AB916: Bill Text

LRB-4214/1

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2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly BILL 916

April 3, 2014 - Introduced by Representatives Clark, Pope, Wright, Danou, Hulsey, Ohnstad, Kolste, Genrich, Berceau and Shankland, cosponsored by Senator Vinehout. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB916,1,5 An Act to renumber and amend 115.28 (53); to repeal and recreate 115.28 (53) (title); and to create 16.994, 16.996, 16.997 (2) (dm), 16.999, 20.255 (1) (eg), 20.505 (4) (c), 20.505 (4) (cd), 20.505 (4) (cj) and 115.28 (53) (b) of the statutes; relating to: educational technology, granting rule-making authority, and making appropriations.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Educational technology grants

This bill creates three educational technology grant programs administered by the Department of Administration (DOA): the educational technology training and technical assistance grant program, the educational technology block grant program, and the educational technology infrastructure grant program.

Educational technology training and technical assistance grants

Under the bill, DOA is required to award grants for providing technical assistance and training related to educational technology (educational technology training and technical assistance grants). DOA may award educational technology training and technical assistance grants to any of the following:

1. A cooperative educational service agency (CESA).

2. A consortium consisting of two or more school districts, independent charter school authorizers, secured correctional facilities, or CESAs.

3. A consortium consisting of one or more school districts, independent charter school authorizers, secured correctional facilities, or CESAs and at least one public library board.

In awarding educational technology training and technical assistance grants, DOA must award annually at least one grant to an applicant in each CESA territory and at least five grants to applicants that include at least one school district whose membership per square mile is less than 10. DOA must also give a preference to consortia that include a public library. The bill limits the number of educational technology training and technical assistance grants that DOA may grant in any school year to 30. A recipient of an educational technology training and technical assistance grant must provide information to DOA about training programs or technical assistance funded by the grant, as requested by DOA after consulting with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

Educational technology block grants

Under the bill, DOA is required to award grants to school districts, which may be used for any purpose related to educational technology except for paying the salary or benefits of a school district employee (educational technology block grants). To become eligible for an educational technology block grant, a school board, or an annual meeting in a common school district, must adopt a resolution to request the grant. Annually, DOA must first award $3,000 to each eligible school district and then distribute any remaining funding for the grants as following:

1. Two-thirds to eligible school districts whose membership per square mile is less than 10.

2. One-third to eligible school districts whose membership per square mile is 10 or more.

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: