by Dan Rossmiller | May 3, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) received confirmation this morning that the U.S. Department of Education (USED) has granted final approval of Wisconsin’s ESSER III plan. ESSER III refers to federal COVID relief funding that was allocated to K-12 education under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), passed by Congress in March 2021. States were required by the APRA to submit plans for how they would spend this funding and get those plans approved by the USED.
Much of the state’s plan was approved by the USED in December 2021; however, the USED deemed a portion of the plan not to comply with provisions in the ARPA requiring funds to be used to address both the academic impact of lost instructional time during the pandemic and the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on certain subgroups of students. The state submitted a revised plan in early February addressing the USED’s objections and that plan was finally approved this week. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | May 2, 2022 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
Last Thursday (4/28), State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly convened the first meeting of a new State Superintendent’s Reading Advisory Council. The online meeting was the first of several such meetings.
Collectively, the Reading Advisory Council’s membership represents a variety of geographical areas, school district sizes, races, ethnicities, and reading philosophies. Council members are expected to bring their expertise about early literacy to the Council and to learn together and share information and recommendations with DPI about how to strengthen literacy learning in Wisconsin’s schools. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Apr 27, 2022 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
This week, school districts across the state received a record $40.6 million in Library Aid, aid which is disbursed annually to public school libraries across the state in April. This year’s allocation was paid out on Monday (April 25).
Each school district receives an allocation based its reported resident census count and the per child amount. This year’s distribtion is $35.31 (rounded) per census student. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Apr 25, 2022 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
Businessman Tim Michels today launched his candidacy for Governor, adding his name to a crowded Aug. 9 GOP primary ballot that will select the nominee to oppose incumbent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in the Nov. 8 election.
Evers is seeking a second term and observers say this fall’s Wisconsin governor’s race will be among the most hotly contested in the nation.
Michels, co-owner of Michels Corp., a family-owned energy and infrastructure construction business, is the latest entry into the race. He joins former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Marine Corps veteran Kevin Nicholson, and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun (R-Campbellsport) on the Repblican ticket. Ramthun is a Kewauskum school board member.
by Dan Rossmiller | Apr 19, 2022 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The Joint Legislative Council is a 22-member committee comprised of both Republican and Democratic state Senators and state Representatives.
Every two years, the Joint Legislative Council establishes special legislative study committees, which meet to study certain issues in depth during the interim period (the period after one legislative session ends and before the next legislative session begins) and to formulate legislative recommendations on those issues. (more…)
