by Dan Rossmiller | Apr 4, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog
In a speech last week, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona called on education stakeholders to make use of funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to address persistent and widespread teacher shortages.
Cardona urged states, postsecondary leaders, districts, and schools to consider establishing evidence-based teacher residency programs, creating registered apprenticeship programs for the teaching profession, and increasing teacher compensation along with a slew of other proposals. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Mar 23, 2022 | Election, Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The U.S. Supreme Court today (3/23) summarily reversed the decision of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court handed down earlier this month which adopted legislative redistricting maps submitted by Governor Evers. In a somewhat technical decision, the U.S. high court sided with arguments raised by state Republicans and remanded the case back to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for further proceedings not inconsistent with its order.
This means legislative district boundaries for districts on the November 2022 ballot remain unsettled at this time, even though state statutes provide that nomination papers for those offices may be circulated as soon as April 15. However, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s adoption of Congressional maps submitted by Governor Evers, so district lines for those races appear to be set, barring any further developments. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Mar 14, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog
The U.S. Department of Education (USED) recently released a new factsheet highlighting how states and local school districts can make use of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding to support high-quality career and technical education (CTE) programs.
In particular, the factsheet emphasizes CTE as a powerful way to reengage students to cultivate high-demand skills needed for jobs of the future.
This new guidance resource highlights several states’ efforts to use these resources to develop, expand, or otherwise implement CTE activities as part of their recovery efforts. The factsheet can be accessed here.
by Dan Rossmiller | Mar 10, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
On March 25, the Wisconsin Afterschool Network (WAN) will partner with the DPI to provide a 90-minute webinar focused on how the ESSER III 20% set-aside for activities to address learning loss due to COVID-19 can be met by the inclusion of comprehensive summer and after-school programs that implement evidenced-based intervention strategies via partnerships between districts and community-based organizations (CBO’s).
This webinar will also provide participants an opportunity to learn more about the ESSER III $5M dollar after-school competitive grant program to support additional school district and CBO and out-of-school time program partnerships.
Details:
March 25, 2022 – ESSER III Grant Information and Opportunities.
(11:00-12:30 pm via WebEx)
Click here to register for the webinar.
Funding to support this webinar is provided by the Wisconsin Department of Administration
by Chris Kulow | Feb 3, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) has approved the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) revised ARPA Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds III plan. The revisions address certain objections raised by the U.S. Department of Education to the release of a portion of the state’s ESSER III funding allocation. For more information on the process for applying for funds, see the DPI ESSER III webpage.
The WASB appreciates the willingness of the DPI and JFC to work together on this issue in the best interest of Wisconsin school districts. State Superintendent Jill Underly issued a statement and the WASB sent a letter thanking the JFC co-chairs, Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) & Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam), for approving the plan.
by Dan Rossmiller | Jan 25, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Budget, State Issue
A new report released today by the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) projects Wisconsin’s closing, net general fund balance at the end of the current biennium (June 30, 2023) to be just over $3.8 billion. This is slightly more than $2.88 billion above the net balance that was projected last July when the 2021-23 biennial budget was signed into law. The $3.8 billion balance is in addition to the $1.7 billion the state currently holds in its “rainy day” fund, known officially as the budget stabilization fund.
The $2.88 billion increase is the net result of:
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- an increase of $2.51 billion in estimated tax collections;
- an increase of $33.1 million in departmental revenues (non-tax receipts deposited into the state’s general fund); and
- a decrease of $339.4 million in net appropriations.
(more…)
