by Dan Rossmiller | May 1, 2023 | Federal Budget, Legislative Update Blog
The federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program is now accepting applications from qualifying school transportation providers for its second round of grant funding intended to fund the replacement of existing school buses with clean and zero-emission (ZE) school buses. The deadline for applying is August 22, 2023.
The EPA anticipates awarding approximately $400 million in competitive grant funding under the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grants Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Funding for this program was approved as part of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
Eligible school districts, tribes, contractors, and nonprofit school transportation associations may apply for funding to replace diesel-powered buses with new non-diesel models, including zero-emission electric school buses, and propane, or compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses.
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by Dan Rossmiller | Apr 29, 2023 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Budget
Many of Governor Tony Evers’ budget proposals will be on the chopping block Tuesday (May 2) as the GOP-controlled, budget-writing Joint Finance Committee (JFC) takes its first votes on the budget.
In a memo to committee members released on Friday (April 28), JFC Co-chairs, Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) outlined the process the Committee will follow in reviewing the 2023-25 state budget.
The Co-Chairs’ memo also stated their intention to draft a motion to remove a list of 545 of Evers’ proposals from further budget consideration. The full list of items was contained in the memo.
The meeting notice for Tuesday’s (May 2) executive (voting) session was also released Friday (April 28). That notice included the draft motion and list of items to be removed. (See page 2 of the notice.)
The list of items slated for removal that are related to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is provided below.
Interestingly, the governor’s recommendation to provide $10 million per year for early literacy and reading improvement is not on the list of items slated for removal. That item can be found at page 493 of the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) summary document. It is item #6.
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by Dan Rossmiller | Apr 24, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands has informed the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) that a record $52 million is available for payment to school districts as Library Aid this year. As a result, aid for school libraries from the Common School Fund in the 2022-23 school year will be $45.38 per census student.
By comparison, last year, school districts across the state received a then-record $40.6 million in Library Aid, with a per census student distribution equal to about $35.31.
Library Aid is disbursed annually to public school libraries across the state in April. Each school district receives an allocation based its reported resident census count and the per child amount.
Library Aid, which is generated from investment earnings on the state’s Common School Fund, is to be used by school librarians and library media specialists primarily to purchase books and technology for students to use in school libraries. Funds are to be used in the same fiscal year as they are received.
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by Dan Rossmiller | Apr 24, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The state Senate Education Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 25 at 10:00 am on two bills and the confirmation of several appointments. The committee, chaired by Sen. John Jagler (R-Watertown, pictured), will meet in Room 201 Southeast of the State Capitol.
You can view the public hearing notice here.
The committee will hold a public hearing on the following two bills:
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by Dan Rossmiller | Apr 17, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The Assembly Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing for 10:00 am Thursday, April 20, to take testimony on three Assembly bills, including a bill that would require students to complete a half-credit course in personal financial literacy to graduate from high school.
The committee is chaired by state Rep. Joel Kitchens (pictured), a former president of the Sturgeon Bay School Board.
The hearing will take place in Room 412 East, of the State Capitol. Bills scheduled for a hearing include: (more…)
