2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
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2021 ASSEMBLY BILL 859
January 18, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives THIESFELDT, WITTKE and L.
MYERS, cosponsored by Senators DARLING and BERNIER. Referred to
Committee on State Affairs.
1 AN ACT to affect 2019 Wisconsin Act 170, section 4 (1) (dm); relating to:
2 administration of the online early learning pilot program in the 2022-23 school
3 year.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
2019 Wisconsin Act 170 requires the Department of Public Instruction to award
a three-year contract to a service provider to administer an online early learning
pilot program to low-income children who reside in certain school districts. Act 170
provides that the service provider must administer the program during the 2020-21,
2021-22, and 2022-23 school years and specifies that the service provider must
administer the program in the following school districts:
1. A first class city school district (currently, only Milwaukee Public Schools).
2. The two urban school districts that have the largest reading achievement
gaps.
3. Three rural school districts selected by DPI that have reading achievement
gaps.
This bill provides that, in the 2022-23 school year, the service provider may,
after giving first preference to low-income children who reside in the school districts
specified in Act 170, extend administration of the program to low-income children
who reside in school districts other than those specified in Act 170. The bill provides
that, if the contract DPI awarded to the service provider contains provisions
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ASSEMBLY BILL 859
inconsistent with the bill, then the service provider may extend administration of the
program only if DPI consents.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
1 SECTION 1. 2019 Wisconsin Act 170, section 4 (1) (dm) is created to read:
2 [2019 Wisconsin Act 170] Section 4 (1) (dm) 1. In the 3rd school year of the
3 contract under par. (b), the service provider awarded the contract under par. (b) may,
4 after giving 1st preference to any eligible child who applies to participate in the
5 online early learning program, extend administration of the online early learning
6 program to children who satisfy the income eligibility criteria for a free or
7 reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) and who reside in school districts
8 other than a school district described in par. (d). The service provider may use any
9 remaining amounts paid under par. (c) 1. or provided under par. (c) 2. to extend
10 administration of the online early learning program as provided under this
11 subdivision.
12 2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., if the contract under par. (b) contains provisions
13 inconsistent with subd. 1., the service provider awarded the contract under par. (b)
14 may extend administration of the online early learning program as provided under
15 subd. 1. only if the department consents.
16 3. If the service provider awarded the contract under par. (b) elects to extend
17 administration of the online early learning program to additional children as
18 provided under subd. 1., the service provider shall report to the department under
19 pars. (e) and (em) 1. the same information with respect to the additional children as
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ASSEMBLY BILL 859 SECTION 1
1 the service provider is required to report under pars. (e) and (em) 1. with respect to
2 eligible children.
3 (END)