by Chris Kulow | Jun 5, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The
Assembly Committee on Local Government will hold a
public hearing on Tuesday, June 6 on a number of bills including one (
Assembly Bill 233) that would allow school board members to serve as voluntary school bus drivers provided certain conditions are met (see below). The bill is an effort to provide more potential school bus drivers in an environment where many schools are facing driver shortages. The
Senate companion bill (note: companion bills are identical versions introduced in the other house so they can make their way through the legislative process more quickly) was recommended for approval by the Senate education committee on a
unanimous, bipartisan vote.
The WASB supports this bill.
(more…)
by Chris Kulow | May 19, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The Senate Committee on Education will take public comments at a hearing at 10 am on Tuesday, May 23 in room 330 SW (State Capitol) on the following legislation:
Senate Bill 115–Requiring one-half credit of personal financial literacy for high school graduation.
Under current law, a school board may grant a high school diploma to a pupil only if the pupil meets specific statutory requirements, including earning a certain number of credits in various subjects in the high school grades. (more…)
by Chris Kulow | May 18, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
The Assembly Committee on Education will hold a public hearing on three bills after voting to recommend two bills from a previous hearing. The committee will meet at 9:30 am on Thursday, May 25 in room 417 North (State Capitol).
Reminder: an executive session is a vote of the committee on whether to recommend the legislation for passage by the full Assembly. It usually includes a discussion among committee members but no public comment is taken. A public hearing includes public comment on the proposals. (more…)
by Chris Kulow | Apr 26, 2023 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue, WASB
The
State Bill Tracker for the 2023-24 session of the state legislature is now up on the WASB website.
This chart features state legislation the Government Relations team are tracking during the legislative session, including if the WASB has taken a position and the relevant WASB resolution(s). The bills are listed in numerical order with Assembly Bills first followed by Senate Bills.
Access the tracker here: https://wasb.org/advocacy-government-relations/wasb-bill-tracking-chart
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.
(more…)
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:
(more…)
