16.977 History
History: 2001 a. 16;
2003 a. 33 ss.
792,
793; Stats. 2003 s. 16.977;
2015 a. 55.
16.9785
16.9785
Purchases of computers by teachers. The department shall negotiate with private vendors to facilitate the purchase of computers and other educational technology, as defined in
s. 24.60 (1r), by public, private, and tribal elementary and secondary school teachers for their private use. The department shall attempt to make available types of computers and other educational technology under this section that will encourage and assist teachers in becoming knowledgeable about the technology and its uses and potential uses in education.
16.9785 History
History: 1995 a. 27,
225;
1997 a. 27;
2001 a. 16, s.
308; Stats. 2001 s. 22.19;
2003 a. 33 s.
796; Stats. 2003 s. 16.9785;
2009 a. 302.
16.979
16.979
Telecommunications operations and planning. 16.979(2)(2)
Powers and duties. The department shall ensure maximum utility, cost-benefit and operational efficiency of all telecommunications systems and activities of this state, and those which interface with cities, counties, villages, towns, other states and the federal government. The department, with the assistance and cooperation of all other agencies, shall:
16.979(2)(a)
(a) Develop and maintain a statewide long-range telecommunications plan, which will serve as a major element for budget preparation, as guidance for technical implementation and as a means of ensuring the maximum use of shared systems by agencies when this would result in operational or economic improvements or both.
16.979(2)(b)
(b) Develop policy, standards and technical and procedural guidelines to ensure a coordinated and cost-effective approach to telecommunications system acquisition and utilization.
16.979(2)(c)
(c) Maintain a comprehensive inventory of all state-owned or leased telecommunications equipment and services.
16.979(2)(d)
(d) Monitor overall state expenditures for telecommunications systems and prepare an annual financial report on such expenditures.
16.979(2)(e)
(e) Review the operation of all telecommunications systems of this state to ensure technical sufficiency, adequacy and consistency with goals and objectives.
16.979(2)(f)
(f) Perform the functions of agency telecommunications officer for those agencies with no designated focal point for telecommunications planning, coordination, technical review and procurement.
16.979(3)
(3) Private college and university participation in state telecommunications network. The department may allow regionally accredited 4-year nonprofit colleges and universities that are incorporated in this state or that have their regional headquarters and principal place of business in this state to participate in any telecommunications network administered by the department.
16.979 History
History: 1977 c. 418;
1993 a. 246;
1997 a. 150;
2001 a. 16 ss.
375 to
380; Stats. 2001 s. 22.41;
2003 a. 33 ss.
797 to
800; Stats. 2003 s. 16.979.
FEDERAL RESOURCE ACQUISITION
16.98
16.98
Federal resource acquisition. 16.98(1)
(1) The department shall engage in such activities as the secretary deems necessary to ensure the maximum utilization of federal resources by state agencies and institutions and other eligible organizations and units of government, including community development corporations as defined in
s. 234.94 (2). The department shall acquire excess and surplus real and personal property and shall charge fees to recipients for costs of transportation, packing, crating, handling and program overhead, except that the department may transfer any excess or surplus personal property to the department of tourism, upon request of the department of tourism, at no cost, subject to any limitation or restriction imposed by federal law.
16.98(2)
(2) The department may, in accordance with federal law, operate warehouses and otherwise provide for the temporary storage of property being transferred.
16.98(3)
(3) All proceeds from the sale of land, buildings, supplies and equipment received under this section shall be credited to the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (1) (im) or
(ka). Such proceeds may be used for the purchase of lands and buildings or for construction or improvement of buildings for the purpose of storing and handling excess and surplus property.
16.98(4)
(4) From the appropriations under
s. 20.505 (1) (fo) and
(kg), the department may provide grants to any organization with which the department contracts to operate the program under
sub. (1).
16.981
16.981
Transfer of appropriations. On June 30 of each fiscal year, the department shall determine the amount within the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (1) (im) by which total expenditures for the operation of warehouses and distribution centers under the federal resource acquisition program have exceeded income attributable to that operation under that appropriation as of that date. Immediately prior to the end of the fiscal year, the department shall transfer to the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (1) (im) an amount equal to that excess from the unencumbered balances in the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (1) (a). If the excess exceeds the unencumbered balance in any fiscal year, the department shall transfer all of the unencumbered balance. If the unencumbered balance exceeds the excess in any fiscal year, the department shall transfer an amount equal to the excess.
16.981 History
History: 1987 a. 27.
TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
16.99
16.99
Definitions. In this subchapter:
16.99(1m)
(1m) “Data line" means a data circuit that provides direct access to the Internet.
16.99(2g)
(2g) “Educational agency" means a school district, charter school sponsor, juvenile correctional facility, private school, tribal school, as defined in
s. 115.001 (15m), cooperative educational service agency, technical college district, private college, public library system, public library board, public museum, the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
16.99(3)
(3) “Educational technology" means technology used in the education or training of any person or in the administration of an elementary or secondary school and related telecommunications services.
16.99(3b)
(3b) “Juvenile correctional facility" means the Copper Lake School and the Lincoln Hills School.
16.99(3d)
(3d) “Political subdivision" means any city, village, town, or county.
16.99(3g)
(3g) “Private college" means a private, regionally accredited, 4-year, nonprofit college or university that is incorporated in this state or that has its regional headquarters and principal place of business in this state or a tribally controlled college in this state.
16.99(3p)
(3p) “Public museum" means a nonprofit or publicly owned museum located in this state that is accredited by the American Association of Museums or an educational center that is affiliated with such a museum.
16.99(5)
(5) “Universal service fund" means the trust fund established under
s. 25.95.
16.99(6)
(6) “Video link" means a 2-way interactive video circuit.
16.993
16.993
Technology for educational achievement in Wisconsin; departmental duties. The department shall do all of the following:
16.993(1)
(1) In cooperation with school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, the technical college system board, and the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, promote the efficient, cost-effective procurement, installation, and maintenance of educational technology by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts, and the University of Wisconsin System.
16.993(2)
(2) Identify the best methods of providing preservice and in-service training for teachers related to educational technology.
16.993(3)
(3) Enter into cooperative purchasing agreements under
s. 16.73 (1) under which participating school districts and cooperative educational service agencies may contract for their professional employees to receive training concerning the effective use of educational technology.
16.993(4)
(4) In cooperation with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the technical college system board, the department of public instruction and other entities, support the development of courses for the instruction of professional employees who are licensed by the state superintendent of public instruction concerning the effective use of educational technology.
16.993(5)
(5) Provide telecommunications access to educational agencies under the program established under
s. 16.997.
16.993(6)
(6) No later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, submit a biennial report concerning the department's activities under this subchapter to the governor, and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under
s. 13.172 (3).
16.993(7)
(7) Purchase educational technology materials, supplies, equipment, and contractual services for school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts, the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison under
s. 16.72 (8), and establish standards and specifications for purchases of educational technology hardware and software by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts, and the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
16.993(8)
(8) Purchase educational technology equipment for use by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, and public educational institutions in this state and permit the districts, agencies, and institutions to purchase or lease the equipment, with an option to purchase the equipment at a later date. This subsection does not require the purchase or lease of any educational technology equipment from the department.
16.993(10)
(10) Coordinate an annual conference on educational technology, hosted by the governor, for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educators and establish a schedule of fees for attending the conference, which fees may not exceed the actual costs incurred in conducting the conference. All fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.505 (4) (hc).
16.994
16.994
Information technology block grants. 16.994(1)
(1)
Competitive grants. In fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17, the department may annually award grants on a competitive basis to eligible school districts for the purpose of improving information technology infrastructure. In awarding grants under this section, the department shall give priority to applications for school districts in which the percentage of pupils who satisfy the income eligibility criteria under
42 USC 1758 (b) (1) for a free or reduced-price lunch is greater than in other applicant school districts. The department shall require an applicant for a grant under this section to provide all of the following:
16.994(1)(a)
(a) A description of the specific infrastructure, including any equipment, that the applicant intends to purchase with grant proceeds.
16.994(1)(b)
(b) The applicant's plan to purchase, install, and use the information technology infrastructure described in
par. (a).
16.994(1)(c)
(c) A description of the applicant's readiness to use information technology infrastructure purchased with grant proceeds.
16.994(2)
(2) Eligible school districts. A school district is eligible for a grant under this section if the school district's membership in the previous school year divided by the school district's area in square miles is 13 or less.
16.994(3)
(3) Maximum awards. The total amount the department may award to an eligible school district under
sub. (1) during the 2015-17 fiscal biennium may not exceed the following:
16.994(3)(a)
(a) If the membership of the eligible school district is fewer than 750 pupils, $30,000.
16.994(3)(b)
(b) If the membership of the eligible school district is 750 pupils to 1,500 pupils, $40 multiplied by the school district's membership.
16.994(3)(c)
(c) If the membership of the eligible school district is more than 1,500 pupils, $60,000.
16.994(4)
(4) Funding limitation. The department may not award grants under this section that total more than $7,500,000 in any fiscal year.
Effective date note
NOTE: This section is repealed eff. 7-1-17 by
2015 Wis. Act 55.
16.994 History
History: 2015 a. 55.
16.995
16.995
Educational technology infrastructure financial assistance. 16.995(1)(1)
Financial assistance authorized. The department may provide financial assistance under this section to school districts from the proceeds of public debt contracted under
s. 20.866 (2) (zc) and to public library boards from the proceeds of public debt contracted under
s. 20.866 (2) (zcm). Financial assistance under this section may be used only for the purpose of upgrading the electrical wiring of school and library buildings in existence on October 14, 1997, and installing and upgrading computer network wiring. The department may not provide any financial assistance under this section after July 26, 2003.
16.995(2)
(2) Financial assistance applications, terms, and conditions. The department shall establish application procedures for, and the terms and conditions of, financial assistance under this section. The department shall make a loan to a school district or public library board, or to a municipality on behalf of a public library board, in an amount equal to 50 percent of the total amount of financial assistance for which the department determines the school district or public library board is eligible and provide a grant to the school district or public library board for the remainder of the total. The terms and conditions of any financial assistance under this section may include the provision of professional building construction services under
s. 16.85 (15). The department shall determine the interest rate on loans under this section. The interest rate shall be as low as possible but shall be sufficient to fully pay all interest expenses incurred by the state in making the loans and to provide reserves that are reasonably expected to be required in the judgment of the department to ensure against losses arising from delinquency and default in the repayment of the loans. The term of a loan under this section may not exceed 10 years.
16.995(3)
(3) Repayment of loans. The department shall credit all moneys received from school districts for repayment of loans under this section to the appropriation account under
s. 20.505 (4) (ha). The department shall credit all moneys received from public library boards or from municipalities on behalf of public library boards for repayment of loans under this section to the appropriation account under
s. 20.505 (4) (hb).
16.995(3m)
(3m) Public debt repayment. To the extent that sufficient moneys for the provision of educational telecommunications access under
s. 16.997 are available in the appropriation account under
s. 20.505 (4) (mp) after payment of the administrative expenses specified in
s. 20.505 (4) (mp), the department shall use those available moneys to reimburse
s. 20.505 (4) (es) and
(et) for the payment of principal and interest costs incurred in financing educational technology infrastructure financial assistance under this section and to make full payment of the amounts determined by the building commission under
s. 13.488 (1) (m).
16.995(4)
(4) Funding for financial assistance. The department, subject to the limits of
s. 20.866 (2) (zc) and
(zcm), may request that the building commission contract public debt in accordance with
ch. 18 to fund financial assistance under this section.
16.995 History
History: 1997 a. 27,
41;
1999 a. 9;
2001 a. 16,
104;
2003 a. 33 ss.
238q,
1068d to
1072d; Stats. 2003 s. 16.995;
2005 a. 25.
16.996
16.996
Educational technology teacher training grants. 16.996(1)(1)
Purpose. The department shall annually award grants to eligible consortia of school districts for the costs of training teachers to use educational technology.
16.996(2)
(2) Eligible consortia. A consortium of school districts is eligible for a grant under this section if all of the following apply:
16.996(2)(a)
(a) The consortium consists of 3 or more school districts.
16.996(2)(b)
(b) Each school district's membership in the previous school year divided by that school district's area in square miles is 13 or less.
16.996(2)(c)
(c) The consortium applies for a grant under this section.
16.996(3)
(3) Grant amount. In any year the department awards grants under this section, subject to
sub. (4), the department shall pay to each eligible consortium the sum of the following amounts:
16.996(3)(a)
(a) For each school district in the consortium that had a membership of less than 750 pupils in the previous year, $7,500.
16.996(3)(b)
(b) For each school district in the consortium that had a membership of 750 pupils to 1,500 pupils in the previous year, $10 multiplied by the school district's membership in the previous year.
16.996(3)(c)
(c) For each school district in the consortium that had a membership of more than 1,500 pupils in the previous year, $15,000.
16.996(4)(a)(a) The department may not award grants under this section that total more than $1,500,000 in any fiscal year.
16.996(4)(b)
(b) If, in any fiscal year, $1,500,000 is insufficient to pay the full amount under
sub. (3), the department shall prorate the payments among the eligible consortia.
16.996 History
History: 2015 a. 55.
16.997
16.997
Educational telecommunications access program. 16.997(1)(1) Except as provided in
s. 196.218 (4t), the department shall promulgate rules establishing an educational telecommunications access program to provide educational agencies with access to data lines and video links.
16.997(2)
(2) The rules promulgated under
sub. (1) shall do all of the following:
16.997(2)(a)
(a) Allow an educational agency to make a request to the department for access to data lines and video links.
