Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance - Representing the Interests of Wisconsin Students

New High Cost Transportation Aid Program

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 21, 2013

2013 Wisconsin Act 20(Section 121.59, Wisconsin Statutes) created a new categorical aid program that provides additional funding to school districts in Wisconsin that have higher per pupil transportation costs when compared to the statewide average per pupil transportation cost. Each district with a per pupil transportation cost that exceeds one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the statewide average per pupil transportation cost will receive a share of this categorical aid. The $5,000,000 appropriation will be dispersed in June, 2014 and the aid payment will be based on audited information from the previous fiscal year (2012-13).

New information is available on the DPI School Financial Services Team web site at the link to “Aid Information” or go here. The new information is a description of the program and aid calculation and an aid estimate of the school districts that could have been eligible as projected by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau at the time the legislation was discussed.

Remember, this estimate is based on 2011-12 data assuming the program was in effect in 2012-13. Actual aid will be based on 2012-13 audited data.

Questions may be directed to Bruce Anderson, DPI School Administration Consultant (608-267-9707).

Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »

We Need You At The Common Core Hearings

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 21, 2013

The Senate and Assembly Select Committees for Review of the Common Core Standards Initiative will hold their third joint public hearing this Wednesday, October 23rd at the Eau Claire – Chippewa Valley Technical College – 620 W. Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701 (2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

The fourth and final hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 30th at Wausau – Northcentral Technical College – 1000 W. Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 54401 (2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

It is vitally important that we have a strong presence at these remaining hearings. While our testimony at the first two hearings has been absolutely outstanding, the anti-Common Core crowd is beating us at the numbers game. More people are registering in opposition to the Common Core than in support.

I don’t have to tell you what is at stake here. If extremist legislators have their way and scrap the Common Core in Wisconsin, we all know what a huge mess that would be for K-12 education and the children we serve.

We need big numbers at these final two hearings. District administrators, curriculum directors, principals, and others, please consider clearing your calendars and attending one of these final hearings. Even if you don’t wish to testify, please come to the hearing to support those who are testifying and to formally register your support for the Common Core (you can register your support by filling out a registration slip at the hearing).

If you want to testify early in the hearing, you should arrive no later than noon. If you are interested in testifying please contact the SAA office. We can assist you in facilitating and coordinating your testimony. Those planning to testify should prepare written remarks and bring 20 copies for the committees. Also please send an electronic version of your statement to Beth at beth@wsaa.org. We plan to post the statements on the Wheeler and WisPolitics news services.

To assist you in planning your testimony, we are providing links to sample testimony and also CCSS talking points.

CCSS Testimony Madison October 3rd

CCSS Testimony Fond du Lac October 16th

CCSS and Educators

CCSS and Community

CCSS and Parents

Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »

Governor Signs Tax Relief Bill; Fund 80 Changes

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 21, 2013

On Sunday, October 20, Governor Walker signed Special Session Senate Bill 1 (SS SB 1) which increases general school aids by $40 million in 2013-14 and $60 million in 2014-15. This legislation requires DPI to calculate a new 2013-14 October School Aid Certification by October 31, 2013. DPI has announced it will update the general school aids information on October 23, 2013.

The 2013-14 October 31 School Aid Certification will be available October 23rd. The General Aid Certifications will be loaded to the web as soon as they are available on October 23rd. The General Aid Worksheet (Excel file) will be available here.

Fund 80 Changes

Special Session Senate Bill 1 also amends the 2013 Wisconsin Act 20 (2013-15 State Budget) limitations on the community programs and services levy. You might recall that Act 20 limited the amount a school district may levy for community programs and services in 2013 and 2014 to the amount it levied in the most recent year prior to 2013 in which it levied for community services and programs.

SS SB 1 will allow a school board to use its 2011 community programs and services levy as its limit if both of the following applies: (1) the 2011 community programs and services levy is more than the 2012 community programs and services levy; and (2) either the 2011 or 2012 community programs and services levy was less than $1,000,000.

The SAA worked with Senator Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) on the Fund 80 changes and would like to thank Senator Petrowski for his leadership on this issue.

Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »

Evers Issues Guest Editorial on Common Core

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 18, 2013

“The Common Core State Standards are a vast improvement over our prior standards. They establish expectations in English language arts and mathematics for what students should know and be able to do in every grade. Already, these standards are challenging Wisconsin public school students to learn at higher levels,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers in a guest editorial.