WiRSA INFO
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Assembly Committee on Education
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Teacher Apprenticeship Dept. of Work Force Develpment
School Data Tools
DPI - Legislator by School District
Special Education Interactive Map
2022-23 Interactive State Map Voucher Aid Reduction for Wisconsin Public Schools
ELC (Education for Law Center - Special Education Funding Crunch Information
WiRSA Update - July 16, 2024
Announcments
In the near future, I will begin highlighting our keynote speakers and breakout sessions for our WiRSA conference in October.
Our WiRSA conference keynotes will inspire and rejuvenate, and our breakout sessions will provide you with valuable information to support your school district's vision and mission.
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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 -
Information and Registration
(Click Here to Register)
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WiRSA Conference, Vendor & Sponsor Reistration, & Live Auction Donation Link
Donations are coming in!
Thank you!
WiRSA Conference - Vendor Registration and Information
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.
SOLO Stove
Wisconsin Beverages
Wisconsin Cheese
It is going to be a GREAT conference!
Highlights / Opportunity
Rural Wisconsin school district calls on state to stop funding vouchers
“A small rural Wisconsin school district that says property taxes have increased now that about a dozen students are attending a voucher school, and the school board is asking the state for relief.”
“The Kickapoo Area School District passed a resolution this spring calling for lawmakers to stop using public tax dollars to fund private school vouchers. The district is also asking that public spending on private school be outlined on property tax bills.”
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WPEN - (Wisconsin Public Education Network) Summer Summit! July 30 & July 31!
Wisconsin Public Education Network, a statewide nonprofit organization that advocates for strong and equitable public schools, will hold its 10th Annual Summer Summit in Madison on July 30 & 31, hosted by the Madison Metropolitan School District and Madison Teachers Incorporated (MTI), in partnership with the Madison Public Schools Foundation, DPI, Wisconsin Coalition for Community Schools, and more.
This year’s Summit provides opportunities to demand and deliver the thriving public schools our students and educators deserve as we learn, plan, and strategize around the themes of racial justice, educational equity, and unfair impacts of disinvestment and privatization on students attending Wisconsin public schools.
WPEN’s Summer Summit Session Schedule & Registration!
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Information on the Constitutional Questions:
The referendum asks for voter approval on two separate questions. They read as follows:
Question One: “Delegation of appropriation power. Shall Section 35 (1) of Article IV of the Constitution be created to provide that the Legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?”
Question Two: “Allocation of federal moneys. Shall Section 35 (2) of Article IV of the Constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the Legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?”
Who Will Decide How Federal Funds Are Spent?
Next month, voters will have to decide whether to limit the authority of Wisconsin governors to spend federal funds and give greater authority over them to the Legislature. The changes could affect how the state spends regular federal aid for roads, the environment, health care, and disaster response, as well as emergency federal aid, depending on how the constitutional changes are implemented. Here we seek to explain this highly technical issue for voters casting ballots in the statewide referendum.
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Study committee meets for first time to consider future of the University of Wisconsin System
“A study committee made up of lawmakers and members of the public will spend the next few months discussing the future of the University of Wisconsin system and solutions for ongoing concerns, which appeared to be wide ranging during the panel’s first meeting on Thursday.”
“The group will provide legislative recommendations when it wraps up its work late this year. It comes after a legislative session that was marked by a showdown over diversity, equity and inclusion, controversy over free speech on campuses as well as the financial future of the UW system.”
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Engage Rocket - PODCASTS
Creating a Culture of Listening and Action: The Secret to a Thriving School District
Principal Effectiveness - Empowering Leaders to Drive Systemic Change
Building the Future: Systems for Growing Leadership in Schools
Attracting and Retaining Top Talent in K-12 Education
If you are interested in participating in a podcast through Engage Rocket, feel free to contact Dr. Jim at jim.k@engagerocket.co
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USDA Makes Record-Breaking $14.3 Million Investment in Farm to School Grants
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WI Office of Children's Mental Health: KIDS COUNT Data Book released. Largely based on 2022 data, the latest release includes national findings and state profiles. Wisconsin ranked 11th in the nation for overall child well-being.
Highlighting the WiRSA Recognition Award
Nominations! CLICK HERE!
This is a great opportunity to recognize the outstanding staff, community members, and organizations
that do so much to support our rural schools.
**To be nominated you must be a school board of education member in a WiRSA member school district.
Nomination Criteria Link & Printable PDF Below
Highlights / Opportunity
Picture
FNS Nutrition Programs
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is working to ensure all communities have access to foods that support good health and well-being. This focus on nutrition security builds on and complements their longstanding efforts to address food insecurity and emphasizes the co-existence of food insecurity and diet related diseases. Watch their new video, which highlights how FNS nutrition assistance programs help all Americans thrive.
FNS works to end hunger and obesity through the administration of 16 federal nutrition assistance programs including WIC, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and school meals. In partnership with state and tribal governments, their programs serve one in four Americans during the course of a year.
DPI - News
DPI moving forward with school spending transparency website
The Department of Public Instruction is moving forward with a website to disclose details of school spending after the Joint Finance Committee dropped an objection to including information on private schools.
New statewide reading screener provides educators with innovative support in teaching students to read - 07/15/2024
Income eligibility guidelines updated for school and day care meals - 07/08/2024
State superintendent statement on SCOWI decision - 07/05/2024
State superintendent statement on Act 10 court ruling - 07/03/2024
Legislative Update
Important Information addressing the July 1 equalization aid estimate. This information was also sent via SAA through their update.
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WASB (Wisconsin Association of School Boards) Blog News
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Legislative Maps - 2024 & 2022 (Interactive)
You can find your legislator and their contact information by CLICKING THIS LINK and entering your address.
2024 Wisconsin State Assembly Primary Races
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Wisconsin Elections Commission - Website
Candidates on the ballot by election - Partisan Primary
Candidates on the ballot by election - General Election
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Gov. Evers Press Releases
News Articles
University of Wisconsin’s - Community Economic Development (Newsletter)
WISPOLITICS
WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM
Wisconsin Public Radio
WISCONSIN EXAMINER
AP - News
PENN Live / Patriot News
Pa.’s new budget funds major boosts for schools, economic development
Combined increases in the basic education subsidies for all schools and new “adequacy” payments for districts in line for a boost after successful court challenges the Pennsylvania’s school funding system are up a combined $811 million, to nearly $9 billion.
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY /WSCCA
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY SAFETY RESOURCES TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES VIRTUAL LEARNING
Call for 2025 WSSCA / WJOA Annual Conference Breakout Session / Workshop Proposals
The Annual Conference Planning Committee is seeking proposals for breakout sessions/workshops at the Annual Conference on March 6 & 7, 2025.
Proposal Information Needed
To submit a proposal, please email conferenceproposals@wssca.org with the following information. Proposal submittal deadline is September 8, 2024.
Session/workshop title
Presenter names, titles, organizations and email address (Presenter information may be added or corrected later. But if known, please add when submitting so duplicate submissions can be caught.)
Proposal description - generally, 100-150 words; write it as though this is the description you want shown in the conference e-booklet and conference marketing communications, use third-person point of view
Learning objectives - explain what the main takeaway for attendees is
Methodology/Engagement - explain how you are going to conduct your presentation and facilitate engagement with workshop attendees.
List all school districts, exhibiting companies or other organizations planning to participate in this session.
Indicate if you are willing to conduct a post conference session as a repeat or in-depth follow-up presentation to individuals not able to attend the conference
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Update From NREA (National Rural Education Association) From the NREA Weekly Update
Become a Member - View State Affiliates - Listen to the NREA Podcast
Public Schools: Where All Students Are Welcome
NPE/NPE Action 2025 National Conference
The next NPE/NPE Action National Conference will take place in Columbus, Ohio, on April 5-6, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. You can register for the conference and reserve your discounted room here. By registering now, you will get the early bird discount and a discounted room choice.
Panel applications are now open as well. Applications for panels are due by September 10.
Update From CEF (Center for Education Funding)
Policy Intelligence and Education News
House Appropriations Committee markup of FY 2025 Labor-HHS-Education bill – Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee marked up and reported its fiscal year (FY) 2025 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill on a party line vote, with no Democratic support. It also changed allocations for three bills, including cutting the Labor-HHS-Education bill by $789 million but I do not believe that cut affects any education funding. The Committee has not yet posted its usual documents with all the amendments and all the vote tallies (it was a 12-hour markup covering three bills!), but those two documents should eventually be posted at this link. I discovered a helpful Twitter account (@AppropsAmendmts) that posts the text of all the amendments and vote outcomes in real time, but I don’t know who runs it so can’t vouch for it. CEF’s Twitter (@edfunding) posted the education-related amendments. They education-funding amendments were:
DeLauro amendment #1 – Add $4.7 billion for Title I – This rejects the bill’s cut in new funding and rescission of advance funding. Amendment failed by a vote of 26-31, with Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) the only Republican voting aye.
Aderholt amendment #2 – en bloc amendment adding funding and policy changes that included cutting $10 million from Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and adding $10 million to Charter Schools. Amendment passed by a vote of 33-24.
Frankel 2d degree amendment to Aderholt #2 – Strike the section of the amendment that cut $10 million from OCR and added $10 million to Charter Schools. Amendment failed by a vote of 26-33.
Senate Appropriations Committee sets new funding totals, holds three markups – This morning, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved allocations for its 12 subcommittees and marked up its first three bills: Legislative Branch, Agriculture, and Military Construction-VA.
Bipartisan allocation – Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-ME) reached a bipartisan agreement to add to the allocations the extra $69 billion in “side deal” funding that was part of the agreement when the Fiscal Responsibility Act imposed caps on defense and non-defense discretionary funding for FY 2024 and FY 2025. They also will add an extra $13.5b in emergency non-defense funding and $21 billion in emergency defense funding. Neither the “side deal” funding nor the emergency funding is included in the Senate’s official allocation for the Committee or the Subcommittees (known as the (the 302(b) allocations). The extra money will be added as the bills are considered – the funding won’t be counted under the caps or the 302b allocaitons. Committee Republicans voted against the subcommittee allocations despite the bipartisan agreement to raise total funding; Collins said that the suballocation for the defense subcommittee is too low, and that she had concerns about some of the non-defense allocations and some of the offsets.
Labor-HHS-Education suballocation - Even not counting any of the extra funding still to be allocated, the Senate Labor-HHS-Education total of $198.655 billion is $14.1 billion (7.6%) higher than the House bill, and $4.2 billion (2.2%) higher than the comparable FY 2024 level.
The table below shows my understanding of the total FY 2025 non-defense funding that the House is using, the Senate is using, and the minimum that Rep. DeLauro is pushing for in the House. The result of the bipartisan Senate agreement allows non-defense funding to increase by about 3% over the FY 2024 level; the House Republican bills cut non-defense funding by 8.7%. The table is a bit rough, since the Senate and House Democrats are using slightly different FY 2024 non-defense totals (House Democrats count some additional funding provided by other one-time budget adjustments).
U.S. Department of Education News / Dept. of Labor
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AWARDS MORE THAN $39M IN GRANTS TO EXPAND, DIVERSIFY STATE REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. This investment will support the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship in industries such as K-12 education, transportation, clean energy, supply chain, hospitality, care economy and other public sector occupations. Wisconsin's grant is $1 Million.
Thank You!
WiRSA 2023
Conference Sponsors
