 20.255 (3) (df) of the statutes, as created by 2019 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.
170,4
Section
4
.
Nonstatutory provisions.
(1)
Online early learning pilot program.
(a) In this subsection:
1. “Department” means the department of public instruction.
2. “Eligible child” means a child who satisfies the income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) and resides in a school district selected by the department under par. (d).
2m. “Membership” has the meaning given in s. 121.004 (5).
3. “Online early learning program” means a program that satisfies all of the following criteria:
a. The program provides computer-based instruction to children on a home computer connected by the Internet to a centralized file storage facility.
b. The program is designed to improve a child's transition to 5-year-old kindergarten.
c. The program contains content in reading, math, and science.
d. The program is aligned with nationally recognized early learning standards.
e. At no cost to low-income families participating in the program, the program provides access to a computer or Internet service, or both, in the homes of low-income families participating in the program that do not have a computer or Internet service access in their home.
f. The program includes a parental engagement and involvement component that includes interaction with a learning coach provided by the program.
g. The program includes an evaluation component that measures a child's growth over the course of the program.
h. The program is being administered by a service provider in at least 2 other states.
3m. “Rural school district” means a school district that, in the previous school year, had a membership of no more than 745 pupils.
4. “Service provider” means a nonstock, nonprofit organization described under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code that has successfully conducted an online early learning program. An organization must demonstrate past success to the department using independent and reliable evaluations.
4m. “Urban school district” means a school district that, in the previous school year, had a membership of at least 18,000 pupils. “Urban school district” does not include a school district operating under ch. 119.
(b) The department shall award, using a competitive request-for-proposals process, a contract to a service provider to administer an online early learning program to eligible children. The contract shall require the service provider to administer the online early learning program in the school districts described in par. (d) from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2023.
(c) 1. For each school year of the contract under par. (b), the department shall pay the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (3) (df) to the service provider awarded the contract under par. (b) for administering the online early learning program.
2. A service provider awarded a contract under par. (b) shall provide a total of $500,000 in matching funds during the 3 years of the contract.
(d) The service provider awarded the contract under par. (b) shall administer the online early learning program in all of the following school districts:
1. A first class city school district.
2. The 2 urban school districts that have the largest reading achievement gaps, as defined by the department.
3. Three rural school districts, selected by the department, that have reading achievement gaps, as defined by the department.
(e) The department shall require the service provider awarded a contract under par. (b
) to submit an annual report to the department that contains all of the following information for each school district selected under par. (d):
1. The number of eligible children who applied to participate in the online early learning program.
2. The number of eligible children who participated in the online early learning program.
3. The number of low-income families that requested a computer or home Internet service.
4. The number of low-income families that were provided a computer or home Internet service.
5. The frequency with which children participating in the online early learning program used the instructional software provided by the program.
6. How children participating in the online early learning program performed on prekindergarten and kindergarten readiness assessments selected and administered by the service provider.
7. Parental feedback on the online early learning program.
(em) 1. The service provider awarded the contract under par. (b) shall report to the department the name of each child who participates in the online early learning program, whether the child completed the online early learning program, and any other information that is necessary to identify the child in the student information system under s. 115.383, as requested by the department.
2. To the extent possible, for each child who is reported to have participated in the online early learning program under subd. 1., the department shall ensure that the following information is included in the student information system under s. 115.383:
a. The fact that the child participated in the online early learning program.
b. Whether or not the child completed the online early learning program.
(f) By October 15, 2023, the department shall compile and submit the information it receives under par. (e) to the joint committee on finance and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (3).
170,5
Section 5
.
Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:
(1) The repeal of s. 20.255 (3) (df) takes effect on July 1, 2023.
