by Dan Rossmiller | Dec 6, 2021 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The U.S. Department of Education (USED) today announced it has approved the release of 95 percent (nearly $1.4 billion) of Wisconsin’s ESSER III funding allocation to school districts. ESSER III funding was provided under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) enacted by Congress in March 2021.
However, in its approval letter, the USED disallowed the portion of Wisconsin’s plan that allocated 5 percent (about $77 million) of the funding under conditions imposed by the Wisconsin legislature’s Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee (JFC) that rewarded districts that held predominately in-person instruction. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Dec 1, 2021 | Federal Budget, Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog
Special education is the largest, single unfunded mandate placed on Wisconsin schools and the continual underfunding of special education costs is a vexing problem for Wisconsin school boards. However, relief may be on the way.
Federal legislation known as the IDEA Full Funding Act was reintroduced on Nov. 16. The bill reflects an effort to finally ensure Congress fully meets its longstanding commitment to fund special education services required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The bipartisan and bicameral support for the bill–i.e., support from members of both parties in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives–is raising hopes for its passage. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Nov 22, 2021 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog
The U.S. Department of Education recently published a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that provides information and answers questions about the allowable uses of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund and Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds by state education agencies (SEAs), such as the DPI, and local education agencies (LEAs), such school districts, for transportation.
The FAQ document includes information on the uses of these funds to “address the current regional and national challenges with hiring and retaining a sufficient number of school bus drivers.” The new FAQs are intended to supplement the transportation-related questions included in the earlier ESSER and GEER Use of Funds Guidance published in May of this year.
by Dan Rossmiller | Nov 22, 2021 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog
Last Thursday (11/18), the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it has submitted to the Federal Register for public comment a proposed Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) Information Collection Request package for the 2021–22 school year.
From the OCR:
“The package describes key civil rights data OCR intends to collect from the nation’s public schools and districts. OCR plans to introduce new data categories, such as those relating to students’ educational experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and restore key data categories from previous collections. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Nov 8, 2021 | Federal Budget, Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, National Issue
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 228-206 on Friday to pass a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, which now heads to President Biden, who has indicated he will sign the bill into law “soon.”
Thirteen 13 Republican House members and all but six House Democrats voted in favor of passage of the bill. The U.S. Senate had passed the bill by a 69-30 margin back in August. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Sep 21, 2021 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog
Next week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will open a second Emergency Connectivity Fund Program application filing window for schools and libraries to request funding for connected devices (e.g., laptops and tablets) and broadband connections (e.g., WiFi hotspots) for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons for the current 2021-22 school year. The second application filing window will open next Tuesday, September 28, 2021 and close on October 13, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET. (more…)
