At Risk Program Grant Page

Children at Risk of Not Graduating from High School

Categorical Aid Program

Program Description: Under §118.153 (2) Wis. Stats., every school board in the state must identify the children who are at risk of not graduating from high school and, annually by August 15, develop a plan describing how the school board will meet the needs of those students.

Children at risk of not graduating from high school are defined, under §118.153 (1) as pupils in grades 5 to 12 who are at risk of not graduating from high school because they are dropouts, or are two or more of the following:

• one or more years behind their age group in the number of credits attained,
• two or more years behind their age group in basic skill levels,
• habitual truants, as defined in §118.16(1)(a),
• parents,
• adjudicated delinquents,
• 8th grade pupils whose score in each subject area on the examination administered under §118.30(1m)(am) 1. was below the basic level, 8th grade pupils who failed the examination under §118.30 (1m)(am) 2. and 8th grade pupils who failed to be promoted to the 9th grade.

Who is Eligible to Apply: If in the previous school year a school district had 30 or more dropouts or a dropout rate exceeding 5% of its total high school enrollment, the school board may apply to the state superintendent for aid under §118.153 (2), Stats.

Annually in August, a school board that qualifies for and applies for aid shall submit a report to the state. Upon receipt of a school board's annual report under §118.153 (3)(a) the state superintendent shall pay to the school district from the appropriation under §20.255 (2)(bc), Stats., for each pupil enrolled in a program for children at risk who achieved at least 3 of the objectives under §118.153 (3)(c), Stats., in the previous school year, additional state aid in an amount equal to 10% of the school district's average per pupil aids provided. If the appropriation under §20.255(2)(bc), Stats., in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under par. (b), state aid payments shall be prorated among the school districts entitled to such aid. Reimbursement for each pupil enrolled in a program is based on achievement of at least 3 of the following objectives:

1. The pupil's attendance rate was at least 70%.
2. The pupil remained in school.
3. The pupil, if a high school senior, received a high school diploma or passed the high school graduation test administered under §118.30 (1m)(d).
4. The pupil earned at least 4.5 academic credits or a prorated number of credits if the pupil was enrolled in the program for less than the entire school year.
5. The pupil demonstrated, on standardized tests or other appropriate measures, gain in reading and mathematics commensurate with the duration of his or her enrollment in the program.

Amount of Funds Available: $3.5 million.

Application Deadline: Districts qualifying for funding must submit their annual report to the Department of Public Instruction by August 31 of each year.

For questions about this information, contact Beth E. Lewis (608) 267-1062

Last updated on 2/29/2008 2:24:50 PM