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WiRSA Update - March 13, 2024
Announcements
WiRSA Conference Registration 2024
Rural Schools and Communities!
Resilient Rural!
Monday, October 28 & Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Welcome Reception - October 27, 2023 - 7:00 p.m.
Click Here for - Registration / Conference / Room
Information
(Click Here to Register)
Nominations for our WiRSA rural school awards!
This is a great opportunity to recognize the outstanding staff, community members, and organizations
that do so much to support our schools.
Website Link
School Board Member of the Year!
Administrator of the Year!
Principal of the Year!
Teacher of the Year
Support Staff Member of the Year!
Community Partner of the Year!
School Advocacy of the Year!
CESA Employee of the Year!
WiRSA Conference - Request for Proposals
WiRSA Conference - Vendor Information and Registration
WiRSA Conference - Silent & Live Auction Donations
(Google Form Donation Link)WiRSA Conference - Silent & Live Auction Donations (Google Form Donation Link)
We will once again have a silent and live auction to support our WiRSA high school senior students and student-teacher scholarships. Responses can be adjusted if needed. Keep your URL link saved after you submit an auction item.
Highlights / Opportunity
I was contacted by Tina Salzman, the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the director of the Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation program (WIPP).
—————-Leaders play a critical role in schools, and these opportunities can help fill our state's leadership pipeline. UW-Madison is committed to supporting the development of exceptional educational leaders, and this initiative is a testament to our dedication to fostering a diverse and highly qualified workforce across Wisconsin.
—————-There is an exciting opportunity for rural educators aspiring to pursue a master's degree in educational leadership at UW-Madison. Thanks to the generosity of Barbara S. and Glen T. Thompson, we are offering an opportunity to apply for financial support upon acceptance into the 2024-25 WIPP cohort (or our on-campus K12 program.)
Please click on this link to see and share the flyer
Funding is specifically designated for individuals working in rural districts.
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Funding is specifically designated for individuals working in rural districts. 〰️
BlueGreen Alliance has been working to pull together resources and information to help school districts across Wisconsin understand and take advantage of federal funding opportunities for clean energy, weatherization, and energy efficiency projects and upgrades.
In Addition, they are planning an in-person event at the Oregon School District in a few months that will include a tour of Forest Edge Elementary. The Forest Edge Elementary is Wisconsin’s first net-zero school. There will be a roundtable discussion about the opportunities and resources available to school districts.
Here are a few resources put together by BlueGreen Alliance:
BGA’s Roadmap to Navigating Federal Funding for Public Buildings – This guide includes info on federal programs for school districts and other public and nonprofit entities, relevant timelines and requirements, and some basic info on direct pay and stacking tax credits.
Making Clean Energy Tax Credits Deliver for the Public: A User Guide for Governments, Schools, and Nonprofits – This guide offers a bit more detail on tax credits and direct pay.
There is a webinar that BGA participated in that focused on direct pay for cities (much of the info included is also applicable to school districts): https://www.americanprogress.org/events/how-cities-can-take-advantage-of-direct-pay/
If any of you have specific questions that Carly might be able to help answer, please feel welcome to share my contact Carly at:
Carly Ebben Eaton, PhD
Member of USW Local 2002
WI Policy Organizer
920-740-9347
Legislative Update
Gov. Evers Press Releases
Early Literacy Program
The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) selected the early literacy curricula that will comprise the recommended list of curricula under the 2023 Wisconsin Act 20. DPI had recommended 11 curricula. Democrats on the committee moved to approve the 11 curricula proposed by the DPI but were voted down. The GOP-supported motion approved only the four curricula selected by the Council on Early Literacy Curricula:
Core Knowledge Language Arts K-3,
Our EL Education Language Arts,
Wit, and Wisdom with Pk-3 Reading Curriculum
Bookworms Reading and Writing K-3.
**Schools are not required to use one of these four recommendations, but there is an opportunity to have some of the cost reimbursed by the state if your school decides to choose one from the list.
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Bill Information
The Assembly session is complete, and the Senate session's last day was 3-12-2024
AB1050 and SB955 passed and has been sent to the Gov. desk. Super job, everyone!
This funding extension would allow our DOJ to continue our work to proactively protect schools, prevent violence from occurring, mitigate trauma, and respond effectively to promote recovery if a crisis event does occur.
Quick view of Bills Enrolled or Enacted Into Law (Link)
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News Articles
WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM
WISCONSIN EXAMINER
DOJ (Department of Justice) /WSCCA
Update From NREA (National Rural Education Association)
Present at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education in Savannah. Proposals are due March 24th. NREA Website Link
Update From CEF (Center for Education Funding)
Policy Intelligence and Education News
President’s FY 2025 budget has been released – Budget materials are at these links:
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Fiscal Year 2025 Budget document has separate articles for major agencies. The Department of Education starts on page 69, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) starts on page 77, and the Department of Labor starts on page 101. OMB’s main budget webpage also has various topical fact sheets and links to other budget volumes.
The Department of Education’s own budget summary document will be posted here today at 1:30pm ET).
The Department of Labor’s budget documents should be posted here (it currently still shows last year’s FY 2024 budget request).
The Department of Health and Human Services budget page is here (it may update to this page once the FY 2025 materials are posted)
The Institute of Museum and Library Services has some budget materials here (its FY 2025 congressional budget justification may be posted here)
Links for budget materials from OMB and agencies with education fundingOffice of Management and Budget (OMB) – The President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget document has separate articles for major agencies. The Department of Education starts on page 69, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) starts on page 77, and the Department of Labor starts on page 101. OMB’s main budget webpage also has various topical fact sheets and links to other budget volumes.
Department of Education (ED) budget materials - The Department of Education’s own budget documents, including the 88-page summary booklet that includes a program-by-program table for discretionary funding at the end, slides from ED’s budget presentation today, and detailed congressional budget justifications. The tables that show funding by state are on a separate page now.
Health and Human Services (HHS) budget in brief – includes Head Start, child care, preschool development grants.
Department of Labor budget materials – includes training and employment programs and apprenticeships.
Institute of Museum and Library Services FY 2025 budget information is not yet posted.
U.S. Department of Education News
Statement by Secretary Cardona on the President's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
Sign up for updates and alerts from FSA so you don’t miss any important announcements: outreach.fsapartners.ed.gov
NREA partners (schools, groups, etc.) may request having an FSA representative attend an upcoming event by filling out the Outreach Event Form.
Curious about how your state or district is doing on FAFSA completion? The Department is now providing weekly updates to allow high schools to track progress, target supports, and encourage their students to submit a FAFSA form. View the data here.
This resource gives FAFSA applicants and contributors tips to help them successfully complete and submit the 2024–25 FAFSA form.
Specific questions can be addressed to: FSAOutreach@ed.gov
Thank You!
WiRSA 2023
Conference Sponsors
