Download PDF Version     Printable Version Tell a friend

Rural Caucus Introduced Education Reform Package

MADISON – Several Democratic legislators representing rural parts of Wisconsin have introduced a series of bills aimed at helping rural schools.  The Rural Caucus education reform package includes a plan to expand and reform the SAGE program, increased flexibility for the districts facing declining enrollment or consolidation and improve the school transportation aid program.

“We started the rural caucus because we knew that the best way to give rural communities a stronger voice in Madison was to create a coalition of legislators who were committed to working with each other to help rural Wisconsin,,” said Rep. Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake).  “That’s the same idea behind the legislation we’re introducing today.  All of these bills are group efforts that came about from discussions we’ve been having with rural school district administrators, school board members and educators.”

The Rural Caucus began meeting during the budget process last year as a way to ensure that rural issues were made a priority.  After the budget, the group decided to shift their focus to finding legislative solutions to some of the problems facing rural schools.  After meeting with educators, school board members and district administrators, the group decided to introduce this legislative package.

The package also includes legislation that provides increased flexibility for schools facing declining enrollment by expanding the state’s declining enrollment relief plan.  Current law allows a district to have a one year adjustment made to their revenue limit authority if their three year rolling average falls below the previous three year rolling average.  This bill adds an additional, one year adjustment.

“There are few issues more pressing to rural school districts in Wisconsin than the funding shortfall caused by declining enrollment,” said Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma).  “Our bill gives districts facing declining enrollment some much needed flexibility, which in some cases could be the difference in whether or not their doors can stay open.”

In the area of transportation, the package includes legislation that would allocate over $1 million in excess school transportation aid that was left over from the initial allocation earlier this year and would otherwise lapse to the general fund.  This bill also includes changes to how private school transportation is handled in Wisconsin, including capping the transportation reimbursement to one check per-family, changes current law so that public school districts are not required to transport private school students prior to the September 1 public school start date, and extends the deadline for private schools to notify area school boards of which pupils will need transportation during the upcoming year.

“One of the most common struggles facing rural schools is the increasing cost of transportation,” said Sen. Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls).  “Our legislation not only makes over $1 million in existing funding available to help rural districts deal with transportation issues, but it also removes expensive mandates that have put an extra burden on districts for years.”

This bill will allow greater flexibility for districts with SAGE contracts and will help return the SAGE program to its original intent of small class sizes with better learning outcomes. First, this bill will raise the current SAGE classroom limits from 15 students and 1 teacher (15:1) to 18:1; allowing 18 students in all SAGE classrooms per school building. Some schools, with lack of space or bigger rooms, allow two classes with two teachers to share space.  If that is the case the limit will remain 30 students and 2 teachers (30:2). This bill also remove DPI’s waiver authority, while grandfathering in districts with waivers for their current contracts and allow them to use those waivers until their expiration date. Finally, this bill opens up SAGE enrollment for one year to all districts in the state.

“While the SAGE program has been one of the most successful education initiatives in Wisconsin history, the program is no longer working like it should” said Rep. Kristen Dexter (D-Eau Claire).  “Our bill raises the classroom limits to reflect the realities facing Wisconsin schools and ends the waiver program, restoring SAGE to its original intent.”

To assist districts that are considering consolidation, the package includes legislation that would allow districts to hold a referendum in April or September, in addition to November, which is currently allowed, of the previous year.  Another bill in the package provides an additional $200,000 in funding for either consolidation planning grants or consolidation efficiency studies.

“We continually ask school districts to do more with less, and every year that gets to be tougher task,” said Rep. Fred Clark (D-Baraboo).  “By providing some funding to help districts look into the possible benefits of consolidation or to find increased efficiencies we can make that job a lot easier.

Powered by Orchid Suites
Orchid ver. 4.7.6.