Senate Bill 667 introduces a new grant program for school boards in Wisconsin that enter into whole grade sharing agreements. The bill mandates the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to provide four-year grants, amounting to $500 per pupil enrolled in the specified grades under the agreement. However, DPI is prohibited from awarding new grants unless it confirms that the appropriated funds are sufficient to cover all previously awarded grants. This ensures that existing commitments are fully funded before new grants are issued. Additionally, the bill requires annual reporting from both the school boards receiving grants and DPI to the Joint Committee on Finance, detailing the recipients and the utilization of the funds.

The bill creates two new sections in the statutes: 20.255 (2) (bp), which establishes the grant program as a continuing appropriation, and 118.50 (5m), which outlines the eligibility criteria and funding process for the grants. The new language specifies that grants will begin in the 2026-27 school year and includes requirements for annual reporting by both the school boards and DPI regarding the use of the grant funds. This legislative initiative aims to support collaborative educational efforts among school districts while ensuring fiscal responsibility in the distribution of state funds.