Rule-Making Notices
Notice of Hearing
Administration
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss.
16.004 (1),
39.437 (5), and
227.11 (2) (a), Stats., the Department of Administration will hold public hearings on the proposed rule order to create Chapter
Adm 80, relating to the administrative procedures for the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program.
Hearing Information
A public hearing will be held as follows:
Date: March 29, 2010 — Monday
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Wisconsin Dept. of Administration
101 East Wilson Street
Conference Room 4B
Madison, Wisconsin
Appearance at Hearing and Submission of Written Comments
Interested persons are invited to appear at the hearing and present comments on the proposed rule. Persons appearing may make an oral presentation but are also urged to submit facts, opinions and arguments in writing as well. Facts, opinions and arguments may be submitted in writing without a personal appearance by mail addressed to: Shannon Loredo, Office of the Wisconsin Covenant, P.O. Box 7869, Madison, WI 53707-7869. Comments may also be made using the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Website at
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. The deadline for submitting comments to the Department is
4:30 p.m. on April 5, 2010.
Analysis Prepared by Department of Administration
Statute interpreted
Statutory authority
Explanation of statutory authority
The proposed rules define the various aspects of the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program authorized by s.
39.437, Stats., as created by
2007 Wis. Act 20, as to the awarding of grants to Wisconsin Covenant Scholars.
Related statutes or rules
Plain language analysis
The
2007 Wisconsin Act 20 created s.
39.437 which provides grants to Wisconsin Covenant Scholars who are enrolled at least half-time at an eligible in-state institution. The Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) administers this program with the assistance of the Office of the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program under s.
39.437. The proposed rules define the various aspects of the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars grant program including the award criteria which begins when students sign the Wisconsin Covenant pledge in middle school and continues through their postsecondary education, as well as the distribution process, and institutional and partner responsibilities.
Comparison with federal regulations
These rules are not intended to address any proposed or existing federal regulations.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states
Indiana:
The Twenty-first Century Scholars Program began in 1990 as Indiana's way of raising the educational aspirations of low- and moderate-income families. The program aims to ensure that all Indiana families can afford a college education for their children.
Income-eligible 6th, 7th and 8th graders who enroll in the program and fulfill a pledge of good citizenship to the state are guaranteed the cost of four years of undergraduate college tuition at any participating public college or university in Indiana (also includes private, proprietary and Ivy Tech State College). Once enrolled, increase in family income does not affect a student's eligibility to participate in the program. Students must attend full-time.
The administrative rules for this program present similar requirements for award distribution, such as FAFSA filing, and eligibility as they pertain to the Twenty-first Century Scholars Program.
Iowa:
The All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship is a state-funded program that provides scholarships to students who do well in high school and demonstrate financial need. The Opportunity Scholarship is administered by the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. In 2007, Governor Culver budgeted $1.5 million for the Scholarship, of which $500,000 is directed toward Iowa foster children.
Students attending eligible Iowa colleges and universities may receive awards of up to the average tuition and fee rate established for students attending a Regent University. Priority will be given to students who participated in the Federal TRIO Programs, graduated from alternative high schools, and to homeless youth. Opportunity Scholarships are renewable for a second year if the student is attending an Iowa community college, as long as they meet academic standards.
The administrative rules for this program present similar requirements for award distribution, such as FAFSA filing, and eligibility as they pertain to the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship. An amendment to the state statute is currently pending to modify the current eligibility requirements.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
The proposed rules were drafted by the Office of the Wisconsin Covenant in collaboration with the Office of the Governor and the Higher Educational Aids Board, and with support from program partners. With an anticipated enrollment of approximately 68,000 to 70,000 ranging from eighth grade students through college students, the rules took into consideration estimated completion rate, financial aid eligibility, unmet need and annual allocation of funds.
Small Business Impact
The proposed rules have no effect on small business in Wisconsin.
Fiscal Estimate
This rule establishes the eligibility requirements and process by which Wisconsin high school students may be designated as Covenant Scholars and receive a state funded award for post-secondary education expenses.
The Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program will be administered by the Office of the Wisconsin Covenant (office) with the assistance of the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB). Additional information and data will be provided by high schools throughout Wisconsin and Wisconsin institutions of higher education.
State fiscal effect
The office estimates that it will receive 20,000 annual applications and verification forms for the Covenant program. Once received, existing staff of the office will verify the documents and designate students as Wisconsin Covenant Scholars. The office maintains an existing data base that is capable of tracking the estimated 70,000 participating students through their high school years. This verification and designation process and the tracking system will comprise a major part of the workload of the office but require no additional resources.
The office will also track the progress and continued eligibility of participating Scholars through their post-secondary careers using input provided by the Higher Education Aids Board. HEAB will annotate existing databases to identify Covenant Scholars. Because, no additional data will be collected, this effort can be absorbed within existing HEAB staff and resources.
This rule also requires the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Wisconsin Technical College System and the Department of Public Instruction to submit to the Office an annual report describing the nature of the support they provide to Covenant Scholars and the outcomes of that support. It is not anticipated that this report will be so detailed or burdensome that it requires additional resources for any of the reporting agencies.
This rule creates the Wisconsin Covenant College Access Network Council with representatives from major educational institutions in Wisconsin and additional representation from the business and non-profit communities. Representatives of these institutions will be expected to participate, without compensation, as part of their normal duties within the education system.
Local fiscal effect
Annually, the principal of each Wisconsin high school or principal's designee will submit the names of student Covenant applicants to the office along with a form verifying eligibility. High school officials have indicated to the office that this application and their verification of the application information can be conducted within the existing staffing and resources of the high schools.
Text of Proposed Rule
SECTION 1. Chapter Adm 80 is created to read:
Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program
Adm 80.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to define the various aspects of the Wisconsin covenant scholars program authorized by s.
39.437, Stats., as created by
2007 Wis. Act 20, as to the awarding of grants to Wisconsin covenant scholars, and to implement s.
16.257 Stats.
Adm 80.02 Definitions. In this chapter and s.
39.437, Stats:
(1) “Board" means the higher educational aids board.
(2) “Eligible institution" means a public or private, non-profit, accredited institution of higher education or a tribally controlled college in Wisconsin which is eligible to participate in the grant program authorized under s.
39.30, Stats.
(3) “Grant" means a grant awarded under the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program, unless otherwise specified.
(4) “Half-time enrollment" means enrollment in at least six academic credits per semester or the quarterly or special term equivalent as determined by the educational institution.
(5) “Full-time enrollment" means enrollment in at least twelve academic credits per semester or the quarterly or special term equivalent as determined by the educational institution.
(6) “Office" means the office of the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program.
(7) “Scholar" means a student determined to be eligible to receive a monetary award under the Wisconsin covenant scholar program.
(8) “High school" refers to grades nine through twelve.
(9) “Serious misdemeanor" means a misdemeanor involving bodily harm or a dangerous weapon.
